You need to paint...you will be so much happier...just as those cabinets are giving you cause for concern ...they will others when they walk in, just too much wood...but lucky for you Bm white dove is a great white color for cabinets and trim and is a easy protect for a professional painter

I wouldn't change a thing regarding the cabinetry and floor. What I would do to move it foreward is change out the counter materials to soapstone. It a gorgeous rich gray stone that is very contemporary yet traditional. The effect on the space would be transformative. And new pendants would top it off. And remove that wallpaper border ASAP!

I love your kitchen with all of the natural wood! I would also do what Rusty Empire suggests because that will make a difference.

When we remodeled we elected to keep the cabinets. They were still in good shape but did need to be scrubbed and then I did a Polyglaze satin glaze in Pecan. If the finish is still good don't change them. we did paint the island my husband built because there was no way I was going to get a perfect color match.

There is no need to change your cabinets if you like them. They are quite attractive. Wood cabinets are still very popular in my area. Do not be led into thinking something in your kitchen needs to be a certain way based on something like HGTV which is a marketing tool to get you to be dissatisfied with your present kitchen.

I spent the summer refinishing my oak cabinets and very much like them. I like white cabinets too, but I like wood better. It is a good thing that people have different taste or everyone would have the same house decor and that would be so boring.

I have new counters and a Kohler Whitehaven farmhouse sink being installed in the next few weeks.

This is a fun read when you feel like your kitchen is not on trend:

http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/a-manifesto-against-the-tyranny-of-luxury-kitchens/

Everyone has a different taste, if I were you, I'd paint the cabinets in a heartbeat, and yes, into the cliche Dove White. However, you should you whatever that makes you happy, and I looove the idea of painting the island.

Once you change out your countertop and backsplash, it'd look a lot nicer, and you should consider getting new light fixtures and changing the chairs.

I like the cabinets. You should paint the walls white and change the lighting fixtures.

Hi, very nice kitchen there!
My advice would be to paint the kitchen white,
Update countertops along the grey lines as suggested by one of the individuals in previous comments,
Add some oriental or white/beige Scandinavia inspired rugs to break the woody flow from cabinets to floor,
Update the cabinet knobs/fixtures to something sleek and modern
If you are looking to update backsplash it will help if it's a clean sleek look as it will help tone down the oak
Finally use some props in bright clean tones

These are all from houzz

1st pic BM Galveston gray, lovely with oak

Another vote for keeping the wood cabinets, and doing other things to transform the kitchen. Change the paint and backsplash. As mentioned above consider painting just the island. And, since you like gray, consider leaving the counter-top around the perimeter and use the savings from that to change the island counter-top to a beautiful granite slab that could be a "showpiece".

The cabinets are nice and they will look even better with a new counter, backsplash and a breakfast table that's white. If you do paint, only painting an island is more than enough

paint the island and if its possible maybe change a couple of the upper doors to have glass inserts, it will break up the long line of wood up top.

another thought, you have a LOT of cabinets, probably double what my completely functional kitchen has. perhaps you could remove some of the uppers completely, such as to the left of the window or the bank over the counters on the other wall. you'll be able to introduce art and space and not-wood.

Hopefully you don't have a wood table & wood chairs.

If you are tempted to paint, consider painting the uppers, changing some uppers to framed glass and leaving the wood cabinets as is below. I really like the look of the backsplash choice blending in with the uppers in these photos, it really expands the space.

I'd suggest the following:

Get white quartz counters and make at least one become a waterfall edge (probably the island).

Keep the cabinets wood, giving them a good scrubbing.

Remove the upper cabinets on the wall with the window. Add shelving.

Put in a nice backsplash on that entire window wall. Back painted glass or a light tile.

Get some nice light fixtures.

Use a white round breakfast table. Saarinen tulip table is my favorite.

I was reading a thread on golden oak kitchens somewhere else and one of the posters talked about their kitchen's transformation. They went with a dark grey Quartz counter (soapstone would also be spectacular!), white subway backsplash with grey grout, and dark grey walls...Martha Stewart's Mushroom. With dark bronze drawer pulls and knobs, and the right light fixture this could be spectacular. Think Belgian bistro style. I would stay away from travertine or patterned granite if you're trying to update an oak kitchen.

What a lovely space. If you do paint, Amy Howard paint is the way to go. There are many types of treatments in her line that will, other that just a solid paint color, such as mica shimmers and antiquing that will add a beautiful look to cabinets and furniture. Adding New hardware will also give it a new look.

One PS: I'm not sure that those cabinets are in fact oak. The grain and color variation Is suspect ... Can you post a closeup of the door?

Another vote to keep the beautiful wood cabinets and flooring. If you like grey...maybe a Greystone Cambria countertop with Sweet Innocent paint.

If you wanted to go a little lighter...maybe Windermere Cambria with a neutral Woodland snow paint color and then accent with grey accessories.I also like the idea to replace the upper wood cabinets across from the window with glass insets. Beautiful home. Good luck! Keep us updated:)

Here's my kitchen. White uppers and oak lowers. The counters are N
Madre Perola Quartzite and the floors are a tile version of Belgian bluestone. I really like oak. It just needs a little updating.

Custom Hardware would add the very personal touch to your new kitchen. Changing the hardware to reflect you design sense would give the kitchen a whole new look without changing the cabinets.Knockout Knobs can work with you to turn your design into your hardware. Our custom hardware is the perfect complement to your kitchen, Your Passion, Your Design Your Hardware.