Do you have space for everything and like how it works? Then paint, redoor if needed, and consider yourself lucky.

If not, replace with a bunch of drawers. :)

We're going to keep the original site-built cabinets in our 60's kitchen, and repaint, because we have a lot of cabinets...and it would sink our budget to replace them all with new.

If I didn't have so many cabinets, though, and if I was going with new doors anyway, I'd sure be thinking about being able to replace the lower cabinets with big lovely drawers. To me, the main disadvantage to keeping older cabinets is we have to give up some of the wonderful developments in more efficient storage and easy access. Standing on your head and digging for a pan in a dark lower shelf has got to be a lot harder than pulling open a beautifully designed drawer. Sigh.

Since site-built cabinets often don't have any backs to the boxes (mine are like yours) I have wondered if they'd even be able to support the weight of granite or a solid surface countertop. In my case it's moot, since our budget will likely restrict me to laminate. Maybe something to ask about?

We will also be reshaping some of the cabinets (going from a 40" wide range to a 30") and possibly removing uppers for a range hood. If yours are like mine, it won't be easy, since the shelves are continuous and any modifications pretty much means they'll have to be deconstructed and then rebuilt. DH is not looking forward to it. But the good thing is, I haven't worried about looks, since they will be painted, not stained. With careful work, a little creativity, and a good paint job, the modifications should not be obvious at all. Or, that's what I think, at this point.

Thanks for the suggestions folks! I am going to have to talk to the contractor who is going to do the work for me see about how strong the cabinets would be for supporting some kind of stone countertop (would dearly love granite). I also hope to retrofit the cabinets with pull out devices/shelves so I can find that stuff way back in the cabinets. I will have to replace the 4 drawers I have as they are very hard to use. Gosh, when I talk about replacing drawers, adding pullouts, I begin to wonder if I should just replace everything with new, lol. But I hate to replace perfectly fine cabinets if I don't have to. I almost wish they were in terrible condition so my decision would be easier!

Put the cabinets on Craigslist or Freecycle. I'm sure your contractor would love it if you would pay him all of that labor to do those alterations! You're talking about too many modifications to be cost effective in keeping them. You will probably end up paying a bit more than keeping them, but you'll be paying mostly for the cabinets, not the (more) expensive modification labor. Yes, you'll have to pay for the install, but you should check with the cabinet store for an experienced cabinet installer who can do the job quicker and better than a general contractor. Quicker and better and less money for labor wins out!

My parents built on site cabs were not able to be altered to add a regular range( they had a 27 inch drop in that needed to be replaced). They are often all one piece and changes compromise their strength. If you are adding a dishwasher than you will probally need to replace your cabs. My parents could not donate either they are very specific to the house they were built for:(

GreenDesigns makes a really good point about the cost of labor to do the painstaking modifications. DH and I are retired and somewhat handy, so we will do that slow and fiddly work ourselves. Paying a contractor to do that work puts a much different light on it, as far as the cost effective side of your decision.

Ours will be somewhat like the cabinets owned by roarah's parents. If we took out the old cabinets, there would be nothing to donate but 65 doors and drawers. The rest would be a random pile of sticks and shelves...pretty tough for anyone to reuse in an efficient way. We have them in two rooms (big kitchen and laundry) so it's hard to justify replacing them all, though. Not an easy decision, abbey_cny! I have wrestled a lot with it...

more great advice. Thanks so much! They definitely cannot be donated as they have no backs, and were presumably bult on site for the most part. I think I am hearing what I knew to be true, but didn't want to face. They are perfectly fine cabinets, and if I didn't need to find head room for a refrigerator, and space for a dishwasher they would work fine, but when you start hacking these types of cabinets, you are probably aren't going to be left with much. I appreciate all the help, and I will now include new cabinets in the budget and start looking around for some ideas.

Abbey

My current cabinets had a hole hacked in for a dishwasher (they are site built 1956 cabinets that have been refaced and re-doored--wish they'd picked a different option than wood grain vinyl but I'm wandering here). The sink cabinet has sides built into it. If yours does too, then half your support problem is already handled.

If granite can't be put on the cabinets as is, I'd be surprised. You'd definitely want a subtop of something sturdy (common where I live because we have the thinner 2 cm stone) and once it's screwed down (with cleats on the back wall), your cabinet box will be plenty strong unless the wood is actually falling apart which it isn't.

by the time you make all the changes you wish to make you may be better off with new cabs. also i have seen the kitchens updates in the manner in which you are describing and it looks like a partial update that will require another one down the road. if you are going to throw some moeny at it, you might as well do it right if you can swing it.

My cabinets were site built, without backs and were actually quite lovely..well, the uppers were. The bases were a nightmare. The drawers and some doors always sticking, sawdust throughout my things, uneven counters that sloped, and lead paint chips all over with opening or closing drawers.

When I ripped them out they nearly wouldn't come out. Built to last, and they did for over 90 years. I think they would actually have supported a stone countertop as they were quite solid, but the nicer counter would have highlighted the not so nice lower cabinets. I think you could get away with doing pull outs if you have nice cabinets. Mine had been modified throughout the years to add a heating duct and dishwasher- and the modifications were fine. They just added a filler piece to the side of the dishwasher and lost a bit of space in order to make the doors work. When I tore them out, I was able to see the modifications that were made, but otherwise didn't really notice them.

Our 1971 cabinets didn't have backs either, but they weren't site built. I think it was just a style in our case.

Is it possible to just replace the lowers? You can keep your tall cabs and probably all of your uppers. If you need to take out the over the fridge one, you can put a new one in its place..... Get the new ones with slab doors and if they are all painted the same, it should blend fine....

btw - I know you used the phrase "perfectly good" when describing your cabs but you also say your drawers are not very functional and you have trouble getting to things at the back. I'd say they are passable at best, and to call them "perfectly good" puts guilt on you for replacing them.
I am a reduce, reuse, recycle kind of gal and hate when good things get tossed just for cosmetic reasons in many cases, but you have functional reasons to replace.....