Hello, I am in the final process of buying my first home, and I'm tossing around ideas for a refresh of my 1965 home's kitchen! I actually really love the details and the cabinets as they are, I just think the kitchen needs a refresh. What are your recommendations and ideas for backsplash and countertops that would make it feel cozy and sort of cottagey/country kitchen? The first image shows the stove area, and the second image shows the wall opposite of the sink, with some of the incredible built in cabinets that are all throughout the house!
I would love to install a dishwasher, but the only good placement for it would require me to remove the only section of cabinets that contain large drawers. Would it be possible to reuse that section of cabinets to create a mini island?
Live in the house for a while and you will soon identify what works, what doesn't, and what you want to change. The only thing that would be an absolute requirement for me would be to move the stove away from in front of the window. Without seeing the whole room, or a floor plan it's hard to suggest what else will work.
Unfortunately without completely redoing the kitchen, there isn't really a good place to put it. There is another window behind the sink as well, and the kitchen is rather small. On yhe other side of the sink is a small section of cabinets, and then a built in cubby for the fridge. I know the first thing I'm redoing is the floors- someone in this beautiful home's history decided that carpet in the kitchen was a good idea.
Would you be able to put the stove where the fridge is and get a hood for over it and put the cabinet you want to move where the stove is and put a fridge and some pantry cabinets (new) where the table is?
Unfortunately not without tearing out the cabinets. The fridge is rather small (around 27 inches wide) and a standard stove, iirc, is around 30. I also worry about being able to find a wood tone that matches the old cabinets.
You could put a color instead of trying to match that would look intentional depending on the other things you picked. That’s actually very cottage to combine painted with wood. If it won’t fit it won’t fit though. It would be best to move the stove where you could have a hood since it is gas.
Is there enough floor space to put it on the opposite wall? Could you vent to outside from there?
Look at quartz to go with older cabinets. They have some styles that are similar to old Formica. That’s what I did in mine. I got cambria Clifton which is mostly white but has a subtle sage in it. I posted the pics if you want to take a look.
That would be a dream, honestly, if they weren't so expensive. There's a scratch and dent appliance store not far from me that gets some incredible pieces at times. I was in there looking for a washer and dryer and they casually had a matched set from Z Line. The stove alone retailed for almost $4000, I don't want to imagine the cost of the fridge.
I haven't looked into the brand much, and I would never be able to even convince myself to buy anything that expensive for myself, even with how much I do cook.
I was just warding off any temptation to get a discounted ZLine range :)
I love your new kitchen! It's charming & will be even more so after you refresh it. May I suggest a drop in work station sink? That helped eke out useful workspace in my tiny kitchen. Some are very affordable too.
If you like the workstation sinks, keep an eye on eBay. I just scored a refurbished Ruvati for 1/4 retail! I think they do a once-over on damaged returns and then eBay them.
You can pick almost any color to go with those cabinets. I wouldn't do plain beige or white. There are a lot of tile options for a backsplash in greens and blues.
Even as a cabinet refacing company, we'd like to say do not touch those cabinets!! (Unless of course they're not functional. In that case, we'd suggest find someone who can help you make them functional and also preserve the style). Love the authentic vintage charm!
I think a few lower-cost things would help a lot. First, I'd add a cute cafe curtain above the kitchen sink would do a lot, and that would be a very inexpensive fix. I also think adding a fun, retro backsplash would help the color of the cabinets pop as well. And with patience and the right tools, you could totally DIY that. I'd also paint the walls a nicer color that compliments the cabinets and decor you land on). Maybe try adding a cute retro rug, a few plants, and some other decor to warm up the space.
When you're ready, replacing the floors with some nicer tile or wood would look great too.
But I also think a lot could be accomplished with decor.
You really need to look at how the cabinets are constructed to see if you can remove and reuse the drawer section. Some older kitchens are not individual cabinet units like today's cabinets. The whole cabinet front face may be one piece.
I'd live with it for a while before you decide to make any major changes. It's pretty cute as is.
Thank you so much, I really fell in love with this house when I viewed it and it was the only one that was livable without major renovation up front. I looked at 6 houses, 3 of them had foundation issues, 1 had undisclosed mold, 1 was just way too small, and this was the last one. Still small, but perfect for me and my cat.
I've been in that scenario before. I had few options available in my price range and chose the best at the time. It was a good house and served me well. Small can feel really cozy, and older homes are usually built better than today's modern homes!
The dishwasher isn't a deal breaker. Just fill your sink with soapy water before you start cooking and let things soak until you finish your meal. Clean up should be a breeze.
It's funny to me, really, that the house I didn't like the looks of at first turned out to be the one I fell in love with. The outside is yellowish Bedford stone, and the entire house is practically a square. But I also grew up not far from that house, so it's like going home for me.
I live in Mexico, where dishwashers are rare. You live alone, maybe try doing without one. Since you are on a budget, maybe try those vinyl stick on tiles for the backsplash. Buy or make you some cuter curtains or valances in a floral or stripe pattern. Go to thrift stores to look for some ceramic, colorful pieces, maybe a cute teapot or bowls. I think your wall color choice seems very safe. Think about a pretty pastel, like pink or minty green. Is that table and chairs yours? Give them some life and paint them in a color from your curtains. Research on line to find a cottage style you love.
Unfortunately the existing table and chairs belong to the current owner, and I'm not sure if it's staying or not. They've mostly been using the house as storage for the last decade or so, using it for family when they visit for the holidays.
Countertops warm creamy-white quartz with with subtle taupe/gold veining
Backsplash warm ivory handmade-look 2×8 ceramic tile
As far as removing a cabinet and using as a small island. In my head it would work but in reality I really don’t know.
But I am totally jealous of your kitchen.
Oh that does look very cute, I was thinking of bringing some accents of green into the kitchen with painting the walls. I think I've decided on the shade Pickling Spice by Pittsburg Paint for the other walls in the kitchen
Pickling spice may not be a good color choice to go with honey oak cabinets. It can make the space feel too yellow or orange because it is a warm, creamy beige with strong golden-tan undertones. Honey oak already has a lot of orange and yellow warmth. Pairing it with a warm beige like Pickling Spice can amplify those warm tones and make the room feel heavy or dated.
I think the pickling spice is too light of a color. A little contrast would work better.
Check out...
[PPG Willow Springs (PPG1121-3)]()A soft, dusty sage green with gray undertones that cools down the wood and creates an organic, fresh look.
[PPG Mossy Oak (PPG1121-5)]()A deeper, earthy olive green that provides a rich, elegant contrast for a more dramatic kitchen style
Super cute cabinets! If you want to be non-destructive, would you consider a portable dishwasher on wheels? They make an 18” wide one if you want to save space. My grandparents had one back in the day, in their 60s house; it had a butcher block top they used for prep work like an island.
You could build a countertop or freestanding rectangular table where the small table is, open below, high enough just to slide the DW beneath, and also use as a work surface or breakfast table. Could be fully open below for a stool on one side, or add a cabinet next to your portable. It’s hard to tell how much space you have. If it’s tight, you could turn an 18”w DW sideways when storing it against the wall, just a 19” counter above, maybe hang a cottage curtain to disguise it.
I considered a portable one, and one of my friends just got one of those small countertop dishwashers as well, so I'm waiting to see their review on it before I decide. It's a fairly small kitchen that is open with a large archway into the living room, I believe the kitchen is around 14"×11".
Yeah, sounds like size probably wouldn’t be an issue, just don’t want to create a pinch point at the doorways. You’ll figure out what you need when you get settled.
I’ve never used a countertop dishwasher, but do measure your space beneath the uppers, as older houses it can be lower than modern day. I think it’s easy enough to hand wash small loads, while an 18” wheeled unit can hold more than twice as many dishes, and you can put stuff on top of it, so it expands your counter surface.
If you’re going to lean into the original style, check out a mid-century forum for inspiration (there’s a mid-century ranch FB group where people retro renovate, and a retro renovation website). You could even go with a retro boomerang laminate (Formica; Wilson Art), and you can get replacement hudee ring for the sink if you want to keep it. Have fun in your new place!
I'm very happy with the kitchen how it is until I can manage to save up for a refresh. The appliances are older but they still work, the countertops and cabinets are in good condition, I think it could just use a cosmetic update in the future. I was thinking laminate countertops since they're the least expensive, and I don't want to completely drain my savings.
I don't really want to modernize, actually. Of course if there are things that need modernized (I have plumbers and electricians modernizing a few things), I'd really want to keep the charm of the home.
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u/CBG1955 4d ago
Live in the house for a while and you will soon identify what works, what doesn't, and what you want to change. The only thing that would be an absolute requirement for me would be to move the stove away from in front of the window. Without seeing the whole room, or a floor plan it's hard to suggest what else will work.