Try and avoid putting good money after bad. I would pull it all out if it was my place and start fresh.

At least remove or paint the white door knobs !

have fun shopping!

If you don't want to change the cupboards, you could change the door knobs....I must admit I'm a bit boggled by the fact they're in the middle of the door. Use of a more contemporary handle would definitely help. Also, you could give it a whole new look with a more modern faucet, I've attached a few pics for you below. Have fun!!

Looks to me like a previous owner attempted to update fake colonial 1970s cabinets that had 'decorative' metal plates with a single center knob!

Since the cabinets have knobs in the middle of the doors, I'd recommend filling the holes and painting the cabinets. Rustoleum makes a product for refinishing kitchen cabinets that has gotten some good support on this site. It has a glaze that can make the paint seem sort of antiqued, which gives it dimension. I think it could work well on your cabinets. I haven't used the product myself, so I can't say whether it's easy or not, but it's a whole lot less costly than replacing cabinets.

Countertops appear to be solid surface of some sort. If they're in good shape, just keep them until you decide to rip out the whole kitchen and do a major (costly!) remodel in the future. The backsplash and faucet ideas will go a long way toward making the space feel updated, too.

New hardware is a must. You can drill the new holes yourself without much trouble as long as you buy the plastic templates that home improvement stores sell. If funds are really tight, check local thrift stores for used hardware that might clean up nicely, but if possible, new hardware will look sleeker and more modern.

I'd also recommend painting the baseboards and other trim the same color as the walls or at least something very close, The wood sort of chops up the space. A new range hood would be a good idea as well. Given the lack of counter space, you might want to consider one of the microwaves designed to go above a stove with the fan built into the bottom.

Have fun decorating and arranging your new home!

Yes I don't understand why the knobs are in the middle! It drives me crazy! I'm definitely going to remove them and install new ones I just don't know what kind of knobs. Also I should mention that the countertops are a white corrian. I also forgot to attach this photo which shows the horribly matching built in china cabinet

That's a real quick fix Remove the built in, patch and paint the walls and put your own hutch or bookshelves.

Or keep the built in, paint it a fun color and turn it into an awesome coffee bar. An assortment of fun mugs and demitasse cupsbehind two upper doors. An assortment of teas behind another door. Various coffees behind a fourth door. Sleek coffeemaker and accessories on the countertop along with an espresso machine, stainless pitcher (for frothing milk), and you'll feel like you're at Starbucks.

Or use it as a bar kind of bar with cool glassware and mixing equipment and bottles on display along the back of the counter along with a blender at one end. Remove the upper doors (store them in case you ever want to put them back) and paint the inside of the cabinets a great color that contrasts with whatever you do to the outside. Add puck lighting hig up in the cabinets and, if possible, replace the wood shelves with tempered glass ones so the light shines to the bottom part of the cabinet. If you can't replace the shelves with glass, you could add puck lighting as uplights to the lower shelves. You could even remove lower doors and make that into a wine rack, hang some stemware racks in those now opened up cabinets....your kitchen becomes the favorite hot spot among your friends.

Or whatever your particular thing is. Maybe you like to bake - make it a baking center. Or arrange flowers or collect cookbooks or do caning.... The possibilities are endless. I'd NEVER take out cabinets to make a wall!

Coffee bar sounds like an awesome idea! Do I paint the kitchen cabinets? Wall color?

Paint the cabinets either the same color as the cabinets in the kitchen or, for a little more punch, paint these cabinets a color in the backsplash you put in the kitchen and do a "tin ceiling" kind of backsplash just in this part (panels available at home improvement stores) in a copper finish to make it stand out (or whatever finish pleases you, but something with a little oomph to draw attention and make it a focus. If you take off the doors from the upper cabinets (I would for a bar, but wouldn't for a coffee bar - not sure why, really) paint the inside of the cabinets a color that coordinates but is more similar to the "oomph" color for added punch. If you can install some under cabinet lighting (even the wireless kind for glow more than lighting), it would add to the coffee bar feel, I think. Of course, a small lamp or two in the corner(s) would do the same thing and might be easier and less costly plus you could change them at will.
I don't know about you, but I'm having a great time in your new kitchen. Thanks for letting me play along!

I am also currently in the middle of a remodel of a 70's Ranch. The number one question you need to address before you spend big bucks is "What is your style?"

I mean is the rest of your home more traditional or contemporary, etc. A new kitchen will almost always look better but if the flow of the house is wrong it will be a waste of money.

I think you would be most happy with filling the knob holes and just painting the cabinets as I venture to guess they were made well. Also, based on the flooring I would guess the house is more casual so I would suggest a light gray green like Ben. Moore HC-114 - Saybrook Sage. The changed the counter tops to butcher block which can be purchased at Ikea or Lumber Liquidator.

If you have enough storage in the kitchen I suggest to remove top cabinets on the both sides of the wall opening. Put floating wall shelves (look IKEA) or just pair of bright pictures instead. Will look not so dark.