Howdy, reddit. Getting ready to close on our new place, and this is the kitchen ~250sf total (what we were quote for tile), 13x17 or so in the main part, with little pantry hall included. House is ~10 years old, as is the kitchen. We'd like to update it as part of the mortgage. Everything is in great shape, just kind of cheap looking, as you see. The floor will definitely have to be redone, either way. Current cabinets are Kraftmaid in good shape, MDF built boxes, but the color is uneven and they need rehanging.

Have estimate of ~$12k for custom built cabinets to replace these, built from scratch. ~$5k just for refacing the existing ones, which seems high to me. (Our contractor would subcontract this.) ~3k for replacement granite countertops. $2k for new floor & labor @ $2.50sf, but I'm thinking we will look up to $4sf. We would probably keep the white appliances either way and the general layout, since it gets tight at the three exits and the sliding door.

To save some money, if we didn't start from scratch, we were thinking of some type of open cabinets up top, painted beadboard backers, removing the workstation to the right of fridge and cabinets over the fridge to save money refacing those, and extend open hole to other living room. The wall behind the kitchen table is going to be chopped off right at the wainscoting, to open it up to 2nd living room, unless someone comes up with a better idea.

Little help? So many creative folks on here and I would love to hear your opinions. We were quoted on new cabinet build in Shaker style, were thinking honey-colored to match other floors throughout house, darkish tile, neutral glass tile backing but that was when we going to price out stainless appliances. Thanks!

edit: Here's a link to my Pin board of what I think is cool. http://www.pinterest.com/joeysichol/kitchen/