dang it...I messed up the picture links...

http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad338/angelaj217/Saddleback%20Lane/IMG_5262.jpg

http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad338/angelaj217/Saddleback%20Lane/IMG_5263.jpg

http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad338/angelaj217/Saddleback%20Lane/IMG_5258.jpg

http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad338/angelaj217/Saddleback%20Lane/IMG_5264.jpg

http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad338/angelaj217/Saddleback%20Lane/IMG_5267.jpg

Wow. I'm not smart. Here is a link to all the pictures. Can't seem to get them to imbed

Here is a link that might be useful: kitchen photos

I wasn't able to access any of the pictures except for the first one. Love all the windows which make the space light. I would advise you to wait after you've used the kitchen for a few months before making any decisions. My old cabinets were a honey oak but in great shape structurally. They did look worn out after 30 years of use. My husband just cleaned them, did some light sanding , and then stained them a different color. However, I like the look of wood vs. painted so that was an easy choice for me to make. Got rid of laminate counter and replaced it with a granite that we fell in love with. Got new cabinet hardware, new sink, and new faucet.

Check out the Finished Kitchens Blog website. You can go to oak kitchens to see some fine examples of remodels.

Now I'm able to see them all. What a great space!!

Forgot to mention-there's something on this website called the Sweeby test that will be recommended for you to look at. What colors do you like, what style, etc.??

It may look different in person but on my computer screen looks wonderful. As Chris said live with it for a while.

I like it a lot the way it is. When I read "honey oak" I was thinking of the most basic builder type of cabinet.
Flat sawn oak is not my favorite wood, but this is a very pretty, warm looking kitchen. Try some different hardware--black or dark bronze maybe, and leave it alone for now.

Echoing sentiments already expressed. If you want to change the look after awhile; maybe you could switch out the wood frig panel for a SS one, change some hardware/hinges, and change the countertop. I love all the windows and general layout.

Congrats on buying your dream house! I would agree with others about living in it for a while and see how you feel. I think your kitchen has so many good things going for it like the great windows, decorative beams, nice appliances. I think the fact that the oak floors are close in color to the cabinets is not helping in terms of allowing the cabinets to stand out.

If you are still not happy with it painting the cabinets would be a relatively inexpensive way to lighten up the kitchen. Here is a link to some pics of the oak kitchen in our previous house that we repainted/gave a facelift to. Hopes this helps a little!

Here is a link that might be useful: Our kitchen facelift

WOW your kitchen space is amazing! I absolutely love how there is a window under the cabinets (backsplash window, I guess you could call it?)!!! I think you could definitely change up a few things, like the hardware, take the panel off the fridge for a SS one, etc. Congratulations on your new house!

What a beautiful kitchen. The space is amazing.
I think this could be your dream kitchen.

What is it you want to do?

I happen to like the shape and space but for me I would
update the counters. I love white marble and marble with
the oak would look gorgeous. Especially if I were keeping
the cabinets I would just change the counters.
If the cabinets are not your style you could gel stain
them darker. Dark chocolate is very popular right now.
Maybe it is just the wall color that might need a redo.
I happen to like it but maybe that is what you are
thinking about.

What do you love? What do you like and what is that you
want to change?

Sometimes living in the space for a while give you time
to fall in love or out of love with something and from
there you can really make it your own.

Meanwhile here are some other Honey Oak kitchens that
may inspire you to find what you like and create your
space in the kitchen you have.
~boxerpups

I love this marble and backsplash with the honey color
oak. And of course the updated hardware in SS is perfect.

Here is another with light counters.

oak looks pretty with blue

Look at this fun backsplash

I think it's a beautiful kitchen. Cheap oak is out of style but quality oak is classic and can look great. I even like your countertops, they might not be what I would choose but I wouldn't have a problem living with them for a while.

Thanks for the great tips! I think my initial reaction has been that I'm not a fan of the oaky color of the cabinets. And the hardware is not my style. I definitely plan to live in the kitchen before we do anything, but I would like to make it more my style. I have always loved soapstone countertops but I'm not sure if I should go dark with the counters. I definitely think the first step may be to change the hardware and then see what kind of transformation that makes. You have all helped me to embrace the oak. I have always had cherry or darker cabinets and have wanted painted white, but I don't think that would go with this kitchen and house.

Boxerpups--thanks for the oak pictures. I think that is just what I needed to see! And helps me to go with what I've got and learn to love it by changing a few small details...

Yes, I agree that the kitchen is not bad and I do love it. It is just not what I would choose, but rarely is a house exactly what we would choose unless we built it!

Maybe it is just your pictures, but despite all the windows your kitchen seems on the dark side. Soaspstone might darken it even more. I actually like the pulls.

Live in it for a while and see if you decide you like it.

I might paint the walls and bring in some accessories, but the cabinets are far from the crap-oak that most builders used, and they blend nicely with the other wood in the house.

Spend your money on good art!

If you get a big piece of soapstone for the island, be sure it coordinates nicely with the other counters and they will fade into the background. Remove the refrigerator panels, and bring in beautiful new stools. This kitchen has so much going for it, and you can 'make it yours' without a lot of time, money, or disruption.

I think oak is great when it's well done. You're kitchen layout and windows makes it worth keeping. Bear in mind that I have no idea what your personal style is, or that of your house. If it were mine, I might change the hardware. I think rustic looking or antique style hardware looks great with oak. And/or stain the cabinets just to gain some contrast between the floors and the celing beams.

Several years ago DH bought me a hall mirror/coat rack from Restoration Hardware. It's cherry stained oak with the antique looking hardware. It's one of my favorite pieces. The cherry stain gives it a arts and crafts feel.

Here's some pictures. Sorry for the quality, I only have my phone to take pictures.

When I saw the title, I was expecting the yellowed varnish oak of the 80s. Your has a lovely reddish tone. However, I don't think the color of the counters goes well with it, or the rest of the kitchen.

I would paint all the perimeter cabinets and refrigerator panels. Change all the hardware. If the counter is solid surface, which is what it looks like to me, I would consider keeping it, at least on the perimeter, choosing cabinet paint color that looks good with the counter. Currently the oak color and the counter color don't complement each other IMO.

I don't care for the counter shape on the island. I would replace the island countertop with a different but coordinating material. I would stain the island cabinets darker, like a walnut or even espresso color. Or paint them, a darker color than the perimeter cabinets. Maybe add legs on the corners of the overhang with apron in between.

If you were to replace the island countertop but keep the perimeter material, consider how the two surfaces look together. If the current material is a speckly light gray corian (which is what it looks like to me), Carrera marble will make it look cheap by comparison IMO. Soapstone might work, but I might stick with another manmade material like quartz or corian. Oyster Caesarstone or Zodiaq Metero Gray have both gray and brown tones, so might tie together the gray in the perimeter counter and a wood tone for the island cabinets.

To me, the uppers near the windows look odd, like they are squeezing out the windows. If I were ready to spend some money, I'd take out those uppers and replace the weird small windows with full size. I'm not crazy about the small upper/lower between the fridge and ovens, so I might take out that upper and put open shelving there.