This is a new perspective on the same dilemma. It's more clearer on what you CAN'T do. Can't change the floors, your entire home is finished in the same flooring. I was curious a s to why the use of the sky blue paint in the kitchen, and now I see that it ties the sunroom color along with the crocodile blue leather in the accent pillows on the sofa and in your dining room chairs. I see that the black doors in the home match the railing in the stairwell. The stone wall fireplace was an unexpected surprise.

NOW I can see why want to lighten up the kitchen. I lot of work went into unifying all the elements from one room to the next. lms430 made a great suggestion, to resurface with a lighter stain or use glaze to obtain the look of semi-gloss paint.

I still think painting the cabinets should be a last option. I have to be honest I'm no expert but someone who submits as a hobby. If you painted the stools and breakfast nook table set, I'm not sure which color. White, to match the formal dining room set, or a color which matches the fireplace wall.

I agree with other comments here to try other options before painting. Those cabinets are beautiful. Agree with trying lighter colored bar stools. Maybe cabinet hardware in some kind of silver tone to match other finishes. What about a lighter stone countertop on the island? Not sure how that compares to your budget, but hiring a professional to refinish cabinets likely won't be cheap. What is the under cabinet lighting situation? That could be another idea.

Have you considered adding a close-to-the-ceiling lighting fixture? If you had stronger ambient lighting, the kitchen would not be so dark as with the three tiny pendants and the recessed lighting. Try it by bringing in a floor or table lamp temporarily. Use one with three 60-watt incandescents or a three way 50/100/150 watt bulb.

Are the cabinets cherry wood or just cherry stained? It's very difficult to re-stain lighter or change the tone, once they are given a dark finish with red tones. They would have to be sanded raw first, which may be impossible.

I don't understand why others are saying painting will ruin the finish of the wood. If done right, the finish and look might be even better, but it's expensive or lot of work. Your dark cabinets seem to go really well with your house, so I would just add more lighting (under cabinet LED-Sky light/tube) and change hardware first, especially if you like the cherry wood and just want to lighten it up a bit.

I think I would switch out the stools for leather ones in off white, and switch the leather sofa for one in off white. I think the contrast with your cabinets and floors would be beautiful. Lovely home!

If you don’t like them paint them but I really dislike glazes on cabinets I always think they look dirty. Just make sure you get them painted by someone who paints cabinets not just a house painter.

Try adding more lighting and switching out the dark hardware for stainless steel. I prefer white cabinets, but those cabinets are beautiful.

If you feel you must paint only paint the island. Paint a cream color like your backsplash.
I think before you paint anything change the black stools for a cream or white. Think that would make a big difference.
Changing out some of your top cabinet inserts with glass would help too. There are many options of glass other than clear if you don't want to show contents of what's in them.

I am on the side of don't paint your cupboards. But I would get under counter lighting, lower your pendents (or put in brighter bulbs), paint three sides of your island the same color as your back splash (you could paint the whole island if you want....like your back splash) and get light colored stools. Next find a pretty light colored runner to put in your kitchen. I think that would brighten/lighten it up.

Gorgeous cabinets! I have always wanted cherry cabinets and I agree--do not paint them. You are so fortunate to have such beautiful cherry cabinets. I also agree that you could use more light in the kitchen; paint the island a lighter color; and either paint the stools or purchase lighter ones. All of that should make your kitchen brighter.

I appreciate everyone responding and helping me. I think after reading all of these awesome comments and ideas, I am going to paint the island a cream color and I will definitely get a light runner for the floor, paint the chairs at the bar and get different hardware too. I will go to the light store and see about changing the lights over the bar as well. Today we went and got better light bulbs and it has made a world of difference. By the way, we do have lighting under the cabinets. I have a meeting with my painter tomorrow to discuss everything. I probably will change the wall color in the kitchen as well to a creamy color of some kind too. My painter is actually a designer who does everything. She finished faux painting our stairway and is working on a design on our ceiling in the basement now. She is very knowledgeable.

I will post a few pics tonight after the sun goes down how it looks with all of the lights on. If it is not too much trouble, will you give comments as well about what you think it looks like at night?

Thanks everyone. Mary Poche.

Paint only the uppers above the counter and cooktop. That will introduce vertical into the space and lighten the overall effect without the need to paint everything.

P.s. Use that attractive green seen to the left.

would changing to a lighter countertop help? seems cheaper than painting the cabinets

Maybe just a lighter island counter top? You could paint the uppers white. But have it done professionally!

If your designer is doing the painting, have them make some samples first. You can purchase a piece of cherry 1x8 about 8 feet long and finish it to match existing. Then they can put sample finishes on it. Make four options and see what you like. You could stain a couple feet and paint a couple feet. If they know how to refinish wood, they should be able to replicate what it should look like.

If you decide to paint the island, you could also do the stove hood. I have even seen pics where island, stove hood, and cabinets directly under the stove are one color, and the rest of the kitchen another. Or, you could flip it, leave the island and hood wood and paint the rest.

I have a love hate thing with open shelving. If the painting is too expensive, remove the 3 cabinets on both sides of the hood, put up shelves and increase backsplash to behind the shelves. You would have to have plenty of other storage and be willing to live with the look, but it cuts down on the wood and lightens the kitchen.

I do think your cabinets are very pretty. I also understand your wanting things lighter:)

I agree, the cabinets are really nice and you appear to have a light backsplash and paint. I would have chosen a light countertop to counter balance all the dark tones. But if you really dislike it, paint it. It's your home after all.

I am more attached to the Sedna Granite Counter than anything in the house... LOL. It just really spoke to me 3 times at the showroom. Any thoughts about night pics?

Nice lighting. I think all that dark wood is sucking in some of that great lighting. The adjacent room with a light blue wall and white shutters don't seem to flow with the kitchen, but I'm still hesitant to suggest paint.

What do you think now that you room brighter? Buy a couple silver toned knobs and handles and see if that helps, and maybe think of switching out the hood for something stainless.

Patching dark cabinetry with chrome knobs won't lighten the cherry wood cabinets. Only paint will do that. You have a beautiful home and it should be thoroughly enjoyed by you. Paint the cabinets.

Stainless hood, cabinet hardware, have island painted cream, add the glass doors. All suggested before but would really lighten your space up.

Take a step toward your vision and paint the island the color of your trim. Fetching!

Personally, I would paint them. But, I am person who really only likes painted cabinets. I don't care for stained. I guess if it is horribly expensive, try some of the other options, but if it is doable, I say go for it.

Stainless hood fan, glass inserts in smaller upper doors would be fabulous

The increased lighting is a big improvement. Try it for a month and see. You could add light colored throw rugs, too.

Paint the cabinets.

Dark on dark on dark = dark. No surprise there. The fastest, easiest, and cheapest fix for this whole thing: paint the cabinets a white or off white and enjoy your brand new kitchen. The cabinets are beautiful...but they are wasted in a dark on dark on dark kitchen. The "brown blahs" are in full swing here.

To add contrast and "interest" in this space you simply need lighter cabinets. Technically they only need to be 3-4 steps lighter. Natural cherry would do the trick. You would have a light(er) kitchen...but you would still have the brown blahs. To get rid of those, you need lighter/whiter.

If you had bright white counters with crisp white floors these cabinets would work very well. But you don't. You have dark/dramatic counters and very dark hardwood floors. The only option to reverse the problem is to go lighter on the cabinets...leaving the dark counters and floors in place.

Visually what I see is a lot of dark brown, not only in your kitchen and floors, but also your furniture and coffee table. There is little texture, everything is very flat and dark. You may try some upholstered stools, Roman blinds for a window covering and some lighter pieces of furniture down the road. Was this home just built?Seems a lot of expense to change your finishes now.

Hi Mary. The new lighting certainly helps. I think it's very smart to take a measured approach to what you're doing. Starting by painting just the island is, IMO, better than jumping head first into painting all the cabinets. Changing hardware at least gives a reflective surface for the light to bounce around on. A new runner and lighter bar stools will also be a big help. Just be sure you consult with a flooring store to be sure you put the right pad underneath the runner. If you're still not happy, I hope you'll consider glass in a few doors. There's virtually no going back on paint and your cabinets really are beautiful. Please keep us updated on your changes. Good luck!

Looking at it some more, I wonder if removing darker elements elsewhere in the space would be enough. Add some blue and white throw cushions to the sofa. Lighter bar stools and kitchen table chairs, a glass coffee table, possibly larger island pendant lights in a clear glass for brightness and sparkle. A lighter coloured recliner. Just break up the dark brown elsewhere and the whole space would be lightened without the expensive and risky step of painting your cabinets.

Here are just some ideas but there are lots of options to lighten the space up a little.

Here is a kitchen from our design book. Maybe sharing it will help here? Notice the rug, countertops, and backsplash?

Well every now and then you find a photo that perfectly captures what you're (unsuccessfully) trying to say. Here's a dark kitchen that's been lightened up by the soft furnishings in the space. I think the blue /white theme will also make your white dining chairs make more sense with the darker kitchen.

I posted a similar question about my dark kitchen and got the same response... don't paint the cabinets, change the floor, change the granite, ect... If my cabs had been shaker, I would have painted them but we decided to replace. It was the BEST decision. We love our white cabinets and I have a feeling you would too. I'll post my before and after (not done yet).

These look like new cabinets and I think they are very nice. You do have dark on dark but personally I would not paint that beautiful wood. If you are considering any paint maybe paint the island first and that might make enough difference for you. I am currently in the same type of delima as you. We put in a basement bar with dark cabinets and a dark countertop on a light floor. Dark countertop was what my husband wanted and I regret giving in to him,

Trends come and go and big thing now is white. That will eventually be so overdone that people will want to start bringing in some wood again. If you paint over time the paint will start to chip and then it will look really bad. The bottom line is either if you change the colour of cabinets or change your granite it will cost you around $5000-6000.

You truly have a beautiful space. Houzz can be very helpful but it can also make you feel like you have a outdated/ugly space.

Well I appreciate everyone's help. I wanted to follow up and let you know I did paint and I'm glad I did. Here are a few pics. The cabinet color is a cream with a copper glaze and the island color is gray with a copper glaze. I'm glad I made the change. Thanks again.

Looks fabulous!

Love it!

Very nice. Did u do them yourself. What products were used?

World of difference, congrats!

Lovely, I don't remember why you did this. Was this a new home you purchased and you didn't like the cabinet color, or did you install the kitchen yourself and were unhappy with your choices? It was extremely dark before. I like the contrast of the dark floors and light cabinets. Hope you had them professionally sprayed in a cabinet shop.

I was going to say paint them, and then saw that you did. Never worry about what others think, just do what is right for you. I think it looks awesome now!

Very pretty! I especially like the contrasting hood. How was that done? Is it a copper paint?

It was done with 3 different colors of Faux Effects Lusterstone

We had the house built in 2014. They were refinished by an Artist. She used all Faux Effects products. Set Coat, Glaze and Lusterstone. The hood has 3 different colors.

Did she take them to her studio and use a high glaze? Hopefully it won't chip. Your cabinets were beautiful to begin with, but if you are happy that's all that matters.
Do you mind sharing how much a repainting job like yours cost approximately?
A designer would have cost roughly $150/ hour for kitchen design choices. When we designed our master bath remodel my designer was invaluable. I paid her a couple of hundred dollars for choices I would have never come up with, plus I got her trade discount and used her tradespeople. Will never undertake a remodel without her. She helped keep things on schedule and of course was able to prevent mistakes before they occurred. When I was not happy with the two new windows( contractor ordered and installed wrong ones) she was instrumental in getting the new ones installed, no questions asked.

That's awesome. The kitchen was $6k. She sanded, primed, put 3 coats of paint, glaze and gloss. She used a spray gun. All of her products were Faux Effects. She's done another kitchen for me and there was no chipping.

I would have said "don't paint cabinets", mostly because it is hard to visualize outcome, but now that I see them I changed my mind. They are beautiful. You are one lucky lady to have a great painter to realize your vision.
Thank you for showing us the results. Beautiful.