That is a tough one. How old are the cabinets? Could you just paint or replace the doors, leaving the boxes in tact? They look pretty new and nice from here. Can you replace your appliances with stainless to brighten things up a bit? And maybe lighten up the backsplash, I think that would make a difference.

I can tell you want I did that helped - I removed the upper cabinet doors altogether, and painted the insides of mine a denim blue. Not the color for you, obviously, but if you found a light and bright color you like it might be worth a try.

It all depends what YOU like. for me all the kitchens I see look just a like and frankly generic. I dont get a dungeon feel at all from your kitchen. Before you go to the expense of redoing the cabinets, try adding accessories with some punch. All you see is countertop and cabinet. A colored bowl or something. I find it more sterile than dark.

I love Bobbi's idea of removing some of the upper doors and painting the interiors. I was going to suggest painting some of the uppers as shown in photo below. But I believe I'd try Bobbi's idea first.

Aww! Thank you, Carolyn! I love my cabinet doors removed, but it was born out of necessity. One of the doors opened right up to the window, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I opened it right through the window. And then, as these things tend to do, it snowballed and I ending up doing this to several cabinets!

Actually I think your kitchen is fabulous and even you referred to it as "fabulousness"! I say you should not paint if you can find a solution.

Your Kitchen from the pic does not look dungeonous, Maybe a bit boring though, sorry, So here's what I think you could do Relpace that dark backsplash with tile I'm thinking metallic, do an interesting focal design above the stove, upgrade you r range hood to a more industrial looking one, and if in the budget upgrade to stainless steel appliances as well.

I love the rug you chose for this space and I think that These new modern touches would make it feel like a piece of art.

Your cabinets and counter tops are the same colour as mine however I have stainless steel appliances and my walls are sort of a moss/taupe with no backsplash and I don't find my kitchen dark at all. Try changing up the appliances first and then go from there.

Why not make the doors above and each side of the stove glass fronts with lighting and glass shelves for display? If you don't want to do it for all 6 doors, just do the two small ones and divide the bigger side cabinets in half so there is one long glass doored one on each side of the stove. It will take a little carpentry, but will be worth it.

Here are three of the glass door ideas.

Your kitchen has excellent potential. You say you feel it is like a dungeon. Install under cabinet LED lighting. Paint the inside of all of the upper cabinets semi-gloss white and install a light that comes on when you open the cabinet door. Rest. Repeat on the bottom cabinets.

Lighten up your backsplash. For now, stick or lean some bright shiny trays along the whole length to see what colors or metals you like the best.

I know decorative elements are very popular for the portion of the backsplash behind the stove. Instead of immediately thinking of a permanent one done in tile, look at the Houzz photo of the backsplash that was made by putting a big, bright textile behind tempered glass and attached to the wall behind the stove.

I see wide expanses of expensive, dark finishes. I do not see any bright color used for kitchen utensils, toweling, utensil holder, hot water kettle, or fruit bowl. Only the rug has bright colors.

Please do not paint the mahogany. If you really want to get rid of it, please sell the cabinet doors and use the money to buy doors in the finish of your choice. Once wood has been painted, you can't undo it and go back to wood grain.
Just for perspective, there are no native hardwoods in New Mexico, where I live. Any hardwood is a treat.

What are your thoughts?

As others said, add some color, but don't ever paint that wood. Or sell them to me.

I would put some glass windows in the middle of your top cabinets , so you can see in. You don't have to put glass in all of your cabinets, just a few. Might brighten up your kitchen.

stainless appliances and new hardware.

I certainly agree that a light backsplash could make a world of difference. Do you have undercabinet lights?

I agree with the others who say to lighten up the backsplash...that's where all the darkness is.

I would suggest (because I like bright and light kitchens) that you renovate the upper doors with glass. A cabinetmaker or any handy person can cut out the central panel and insert pretty glass. And then installing some glass shelving with lighting so the light can shine down through the glass. Paint the interior cabinet back a light reflecting color. You can also just remove some of the doors and have open shelving as is popular now. Still paint or wallpaper the back of the interior for pattern and interest. That can be a start and see how you like it before you choose to rip out cabinets. If you do, donate them to Habitat Restore or similar nonprofit.

I think a beautiful chandelier is missing. Replace rug with a round or oval one, add undercabinet lighting too. More dramatic hardware in a shiny chrome would look nice.

I think you have a great kitchen here, and I agree the units and work surfaces look great quality. You should definitely keep them unless you really hate them!

I agree that opening a couple of the cupboards with glass doors instead of the solid wood either side of the stove, and installing shelf lighting would break up the expanse of dark wood, especially if you painted the interiors.

A light coloured backsplash would also lighten up what you see as a dungeon effect.

The cooker extractor looks a little bit dated, it would be quite easy to change it for a more streamlined in cabinet one, or a telescopic design which would neaten up the look. e.g. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=telescopic+extractor&start=77&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&tbo=d&rls=en&biw=1366&bih=706&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=9sMTmQ1Aqk1DVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.richardfmackay.co.uk/View.asp%3FID%3D4599%26new%3Dpromo&docid=2rJDhaWrxr77IM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.gdbimage.co.uk/Main/_LowRes/Large/L_neff_d4672_hood.jpg&w=1024&h=859&ei=6f9SUNaQDqqk0QWF9IDwDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=643&vpy=336&dur=749&hovh=206&hovw=245&tx=133&ty=108&sig=114620888612047989098&page=4&tbnh=155&tbnw=185&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:31,s:77,i:15

Is the rug yours? I really like it, where's it from?

Have you thought about antique glazing the recessed areas of the cabinets with a putty/ light grayish color?

the cabinets itshelf is pretty nice and good, if I were you, i would only replace the counter top with quartz.

lighter color quartz, like photo attached.

Hi!
The key words in your description: Gloomy, Light, Bright, Country, Kitchen indicate how you feel and what you want for this space. With that in mind I suggest you keep the cabinets. If and I mean "if" you want to change the uppers, do glass fronts. Keeping items clean, neat, organized, and aesthetically pleasing to the eye at all times can be quite a challenge, so depending on how often you cook (think grease, particles in the air) I'd keep them as is. Replace your black counters with a light Silestone http://www.silestoneusa.com/colors/
It comes in a variety of colors and you can order a 4" x 4" sample for under 5 dollars.
Add a light tiled backsplash, update appliances and light fixtures (if budget allows) and a neutral paint color...
Definitely KEEP the Mahogany!
Good Luck!
~Natalie
http://www.allinthedetailsdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Pattis-kitchen-closeup1.jpg
http://www.kitchenbuilding.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/053420zjl.jpg

Thanks for all these great ideas! I think I'll definitely start with the backsplash, better lighting and some updated hardware (this picture was actually lit by a photographer and gives the old pot lights way too much credit.) There is under-cabinet lighting, which helps, but again the dark backsplash sucks it all in. Updating the range hood would be good too. Something less bulky maybe. Kitchen was installed in 2005 I believe so it's fairly new.

I think I have great trouble warming up to it because the rest of the open-concept living space is a bit of a modern cottage vibe: whites and blues and antique wood pieces (and we live at the beach) so the kitchen seems out of place. Choosing a backsplash that tied in the other elements in the space would be key. Suggestions for backsplash?

You might find some beach-themed light colored scrap book paper and tape it to the backsplash just to get an idea about how you like the lighter color/pattern in that space.

The rug in the kitchen is beautiful, however, there is nothing "beachy" about it. Maybe a rug made of a neutral natural material would help the space feel less formal.

Sorry, didn't specify that the picture was taken before we moved in. Rug and accessories were the former owners'.

Knowing that this kitchen is in a beach house does change one's thoughts about the space.

I would definitely put a sisal rug in there. Put country and/or beach treasures on the quarter-round shelves.

I wonder if frosted glass cabinet-door inserts on the upper cabinets might help?

Like some of the previous comments I recommend changing the appliances to stainless steel to lighten up the look. I also recommend a lighter backsplash in washed terracotta tones like the floor. Look at Country Floors for tile inspiration. Walker Zanger and AnnSacks also have some beautiful hand made tiles. I also agree about replacing some of the upper cabinet doors with glass or frosted glass to lighten the look. I would consider painting the walls a light washed terra cotta to warm up the space. You might also remove the cabinets over the stove and replace with a stone or plaster hood to break up the long wall of cabinetry. If the black granite countertops still conflict with your aesthetic, there are concrete applications that can be applied to the stone that are durable and attractive. But all that said - if the kitchen is open to other spaces and you prefer a lighter color palette and wood finishes then don't be afraid to paint the cabinets a lighter color such as a driftwood gray, gray blue or sand color any of which would go with the washed terra cotta tile floors. In this scheme you would still need to replace the black appliances w/ stainless steel, lighten up the back splash and possibly replace the black granite. I f you decide to keep the black granite counters in either scheme I recommend you have it honed which gives it more of a matt finish and makes it appear more like bluestone or washed pebbles you would see on a beach.

Not sure if this has already been said, but making some of the doors glass doors (not all of them!) instead of wood might promote a more open feeling.

Honing the granite is a good idea. Use some beach glass on the back splash. I also like the idea of taking out the cabinets above the hood and putting in a big shiny stainless/glass range hood. Are those cabinet doors on the sidesplash? those should go too.

i think the suggestion of change your backsplash for somethig lighter, change the hardware and change your appliances for stainless steel. Also you can add a surprise element like a color stove.

Paint the cabinets on the left side wall (floor to ceiling ones) a warm white. Remove some of the cabinet door and use as shelf units. Like one suggestion, add a complimentary color to the back wall. If not totally open, glass door on atleast those to the right of the stove. I'd also remove the cabinets above the stove and either hang them higher and install a microwave under it...not my favorite idea, but it does create interest to straight across cabinets. Favorite idea, install a nice hood with the soft white color with some interesting addition like corbels to dress it up some. You might even want to have all upper cabinets white and base the wood tone. Idea is to create interest and not just a wall of cabinets. This is probably the most reasonable changes to make and create a new look.

Having the upper cabinets in a light color would help. Again, I urge you not to paint the mahogany. Remove the doors, sell them, and purchase doors in the finish of your choice.

Painting the cabinets will not look as if the cabinets were a painted finish to start. And the finish will also be far, far less durable. Painting prefinished cabinetry is the first step on the road to needing a new kitchen. I would recomend doing anything but painting.

There unfortunately are too many HGTV fantasy kitchen remodels out there that are responsible for giving consumers less than professional advice. An exciting TV episode is their goal not giving reliable information. The reality is that painting the cabinetry is only a wise choice if the cabinet finish is in terrible shape AND you are selling your home almost immediately so that the paint hasn't had time to need touch ups which are just add layers to layers of paint.

If you are seriously contemplating painting -I would go to a home center and purchase a prefinished door from a damaged cabinet. I'll bet you can get a door for $50. Try your painting method on this door.
After it is dry test how durable the finish is and how you like the look feel etc. Do this test before you irreversibly paint what looks to be about 10K in cabinetry.

To me, your problem is too much cabinet all the same and painting isn't going to cure that. I'd take a few doors off and have open shelves with reasonably decorative stuff (ie china, cook books). You'd break up the monotony. You want to think about where.

Changing the black marble for something else would help, but I think it's probably a crime to ditch black marble and mahogany.