Are your current doors and drawers in excellent condition and in a style that you like? If you love your current cabinetry and think it is good condition, then go ahead and just paint. I know with my cabinets, my doors were in good condition but my drawers were a mess (sticking, sagging etc...) so I will be replacing everything. On option 2, will the be replacing the entire drawer box, or just the face front? If you love the new door and drawer in Option 2 and hate your current door & drawer, this might be your best bet. Also, are your current cabinets white or oak? If they have a lot of knots, the texture will show through even after you paint.

Are you going for a contemporary look in the kitchen?

Have you considered getting all new cabinets at IKEA? There has been a lot of success on this forum with IKEA. Just a thought.

If you are looking for new kitchen cabinets I would highly suggest Wood-Mode Brookhaven .. First Wood-Mode cabinets installed in 1972, updated cabinets in Sept 2007, old cabinets looked as good as the day they were installed but we wanted to update .. Wood-Mode has web site where you can find a dealer in your area, check business records before you contract with a dealer .. If you are looking for wood flooring I would suggest PermaaGrain, they have a web site .. you would buy direct from them .. my daughter is a project manager & has used this flooring in her projects .. great product

How nice of Joe to join today and plug specific products... This smells a bit SPAMMY. Not that WoodMode doesn't make excellent cabinets -- but add another 0 to the cost of your project.

I don't think the exposed hinges are a big problem, so I'd go by the overall shape and condition of your current doors and cabinets. If they're good - keep 'em and save the money for something more important to you.

I agree: it depends on the condition of your current door and drawers as well as how you like the style. If you like everything but the color, then paint. If that's just a holdover fix, then spring for the extra few grand and get doors and drawers you love.

Also depends on how long you're going to be in the house. The longer you expect to live there, the more worthwhile it is spending to get exactly what you want.

I had a similar dilemma in my last house, but the cabinets were already white. I switched the ugly brass hinges for white ones, and they just disappeared. Then, I spent all my money on a new island. (WoodMode, strangely enough. Hee hee)

I bought the hinges at HD and they were cheap. I even did it myself, and if you knew me you would understand how remarkable that is. I'm the opposite of a DIYer. I can post a pic if you want.

Can you seek around for a local cabinet maker? I am not a fan of MDF and wouldn't want it in my kitchen...you will find some good cabinet makers out there that don't cost an arm and a leg and use only wood products...I paid 8k for a complete kitchen...solid maple/alder (11x14 + island) frames and all..and hidden hinges...I would never have found this maker on my own....I bumped into someone who recommended him and he only works on referrals, never advertises..he's not even in the yellow or white pages! So they're out there..you just need to look!

Tara

I also had this choice to make. My cabinets were in good shape so I had them painted and glazed. The hinges I wanted were not cheap so they were spray painted to match the hardware and no one would ever know.
Plus that allowed me to afford the cost of a new island and granite countertops. I'm for saving money wherever possible.