What to do with glossy kitchens?

[DuntingCurtains]

We have a high gloss kitchen (like the picture) with white worktops. The trouble is, the rest of the house is a country modern decor and not modern. It's also very much in the countryside.

What can I do to update this cheaply? Some people have suggested stick-on cupboard colours, replacing the cupboard doors, adding dark handles, changing the worktop to wood, etc. Has anyone tried anything to reduce the gloss and make it more fitting with a country decor?

I don’t know if just adding homelier items would help eg changing the stools, having a different colour toaster and kettle etc. I know it doesn’t ‘fit’ for you, but does it matter so much? It’s a lovely kitchen!

It looks like a really nice kitchen, I'd keep it as it is

I don't think a house has to match a certain theme the whole way through surely? The kitchen looks nice. Some nice plants / flowers in vases etc will do the trick.

This shows a high glass kitchen that was wrapped to a Matt finish. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuCqv3lN9HN/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

I'd put a couple of runners on the floor and change the three lamp shades and stools.

A vase with fresh flowers too.

We bought new door and drawer fronts from DIY kitchens and it made a huge improvement.
I agree with you OP, I'm not a fan of shiny kitchens that look like laboratories, especially when the rest of the house has a different feel. It's tricky when it a quality kitchen that is still in good condition.

Following this for ideas as I hate my high gloss kitchen now! @Mazuslongtoenail I can't see the Reel on IG that you have linked. Do you know the IG account name and I'll follow them? Thanks

That's genius @crazycatladie . I can really picture that and see it making all the difference.

OP, you could also change the chairs for something less 'airport lounge' and the silver light shades for coloured enamel lampshades. Might cut down the glare on the units.

It’s alittlecotswoldhome and the reel is from 23rd June.

I think it's a lovely kitchen.
I do think there are lots of cupboards though... so to make it more homely/country vibe I would take off all the wall units above the worktops and replace them with some open shelving with plants/recipe books/teapots etc and leave some empty wall space for some photos or art work maybe? I would also change the splash back to tiles or just painted wall and change the bar stools for wooden or wicker high chairs.

So many fantastic ideas here! Interestingly @Mazuslongtoenail's link has a house very similar in decor to ours, and I love the matt look. Should I add handles?

@crazycatladie brilliant ideas, and easy to do, should I also make it a laminate work top?

@ThirdOne I actually thought of that but we need all the storage! Our cupboards are filled to the brim with stuff that can't be displayed

I like it as it is. Matt doors are much harder to keep clean than gloss. Also modern kitchens and bathrooms look perfectly fine in period homes

Also modern kitchens and bathrooms look perfectly fine in period homes

I agree and wouldn't mess about with the kitchen doors or handles.

I also agree that f your bar stools are like the ones in the photo I would change them, definitely. and the lampshades.

A few plants to soften the look would be a priority for me.

DC Fix is a brilliant door wrapping. I did all mine myself, really easily and cheaply in soft matt white and changed the handles and they look fab! It's quick to apply too.

Paint the ceiling a nice shade of green. Agree with changing the light shades and stools, go for wood/ wicker. Pictures on wall, plants.

I'm not sure I'd change it if it's in great condition. Change walls between base and wall units to sage green, wicker/string lamp shades and some plants. If you are going to change the doors, maybe just do the tall bank of floor to ceiling wall units. The matt black look in that Instagram link is also going to date and will make your kitchen seem gloomy. Looks like you only have light at one end as it is.

It's a lovely kitchen. The only thing I would change are the floor tiles and some of the accessories introducing natural wood finishes

We painted the walls a really deep, strong blue- royal rather than navy- to make it less clinical and more Mediterranean, and added pictures and a few accessories with the same vibe and a few plants. Also swapped the glossy white table for an industrial style raw oak one, and white pleather chairs for tan. I’m still not a fan of the white gloss units, but the room as a whole is now warm and cheerful, not cold and clinical.

Am I he only one reading the op as the photo of the kitchen is like her kitchen, but not her actual kitchen?

Sorry I don't think this style looks great in an old house in a rural location. Personally I would change the cupboard doors.

Yes why wouldn’t you change the doors if it bothers you? Surely that would transform the vibe

Change cupboard doors to shaker. Worktops look great. Brass cup handles on shaker. Rug.