Probably the cheapest fix is to paint the cabinets. Especially if it is a DIY job. But it is a lot of painting. If the budget stretches further then I’d update the hardware/handles/pulls and remove that overhead cabinet near the stovetop. That would open things up but it probably also means repairs to the ceiling and wall it is attached to. Do a google image search of painted oak cabinets for inspiration. Some of them come up really well. Not much can be done about the colour of the appliances except for replacing them which is expensive. There is appliance paint but I’m not sure how successful it is, and you can’t use it on the cooktop or oven glass. Best of luck with this project.

Hi, firstly congratulations on the new purchase. If you are on a tight budget then painting is certainly an option... you can do this yourself if you are feeling particularly DIY inclined or you can also have the doors and panels painted professionally in a polyurethane finish. Dulux does a great range of renovation paints that people tend to get some good results with. If you go the poly route bare in mind there will still be a significant investment required. Green cabinetry with timber accents would look great. Either a darker shade or you could look at sage perhaps, which is very popular at the moment. You could add some open shelving on the wall where the hanging scales are currently positioned. White is also an option as its timeless but everyone has a white kitchen. If you're going to renovate and this is your home for the foreseeable future dare to be bold and add some colour in your life :) Timber benchtops would be lovely but they are very expensive, especially at the moment. You could however add a timber top on the island as a butchers block type feature and update the back bench with either an engineered stone or a laminate. You could add in some brass or black handles and depending on how far you want to go update your tapware to match to finish the look. Good luck with the renovation!

I like the colours you’ve suggested. I find neutrals restful. Do you have a sample of your cabinetry? An easy way to get a coordinated look, without whites clashing, is to have the white colour matched at the paint shop to the cabinetry. The colour match will tell you if White Beach is on the right track. I’d consider a more plainer white for the trim ie Natural White as suggested above or Berkshire White. For your splashback - could the budget stretch to the benchtop material? If not a tile colour that picks up one of the benchtop fleck colours will give you a coordinated look. Sounds lovely. Come back and post the completed pics.

Hi Nancy, Just thought I'd offer a few thoughts for you to consider. How much you change depends on your overall budget and how much of the house needs updating. My guess is that you wont be changing the window frames so why don't you include this colour in the overall colour sceme? I agree that the joinery looks to be of really good quality and it would be a real shame to dispose of them. I fear if you update the cabinets with a new finish, the granite will let down the overall updating. While these images may not be the right tone or style, I would suggest considering green cabinets and a light or grey bench top. The green on the cabinets could be paint or 'whitewash' if you want the Hamptons vibe. You could also mix and match and have green lowers with white high level cabinets and look at a 'hand made' look wall tile. Good luck, C.