I would paint those babies. I would do a clean white. they are simple shaker cabinets. you need to use stain blocking primer, or better yet have them professionally done. if you do them yourself make sure you allow eneogh drying time between coats. rustoleum have good products for cabinets. also remove the scalloping above the window.

What are your countertops made of and what is your flooring?

I would remove the wooden valence & then address the flooring. The cabinets are lovely, the flooring not so much.

Shaker style is a classic, and can go modern or traditional. I agree with sacaputaslapioz on the paint, and would also suggest painting the wood trimming the soffit. Painting the cabinets yourself might cost you $100, a professional job might be several thousand, but total replacement could easily cost $20,000 with labor. The savings could give you an updated floor, among other things.

my flooring is cushion floor, was here when we moved in, it will be changed at a later date along with the other flooring in the house. the piece over the window will be going as well....the reason i was looking at darker stain is because we have 2 dogs and 3 kids under 6, so light colours dont go well lol

pine is very tricky to do in darker stains, because it will show too much the grain and be very uneven. maple and cherry are usually used to stain darker, because they show no grain. You could paint them in a taupe, a grey, or any other color you like, provided that eventually you will change the floor. with your current floor only a few shades of grey or green and a white will go. mind you, white is very washable. I have 4 boxers and white cabinets.

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I love the idea of doing a grey!, we plan on doing a grey wash flooring threw out the main floor. So it would match. Any advice on the doors? They have the false panel in them so it's not very sturdy.

I have a husky pup(will be 6months soon) a beagle, a 3 yr old and 2 6 yr olds...I'm all up for replacing what I can but with kids and dogs I don't want to sink money into brand new and it get ruined in no time...we have a few things we want to change like adding storage in the bathroom and making our basement into a finished basement with rec room and extra bedroom, but I'm so lost, normally I'm good with this stuff but I guess I'm so focused on what I don't want to see then what it could be...if that makes any sense lol

Paint!!!! Those cabinets are in good shape and it looks like they are fairly well designed and customized for the space. But PLEASE! Get rid of the scalloped edge over the window!! ;) Grey is extremely popular & we love it for cabinets! http://www.proskillnj.com/content/50-shades

i love the idea of doing dark grey cabinets! i think thats what will be done!! do you all think a grey wash flooring would like nice as well? i like to have the same flooring threw out the main floor of the house...

this is the current count top, what would look nicest with grey cabinets

I love the idea of a painted cabinet but not painting the existing cabinets. The knot holes and grain will show through the paint and it will cheapen the look. Your space looks like it lacks natural light and seems a bit dark. Of all the ideas presented in the pictures above I would lean towards the "KITCHENS 2" with the sagey green tone. Gray is a trend right now and it could look dreary over time. Find a cheerful color you can live with that looks appealing with your natural and overhead lighting.
When I read that your house is "100 years old" I immediately think painted cabinet, especially after looking at your pictures. Find a kitchen planning professional to assist you with this because you want it to feel charming and comfortable.

you can absolutely paint over knotty pine. You need a good primer and wood putty, but it can be done. Of course the pros want to sell you new stuff, and when it is needed, or you want to spend the money is just fine. But if you can and want to paint? go ahead. gets few estimates from professionals.

Thanks for all the tips, I'm still not sure if I'll paint them or just replace, but something will be done with it this summer for sure, I'm not One who likes light stain or colors, so I tend to go towards the dark colors so it may be a little hard, but I do love the idea of painting it grey.

http://houzz.com/photos/520705

Look at this color from Thomasville ....you can easily paint your cabinets this color....it's gorgeous .

@beachlily that is beautiful...i love all the ideas and im anxious for the hubby n i to make up our minds to get something started! :)

thanks @Aletha Walsh for the like on my comment