Definitely recommend painting the cabinets. That is what I didn't and have had no regrets!

Perhaps bleaching or pickling is what Linda is thinking of, and it does seem like a desirable idea.

Right now the cabinets clash with taupe wall. Maybe the easiest thing is to paint the walls a color that complements the cabinets. That you could do yourself.

There are companies that will put on new doors for much less than the price of new cabinets.

Or remove the doors and have open shelves/boxes.

I painted my top cabinets and used Howard's Restor-A-finish then Feed-N-Wax from home depot. Let me tell you the painting was hard and laborious, using 3 coats of paint. The finish was easy and just toned down the finish so it didn't look so honey. I get lots of compliments so it must have worked. Who has money for new appliances when you've

just bought a house??? Anyway stop worrying about what houses on HGTV & HOUZZ look like, you may never afford what they are showing you. Love what you have, live in it and let it tell you what it needs. Just paint the walls a more cheerful color and move the boots :-)

I think one of the problems in your kitchen is so many different colors. If you match the door/trim color to the dead white of the appliances that would make a big difference in unifying the space. Then, a different wall color with less contrast to the white--more of a light tone or mid tone.

My kitchen has those same golden oak cabinets. I used Annie Sloan Chalk paint, Country grey, with brown wax. Love the outcome! I also painted the wood trim in the kitchen, shutters and doors to match. My kitchen has a whole new look.

I think your cabinets are pretty as they are. My husband sells appliances and he says stainless IS on its way out, Platinum (dull gray) is THE new color. Also the Tuscany dark cabinets, granite, stainless, tans, browns and creams are on their way out, People are asking for more transitional or mod colors (grays, blues, whites) and simple /streamlined designs. I'd paint your walls, and then accessorize to distract the eye and live with it for a while.

Please don't paint the cabinets white. I've been in real estate one way or another all my life and this is the third time I remember white cabinets being trendy. Do you remember the old flat white laminate cabinets of the 80s? Once it was out it was really out. I think we've peaked with white cabinets this time around and while it is still in right now, in a couple of years it will be really out. Plus it is a huge job to get a good paint job that does not chip off. You are going to have to strip or sand to get the new paint to stick well. Just painting over varnish will look good for a couple of week than start chipping.

If appliances need to be updated then as suggested that is the best plan and use of funds but if not paint the cabinets.

If you use chalk paint there is no prep.period and the end result is beautiful. Google chalk painted cabinets and see the results and how to seal. I think you will be happy.

Even if you decide to do new appliances you can paint your paints with this process and be very happy, having both.

Hi, Congrats on your first house, I found when we bought our first house that I was coming up with new ideas every other week, so after the first 2 months I said to myself, wait 6 months and just collect ideas from everywhere. After 6 months I looked at all the ideas that I had found and liked to see what worked for me in the way that we use our house. Now that I know what we like and what works for us I can tell you what I would do in your kitchen. First, if you love the floor tile and plan to keep it, and I would, I would pick the lightest shade from the floor tiles and paint the walls that color. Next I would paint the doors and trim another middle shade from the floor tiles. They make paint for appliances and I have seen people do a great job changing the look of their kitchens by painting their appliances so if you are still unhappy with the white appliances that is and option if they are still in good condition and work well. Then finally I would stain the cabinets the darkest shade that you find in your floor tile. This would give your kitchen an all over tonal almost neutral background look so whatever else you decided to use would go well. This would allow you to use just about anything for accessories. Good luck and remember it's your house and what works for someone else does not mean it works for you.

To clarify the paint is NOT blackboard paint it is chalk. Google Annie Sloan Chalk paint. She is the inventor. There are many others but for cabinets this is the one.

We had the same situation. We gradually updated our kitchen over the years-1st year granite countertops, 2nd year appliances, 3rd year backsplash and then we hired a professional cabinet painting company to paint the cabinets for us. They added crown molding and side panels made of oak to the cabinet ends to cover the plain plastic film veneers (just like the ends of your cabinets are). The total cost was $3,000. Shop around in your area, I recommend a professional since the paint they used has been nearly indestructible and they spray them so the finish is smooth (they did our doors at their shop). Project was done in 2 days. Here are before and after photos!

I had the same question after living with my honey spice oak kitchen cabinets for 25 years. Cabinets still in great shape and kitchen design works so decided to go for a colour change. Wanted to keep the grain of the oak (since it is so hard to cover) and wanted some of the brown tones to still show through. Lots of light so not worried about darker colour. Experimented with many things but finally decided to use a primer which was tinted to my colour choice and added an extender and some water. Used a very small amount on the brush and applied very thin "washes" of colour (used one quart for the entire kitchen). Two coats of the prime "wash" then three coats of clear finish. Changed out cabinet doors near the sink for glass. New hardware. Extra boxes and trim at the top of the cabinets. Extra trim on island. Chalkboard on fridge side - with favorite quote when I was a child. Did all the work (took several months as I only worked on it on the weekends). Total cost - $500.00. Before and after pics. Have fun with whatever you decide - it's your kitchen!

I tried to post before and after, but only the after is showing. We had similar issue with the home we had just purchased. Dated white tile floors, 90's oak cabinets (but in good shape), worn out formica top, and mismatched older appliances. We knew we wanted to change the flooring to oak throughout the entire first floor so we did that first. We opted for new stainless appliances (including taking out the old microwave vent hood and adding a chimney style hood), white spring granite top and new backsplash. We also had the monster of a soffit above the island cut down in depth and wrapped the whole room in crown moulding.

We had planned to paint the cabinets a soft white, but we were so happy with all of the other updates, that we are holding off for now. We can always paint later, but after having 3 white kitchens, I am going to just enjoy the oak for awhile. This photo is before the walls were painted. Opted for BM Navaho White with SW Alabaster trim, so it doesn't really influence the color of the woods.

You should decide what your priorities are - new appliances, change wall color, etc...You can always paint your cabinets later if your other choices don't make enough of an impact, but once they are painted, that's it. Good luck!

Paint the walls, switch to stainless, how about just having someone brush and limewash the cabinets, gives a softer look....to be done correctly those cabinets would need to be disassembled and sprayed, dont let anyone tell you otherwise unless you are really really good at this...

Here are my before and afters, which reflect the changes I described above. Took a bit to understand how to upload multiple pics!

Hi Alyson, If you really hate the oak, then paint it. Otherwise, keep it--the cabinets are really nice and fresh, just not the latest style. I suggest that you look at changing the backsplash and wall color. If you can get someone to remove the short backsplash that matches the counter and then remove the tiles, you can put in some pretty tiles that enhance the kitchen. Glass tiles, since they are reflective, brighten the kitchen. Consider a color that takes in the creamy color of the counters--maybe a grout that takes on the darker highlight color in the counter. These changes should make the cabinet/appliance combination easier for you to enjoy.

Painting wood cabinets is a big decision, even assuming you're confident you could do it well. Swapping out your appliances for stainless is expensive. You just bought the house. Take a deep breath, and think about living in it a while before you start making irreversible and/or expensive changes. What you have to start with is honey oak and white appliances--build around that. Paint the walls a white; think about painting the chairs white; get some white jars or pitchers for your utensils, etc., then add pops of a favorite color. No, it won't be perfect, but it will look intentional, reasonably pretty, and give you some time to think about what you REALLY want to do going forward.

Krpalmieri, Iove chalk paint cabinets! Very cool idea. It would be very pretty as an option to lighten up Alyson's cabinets without a lot of fuss. I assume there are many color options, so she can tie in the appliances without spending a lot of money. How would it look to paint just the doors and drawers? Is that a bad idea if you leave more wood showing through the chalk paint? Anyone? Linda

The cheapest way to go is to be patient. Beautiful oak cabinets, while in disfavor right now, may very well be the newest look in kitchens in 5 years. But once they are painted, they are gone. Think about all the beautiful woodwork in older home what has been painted with the latest trending colors over the years, never to be seen again. Wood always comes back.

What if you simply changed the hardware on the cabinets?

Flowerbill, your cabinets look wonderful. I have also used Howard's with very fine steel wool. It really is a gamechanger. It brings new life to tired wood, without a doubt.

I'd try buying a colorful rug (or rugs depending on your overall kitchen layout) that has oranges, reds, browns. Not scatter rugs but big enough to be a statement piece. And accessories (maybe one or more of those collectible looking antiquey wine/vineyard ad posters nicely framed in black but having those same rich reds, oranges, brown colors) then coordinate all of your richly colored accessories in the same colors, including any display items above the cabinets, dish towels, hot pads, etc., so you have pulled the colors of the room together. Then, change out your narrow crown molding on your oak cabinets with a somewhat larger crown molding. With smart shopping, it'd cost a few hundred dollars or less if you can install the new crown DIY.

I'm leery about painting wood cabinets.

You've already received lots of ideas, and I haven't read through them all, so please forgive me if mine is a repeat. :)

I suggest painting the cabinets to match your doors and trim. Your kitchen looks very similar to mine, and we painted our cabinets last year. We used Benjamin Moore Advance paint in Linen White, which is the same color as our doors and trim throughout the house. It made a huge difference. So much brighter!

We're planning to switch all our white appliances to stainless over time. The bright white appliances do sort-of clash with the cream cabinetry, but it still looks better than the oak. I also have black knobs and cup pulls that we haven't installed yet.

I also suggest painting the walls a lighter color. My pick would be a light blue-gray; just stay away from anything too dark or too warm. You could actually try this before painting your cabinets. Oak can really change its personality with a light blue backdrop.

I do think you'll like the painted cabinets better than the oak, but be warned, it is a big job. When we were finally finished (it took weeks longer than I thought it would), my husband said he would never do it again. We both love how they turned out, but he said it is definitely worth hiring someone else to do it.

Ask around, get estimates, and you'll find someone who can give you a good deal and do a fine job. After talking to a few different people, I think we could have had ours done for $1500-$3500, depending on the process (spray or brush, and whether or not they painted the insides). It would have been done a lot faster, and depending on your lifestyle (kids, work full-time, etc.), your time may be worth it.

I think the main problem with your kitchen is that there are too many shades of beige and brown. I also think the main problem with the oak cabinets is the shiny finish. I suggest you choose a color, perhaps something dark and elegant like charcoal, eggplant, or a navy or wedgewood blue, and paint both the walls and the base of the cabinets the same color, leaving the fronts as is, but somehow removing or softening the shiny finish. I believe I saw suggestions for how to do so already in the discussion. Then you could also add some more classic hardware, perhaps with a wrought iron or pewter look.

Instead of painting your cabinets, you might consider using Minwax gel stain. There's very little prep--clean them really well, rough them up a bit, and you're ready to go. Ours look totally different. And very expensive. He did paint the island a rich red, and that cost more than staining all of the cabinets. We love it.

Short and sweet. Lighten wall, Polyshade the cabinets pecan satin, new hardware, and if you're brave paint the appliances...any color you want

Here's another vote for getting a big rug for the kitchen. There are wonderful choices available in indoor/out door rugs, and many of them can simply be hosed off when they need cleaning. You'll want to spring for a pad as well.

Have the cabinets professionally painted the white color of the appliances. The appliances will blend in and not stand out as much. The current backsplash, wall color and floor will accent the white cabinets. You can later change the appliances.

Kitchen project usually cost (Cabinets and Granite ) $5,500 - $6000 and up if you paint this Cabinets you end up with the same junk only waste your time and pay for materials /labor. Builder who build your house know about and know it's your problem you end up Particle boards Oak Cabinets it's will fall a parts. The best way change the Cabinets and update wall 36" Cabinets you return your investment when you sell your hose .

Good luck.

Do not buy Cabinets Cam lock assembly even if Cabinets all wood.

You have to deal with floor as well (retrofit )because toe kick area builder grade Cabinets and RTA all wood Cabinets different size about 1 1/2 " .

First and foremost, congrats on your new house! What an exciting time!
I don't think the problem in your kitchen is the oak cabinets. I would reface them or just paint them white if you hate oak that much. I think the huge white fridge sticking out so much is where the problem in your kitchen lies. You might not need to purchase a new counter dept refrigerator....Save money by thinking outside the box!... If possible, I would just borrow four to five inches from the room behind the fridge and push the fridge back so it's not overwhelming the space. I hope this helps and whatever you decide to do, have fun planning and executing. Enjoy your new home!

With regard to a big rug in the kitchen -- great idea! As with rugs in ANY kitchen, get one with a pattern. No matter how careful I have tried to be, the gorgeous deep red kitchen rug just had to go. It showed everything! And it was quite expensive and looked fabulous.

Just give them a light sanding and stain them a darker color. Ebony or even a dark oak will make a big difference.

You can't sanding side wall and base Cabinets because it's PLASTIC FILM with WOOD GRAIN imitation . Before somebody give advice need to know What are you talking about ....Reply like WOW , Grate or Looks Grate it's NOT advice .....

What is on the side of the cabinets is at times governed by the age of the cabinets. IF it is wood patterned paper then applying a thin layer of wood (less than 1/4 inch) to the sides will eliminate any concerns of either painting or re-staining. Our HD even sells pre-made side panels for their ready to finish oak cabinets.

In a previous house we needed to finish off our hickory cabinets. We went to a local provider with one of the doors in hand and ordered a sheet of veneer in the proper color. We made paper patterns first then my husband cut the side panels needed (all from one 4x8 sheet). We never could understand why the cabinets had been left the way they were considering the fix was pretty inexpensive.

On this Oak Cabinets wood only face frame box itself is a Particle boards it's JUNK.....and not hold screws .... Veneer 1/4" sometime NOT flush with face frame . On junk Cabinets sides Particle boards and film wood Crane imitation NOT (patterned paper ) ....need special primer for it.

In response to vhjordan's comment about staining the cabinets a darker color. True, you could lightly sand the cabinets and just restain. However, many people do not care for the broad-grained pattern of oak wood. In my experience, staining oak cabinets darker would make this grain more even more prominent. The gel stain has a semi-transparent effect because it sits on the surface of the wood, and is sealed in with a layer of polyacrylic on top. Just depends on the effect you want.

In response to all of the Raleigh cabinets postings -- Many people cannot afford a total kitchen renovation right after moving into a new house! Remodeling projects must be prioritized to fit the budget, and this was part of the concern expressed in the original post. Some homeowners might decide to update in ways that might not seem cost/labor effective to a professional cabinet maker/installer. However, diy efforts can result in a temporary yet satisfactory cosmetic fix for a homeowner just getting into a new home. The Raleigh cabinetry postings make statements about the junk composition and construction quality of these cabinets. I did not see any indication from the original post that these cabinets were covered with plastic film-imitation wood. Even a veneer wood cabinets with particleboard understructure can be given a facelift with a coat of paint and new hardware -- with very satisfying effects!

bpeterson11458 you are correct that the grain would show. Somehow I just assumed that it was that dated honey color that she was objecting to. If it is the oak itself paint or gel stain is the way to go. Either way it should be enough of a change to make her happy for a few years til she can replace them.

If you have enough experience you don't have to see description in the post ....just know from experience . Pro can see picture and tell what it is :).....

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint covered the grain nicely on my oak cabinets. In the 80's there were many grade of oak cabinets as that was the trend. Yes, there were many "builders grade" cabinets put in many new houses, but that doesn't mean that just because they are oak, they are suboptimal. We are looking at colors, decor and atmosphere. There are many great ideas on this thread.

Kr, My oak cabinets are top quality. Gorgeous! I'm just tired of them, and would like to brighten up a bit. I'm totally inspired by Annie Sloan's paints. Just signed up for a class.

There have been a lot of comments here, but unless I missed it, Alyson Balogh hasn't posted again about specifics about her cabinets. From the photos, they do remind me of the cabinets I had which were not very good quality at all. However the boxes were in good shape and weren't that old so they looked 100% better after I had them refaced with a very nice maple. It would seem that knowledge of exactly what her cabinets are made of is crucial.

Annie Sloan paint and users suggestions are plentiful on Pintrest. I did not take a class, but used many ideas from those who were experienced with the products.

Annie Sloan paint works like you can't believe. No sanding or primer needed. You will not be sorry.

I also had oak cabinets.... Still do except I stained them red oak and now I love them. Below are two before and one after picture. I also painted some of the existing hardware and reused it as well as added a few new pieces. I used Rustoleum cabinet transformations wood cleaner, bought my own desired wood stain, minwax red oak, and used the Rustoleum top coat to protect from scratches. So if you do your own work, you can purchase new stainless steel appliances and still have the cabinets you want.

General Finishes Gel Stain. You will need about a quart. Cheap change since a little goes a long way. I'm doing my 1994 pickled whatever cabinets right now. Monicawantsit.com has great instruction, but I watched a YouTube video from a real estate owner and decided to use a brush for the stain. No sanding, just cleaned the cabinets. Java for me, but they have other not as dark colors also. Your cabinets are nice if you want a country look but it's not for me. Java or the SW white for me.

The quality of the cabinets will dictate whether to stain, paint or apply any other treatment. I would check with a professional first. Free advice on the spot will save time and money. The white on the doors and trim would be a nice choice for the cabinets and bring the room together until you decided on other updates in the future. You would be able to keep the wall color and bring in fun color accents. The white appliances will not seem as prominent as they do now. congrats to the " happy new homeowner".

I have lived with the exact thing for 15 years and a couple of months ago decided that I needed to change. Just the cost of paint and wax, using the chalk paint that everyone is using right now. It is time consuming but I am very pleased with the results. Good luck!

Sorry, the first photo downloaded twice. These were golden oak and I used Annie Sloan's Country grey with dark wax.

Please switch houses with me! I LIKE that look, and the WORST thing would be to paint the oak. Oak is beautiful! I WISH I had oak cabinets!

Don't you just hate all the joiners who declare you MUST have stainless steel? Stainless steel isn't better, it isn't even as good. Have you seen what SS looks like soon after it's in your home? It's a trend that is, happily, losing steam. White & black appliances are once again gaining favor. So are other countertop options rather than granite. So if the appliances work, don't go to the expense for a cosmetic change. I have white appliances with my dark wood cabinets and white flooring...it makes my kitchen look clean and bright. No fingerprints to worry about and, years later, it looks the same!

I've heard good things about the Sloan chalk paint - thinking about painting my lower cabinets this year a taupe color as my current beautiful cabinets were built and installed by my husband a few decades ago! I'll keep the dark upper cabinets but my green linoleum counter, yes green linoleum, is going to get a fresh look with new linoleum of calacatta marble (I don't have much counter or budget and my husband can do this).

If you want to paint your cabinets, I'd choose a tone similar to your doors. In your picture they look off white compared to the appliances so it would really tie them in. I like your wall color as it goes well with the tiles. Not so fond of black but that's a personal thing. You do need to inject some real color into the space - find a coffee machine in an accent color, add slipcovers to your chairs, etc. Also, it looks like your lighting is all pot lights. You can now find pendant lights that fit into pot light spots so I'd consider an accent light over the sink. Post pics!