Thanks for the comment Carthie. I agree that keeping the sink under the window is a good idea - plus, i can see my pig and goat out that window! Good idea with the oven-door problem.

Just realised i have posted this in Design Dilemmas too. sorry al!

Pasting my reply in Design Dilemmas here as well to try swing the votes :

I think that basically there's a lot to work with there, so i'd really put money elsewhere.
The left hand side wall storage is practical and has a clean simple design, the possibilities for refacing or even just painting over are enormous.
This is a farmhouse, so i'd take out the upper cabinets and put in plain shelving to stock and display your best crockery, jars and nicknacks, you can blow some of the money that you save here. This would also considerably open up the volumes and also add loads of personality.
There's a large choice for new countertops that would totally change the aspect of the existing units if you're thinking of maybe keeping these as well.
And i'd go for a new porcelain sink unit, modern or retro, depending on the overall style that you're going for. New backsplash of course.
What obviously needs to change is the placement of the cooker so some rethinking and bucks will have to happen there.

Anyhow i think the "bones" have loads of potential so why go to the notoriously expensive headache of a whole new kitchen.
*Treat yourself to a new car instead :D

And oh, i've just come across this before and after of a kitchen something like yours :
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/design-solution-for-a-soffit-that-could-not-be-removed-dsvw-vd~1176396

Not the best example and i find the shelves too thick but it does give you an idea of how shelving can work so much better than the cabinets.

I concur with open shelves instead of upper cabinets, and a farmhouse sink. And then maybe just create a smaller cased opening instead of that awkward door. Great door though. Good luck!

Try deleting all overhead cabinets especially the one over the breakfast bar. Cut back the corner cabinet and replace the stove with a 900 wide upright stainless steel cooker and a stainless steel canopy range hood.replace the bench top and splash backs. Replace or paint the doors white personally I would repaint them. It's too good a kitchen with too much storage to start again. I agree with spend your money elsewhere!

As others have said I would get rid of the upper cabinets and replace them with open shelving. I would splash out on a new oven/cooktop, moving it little more to the right to get it away from the door, replace the dishwasher, benchtops and splashback. Maybe consider getting rid of the kickback into the room. I would do something about the flooring and maybe change hinges on the door to open into the other room? Of course repaint the doors and replace the handles. I wouldn't bother changing the sink unless it is too shallow. I would leave the units on the left pretty much as they are except that edge of benchtop sticking out would drive me crazy and I'd get a new microwave to fit the space better.

How can you possibly put a pot or pan on the left hand side of the cooker ? You really need space on both sides of the stove to be able to work comfortably.

it

That layout is so like my grandparents original kitchen in their farmhouse (although the long counter had glass cabinets overhead and was backed with a cute built in dining nook! Their wall cabinets had timber doors painted in a rainbow of fab 50s pastel colours :) They too had a sliding door that divided the kitchen from the hallway. an aproned porcelain double sink would indeed look great and i concur with the open shelves idea. a big farmhouse cooker would look better than a skinny one, and as said above, just fill in gaps on side. so what i would do is keep the carcasses to save money, replace doors with Ikea Stat design (one of their cheapest, but stylish with the farmhouse grooves in the doors), throw in an ikea ceramic sink, go for timber benchtops and timber floorboards (probably some under that vinyl). some plain square or subway tiles in soft blue or green for the splashback and a "school house" style lightfitting. oh and some cute gingham cafe curtains :) very envious of your views out the window!!

like mine time for a change

So much character! Love the angled roof, the window . The door is lovely, but can see the issue with it hitting either the stove or the bank of wall cupboards. Is the wall solid or flimsy (can you change it to a sliding door? ) If you want to keep the character and minimise cost, maybe you could flip it to the other side (ie. so it swings out from kitchen, rather than into it, and goes flush against the long wall next door?

Hi Neryl, perhaps we can help you redesign and remake that kitchen. We have 100% italian made kitchens, in affordable prices. Here are some ideas for you to consider.

My 2 cents and ofcourse not knowing the budget... If your were in a position to replaced the swinging door with a cavity slider would make a big difference and then as per other suggestions to remove the overhead. I would just replace tops and doors without new cabinets. I would however relocate the oven to the right a little if possible.

Even If you change to cavity slider door, the cooker is still in a dangerous place right next to a passage. Its position needs to be reviewed before anything else.
Scavolini's first picture has a pretty similar layout to yours, Neryl.
I know everyone says to keep the sink by the window, but I personally stand much longer at my prep area than at the sink (because I have a dishwasher), so it is worth reconsidering that too.

I love this kitchen and would sell my soul for the wall of cupboards. I would make some minor changes (i.e. repositioning the stove) but keep the overall layout.

Neryl, like you I'm trying to decide should I replace my kitchen (total redesign) renovate (new bench, stove etc) or larger renovation (bench, doors, stove, etc). My dilemma with the Renos are there is always a little bit more to do; the stove won't fit into the existing space or the new sink is now in metric and won't fit and of course what about the taps??? As with your kitchen I have a breakfast bar that I'm thinking of removing (swinging back 90 deg to the wall running down from the sink, but what do I do then will the floor. The whole area would have to be done. As soon as you start one job there are four or five that will follow.
So do I want to spend big dollars on a new kitchen, really I think that is the question.
I would say to you don't pending anything at all until you have really thought through exactly what you want and what you can spend, don't through money away on a patch up that you will find in the long term unsatisfactory.
About the design though, if you are renovating your house, what is behind that wall the stove is on and what space is there in front of the breakfast bar, where you stood to take the photo? Perhaps you could take a wall out and like me open up your space.. If you can put in a skylight for both light and aesthetics. But the only thing I would say though about the previous comments is unless you want to spend hours cleaning don't go for shelves and open displays unless you cook outside. I have a 'Chinese' kitchen and it tends to be very greasy but friends who have regular cooking and open shelves say they have to not just wipe the shelves over but clean all the display item really very often.
I'm sorry all for having so much to say, I've never contributed before to something like this but I do really enjoy reading all the posts.
Cheryl

Am in the middle of a piecemeal Reno of exactly the same kitchen layout, although slighter wider from wall of cupboards to sink. I cannot tell you how many problems have cropped up- not the least of which is believing lower cost guys can do the job, and then they screw stuff up. I took away the half wall between kitchen and dining, that made big problem with broken cove ceiling, guy saw stalled it too close, and wall in dining room was 1/2 inch less thick than kitchen, so wall would not align. Had to buy unfinished hardwood for kitchen , and then sand whole main floor, so that old hardwood color would match new one...so much mess and lots more costly then per-finished hardwood. On and on. I would get rid of door altogether, and I like the idea of freestanding wider stove to take that whole area where it is now. As for living through it, don't try saving money with low bids, or jack-of all trades guys. I am sadder and wiser, and have not had use of my stove or sink since Aug. 5

What would you like to say?Should have edited before pressing button... Sawsall, prefinished,

If there's a tight budget then I'd suggest keeping most of the cupboards and just change the doors and floor to a modem look. The end bench could be changed to a round one that is also modern enough looking I suppose. It does need a lot more light in there though which might help as well. If you do pull it out and start again, take care because it will sell on eBay.

The stove behind the door is what swings it for me, start again.

Neryl hasn't come back to us.

Could be she's too busy pulling her hair out between suppliers and contractors, but it's only been a few days since she posted.
Hang on in there Neryl, we got your back :D

To everyone mentioning the the stove behind the door - yes, it is a nightmare. Thanks for your support Magada. I have been leaning towards a reno but now i am not so sure. WIlllet you know if i dive in soon.

Looks to me like you could persist with the bones of this place. As long as that pink goes, i will be happy!