What would you do in this kitchen? (pic attached)

[blacktilesbegone]

We inherited this kitchen when we moved a couple of years ago. It's about 12 years old and in great nick so I'd feel bad ripping it out, plus we could really use the money elsewhere!

As username suggests I hate the black tiles with a passion and neither am I keen on the modern gloss doors, but I suspect new tiles might distract from this, as well as maybe new handles? We are putting down an oak floor.

Usual style is quite farmhouse - I like lots of white paired with warm, natural textures. Have been thinking of a light brick tile (travertine perhaps) but not white as I think that would clash with the cabinets. I'm a bit stuck about the tops of the cabinets and think maybe I should put baskets or crates up there along with some greenery?

Had a similar issue and hated the wood trim on our kitchen. Painted it out with Frenchic paint in dark grey and left the cream cabinets. Looks lovely and cost £20 for the paint. Check out the frenchic friends page on Facebook for inspo! You can either retile, paint them or even use the stick on tiles to cover up, there are some gorgeous designs out there and not that pricy!
You can also wrap the worktops or replace and you’d have a lovely new kitchen for not a lot of cash or effort!

I actually like that

I'm another who thinks there is nothing major wrong with it, we have also moved into a kitchen that is not our taste, it is liveable and will get done in time.

Get the spice rack in a skip, 2 floating shelves. One with microwave on one
With spices you use in little pull out baskets. That’s so dating
The cupboard and tiles don’t go at all so changing either ways works
Get the spatulas etc in a cutlery draw
Clear sides
It’s got ok bones but they’ve done too opposite aye

If you're going to paint the tiles or change them I wouldn't go for anything cream or white because it'll clash with the cabinets. I'd go with a light sage green perhaps. Especially if you want more of a country feel.

I like it too. I wouldn't waste money changing it.

I'd just replace the black tiles with travertine in various earthy pastel shades. It will really lift it.

Or you could get away with a patterned tile if everything else will be plain. It could look quite farmhouse ish.

I agree with pp who say don’t waste money, it’s nice as it is. Painting the tiles a lighter colour and the trim will make a difference and then reassess. The tops are missing a trim which is probably more noticeable due to the boiler cupboard but painting the trim may disguise that. Start with the tiles but don’t become discontent otherwise you could spend a lot tweaking it but never be satisfied.

Leave it. Then save for new. We have just ripped out a farmhouse style kitchen. 15 years old came with the house when we bought it 3 years ago. It worked but style wise I hated it. By gutting kitchen we’ve been able to switch layout slightly to make it more functional and create more storage.

We’ve also found out (yesterday on day one) that our kitchen wasn’t wired up properly. Sigh. But it means we can get things done properly.

There does seem to be a tendancy to rip out perfectly good kitchens nowadays if they're not ultra modern. You only have to watch Escape to the Country, A Place in the Sun etc for a lot of jaw dropping examples of people turning their noses up at perfectly nice kitchens.

I totally get it if it's a layout or safety issue but a lot of the time it's a huge waste of money and resources. Fashions come and go. I'll bet there are a lot of grey gloss kitchen cabinets being tossed into skips as I type as dark blue is now the 'in' colour. Or had that ship sailed already? I can't keep up.

Go for mid green metro tiles in a shade you love, not like. Possibly over the top of the black ones to save money.

I think it will transform the kitchen

I'd paint out the wood filler pieces first which will reduce the visual clutter.
Replace handles with black ones if you like Farmhouse.
Stick on tiles, maybe Provencal style.

If uou want to keep the spice rack, decant them into matching jars. It will make a load of difference

I haven't read all the replies so sorry if it's been mentioned. Have you heard of fablon? It's a thick plastic coating you can cover surfaces in. I would use that on the doors and the bits between the doors to make them all one colour. Then paint the tiles a lighter colour. You can use the fablon on the worktops too if you want. I've had one down for over a year now and it's in great condition.

Look on the Frenchic Fan Forum which is a Facebook page for Frenchic paint. Hundreds of pictures and descriptions of how petite have painted kitchen cupboards and tiles for cheap makeovers.
I’ve used the paint to do a upvc door, and it is really rough and looks great.

Why not have a splash back instead of tiles?

Changing the tiles will make a huge difference. I'd go for a really lovely tiled splashback like the ones they put in on the US and Canadian shows on HGTV. It will make a huge difference.

Not what you asked for but one thing that struck me is how close to water one of the sockets are. Washing things up and you could easily get water on that socket.

I don’t think it’s that bad, other than the tiles. I’d swap them for something sand/stone coloured, natural and lighter coloured. I’d have got rid of the spice rack, but you like it so great. I think new flooring and tiles will make it much better.

Paint the tiles! We painted our horrible kitchen tiles looks fantastic... Now colour choice and application is very good as long as u prepare the surface well.

Do you use Instagram? If so have a look at instagram.com/mishkashoe?utm_medium=copy_link

She has done wonders covering a gloss red kitchen with various techniques, it looks amazing!

I think you could make a really great modern kitchen out of this space. I'd sand down the wood trim, paint it and then add some different tiles to further brighten the space. I think you could probably keep the tiles though if you wanted to keep the work to a minimum.

New sink/tap!

It looks very nasty/cheap/impractical. When buying a house I judged every kitchen on the sink/tap.

It looks fine. Good for a few more years yet.

@JustWonderingIfYou

New sink/tap!

It looks very nasty/cheap/impractical. When buying a house I judged every kitchen on the sink/tap.

Wow, they are so cheap and easy to replace too.