For the type, I don't think those are so bad. I don't thin the yellow does them any favors though. I would probably paint the walls first and see how that looks, and maybe leave them along until you get read for resale.

Here's a link to a picture of some that have been painted out with new hardware.

I know there's also a DIY project where you put flat pieces of wood around the edge of the door to make the door look like a raised panel instead of that indented oak, but I couldn't find any links to that project.

Here is a link that might be useful: Painted with new hardware

I have never seen that combo -- interesting to see what standard builder fare is in other areas.

I'm not sure a painted white would work. I'd be tempted to paint or stain the oak a dark color, like black, to add contrast, and probably change the wall color, too.

I agree with Pal - those are not horrible and honestly, will be easy upkeep for students (yeah, like they're gonna clean!!!). The yellow walls are the offender here. Make sure the finish on the oak is intact because when it starts to go, it can collect grime fast. I'd probably scuff the oak up a bit and hit it with another coat of satin or matte poly.

I agree with pal as well. Change the wall color first. Then I would consider darkening the oak trim, maybe in a similar shade as the handle on the oven.

Hey, is that my grad school condo? I had a galley kitchen with the same cabinets.

Honestly, I would do nothing unless they were falling apart. You might want to consider a wall paint. Of course, my rental walls were just beige. I would have been thrilled for another color.

Thank goodness the melamine is white. This kitchen is so old, it's almost in fashion again. All the kids are into Mid Century Modern furniture now, so keep the cabinets as they are, and simply stain the wood trim a dark color like Java or Espresso, and it will fit right in with the latest trends.

I do agree with the others that the yellow walls must go. So trite yellow in a kitchen don't you think? I can't see the floor from the photo, but perhaps a taupe colored paint that is more grey than pink in tone can really get the white cabinets and appliances to 'pop' especially if your daughter adds Stainless Steel counter top appliances like a coffee maker and toaster etc.

Just remember Mom to have your daughter supply some sweat equity into this project at the condo her parents so lovingly purchased for her to live. Good luck

{{!gwi}}

my image didn't post so I'll try again

I would paint the walls the softest lightest gray and then paint the wooden part a deep gray. By doing so you could give it a somewhat updated look and the girls would be very happy with it.

Maybe paint the soffits the same white as the cabs so they kind of disappear...might make it look a little more spacious. Paint the rest a tan color pulled from the floor, which also looks to be in the same color family has the oak trim. Agree to poly the oak so it doesn't deteriorate before you want to sell in a few years.

"yeah, like they're gonna clean!" LOL, dlm...!

If similar properties had similar cabinets, I think a kitchen reno down the pike is an investment overkill for resale. Paint the walls a more fashionable color, keep it sparkling clean, and leave it at that. Maybe, maybe replace the white counter with a prettier laminate to tie in with the wall color...maybe.

I would let the daughter figure it out - seriously.

I would have been delighted with a kitchen like that in college! Ditto the advice to paint the walls and leave the cabinets alone. I'd go with white paint to match the cabinets for a clean fresh look. Your D can have fun shopping for accessories.

Those cabinets look to be in great shape for (what must be) their age which might indicate good quality cabinets. Paint the walls, maybe stain the oak, perhaps even install a colorful backsplash (does IKEA still have those backsplash sheets? They were fun), and appreciate the time capsule.

Maybe a Nagel print somewhere?

If all of the properties on the market have the same thing - or worse, changing them for resale makes no sense. I agree that they look fine for a college apt.

FYI, we bought a house for our son to live in while in college and are now about a year away from selling. I am thinking of re-doing the kitchen with Ikea because the current layout is very disfunctional, has only 1 little drawer, built in appliances that need replacing and are likely to very expensive (vs a range), and the cabinets are old, painted, built in place and chipping and would otherwise need painting. I don't think you have (or will have) any of those issues. I'm looking at other houses in our price range that are on the market and most have updated kitchens. But as I said, if all the other places in your local market are similar, leave it alone. Check out the market again when its time to sell.

Let's see:

a)Paint them glossy white (easier to clean) -- add lots of fun bright kitchen accessories. Paint the walls a bright fun color like bright green. Buy a white microwave.

b)Stain them dark brown. Add lots of stainless accessories. Paint the walls dark brown. Buy a stainless microwave. Replace/spray the oven hood to stainless.

c)Stain them (or even paint them with annie sloan paint) in gray. Paint the walls in gray too. Add lots of stainless accessories. Buy a stainless microwave. Replace/spray paint the oven hood to stainless.

My house came with those same cabinets. Small crummy kitchen in an overpriced suburb. I refaced them myself with white thermofoil doors/drawer fronts from HD. It was my first time ever using a drill, and I had a newborn, but it wasn't too hard and the end result looked pretty reasonable for a good five years (and was easy to clean). The baby is now 9yo and I'm trying to redo the whole shebang, but the reface was the best $500 I ever spent!

I have cabinets similar to that... I painted them white and added bar pulls, like the 'after' photo that was already posted. It's sort of a poor man's modern Ikea look - not great but at least it's a lot better than it was before and it will do until I can get new cabinets.

However, my cabinets were a cream/off white color, not pure white, the actual cabinet frames were oak as well as the pulls, and the countertops have a butcher block pattern. Since the counters are the same color as the cabinets, I don't think it'd look right to paint the pulls to match - it'd just be a giant mass of white plastic.

I would paint the walls a better color, aiming to coordinate them with the floor. Then re-evaluate to see if the wood trim looks alright with the new paint color - if not, paint it or stain it some sort of dark neutral.

I had a white galley kitchen very simular to that one. If you paint the walls dark it will really make the whole room pop in a good way.

Trim is a little darker and they used silver pulls.

I'd back off and let my daughter decide what she'd like. If she's old enough to live away at college, she's an adult and should make the decision.

i.m.o. whoever is doing the *paying* should get to make the decision.

I have this same cabinet in my laundry room. I added a thin profile molding ( I think it was called lattice molding) around the perimeter of the cabinet and added new pulls. I primed and painted the laminate as well as the oak trim a soft white. It now "looks"like a raised panel door. The molding needs to be thin enough to allow door to fully open as well as the door next to it. I hope this makes sense.

I completely agree with Pal regarding attempts to "update" and the results looking like "attempts to update."
I'd just clean the heck out of the laminate, clean the oak edge, and MAYBE stain the oak edge darker. Then paint the walls.

For a college place, I think it is already beyond fabulous. What a lucky gal! The cabs look just fine for what they are and the finish is very durable and easy to clean. I wouldn't change a thing. It is what it is and will serve the purpose well.

I agree with Pal that attempts to update them are just going to make them harder to keep clean and result in higher maintenance (paint chips then you have to touch up the paint, etc.). I might consider staining the wood edge darker, but that seems unnecessary for a college apartment.

I would leave them alone. Assess whether to replace them when you are ready to sell.

We had them in our last, new home. Back then, I'd never seen them before, thought they were cute & different and insisted on ordering them. :)
After 8 years though, I changed my mind and came up with a DYI plan for the kitchen. Since the sides were oak like the trim, I ordered new oak door fronts from HD and in an afternoon, the cream cabinets were gone. I worked one summer, part-time to pay for the darn things and felt really pleased with the make-over. Will have to see if I can come up with a pic.
I believe I just painted out the oak trim in the bathrooms and then painted over the whole cabinets. It looked fine!
Good luck with the decision.... :)

I scoured pinterest before deciding to paint the trim of my cabinets. Matched the color at a paint store. Bought cute pulls. Could not be happier with this inexpensive makeover. If you are considering a change, go for it!

That looks really nice.

Here's how this blogger dealt with her euro style kitchen cabinets.

http://retrorenovation.com/2013/03/26/remodel-1980s-kitchen-bathroom/

Just came across this post and I hope you've found some ideas for your cabinets! If not, I did write this article just recently that you might find helpful :) http://www.kylieminteriors.ca/5-ideas-update-european-style-melamine-cabinets-1980s-and-90s/

Cute article, I like the humor, "The 80's called, they want their cabinets back!" :)

I was surprised when I saw this old post on the front page today.

Ultimately, we left the cabinets and counters for two years the way they were. It turns out while the cabinets were unattractive and the drawer unit was in poor condition, the flat white laminate countertops were scarred with knife marks, stained easily and showed every crumb. We opted for a budget friendly remodel that included adding a built in microwave over the stove that greatly increased the counter space available in this very small kitchen. We also added a bank of pot drawers. The stove will be replaced when it is time to sell :)

Those "heinous" cabinets, along with deadly popcorn ceilings, would be deal-breakers for us when buying any property. Not only are they hideous, but they show that the owners have since done absolutely nothing to invest in their home-- a total lack of care and TLC. No Realtor would dare show us such an insulting listing.

"Heinous" is an understatement. No Realtor would dare ever show us a property with those cabinets or with popcorn ceilings. Both are deal-breakers for us in searching for homes.

Most of the people buying condos in an college town are investors to rent them out to students. They do not care. They will not replace anything until it dies.

I thought about buying that condo, but I knew all the appliances and carpeting were needing replacement. And all the applicances were apartment sized, so odd sized. Mmaybe for investment purposes I should have done it. I did buy one across from where Ilived next.