Comments on: help! our kitchen is small and outdated!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:35:14 +0000

We solved our lack of counter space with a baker’s rack, giving us extra shelves above and below the new counter. However, it looks like you have enough room to go with a prep table from a restaurant supply store. They’re much sturdier than most carts or baker’s racks, and the leg height is adjustable. Once you have your counter piece in place, then you can work on shelving and storage for above and below the prep table. Your kitchen is going to be gorgeous–I see lots of potential!

By: Pencils

Pencils — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:30:07 +0000

Congrats on your new home and new marriage. That’s not a bad kitchen, it just needs some updating and some color. For your counter space issue, I would take down the shelves, and see if you can find a kitchen cart or butcher block piece that would fit neatly in the space on the blank wall past the clearance for the door–the door does open in, right? We did something similar in our small rental kitchen with little counter space. IKEA has some freestanding cabinets that might work in that space, or you could get something more like a cart. Definitely paint! With the white and brown I’d go with a nice green, maybe an aqua. Or yellow. What color is your Kitchenaid mixer? Or your dishes? How about something in a similar, or a contrasting color to those? Or even a neutral color and let your accessories give punches of color. Definitely get new cabinet pulls–either some in stainless, or you could pick up or contrast the wall color with glass or ceramic pulls. The House of Antique Hardware http://houseofantiquehardware.com/ has glass pulls in square and “beehive” shapes that look quite modern when mixed with modern cabinets, and they come in 16 colors. Get a Roman shade for the window, or just a valance if the view is good. You could consider removing some of the doors from the upper cabinets for a more open look, or remove them altogether and replace them with shelves. Good luck!

By: Psymonetta Isnoful

Psymonetta Isnoful — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:03:33 +0000

I have a similar situation with the upper cabinets being shallow and close to the counter on the side of my kitchen with the plumbing (sink dishwasher) and shorter cabinets on the other - with the stove and refrigerator splitting up that side.

We’re going with an under-counter refrigerator. Since we’re not big on stock piling fresh foods, a 5.5 cu ft all refrigerator unit is going to work for us. This allows us to add more counter.

Also, if you’re not too attached to the cupboard space in the lower cabinets next to your stove, you could consider cutting the doors down and placing the microwave underneath the counter top and add some open shelving in that corner.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:37:16 +0000

Thanks for the suggestions, Elizabeth! Unfortunately, the counters are brown, not gray. That floating shelf is extremely high and I can barely reach anything on it. What I really need is some more counterspace- the cabinets are too low to the countertops for me to even set down and use my Kitchenaid mixer! Maybe a cart with wheels or something? Any suggestions?

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:09:19 +0000

I would start by choosing a color that you love to paint the walls, and a secondary color. The gray and white are a lovely background to just about any color you could want! I would also change the cabinet door hardware - it’s such a quick fix.

I would also remove the strange little corner shelf and the floating shelf on the one wall, and put up something more modern - maybe a big piece of art and some Ikea Lack shelves, so you can display some beautiful and useful kitchen pieces, and enjoy looking at them and grabbing them when you need them. That one shelf seems way too high to me.

I think you could also bring in some color and style with tea towels, rugs and maybe some window treatments on the door and window. Sheer if you have a nice view, or something short just to make an accent, or something more substantial if you overlook a wall or something.

I do think it’s a cute space though!