The reason many are opposed to glazing is that it isn't done much anymore and the major reason it isn't done is that it makes cabinets look a bit dirty from afar, or tends to look too "faux". Those who do not want you to paint want you to save for new cabinets and that may not be possible. As I mentioned I rarely jump to the idea of painting wood cabinets, but the grain on your doors instead of being a nice feature of the wood, is a little strong because it is probably a veneer plywood panel. (You might be able to see the difference from my solid wood doors which show the grain of discrete wood boards.) My point is that you would not be devaluing these cabinets by painting them. The problem with painting oak is the grain texture shows through - bothers some and not others. The problem with painting any wood cabinet is that wood moves with changes in temp and humidity which can crack the paint at the joints - again this bothers some and not others. I painted some of my original kitchen cabinets - similar to yours and put them in the laundry room. This is a close up sowing grain texture and cracked paint at the joint - note these cabinets were painted a long time ago: Here are the cabinets from a few feet back, and they look OK: [https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~48834534[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~48834534) I did those back in my stenciling days:) The close up shows you what the pics of painted oak kitchens don't show you from afar - so it is a matter of having good info before you make a decision. I recently took the lower cabinets of that same kitchen (which had been stored in the garage) and refinished them for my basement - only to realize the doors were veneer and not in good shape - so I had to get a little creative - my $1000 kitchenette: [https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~65270573[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~65270573) I would approach your kitchen as a chance to get creative, but I have a more cottage type style with a touch of vintage and shabby chic thrown in - it is a little less expensive style and can lend itself to older cabinets. If you want to look high end and modern, you will want new cabinets. While white shaker doors are still big, slab doors are also popular and mid-tone stained cabinets are returning in popularity - but more shaker style white oak then what was big 20 years ago. Anyway, some are concerned that the paint job won't get you the more high end kitchen that your inspiration pics show, that you will be disappointed, and waste money putting expensive counters on the cabinets. The only problem with your layout is the range is a few feet too close to the sink. That space between sink and range is usually the major prep area and stovetop in an island is the worst possible place - so don't go there. If you have the money, just flip the range area with the cabinets next to it and the range would be in a great place. Some reasons to avoid micro over the stove is it is a fading style, it cramps the cooking space and at 5"1" I find them difficult, and sometimes a fire hazard. They do not vent very well. They are no longer considered in style (unless the kitchen is very small) because function is of major importance in today's kitchens. You have a lot of upper cabinets and could retrofit a micro shelf into a different cabinet if you really need it off the counter.

We have been in our new construction house for about 6 months now and I wish I had a second dishwasher. Not so that I wouldn't have to unload dishes (I think that would confusing) but for all the pots/pans that I use when I cook 2-3 times a week. I'd love to reduce all the hand washed dishes that I do. If I stay long enough in this house to update the kitchen, I will add a second dishwasher on the other side of the sink. Also, I didn't take my cabinets all the way up to my 10' ceiling. I thought it would be visually overwhelming unless I had glass front cabinets. I only have 5 upper cabinets and it would have cost me an extra couple of thousand to take them to the ceiling. I have a lot of drawers and don't even use one of my upper cabinets so storage is not a problem for me. I don't feel the need to decorate above my cabinets and don't have anything to display to justify the extra glass cabinets but then again, I am not a collector of things. I am sure it would have looked great with cabinets to the ceiling but in person it looks fine without. If you can avoid using your kitchen as a hallway, I would do so. My first house, built in the 60's, had a door from the garage into the kitchen, with the fridge right around where you have yours. That was not ideal but I didn't have a choice with the layout.

Dear Kelsey, I am guessing that you have a dining room adjacent to your kitchen. Since the majority of us (people) tend to live and entertain in our kitchens. Most of us like to have kitchen and dining in one space. Or like our kitchen open to the dining and or living areas of our homes. You can verify this with realtors in your area to see if this holds true for the area of the country you live in. Did you consider adding the adjacent dining room space to your kitchen space to give you more real estate to play with? Click the link below to see an example of what I mean. https://www.kitchendesignco.com/portfolio/kitchen-space-planning/ These clients had a too small kitchen loaded with door and window openings. Making it seemingly impossible to get a kitchen they would love to cook, bake, entertain, and live in. Adding the dining room area to the program gave them over twenty different kitchen layouts to compare and decide from. Since you’re only playing on paper, at this point, the worst thing that happens is you try it and discover if reconfiguring how you live in your home will work for you or not. This may be your best option to change your kitchen and change your life for the better. I hope this has been helpful. Joe Brandao Kitchen Design Company

Like at least one of the posters above, my single sink gets used for prepping veggies and other food in conjunction with the adjacent counter spaces, along with dishes. I live in a rural area, and on work days, a certain percentage of my daylight hours are at the kitchen sink where I can watch a range of wildlife and can enjoy the adjacent garden and the various birds it attracts. In my 60+ years, I have not ever lived in a house without a large window (double or triple width) over the kitchen sink, even in some very modest dwellings. I can’t imagine not having the joy of a view when I am cleaning veggies and prepping food. It might be enough to make me stop cooking! (And I am someone who cooks almost all our meals from scratch.). For me it has much of the calming sense of being outdoors without having to actually deal with ticks, mosquitos, or cold winter winds. Perhaps it’s a function of how one uses the sink and how much time that involves as well as what alternatives there are to look at such as kids playing across the room or a TV.