Should I paint stained woodwork just to sell house? (work, building, great)

[chet everett]

Before I'd spend any money on paint I would see just how inexpensively I could get rid of the black microhood and get a SS unit.

I understand that you are not going to list until next spring, so I would wait until then to install the thing, but that would be high on my list.

I think any staging consultant would be tell you to lose the knick knacks and toaster oven too, those are easy "no cost" details that you absolutely should do before you take any listing photos.

I might see if I could get some ideas about window treatments other than the gingham, looks dated to my eye. I know prices can be all over the map, but if you know someone handy with a sewing machine you would be delighted at the results for basically the cost of fabric...

Might be a good idea to see if the ceiling fan / light fixture can be updated. That is one of those things that designers sorta have a thing about too...

As far as "bang for the buck" I think that you could explore the idea of some kind of island or free standing kitchen work station, nice thing about that is that you can take it with you or try and sell it...

Hard to tell what kind of counters you have, but they do not strike me as either "authentic to colonial times" nor are they of any obvious recent upgrade. I know that the "first quote" from a counter-top fabricator can be very high, but if you shop around you might be surprised at just how affordable something that is more updated can be. There are lots of options. You could get something that is solid hardwood, or some kind of "green" material like bamboo. Or some sort of stone -- slate and soapstone are very authentic, there far more sources of marble and the "g word" than ever, many of them compete very strongly on price... I think you would be amazed at just how much fresher the whole area would look with such an upgrade. It would also be good to get a much more current sink and faucet. The ones you have look very basic.


The upper cabinets, with the curved detail, are not going to look magically like the semi-custom stuff I linked to from CrownPoint regardless of paint-- the stuff you got was appropriate for the time you built your home and no one will be fooled. I would spend upgrade money elsewhere.

[Lincolnian]

Your kitchen looks fitting for the house you described. Anyone who is going to want a new looking kitchen in that price range is going to put in a new kitchen. Painting over the cabinets in that price range may work well on HGTV but it's a red flag to me.

[hubandwif]

[SIZE=2][SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]First, thanks to each of you! You gave me exactly what I was looking for – a variety of professionally stated opinions; the great majority of which I agree with. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I’d like to present a bit more info that confirms most opinions and advice. We do have a kitchen island (an antique baker’s table with a 3 foot wide x 1 foot tall drawer with casters on the front legs to support the weight of the drawer) that I moved to show the SS stove and dishwasher. We are definitely “de-cluttering and de-countryfying”; I conceded the “country kitchen” to my wife when we bought the house; we’ve already removed the wallpaper and painted the walls. We are doing the same throughout the entire house. I like the new curtain idea, my wife sews…I plan to get new chrome and brass pulls for the cabinets. I also like the “allowance for painting idea”, but the real issue was – will the house “show better” with painted cabinets? Concerning the “far more appealing room”; we just did the largest guest bedroom in pale blue walls with off-white trim, crown molding, and your basic shabby “chic” off-white bedroom furniture. Also, one of you raised a good point about white cabinets and stained woodwork not working together at all.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I’m a strange bird, a macho duck that loves design; landscape, interior, house, early American antiques, and I built some of our furniture from old wood as 1750 – 1820 reproductions, e.g. king size pencil point bed, dining room and kitchen tables, huntboard, etc. I just designed (w/o an architect) our dream home being built right now on top of a mountain in Hendersonville, N.C. where we will move in a year. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]As to preparing the rest of the house and yard – I’ve got the curb appeal well in hand – see the pics. They were taken from the only angle from which you can see the house from the street - because the house is literally surrounded by trees….I designed the landscaping and gardens precisely for curb appeal, authenticity and low maintenance. So far this year, I’ve power washed and painted the entire exterior, including the brick walks and patio, new post and mailbox, lawn is picture perfect, flowering plants and shrubs at all seasons, “stunning in spring”, will repaint and recarpet the entire interior, will refinish and “lighten” the wood floors, fireproof shake roof has 20 years of warranty remaining, the counters (fine terrazzo Silestone) kitchen sink and faucet are 3 years old, all appliances also 3 years old, I’m thinking of replacing the ceiling fan with a pendant fixture over the kitchen table, (give me feedback on that, please!) I’m also gonna install can lights in the kitchen ceiling. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]BTW, the house is in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Northern Virginia; South Run in Fairfax Station, which STILL is the ONLY neighborhood built saving every tree possible: 520 acres, 520 houses on half acre lots with 100’ trees dominating everything, also tennis, pool, sports field, directly adjacent to county lake and parks, etc. World-Class schools. So if ya’ll know anybody moving here next year – please let ‘em know. [/SIZE][SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Again, thank you all for your advice and opinions, and I’m sure I’ll have other questions as I move through my 2 page list of “To-Dos” before FSBO next spring Horrors - one of them ; )! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Best Regards,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]John/Hub[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][/SIZE]

[chet everett]

Sounds like a solid plan!

The exterior is quite appealing, I would say that if you have two pages of "to dos" it will be magnificent!

You would be surprised at how different things can look if you just do some basic staging and get a photographer that will frame rooms for best effect / work to adjust lighting/ exposure for the most highlights.

Good Luck!

[Uconn97]

I think your home is very nice. i would not paint any of your cabinets or woodwork. Focus on what others have said, (paint, clutter, cabinet pulls, fixtures) and you'll be fine.

[crazyma]

Not a realtor, but your post caught my eye as I had debated painting my cabinets. Plus I like to fell over, your kitchen cabinetry/layout looks SO similar to mine! At first I thought it was!
I would say do not paint them. Save the time & expense for absolute have too's.
In this market I would not spend one blasted cent more than absolutely needed, HGTV be damned. Unless you have deep pockets, best make sure you aren't gonna overdo for the neighborhood. Clean, uncluttered and well maintained are the key I do believe. Anyway, no matter what you do, someone (buyers heh) will find something to complain about.
Good luck - it looks like a nice home!

[arkcitynative]

Here is my suggestion that I think will help update and not cost too much money. I would look into getting new doors for just the top cabinets. The curved part sort of screams country kitchen 80s to me, however, I think the bottom cabinets with the straight line are more modern.

I am not even sure I would replace the countertops. I really think it would change the kitchen dramatically with new cabinet doors stained to match the rest of the cabinets. Plus as others have mentioned new cabinet pulls.

You might even look into a couple of cabinets with glass doors as this could help to lighten up the kitchen by not having the cabinets be completely dark wood. Glass cabinet doors are pretty popular at the moment.

Good luck!

[TampaKaren]

I really like the contrast of paint and textures on the exterior. I'd like to see more of that in the kitchen. IMO, the cabinetry and floor are too matchy-matchy. Introduce some contrast and please remove or replace the blue-checked valances with something more current.

[beachmouse]

The cows in the kitchen need to go too.

As for ceiling fans, they've gotten a lot more aesthetically pleasing in the last five years. You can replace it with something a lot nicer.

[RobE]

You can offer to have the cabinets painted white if the buyer would prefer that as part of the purchase terms if a potential buyer raises concerns about the way they look now. Until then, leave it alone. Your kitchen is fine.

I am personally not going to refuse to buy a home due to the color of the cabinets unless they are just so badly handled or the wood is in just such bad condition it is an eyesore.

And by the way, getting rid of wallpaper is always a good idea. I hate wallpaper.

So relax and tell your agent that you appreciate his/her concern for wanting to ensure the property gets sold, but on this one you will just agree to disagree but will change your mind if buyer responses dictate.