Love those bricks, always did, but trying to decorate around them is difficult. Your kitchen is lovely but sadly a little dated when you compare it to newer ones. I'm not sure if the Dulux site is working but try any other paint companies if it isn't and download a photo or photos of your kitchen where you can then "paint" your doors to see what colour you might like. I'm feeling white/white could be a little too stark but there are a lot of warmer and softer shades of white now or alternatively a pale yellow or soft sage green could refresh the room too.

Make sure you use an appropriate undercoat too to ensure your paint stays on well and you get no bleeding for any stain that has been used. Also for a really professional finish, do the insides of your doors and any obvious timber.

The splashback tiles could be upgraded too, keep to a perfectly plain tile this time again in a soft white, rather than a stark white.

Do you really need to upgrade the cork? Cork is so much more durable than the lino. Alternatively, I think I would prefer a paler lino than timber.

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Your cork floor looks like it's in good condition. I've seen it painted, looked pretty good.
But I think you could probably leave it alone, as it sounds like your replacing it with a similar looking floor (brown tones).
Have you considered a deep grey or deep blue? A colour taken from the tones in your bricks would look lovely.

I'd keep the cork. It's softer on the feet and more sound absorbing. I like the idea of repainting the cabinetry and replacing the handles.

I'm not a fan of internal brick walls as they are a very dated look, so I would render or plaster and paint to be consistent with the rest of the area. This would considerably lighten the kitchen and give more flexibility with paint colour choices for the cupboards.

I like the photo Yannick Epp posted and it could work in your kitchen and if you really need to keep the brick then adding some more overhead cupboards or open shelves would make them a feature rather than so dominating as they are now in the room.

Whatever floor you choose should tone in with the painted cabinets.

Good luck with your project.

Keep the cork floor, a much superior product and looks great. I agree with your other ideas.

Hi, I'd keep the cork tiles as they are so good acoustically and think you're on the right track with painting the cabinets. A soft ivory white will lighten and refresh the whole area, had you thought about a soft brushed metal laminate as the kicker under the kitchen units? That would tie in with your replacement knobs and make the floor 'pop'. Clean white larger tiles will flatter your wood bench tops and continue them around to cover the wood above the top of the drawers, then add some colour to the brick walls with fun posters, especially above your draining area to balance the overhead cupboard on the other side of the window.

I love timber. I would start by getting rid of the over bench cupboard and bar in the background. If that is not enough to open and brighten, remove the "bar height" part between kitchen and dining and add a bench height breakfast bar wider into the dining area and in a non timber finish. This will open up and create a sense of space in the kitchen. I agree, keep the cork. It looks a bit dated but wears so well. Newer finishes won't last the distance. Good luck.

I love the brick walls, I would raise the splash back to perhaps 4 tile width instead of single, where you have the drawers, I would be inclined to spend a little bit of money and have a cabinet maker change to bigger drawers for pots and pans etc, replace the knobs on cupboards with handles, vinyl flooring would look good but I think the cork would be fine with the painted cupboards. I would also paint the window timber white on the inside. I know the timber bench tops are fairly new but I don't think you can ever go past a gorgeous stone top. Good luck with it!

I'm assuming you really want to change the floor and you're on a budget. If you change the floor, make it a very light colour rather than going ahead with a similar 70s brown. Then limewash or render the brick and change the splashback as you said. After that see how your solid cupboards stand up - maybe just a light rub with steel wool and some nourishing treatment will make it all shine.

Hi - paint the cupboards white , keep the floor (cork is back!). white subway tiles higher up the wall, white window and doors, white ceiling, that wall cupboard may be better as shelving (it looks a bit out of place).
If you really can't stand the brick anymore you could paint it a light colour. cheers
Melissa

Thanks so much for feedback :- I liked someone's idea of whitewashing the bricks anyone think that would be good? Here's a pic of the other side of kitchen more overhead cupboards. Maybe you think the microwave cupboard doesn't look so out of place?

I can't really paint brick
Plain white due to rest of house being stucco all in the interior so would look odd. So I think ihave to white wash or keep brick.

Soft white cupboards/drawers with metal handles/knobs, your re-furbished tops, brushed metal kicker, keep the cork! double row of white tile splash back and I'd definitely slap white paint on all those window frames. Let there be light as that kitchen looks and must feel dreary at the moment--all that timber is over the top and sucks the life and light from your kitchen!
I'd be giving the wooden shelves in the glass front cabinets the boot and replacing with glass shelves plus putting LED lights in those cabinets as well as under for some extra pizzazz.

I like the brick. If you paint it and then change your mind and want to plasterboard it, I have heard you have to strip all the paint off first. I wouldn't paint the cupboards white. I would pick a pale creamy colour that you can already see in the bricks (I'd you're keeping them) to help tie it together. I would continue the wood bench top up into the backsplash. A large art piece (containing the colours of the bricks, Grey red cream) will help break up the brick and then it won't seem so overwhelming.

Great kitchen hashleigh. Your kitchen is a workhorse room, it is all about you, how you use it, what you need, functional and attractive so you enjoy being there, but not "pretty". Keep what you need in the room because you need it to be functional. Your brick is a feature of the room, it is a lovely brick, so if you like it keep it. Painting it can be a lot of upkeep. I don't know what is involved with whitewashing or what the upkeep is but do look into that aspect before making any decision. Looking at the rest of the space, the brick does only look a small part of it, it breaks up the timber on the other walls in a natural way.

Looking at the whole of the area too, I do note you have a lot of really beautiful timber with furniture and fittings in the adjoining room and the ceilings. Everything is so cohesive, I'm wondering if even painting the timber is the right thing to do. I would certainly never paint the window frames or the door for example when everything else through the whole house is stained.

Looking at the other photos you have posted now, the only thing I would be confident about changing are the splashback tiles - maybe that is a place to put some vibrant colour to change the whole effect of the room. A painted glass spashback in a brighter shade of the bluish tones in the brick could really add some life to the room, and the glass will not add another texture, it will more add some bling. I think you actually need to be in your home to really get a feel for everything and for this reason, I would call some interior designers to give you professional opinions before you do anything with the cupboards. Someone mentioned above about giving them a scrub - I have timber panelling and about every 5 years I use steel wool to rub oil into the grain to protect the timber and give it a whole new lease of life. It really makes a difference.

Just another thought about your glass-front cabinets, mirror the back of them as well!

Hey there. I live in a granny flat and the kitchen (well all of it) needs a major face lift! I can't afford to change the bench top or do anything major but ideas would be great. The tiles are a sandy orange and these are the bench tops in the photo. It's hard to see the colour but it's the only photo I have to show you all an idea. The colours clash and I just don't know how to chose paint colours or new door handles. Help!

Ellenmay - start your own dilemma, get more photos and add them. You will get far more help this way.

I didn't mean to comment this here lol