How much light do you get in your kitchen? Personally not a fan of the dark cabinets, especially if there is not a lot of sunlight. I'd stick with white and modernize the hardware. Love the counter idea you proposed. You're right about changing the floor if you go this direction

Keep them white. You can't stain something that's been painted, anyway, at least not without a TON of work that wouldn't be worth it. Go for a countertop you love. Marble is nice, but maybe something with more contrast. I love how that black furniture looks with the white and your paint color.

Looks like you need a bigger dining table and a more substantial light fixture.

Yes, you can stain them and yes it will be alot of work...but work well worth it! I would like to see the cabinets stained.

The lighting is all just recess lighting but it's pretty bright! The living room and rest of the house has like a black, white and grey feel that's why I just love dark cabinets with a white countertop! We actually just bought the house and they left their kitchen table and that hutch thing. Definitely something new there too but if I keep the cabinets white, I want white countertops! Ahhh

Whatever way you go please do something about the ugly white trim on the peninsula- I like white cabinets with white/marble countertops and maybe switch to a dark wood floor?

Here's the living room/ look of the house, none of that is our furniture either! Just giving an idea of what I'm working with.

Right?! That trim is hideous! What about a nice white stone like in that first picture on that part of the bar area? If I go with a dark cabinet and white counter?

I think that people that are saying you can stain these cabinets may never have done so themselves. It is an enormous, messy, time consuming, multi step project. I stripped my cabinets that were stained and sealed and while they came out really nice, I can't imagine what it would have been like had they been painted. Honestly, embrace the white and get new countertops if you really feel the need for change.

I do not mind the molding so much as the blue paint with it. I would have kept it white like the rest of the cabinets. That molding should come off pretty easily.

What about the transformation kit from rustoleum that's like a glaze? Still just as difficult?

Rustoleum is DIY. You'll want to read reviews. I wouldn't want to put expensive counters on old Rustoleum'd cabinets only to find the finish doesn't hold up. Are brand new cabinets in your budget?

I agree with handyman - since the cabinets are painted, it's best to stick with a painted finish (they can only be stained if they are wood underneath - do we know if that's the case?). I think the dark espresso will soon look dated. I would re-paint either white or gray (or a combination as shown by Vanguard above). Not fond of the white molding on the gray background. Great bones - it's going to look great!