These might look nice painted grey. Also changing the maroon paint on the walls.

I vote for embrace. Maybe go with a dark or black countertop and make the walls a bright white

New handles would help a lot. Repainting to get rid of the pink (?) would also be a nice update. Is that a popcorn ceiling over the fridge? It can be scraped off. It would make sense to save money on more expensive options, such as countertops and backsplashes, until you can afford to update. However, you might well be able to find such budget-friendly options as stone-look laminate, pre-fabricated granite, or promo tile to add some updates without a major investment. Try to do it all for under $3000 for now. If you get most of it done and really don't like the cabinet color, you could re-stain, but make sure it is done properly. A professional job will not be inexpensive, but an amateur one could look pretty dire.

Thank you for your input. As long as we are at it, what do you all think about a desk in the kitchen? I am thinking of placing a wine fridge where the desk is and making that section of the kitchen more of a beverage center vs. a home "command center". The countertop would all need to be raised to the same level if I put a wine fridge underneath. Would that be too long of a span of the same thing: same counter height, big wall of cabinets. How else could I break up the lines and add interest?

Paint them and replace the pulls. Are the pulls screwed on from the back? You'll have the opportunity to change the shape and position of the pulls or add knobs instead of pulls if you paint the cabinets white. The paint color is horrible with the orange in the cabinet wood.

Not a pro here, and definitely "decorating challenged", this is just my opinion. The paint color seems wrong to me. If/when you do paint, paint the underside of the soffit the same color. Some nice black or ORB handles would help, too, as long as they fit in the same holes.

I have a beverage center in my kitchen and I really like it. If you raise the counter in that area, what about the short cabinet underneath? I generally dislike command centers right in the kitchen because they are usually cluttered. But yours looks very neat.

I like the cabinets. Replacing the hardware would help. You could also repaint room and change counters.

Do you need a full size wine fridge? We have re purposed a dorm size one when our kids moved out of on campus housing. One should fit under the desk especially if you remove the drawer. You could save it to stack on others if you raise the counter for resurfacing.
Could you replace the slats with frosted glass on the doors?
Even if it is quality wood, if you don't like the door style repainting will not fix that. It might be cheaper and much easier to replace the doors and drawer fronts than add panels and trim to the door then repaint.
I would lighten the wall color a lot unless you are pointing the cabinets white. A light clean lined backsplash would brighten things and it a doable DIY. Just my two cents.

For sure replacing counter top. Thinking St Cecilia granite in photo. Then, ORB or black hardware. Also thinking of darkening the island base, walnut color stain perhaps to use all the colors in the granite. Would definitely change the wall color too.

I would leave cabinets as they are. Change paint, countertops and hardware. The wine fridge sounds like a good idea if you enjoy wine. Raising that counter area seems like a good idea.

I'd just paint the walls and change out the cabinet pulls. It'll look fine for now. When you really remodel you're probably going to be reconfiguring the space, so don't waste your money now.

I would repaint the room first and see if that changes how you feel about the cabinets. They look like high quality and not your usual oak veneer builder basic. In fact, I'm wondering if they are maple rather than oak since I don't see any obvious grain.

I don't mind the countertops either--they are neutral and go with the floor tile. I think granite is heavy (check your framing) and expensive. It will be thousands of dollars to replace them all. I would only do the island to reduce costs for the impact. Quartz or recycled glass might be an option and is a lot easier to maintain than granite. Then pick a wall color to complement, and a backsplash if you want to go that route. It all can be done in stages to reduce immediate costs and to give you time to find what you really like.

I'm one of those folks who hates to see good condition and nice wood painted, but your cabinets have nice detail that would look great painted or laquered--sort of modern cottage. If you really hate the door style, then consider the new doors. Baker Cabinets can be ordered online built to size in a variety of styles and finishes at a reasonable price, but it will add up.

I agree a small fridge and leaving the counter is a good option to turn the desk into a beverage center. My brother has a wine fridge in his kitchen (came with the house) and it holds more water and yogurt and such in it than wine! You can even get a glass front one if you really wanted. Otherwise, custom building a drawer unit to fit on top of the existing cabinets might be an option to raise the counter. Baker cabinets can do that as well. Or check with a local cabinet shop, which can be more reasonable than you think.

I think the cabinets remind me of this bathroom and LOVE this look. Just update the hardware and cabinet color and wall color and you might not even have to get a new countertop!

I don't agree about changing the pulls. There is so much busyness in the lines of the cabinets you don't want to draw MORE attention to them. A new counter, an under counter fridge, raising the desk area accordingly and painting would be key here.

Recessing the fridge, adding cabinetry above it and losing the soffit/bulkhead would add miles to lightening the feel of the room. By reducing the amount of juts and broken lines not to mention softening the color the room will feel more open. The cabinets themselves are unique and actually very nice, they can be a great showpeice in your home, it's the room fighting against them.

For color I can see a pale beige with yellow undertones working beautifully. I would almost bet these are teak cabinets.

So much better. Fresh and clean! If you want color pops you can always get canisters or something. Lucidos might be right about the pulls, but if you could use the same holes I'd try a very simple brushed metal and see how it looks. If you don't like it you can always take them back.

Oh, MUCH better. Now, just quickly raise that desk area and you are done!

1000 times better!! Let your accessories show color as those are far easier to alter seasonally or at whim. The big question is how does it feel to you?

From the view you offer the desk chair is bugging me. I would sooner see an ottoman type storage seat in that space (as an interim move). Covering the stools and ottoman in the same fabric. I would select a more currently popular material such as a french ticking or quatrefoil.

Is that a TV built in near the desk area? At first I thought it was a microwave. Is there any way to hide all that stuff underneath, like behind the screen? It would be worth hiring an electrician to do so.

Changing the paint color has improved your kitchen tremendousely. Now you need to bring it up to 2015. Definitely remove the desk. Put in a wine frig. Change pulls to a brushed chrome to blend with refrigerator. Put a TV on top of desk area on a swivel stand so you can see recipes as you cook. Remove clutter on refrig. and counters. Decorate with a green plant and a couple pieces of good pottery.

Put chrome stools up to the island. When you can afford it replace all tops with granit. I have sold R.E. for years. The buyer always looks for clean lines. I like your cabinets. Make sure the granit has a subtle touch of the cabinets.

I like your cabinets, they look quality.

I don't think you need additional backsplash. Tile will mean more lines, and this looks nicely lean and clean without it.

Liking the paint color. It seems u don't care for the cabinets. I would paint them white n do the counter in a quartz that looks like carrera white marble. The white paint will lessen the look of the cabinets.

Yeah, get rid of the desk. Nobody minds an expanse of counter, and if you set up a beverage center on top, it will be differentiated already.