Off white cabinets with bisque appliances is a great look. Whitewashed maple is a great substrate for paint if you want to DIY the job, or if you want to pay to have it done, expect 3-7K for a professional job.

Look for celticmoon's instructions on gel staining. The gel stain is treated like a paint, don't wipe it off, and wait a long time between coats for it to dry thoroughly. It's followed up with a topcoat in satin.

The directions are on Buehl's "New to Kitchens" thread.

I've done all my vanities. They look great.

Ah, yes: The famous pickled maple style of the '80s. If they are in good shape and you like the style, the solution is a coat of Kilz and then whatever color you choose. Also, I agree that white with the bisque could look subtle and refined, rather than mismatched. If you are uncomfortable with that, try some pale greeny grays.

Cheers.

Gel staining on top of pickled cabinets is ill advised. You might as well paint them dark brown. It would be less effort and come out better.

And I agree that the bisque appliances can look great with a wide variety of white/off white cabinets or even the grays/greens/taupes, etc. It won't be a problem at all to find a color to make keeping the bisque work. However, do check the actual age of the appliances. Bisque appliances usually (not always) mean that they are late 80's to mid 90's appliances. They may all need replacement within a short period of time if they are of that vintage, so factor that into your potential budget as well.

What's the countertop?

Agree that gel stain may not cover well. Too light a base.

What style are the cabinets? The room? Paint might work best. If a cottage look would fly, check out Annie Sloan chalk paints. Relatively pricey, BUT goes a long way, and no need for the Kilz priming step so you might come out ahead. The final look has a very striking luminous depth. You could probably do the whole kitchen for less than $100 in product.

Here is a link that might be useful: chalk paint in kitchens

I have a problem with any matte finish paint like chalk paint in a kitchen. It might look great for a month, but that's it. It simply isn't cleanable. It burnishes to the touch as well. It's not suited to a kitchen environment.

I find the whole chalk paint craze incomprensible.

Wow...what a mix of replies....but I appreciate them all.

Livewireoak, you might be right about the ages of the appliances...maybe I had better figure in the cost to replace them also.

I do not know what the counter tops are...but suppose they are some type of laminate.

If I would go with white appliances and paint the cabinets a light yellow or some other color, do you think I would ruin my resale price?....I am 70 and might not need it long.

Sherwin Williams "Creamy" color may be a good option, phoggie.

I have bisque appliances, all purchased within the last four years--fridge last year, DW last month. I used 'Adobe White' for cabinets, although those cabinets are uppers, or across the kitchen from appliances. Base cabinets are 'Dried Hydrangea,' a golden green. The ceiling is 'Gelato in the Park,' a light yellow-green.

For the cabinets I used oil-based primer, recommended by paint guy, and latex paint in soft gloss. The walls are 'Adobe White' in satin. Other than paper towels, there is no pure white in the room. Because the appliances, cabinets and walls are the same, it all reads white--just a little softer.

BTW, my aunt has pink-y 'pickled' cabinets, done in 1993, and she still thinks they're the latest and greatest. :)

Phoggie- Check out Fishies' post on her yellow kitchen...I don't think yellow and white will be difficult to sell, at all. It seems VERY popular :)

The pic in the link has the old DW, which broke down during the second load of dishes in the new kitchen. :[

Here is a link that might be useful: Adobe White/Dried Hydrangea budget kitchen

mama goose....I love your kitchen.

BTW...I had a good friend who built a new house last year and she put bisque appliances in it...everyone told her she was dating it, but she said that she just didn't care..so if the appliances happen to be somewhat new, I'll find someway of working with them...

Thanks to all for your posts about this....but keep them coming.

I moved into a condo a few years ago that had the "pink" maple cabinets. They were in great shape, so I had them professionally painted in a creamy white. They turned out just beautifully! Here are some pics:

marita40--what a difference! Nice job!

Thanks cat mom. Even after the cabinets were painted I still "saw" pink for awhile! Weren't they something?

Marita, those look wonderful! We are closing on a house next week with this very finish on the 10 year old cabinets and I had thought I'd just live with them for a few years, but now I'm wondering why I should when yours turned out soooo nice.

Thanks for sharing!

I repainted some bookcases white wash with the white Cabinet Coat paint, came out great.

LOL Fori re: Restoration Hardware!

Phoggie, if you like the place other than the cab color and the appliances, I think you should decide what color appliances you will replace the existing ones with when they die or your money tree is flush. Then pick a paint that will work with the existing appliances and the new ones.

A nice cream colored paint my work, or maybe a chocolate brown.