Given the three different colors of appliances, and the light wood floor, I would probably go white or antique white.

Paint it white and get new hardware. It will look great. My parents had the same cabinets and countertops. The white actually look nice with yellow counters. Remove the scallop thing over the sink. If your budget allows add crown molding along the soffit and replace the appliances. Google beadboard dishwasher and see if that could be an option for the trash compactor and dishwasher. You also could to a bead board backsplash. Don't forget to take pictures so we can see it.

Krylon spray paint your trash masher - either white or black to at least get appliances down to 2 colors. You can paint your DW too, if you choose to go white. I think your hardware looks retro cool.

They've got remodeler counters you can place over your current counters, if your budget will allow. You can redo your own backsplash on the cheap with either tile or beadboard.

If you MUST keep the counters, consider that in making your paint choice. White may end up making the counters look like the old nasty formica that they are. You might be better off with yellow (is that a yellow wall I spy off to the left?). or a color with more depth to overcome the blah counters. A lot is personal pref. though - paint them red if that will make you smile!

Whatever path you take, please replace the plug covers with some that are less obtrusive!

You can add a piece of trim to cover the "Scallop" portion just at the bottom - that way you won't have to face the awkwardness of the outdated fixture that is no doubt behind it.

Thanks for the input, I couldn't get the other pictures to load but the oven is also black and the fridge looks white but it is almond colored. I am going to replace the counter top at a later date. The adjoining rooms were painted yellow. I agree white would make the counter tops look dingy and with the almond fridge I wasn't sure what shade would go.
We just purchased this place this summer for a weekend get away place at the lake so we aren't planning to replace appliances. I like getting rid of the scallops or covering them in some way. There is a flourescent light above. I am trying to add more pictures. I did have replacing the plug covers on my list. I had wondered about painting the cabinets a gray or some color,

Trimming the scalloped edge off the trim over the sink will also help modernize the look

If this isn't your primary residence how about something more "bold" Maybe a blue. It would coordinate with the yellow on the countertop and the walls. We painted our oven door with automotive paint. It comes in all kinds of shiny colors.

What color blue? We will eventually move to this house but hope to be able to redo the kitchen before that happens,

Im wondering if painting the appliances and a good sudsy wash of the cabinets, then new or painted hardware would do the trick. Its a weekend place, dong a good job painting cabinets requires alot of prep. I agree getting rid of the scallop and maybe adding a valance, or a new light would update quite a bit. Painting appliances in this case may be less labor intensive. There is a lot of hardware to remove and put back on in the right spot with that type of hinge. There are new metal paints that adhere well for appliances if clean. Tsp, Dawn should work.

Years ago i did ethan allen blue and was a heck of lot of work and then new appliances just made it look old. you almost have to update to new, all at once.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I kind of like the wood tone on your cabinets and don't think painting is the solution (though I don't think it is a problem either, if you simply want painted cabinets as a change). What really dates the kitchen, in my eyes, is the hardware on the cabinets, the scalloped trim piece over the sink, the mismatched appliances, and the countertops. If you really want to update the kitchen I would address those (admittedly more expensive) issues. Painting the cabinets will not update the kitchen while those details are still in place. But painting them will look lovely if done along with those updates.

Definitely go with a white or lighter color.

What I would do is take the doors and hardware off. Lay the doors flat sand/prime and paint them white or spray them after filling the holes to the handles. Paint the frame whte. Install the doors and put new nobs closer to the sides and up a little more. Now for the soffit, I am not sure I would paint that white. I would maybe paint it the color of the rest of the rooms walls. As for the counter tops if you want to change them you can tile over them with a porcelain or stone tile. I have seen this done and it look very good. I would take whatever is on the back wall down if there is anything because tiling over that would not be a very good idea. After seeing the rest of your pictures, yes trim white and soffits yellow. I would try to find away to spray these because you have about 35+ to do. I would also get rid of the scallop altogether and change the flourescent light under the scallop and put something else up, maybe one of those little hanging bar fixtures, but I would do the light last. The hinges need to be sprayed the same color as the new nobs. Make sure you don't lose any hinges because they will be hard to find in the stores.

I see a lot of work here if you are going to have an overhaul later anyway. The other option would be to get rid of the flourescent light and trim over the window and the light under the bar and and put up two or three new hanging bar lights and leave the cupboards like they are. I would put 2 at the bar and you would probably have to add a box but that wouldn't be hard. Look at the loft photos for a few funky ideas. Instead of painting cupboards enjoy the lake. I agree with dianpettis

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White cabinets with new hardware would work nicely. I would remove the cornice over the sink, or cover it with something to erase the scallop effect.

By the time you spend money and time painting, replacing hardware, you could probably have purchased box store cabs and cool looking Formica countertops! Since this is your fun getaway..I am for a thorough scrub down, cleaning hinges, new formica( not as expensive as you would think) , some fun lighting and paint the room. That can all be done a little at a time.....but whatever you choose, enjoy great family time at the lake. Treasured memories are most important!!!!!!
Diane

How about a light yellow one or two shades lighter than the yellow walls? Almost white but not quite. Otherwise, blue or green. Or red, as another poster suggested. The old appliances will make it look old, so improving the overall cheerfulness is a good bet. Add vintage posters with bright colors.

A lot of great ideas! I did try cleaning the cabinets which made them look worse. We are ok with taking the doors off patching and sanding, and painting them ourselves and definitely new hardware. I love the idea of the light fixture over the sink. At one point I had the idea of painting the cabinets the same almond color as the fridge thinking it might blend in. I don't want to go pale yellow because there are alot of yellow walls in the kitchen, breakfast area and den. They used that color for all the walls they repainted including the sun room and bedroom. I am not too crazy about red unless it is on my car!

I like the cabinets and hardware- they're different. I'd just add a glaze to the cabinets and give the room an old world feel. Redo the countertops and backsplash in a travertine look. Copper and pottery accents, colorful rugs, bold wall color.

It is fairly inexpensive to just replace the doors with a full overlay and also pain the cabinets.

I say Norwood architects nailed, and if you wanted to do it your self you could go through a hardwood lumber dealer around where I am MAYAN Hardwoods they sell lumber and trim plus cabinet doors. I don't use them for that I go through Decorative specialties, or talk to cabinet maker in your area. but yeah just do new doors and paint the face frames. if you do try to do it your self figure out your hardware first I like to use blum hinges but pick out hinges first and then order the doors you need so that your overlay is correct all the way around. and otherwise don't krylon paint the appliances. and the counters look like there laminate if its a weekend get away just replace them with new laminate that's cheap and easy, but I would hire some one to do that.

Try Ikea, you assemble them yourselves and ther's a wide range of styles. They also look very expensive and have the soft close drawers with all kinds of storage options

Oh and they're very affordable!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/173810866842446805/

yeah laurie that would be very affordable, you would spend a quarter of that with just buying new doors and replace the laminate tops.

I painted mine but there is about half as many doors and drawers as you have and I won't be replacing them any time soon. I do love the kind of cabinets you have in the fact that they have doors on both sides. I had those kind of doors in a kitchen once and had new doors made for them instead of changing the whole cabinet.

Love it as it is until you can do it right. Everything sounds like a lot of effort as a bandaid. You're the judge but there's probably a bunch of potential if you stop to think and plan. Could impact other spaces too.

I'd paint the cabinets white. The countertops look like formica, is that right? If so, until you can replace them, you can primer them, and paint them a color that won't make them look
"dingy" against your cabinets, or tile them. If you don't want to remove the scallop detail over the window, how about a decorative valance to disguise it.

Go French provincial and paint the cabinets a French cream or French grey. The paint does not have tobe perfect with that look and the curvy hardware and trims would fit. Get some French look accessories and hang a couple of old copper saucepans on the wall, and buy baguettes until you do the big renovation in due time. Au revoir!

I would paint the cabinets white and keep the hardware as it adds a funky retro look. I would not worry about coordinating with the appliances. They are older and Murphy's law would suggest if you plan a color scheme around those appliances one or more will fail before the paint dries. Unless you purchase a very high end cabinet you will not get the quality you have now. I would cut down the scalloped edge. If you get a palm sander and rent a sprayer that should help cut down on labor. You will still need to hand sand the detail edge detail. These will call for some elbow grease but it will be so satisfying to see the improvement it will make to your kitchen.

Jill what a great improvement, good job!

The hardware in the middle of the doors are all in the wrong location. Someone tried to imitate raised-panel, but located the pull as if they were actually going to open the door with it. (There should be recessed areas for your fingers.) Change this visual mistake !!!

When you walk into your vacation house kitchen with an armload of groceries, do you want to say "wow" or "how pleasant"? The first calls for a color, the second for off-white.

Matching paint colors to old appliances is not a good long term strategy. Keep your eyes open for a special on a complete suite of appliances once you have extra cash to spend.

Although the elaborate pulls could be reused after being moved to the corner (they look like they'll fit), a simple plain knob would be very well suited. No need to replace the hinges if you paint the cabinets. Take them off, soak them in TSP, oil them carefully, put some candle wax on the screws, and put them back on. You'll be grateful for a cordless drill!

I was just googling photos of great old kitchens to stop my brain from hurting after watching the continual upset that is House Hunters "Destroying" and saw this post. Those cabinets are amazing. That hardware!!! It's so sad that people want the same "Shaker" or "Victorian" cabinets in grey or white, which has none of the spirit of Shaker or Victorian styles at all. I'm guessing those lovely cabinets are long gone!

Actually, we have now moved into the house and I never got around to doing anything to the cabinets. But am trying to decide again what to so lol