Why paint? Selling or just want a new look? Try taking a spare floor tile to the paint store to pick out some off whites. Test on foam core boards instead of the wall.

Your cabinets are beautiful, and it would be a shame to paint them. But if you decide to, you need to hire it done as they aren't as easy to paint and have look good as the home reno shows on HGTV make it appear.

Agree, your cabinets are nice. Change hardware to oil rubbed bronze or black and change counter and backsplash. Maybe go lighter on the backsplash and darker on the counter.

I would suggest making the cabinets darker. You have great variation on height. Change out the countertops and hardware. Paint the walls. I have two pictures which may help you.

Just wanted to maybe lighten up the space. I feel like the cabinets look like builder grade oak. I definitely will have a professional paint them if I go that route. After your suggestions maybe I will just change the counters and back splash. Thanks for the comments everyone and thanks for the pictures @bellburmaggie. I do like the darker cabinets.

If you darken the cabinets, you will need to add a lot more lighting. Have you considered changing the lighting? you might try new lighting before making a decision about paint, countertops and backsplash?

because it is not a large kitchen I felt it could handle the drama of a darker cabinets. You can easily put in under cabinet lighting and punch it up with lighter backspash and counter tops. I tried to find a picture with similar flooring color.

I agree they look very builder grade and the color actually washes away light. Another look would be white cabinets with crystal knobs, to add sparkle. I generally like white cabinets but for some reason, that space was calling for drama and darker cabinets with some sparkle in the backsplash. GOOD LUCK!!!

Also, you can reface the cabinets for less $ than replacing.

I like the idea of staining them darker. Either way, leaving them or staining them, I would go with a very light backsplash and counters, white or ivory. Otherwise the kitchen will be too dark overall. Also change the hardware on the cabinets.

I think your cabinets are very nice! However, if you just need a change, think lighter but not white white. Your floor is cream it appears to me. So stay neutral in your cabinet color with darker hardware or stainless steel hardware. Think about darker countertops with simple coordinating backsplash. You always need a focal point to jump off of. Mine was changing my white cabinets to gray. Everything else flowed from that choice. So, find YOUR focal point and choose everything else around that.

@apple_pie_order thanks for the suggestion about lighting. I hadn't thought about that.

Sandy's hopper thanks for the advice!! I am very indecisive and always second guess my decisions. That's why I thought I would seek advice here. Now I am torn between leaving the cabinets as they are or painting them. Decisions, decisions. I guess I will definitely change the hardware as mentioned by several others.

i would definitely lighten your kitchen up with painting. I am a white cabinet fan however, maybe you could do something darker on the bottom, white on the top. given your floors i would think a darker neutral on the bottom in the natural family. white uppers. counters could either be a crisp white quartz or a speckled granite. backsplash could go natural stone looking or a cool subway tile-maybe glass or something modern or of course you could go classic white. if you are making all these changes i would consider changing out the sink.

Remodel260 I agree I need a light backsplash and counters. I did pick out a few samples today for the backsplash. They are a glass/stone mosaic look because I was figuring on white cabinets.

Suze 123 Thanks for the suggestions. I am also a fan of white cabinets. We were actually going to put hardwood floors down, the flooring now is actually a vinyl that looks like tile. This is what started the while talk to changing the cabinets. The orange-yellow looking cabinets with the hardwood flooring just seems like it would be too much and all look one color.

light and glass will still work, maybe something with a green tone to it?

Everyone seems to be going to white cabinets or very dark. Yours look very recent and like they are in good shape. 1st get good under counter LED lighting & one very special hanging pendant for over the counter bar. Remove everything from the tops of the cabinets and the counters. Do you have good lighting over the sink? Get that if not. Go with an off-white porcelain matte subway tile laid tight with a medium gray grout. Lay it in a running bond pattern. Please do not use a glass backsplash. It takes special handling to install.

It looks like your countertop may be corian. If it is a good surface leave it. If not, choose an off-white silestone or a very light marble color quartz material. You can also have an integrated large single basin sink or a farmhouse sink. Your cabinets are lovely and very stylish as is. Do those things as well as installing new hardware. Maybe oil rubbed bronze. Do not go with a dark backsplash or counter top, you will forever regret it. Paint your walls in the kitchen a cheery color such as almost white teal or almost white blue.

After that is done, place only those things back onto the counter that you must have there. Get a new Roman shade for the window that goes with your paint color. You will love the changes.

Your appliances and floor look great. Cabinets are very nice as is. If you want a white kitchen, either have them professionally sprayed ( including the proper prep) Benjamin moore white dove or similar warm white. I like stainless cup pulls for drawers and simple knobs for doors. Or for a country grey white effect use Annie Sloan limewash paint ( google this there are you tube videos) which looks great with natural oak grain ( less maintenance than white paint but when the gray trend is over you would need to reface). Change the backsplash if you can to simple subway tile.

The cabinets do look nice with the varying heights and molding but appear "heavy". Consider glass insets (remove center panel from existing doors) and interior lights on select cabinets. Consider exchanging the cabinets over bar for open shelves: this allows window light to brighten kitchen and improve visual flow between rooms. I prefer a microwave cabinet: both for appearance and function. Like the idea of retrofitting cabinets with wine rack, open plate rack, etc.. These moves also make you organize and de-clutter. If you then want to paint white or stain dark, all these ideas will work with that too. Your flooring choice will influence which way to go.

Darken counter tops (quartz) and lighten the back splash - something with some interest and pattern. Kitchen seems dark and heavy.

Sandyshopper: what color gray did you use for kitchen cabinets and what color are the walls? Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore? I'd love to get rid of my golden oaks!!

I think a new blacksplash is a great starting point. If you wish to paint...consider white uppers and darker lowers..

For the tile consider a create resource...Walker Zanger.

I have a few blog posts that may help..

www.timothyriversinteriors.com/blog

Timothy Rivers Interiors , I checked out your page and your work is gorgeous. I am picking a backsplash and will decide what to do from that point. Thanks!

Shoulderdoc and jhmarie I am going to take your suggestion and put in some glass panels on a few cabinets whether I paint them or leave them. I am sure my husband will just love me for this.

Thanks Louisa McConnell, I have checked out the Annie Sloan chalk paint and thought about using it but if I paint them I will probably just hire a professional and use BMW or SW.

Sandradclark I have good lighting over the sink, I think I will get some kind of pendant lighting over the bar area. The counters are actually laminate so they will be replaced. Either granite or a quartz, possibly even just a solid surface. I will also get a new shade for the window and paint the walls. Thanks!!

since you are putting new wood floors in that gives you much greater color options, maybe a blue gray on the bottom or even dark-black or navy with a crisp white counter. i think sometimes the white looks lighter and brighter when it is in contrast to a dark bottom cabinet. also, i agree with the above posters glass front the cabinets on either side of the window. it will feel lighter. if possible move everything off the counters except one decorative or accent item. it will seem so much bigger. Good luck and please post after pictures!!

Wendy Pritchett........I used Sherwin Williams Repose Gray on the cabinets, Agreeable Gray on the minimal kitchen wall which was above the cabinets and down the side of cabinets and Accessible Beige on the hall way which connected to kitchen. I must say the color chart is a bit deceiving as is lighting. Although I am well pleased with the way it turned out, the cabinets are much more gray in the evening under LED lighting. In the natural light, they look more taupe. This may be a problem to someone, but it doesn't bother me because the Silestone countertop in Mountain Mist pulls it all together regardless of the lighting.