Hi Rodney, aqua and teal shades work really well with terracotta. If you have the funds I'd consider replacing the cupboard doors as their profile dates the kitchen. If they are standard size you could do this reasonably cheaply with off the shelf doors from Ikea, Bunnings etc. At the very least I'd look into replacing the hardware on the doors and whether they are suitable for painting. If you replace the doors with white doors you may be able to keep the current bench top and tiles. Replacing the bench top is certainly a good option though, preferably with a timber top or thin profile stone or composite product. The tiles are neutral and could work with updated doors and/or bench top. You could include colour with small appliances and accessories.

Thanks Sammy, I believe the cupboards are not standard size so not sure how much this would be to change to flat/modern profile. By hardware, you mean change the handles on cupboards? I might check with bunnings today and perhaps Ikea on their door sizes for replacement. Thanks for the idea about the timber top. For the stone or composite product, would you go white? Yes, I agree, could always include colour with accessories.

Yes, I meant the door handles. There are lots of options available and changing them out can provide a quick and easy update. If you are going to go white on the cupboards and want a stone or composite bench top I'd go white and keep it streamlined. A rich steel blue/grey could also work with the terracotta for either the bench top or splash back as could black, it really depends what look you are after. Timber bench top, white doors, aqua accents and a plant or two would be my preference.

Great ideas and advice, would you keep the kickboard white too or go stainless? Do you think timber bench top is too country? This would keep with the existing profile of the doors I guess? I do like the idea of aqua accents.

Hmmm, a timber bench top may look country when paired with the existing profile of the doors. Make sure the edge profile is as squared as possible rather than rounded off and I'd either go with a well veined mid-coloured timber with lots of variation or a dark timber. I'd leave the kickboards white rather than introducing another element. But... for something completely different you could go with stainless kickboards and a stainless bench top with some funky modern handles. So many options!

cheapest options would be paint: try laminex paint to test some new colours for bench and splashback..i would love to suggest very dark grey or black for both, keep the original cabinets and paving paint could give a lift to the floor tiles in a dark terracotta colour?? some new (black and white wallpaper?) on the breakfast bar but a brushed stainless steel paint could also be interesting...door handles can be expensive to change but some new brushed chrome "D" handles in the soft edge square profile and exact same size (about $4 each when available) and will give a fresh look and leave holes that need filling

I agree the cupboard doors do date the kitchen. Has any one tried granite paint for the bench tops?. For 200-400 dollars it promises a solid surface never needing recoating.

Some really great advice and ideas here, much thanks. We were thinking of just resurfacing the cupboards but I think in a couple of years, we would be disappointed that we didn't update the profile to a flat white to bring it into modern. And plus, my concern is the dust and dirt that would settle on the profile and how that would hold up in time. So after talking with a kitchen professional yesterday, we are almost convinced that we change our cupboards to a flat profile, benchtops (stone or laminate, still undecided and it will come back to budget) and splashbacks. The main colour will be white. I do like the thought of black but again, I think if we keep it white, we can add black, or any other colour with appliances etc. It may take a while but watch this space!

I say change your floors! The kitchen will look brand new with new timber flooring! And if you wanted to update the benches as well to an newer colour like a black stone if the budget allows you could too...

Have you considered an aluminium splashback? Easier to clean than tiles and glass, and you could match the splashback behind the stovetop with one under the breakfast bar for a clean, consistent look.

DecoSplash has more than a hundred designs to choose from. Teal, mint or even an ultramarine would look lovely with the tiles.

http://www.decorativeimaging.com.au/building-products/decosplash/

I actually like the cupboards and tiles. I would replace bench top, Paint cupboards white and maybe replace cupboard handles with something more modern. I will post some pictures to give you some inspo.

Totara · More Info

You can probably tell i love Hampton styled kitchens and can see so much potential with your kitchen.

But as you are on a budget. Start with painting cupboards white and then move onto bench top when you can. As for cupboard handles you could easily pick some up at a reasonable price at somewhere like Placemakers

Sorry my other photos didn't post. Please find below

Hi Rodney

i see you have had an enormous response and all good suggestions....what no-one has mentioned is the first thing you need to look at is the era and style of your house??? You can always update but it has to reflect the rest of the house... There's no point having a HAMPTONS style kitchen in a retro style house!!!

Next thing you need to consider is whether you intend to stay in the house or will be selling in the future as this decision should help you with your budget as you don't want to overcapitalise....

Without knowing your budget or preference of style, my advice to you is please keep in mind "EBAY".... We recently finished our renovated dream kitchen on a budget and have saved so much money....

One more tip, get rid of your bench that closes off to your lounge and put in an island bench to enlarge your whole kitchen and open it all up...add a sink in the actual island bench.....

cheers

Christina

It all comes down to your budget. If you have a very limited budget then I would recommend to prioritise what the needs are most and go from there.

What stands out to me first is the benchtop. Even if you had only a few thousand dollars or so to spend, definitely start with replacing the benchtop with stone. Also remove the wallpaper from the island.

If you have more dollars to spend on top of that. Start looking at your splashback. Glass or Mirrored are good options. Definitely stainless steel handles for the cupboards and draws.

Once you start replacing doors, draws, panels etc, the dollars will add up and as mentioned, comes down to your realistic budget. But if you were to want to change them in any way, replace them rather than paint them. Especially if you want to modernise the profile.

Hope this helps. Regards

Hi, for least money spent and maximum update I would replace feature tiles with ones matching those that you have, if not available look at a white subway "style" laid horizontally with white grout.

Grout these days is easier to clean and keep clean than days of old. Carry them on around the sink area too.

Replace bench top (definitely) with whitish colour, consider laminex as it not the same as in the seventies, and far cheaper than stone. Some great looking finishes, check out their show room near Lytton Road Brisbane.

Your stainless appliances will look great against all white.

Paint cupboard doors white but not high gloss, consider spending some money on getting a professional to this. Keep kicks same as doors.

Update handles also including those on pantry doors to black or dark bronze, or all satin stainless "look" as they show less marks.

If you would like to incorporate some black consider a black sink, check out IKEA.

Remove pelmets from windows.

Remove wall paper on lounge side of bench and paint in a plain colour. You could choose something that accents the décor in that area of your home.

Have fun :-)

Many suggest removing pelmets for aesthetics BUT there is an energy reason for pelmets keeping heat in or out depending on the season and cover roller blinds to add more insulation to house so update but don't avoid pelmets to save energy costs.

Some interesting comments about your doors and tiles from a range of people. I think it depends on the age of your overall home. I have recently engaged a kitchen specialist for my old Queenslander kitchen. The house has six bedrooms and 14 rooms altogether, including separate billiard room, family room, traditional dining room, lounge room, sun room etc. I have also spoken to a number of young women who are looking to purchase that traditional home. I originally thought the cupboard doors should be as modern as possible and their comment was the doors should be in keeping with the old house. Interesting thought!!! I was interested in the kitchen specialist's comment in your feedback who recommended the tiles being changed etc.

The tile floor will always be the elephant in the room so consider if it is realistic to change.

If you must keep the tiles here are some other fixes that will improve the space.

1. Look through Houzz and make a scrapbook of what you like

- You need to determine the style of the kitchen -if you are to keep the doors you could head towards a hamptons style. Consider how the adjoining spaces are decorated as any changes may need adjustments elsewhere.

I would cost out each element of the job and decide if you can do it all - possibly over time, as when you do one thing it makes others look shabby and the decisions you make for one aspect would have been different with an overall plan.

1. Remove the pelmet in the kitchen.

2. Paint the cupboards - possible going to a darker colour on the bottom and a lighter on the top. A dark charcoal could work and a grey toned white for the top cupboards. There are some nice Caesarstone options that could pick up these tones with a marble look.

3. The handles need to be heavier as they are trying to be contemporary when the cupboard profile is more traditional

4. You need to replace the bench top- this is your biggest problem as it is totally dated.

5. Your pantry doors ? are different and need to have the same handles.

6. Could go with white glass subways with a soft grey toned grout.

If you change the cupboard profile - a squared off shaker style would work- remember that many of the gloss white kitchen s being built these days will soon be dated - so depending on the age of the house - stay traditional.

good luck.

Hi Rodney,

just looking at your pictures the sizes wouldn't suit the "standard" Ikea or Bunnings options. So if you were to replace the doors / fronts we would recommend replacing drawer runners, hinges etc - this is where the cost would start go up quite a bit as most of the cost of a kitchen is what is on display and the runners / hinges etc.

Good luck!