I think you're right to be wary of painting the cabinets navy, even though cherry is not the current "wood of the year." To do the job well is very time consuming and much more expensive than you'd think, and it also would appeal to a much narrower field of potential buyers (stripping off the navy or painting them a different color would again be time consuming and expensive.) Can you be happy with boldly painted walls, dramatic furniture, curtains in fabric you love, dynamic artwork?

You only live once. sjb2814 said it well. Paint in dramatic colors, use wallpaper, and so on. But don't destroy the fine finish on expensive kitchen cabinets that are in great shape by painting over them. If you are hesitating, try painting a bathroom's walls in a dramatic color, add towels, lighting and accessories. Wallpaper is easily stripped (if you pick the right kind) if you feel obliged to change it for resale.

I can't tell you how many times I've thought my current home was my forever home, not necessarily my dream home as I've given that dream up. But I had a couple of instances where I wanted to do the job right and spent more money than I should have for the neighborhood and the value of the home. I've lost money a couple of times because circumstances dictated that I sell when I expected to live there for many years. It's a gamble but the first house that I did consider a possible dream house I put in red bathroom fixtures and painted the LR and DR ceiling a red lacquer. I loved them. Fortunately the young couple with deep pockets didn't care and bought the house and gutted it. So you never know. It's a gamble. I wouldn't paint the cherry cabinets because that's pretty tough to get right and regardless of trends of the future, cherry is a very nice wood. Good luck.

I've been following the tub/no tub thread currently running. RESALE RESALE RESALE!!! seems to be the main concern. What about living? Why be concerned about some nebulous buyer, whose finances you will not know, other than them being able to get financing? Most kitchens/baths are dated after 5-7 years, needing cosmetic change, and need renovation after 10-12, needing structural work, to repair leaks and remove mold. So, seriously, why worry about it? There is no timing the market, we cannot see the future, so we should live in, and love our homes.

When we built our last house, we planned to stay 5 years. Sold it after 16. Every decision I made in that house also took resale into consideration. That said, we were still able to make it ours. We have been in our new condo for 8 months and are renovating it to what we want. If someone does not love my Air Force blue office - they can paint it since we love it. I will be removing carpeting from one bedroom to convert it to a craft room with a painted concrete floor - I will reinstall carpet if needed before we sell. We may be here 5 years, but we could stay 15. I want it mine - the next family will make their changes.

if you paint the cabinets now and enjoy them now, you will need to repaint them again to sell, regardless of colour, because of the chips and scuffs on painted wood.

years in real estate showed me that painted cabinets had lower resale than wood, however the current trend of painting dated wood cabinets white is likely an exception....in today's market that values white kitchens. 10 years from now, maybe not so much. if you enjoy your kitchen now in navy you will have the opportunity to paint them the current colour when you sell, if that colour is wood, well........

as a designer I fully expect a shift back to wood in the future, but it will likely be a whole new look and then your wood cabinets will be dated anyway.

I concur with apple pie......painted walls are much quicker and easier to neutralize. I've done both.....my enjoyment of the space was paramount and the painted cabinets made me happy. and the house sold in hours to multiple offers. happy homes draw buyers....

how's that for fence sitting?

If you do know you are selling, I would leave the cabinets "natural" and keep the major items like flooring, bathroom tile, backsplash something you love, but also with general appeal. Then, go completely "nuts" with wall color, art, painted furniture, sofas of color, custom lamps, area rugs with tons of personality. When you do sell, all you will need to do is paint the walls "Dove White" and edit your furniture. :)

I appreciate everyone's thoughts. It's a very 'heart vs. head' thing, isn't it? And personal-it is where you LIVE. It's your "nest"......

We've decided to design around the cabinets, and leave them alone. Thanks for the advice. Anyone else with thoughts regarding the original question, feel free to share. I am seeing (as I search Houzz, Google, and Pinterest) that this is a very common concern of homeowners.

It is good to hear others that have commented have felt the same way.

Conclusions I am hearing so far:

-Make it your own, but be smart about 'how'. If there is a chance you will move, leave things that are in excellent shape, alone, for the most part.

I think there is a slight inconclusion when something is in excellent condition, but it makes you "feel" dated and worn out when you look at it......that is where the hard decision/frozen feeling comes in. I am going to try to embrace the cabinets, as they are nice cabinets, and they are everywhere (kitchen, dining room inset cabinet, all the bathrooms),.....we will see how it turns out. I am very much about how a room "feels" and how it makes you "feel" as you live in it.

I'm wondering if your design dramatist could be appeased by using a dramatic counter top. If navy calls to you, how about a magificent Blue Pearl Granite, or Blue in the Night granite.

These are high end stones that would certainly add value and drama to your kitchen without causing too much of a fuss with cherry. In fact, cherry does VERY well with blue. It is one of my favourite combos...cherry (especially natural or light stain) with Blue Pearl Granite. Amazing colour. If this is has big counter space, it could be in the $7K-$12K price range...about the same amount to paint cabs in a regular sized kitchen.

I would say, if you are going to make a few personal changes, go ahead and use EXPENSIVE materials. That way, you are still adding value to your home...it may be dramatic but at least the VALUE is maintained.

Just for fun, go ahead and check out those stones...unbelievable colour! I have a cork floor that is the PERFECT match to Blue Pearl Granite....I had the factory produce this colour because I'm such a fan: Dolerite Ripple cork...stunning.

one thing to consider, you are being offered advice from people inside the home renovation bubble. we might think that everyone buys a home and then rips it all out and updates it, but that could be too much home renovation show watching. no idea if that is true or not. if you are having doubts about future plans, save the navy for a great rug in the front hall or something. buy brightly colored dishes. paper your bathroom something wild, as someone suggested. but dont count on someone else buying your house who can afford to rip out what they don't like.