Do you have an actual floor plan of the house with measurements you could post

Thank you Siriuskey. I would love to remove the wall however it is a double brick wall and load bearing and on the other side is a staircase. Our house is already so open plan with the removal of walls and renovations my husband says no!!! I actually don't mind the kitchen tucked away from the main living dining area. When we entertain no one gets to see the dishes and mess. Its a bit like a butlers pantry. Crikey those timber kitchens were the go. I do have floor plans but their is no way my husband will entertain removing walls.

Would you just consider having the cabinets professionally painted adding the new bench top you mentioned, you could even rearrange some of the cabinets and reduce the depth of the current fridge space to fit your new fridge, you could have a lovely Hamptons look kitchen.

I don't have any photos but when my sister inlaw sold their house the new owners painted the cabinets which were exactly the same as mine and she said it looked amazing.

Not sure what you mean about the floor, the current timber looks good. You mentioned that someone suggested taking the wall cabinets up to the ceiling, but I think that could make your kitchen look very narrow and the best way to finish that off is to add the cornice and yours is very wide.

I would redo the fridge space, reduce depth. new bench top, splash back, appliances, handles and remove the end open shelves to a straight sided one, this would then also simplify/straighten the trim which dates the kitchen. A good paint job isn't cheap but your cabinets look great and have a classic profile., love to hear what you decide

Yes I love Siriuskeys comments. I follow all the time. I hope you are reading this Siriuskey as I cannot figure out how to respond to your last comment. I totally get what you are saying and if I was on a budget I would do this. However this is the last kitchen I will be renovating in this house and will probably be here for at least another 10 years. By the time I get cabinets cut down and painted plus replace all the appliances I figure I might as well give it all and do the lot. Plus the floor is to be changed to solid Blue gum and it needs to be laid over the floors entirety so cabinets should come out. Just hope that the shaker cupboards are still as charming and think I will have the crown moulding on top with out bringing them to the ceiling. Agree with Siriuskey that it may box it in to much. Will definitely post after photos when it is done. Have another designer coming next week. Thank you for all the comments.

Hi Beate,

If you can afford it go for it, as someone mentioned, sell the old kitchen or donate it to charity.

You mention shaker profile, it will look lovely as your current profile does but I would stick to one colour and as in my third photo perhaps make the wall cabinets taller, you could even light up above the cabinets. Make sure that any lights are adjustable just in case the ceiling has a few wobbles that would be highlighted with a light.

Are you able to post any plans, and does your designer do 3D to show you what it will look like,

Yes Siriuskey. Have drawings in 3 D. Not finalised yet and am getting another quote as well. We are planning on rebated strip lights under the upper cabinets and the wall cabinets will definitely be taller and higher from the bench. 25 years ago they worked on different measurements:)

The ceiling has been replaced and is straight. That you for all your input. I will be posting photos in the new year of what I hope to be a very nice kitchen.

Hello girlguides. Thank you for your comments. The photos I have posted don't really show the full layout of floors. There is a very large dining family room next to the kitchen leading out past the big (ugly) bulkhead of fridge and pantry. The room is 70 square meters big and has a study leading off it and a staircase. All is laid in solid blue gum so it will be a continuation of flooring. When we did the kitchen 25 years ago that room was totally different and had lovely mission brown quarry tiles. Say no more!! :) It would have been nice to throw lots of money at the house in one big hit but unfortunately it was not possible at the time. That section of the house was a complete new build in 2003.

I agree spmm, one or two of those European river cruises, why wouldn't you?

You're too funny !!!! Yes that is exactly what we have been doing. Now its the kitchens turn.

Love your comment.

We had an American Oak kitchen as well. We ended up resurfacing (with a professional) the counter tops (cappuccino was the pattern chosen) and resurfacing the surrounds and kickboard with two pack paint (semi-gloss white), new doors (as our doors had started to split and there was no guarantee that the two pack paint would work satisfactorily) and handles. We have cork tiles and the new look kitchen works well with the cork. Spent a little bit of money with a painted glass splashback. Cost a little over $10000. We are very happy with it. We already had stainless steel fridge, stove, dishwasher and microwave - relatively new.

If the doors and panels are in good condition, having them professionally painted is far more cost effective than replacing them.

We recently refaced our kitchen and fully refitted our laundry.

The all new laundry doors & panels are Laminex Colourtech, while we stripped the old vinyl wrap from the kitchen doors and panels and sent them off for 2pac painting in the same colour as the laundry.

Side by side you cannot tell the difference between the two, however our bank balance certainly can. There was a cost difference of $5,000 to $7,500 (depending on the quote) between painting the kitchen doors and panels and having them replaced with new.

Yes, it meant we had a couple of weeks of living with a partly dismantled kitchen but well worth it in the end.

Just wondering if you had considered moving the new kitchen into the 70 squ m room for a much better kitchen space.

Oh Siriuskey I have I have. Much to my husbands horror. It really wouldn't work anyway with doorways where they are etc etc. Plus that part of the house has a concrete slab and to try to run plumbing and electrical would ruin it. Without doing massive massive renos and spending lots of money again its a no no. Great suggestion though.

Without seeing a floor plan I can't confirm how much work would be needed?, but it seems a shame to have such a small kitchen in what appears to be a lovely big home. Kitchens sell homes

Siriuskey. I love all your ideas. Moving the kitchen is just not a choice. I know kitchens sell houses but we are not moving. We love our home (just need to update kitchen). If I was selling it I would definitely rethink the kitchen layout. I do have another question for you. Do you think if I had a mirror splash back on the left wall which will be long, it will stop it looking too boxed in?

Not really a fan of glass splash backs but have seen a photo on houzz that is actually not to bad. I wonder how well they hold up. I have large mirrors in the master bathroom and the edges are starting to de silver. Any thoughts on that idea? Thanks in advance Guru:)

I read today that if you paint your cupboards in 2 pack, to do the undercoat tinted the same shade. That way, if there are any scratches or dings they don't show. The also detailed that they ended up going a much darker blue as they painted tests and with 2 pac the colour came up lighter than in the swatches or single coat. You can get mirror backs re silvered . Silver Mylar can be added to re silver. Although if black you will need to clean - there are a few online solutions to creating a cleaning solution or you could have done professionally. If they are old antique mirrors they could have mercury backing so be aware.

Hi Beate, You say that you are removing the doorway on the left at the end of the bench and that the room is 9500 long, what are you planning in that extra space?

Still thinking about the splash back, I did mirror in our daughters kitchen and it worked beautifully, not sure how it's worn as they have sold, I can imagine that it would be important to have the edges sealed so that no moisture can get behind the mirror,

Just an idea to make the kitchen diner a more usable space by adding a Banquette setting, turning the desk into a side board with glass wall cabinets and removing the glass doors from the kitchen and making them solid doors, there's a trash draw on the left of the sink. Both corner cabinets are 1200 blind corner but the cabinet is only 1m long this allows for a bigger door and a better sized sink cabinet

Hi again. Yes we are blocking that doorway off and continuing the cabinets further along. It gives me an almost 5 meter run of cabinets (drawers) along bottom less the 40cm overhang of stone to allow for one stool. The upper cabinets will not be as long. Yes, I agree about the edges of the mirror and will ask the designers opinion tomorrow. Great to know that you liked it in your daughters kitchen.

This with the cook top on the other side and the small appliances bench in place of the cook top

Keep in mind that if you are trying to hide the cook top the mirror will reflect it to the other wall, I would like to see you move the cook top across to the other side so that you could have a small appliance space ie: coffee, kettle toaster, blender, juicer etc

Hi Siriuskey. Thank you for all of your effort. You are amazing!! The designer has just left and in her opinion the cooktop should be on the other side too. The idea is now to shorten the RH side run and have a wall of built in fridges, ovens etc all at 600 deep with bulkheads to ceiling.

The other run will have a two seat space with a return at the end. This is possible because we are going to shorten the other side. Hubby thinks it will close everything in too much but I like the idea. Cannot wait to see the actually drawings when they come back.

What length is the left wall which would now include the old doorway, the following link shows the style of corner cabinet I used on both sides of the sink, it can be the full height pantry on the right side and a base cabinet on the left, I think I agree with hubby, . What is going into the other end of the kitchen room, it's 10500 long?. I would also question going to the ceiling with those wide cornices.

https://www.kaboodle.com.au/products/detail/1000mm-blind-corner-pantry-cabinet

some more views for you showing the LH wall starting with Pantry/fridge/ovens/base cabinets with trash drawer and 300 deep tall bifold doors above the bench top to hide appliances, the doors are narrow so as to not project out too far when folded back.. 600 deep pantries can't go into the corner due to the window. this set up gives both great extra storage and bench/work space. This step back near the sink will make the kitchen feel more spacious as well. Please excuse the dated appliances used by my program

OMG Siriuskey. You have nailed it!!! This is almost the same as the designer has come up with. I have measured the wall with the 2 seats on the end and it is 5 meters long. Then there is a big gap for an opening coming in from the front of the house which is identical on the opposite wall going in to the back of the house. Hubby thinks that if we were to take out full height Pantry and have our pantry in lower drawers he would be happy with the wall not being nearly completely filled in. You are very clever lady. Thank you. I will show him this as I eagerly await to hear back and get drawings from our designer.

Oh I forgot to add that we have a fridge and freezer that are both integrated and take up 600mm each. Hence thinking no full height pantry.

Is that 600 wide and deep per and how much do you have to allow for installation. The 600 pantry on the end of the LH wall becomes part of the fridge freezer. Your pantry items would be ideal on the above bench shelves in the bifold small appliance cabinet.. You will also need a panel at the end beside the fridges to build them in. cheers

Now with fridges

You are truly amazing! :)

The fridge and freezer require 600 depth and width each. 12OO nails it. Love what you have come up with. Now I just need to hash it out with designer. Will post the end result. I cannot thank you and everyone that has contributed enough. It is fabulous when fresh

eyes look at things. Not to mention Clever!!!! Thank you.

good luck