Have you used a stripper on it?

Yes, use a stripper and then I would paint it. Staining that type of cabinet wood probably would not work.

Why can't I stain it? It's solid oak.

Staining would require bare wood, free of finish and the previous stain. Extensive hours of sanding to get to bare wood in other words. And you've already noted how hard that is to do. Painting it would be a much easier choice on you.

My concern and I restore antique furniture is that the water has raised the grain of the wood and your wood make take stain differently than other pieces in the room making for a "calico" effect. In other words, if you decide to proceed you will need to refinish ALL THE WOOD in the bathroom in order to get a uniform look. Oak is a open pore wood with an open grain so it will absorb stain differently depending on how the wood was laid out originally, prior stain and water damage. I would suggest utilizing an opaque stain and going darker. As other suggested, you can also paint the wood, however, oak with its raised grain - the grain will show through the paint. Oak was used a lot during the Victorian period but generally with a dark stain for the reasons set forth above. In your case, preparation will be key, including proper sanding, filling and proper application of the stain. Depending on the age of the original cabinets, you will likely be working with oil based products.

http://www.ninahendrick.com/white-painted-cabinets/

Now that you've hacked up the finish you might as well go all the way and fill in the wood grain. That will provide you with a nice, smooth, flat surface for the paint. The link says "white cabinets" but you can use any color.

I didn't 'hack' the finish. I tried sanding the upper portion of one panel. The incredibly horrible finish you see if the result of water damage and a crappy product.

If it's the wood you're referring to as "a crappy product" then paint is the way to go. Easier to do, involving less time and effort with a more certain outcome. Use oil based enamel paint.

I am going to show you some crappy cabinets my brother painted in his lake house. Hope it inspire you! The other option is to contact HD or Lowes and find out if the cabinets can be refaced. I personally would either (1) paint or (2) use a dark opaque stain. If you would post more photos of the rest of the bath I will try to help you with the project and the update. The problem is these are builder grade cabinets in oak and they are not really good cabinets to begin with. Please do not take my comment as criticism, I am trying to help you with your options so you get a good result. I had similar oak kitchen cabinets for 15 years and did stain them darker until they finally got ripped out in favor of a new kitchen.

We've been sanding! I actually started priming the doors tonight. Planning to put two coats of primer on then finish with Benjamin Moore Advanced paint. We are trying to pick a color. I came home with a pint of Tyler taupe tonight, but we don't love it. It looks a bit green in the room. I think I'll get a pint of Fairmont gold tomorrow. Any suggestions? The husband keeps saying 'chocolate'. I don't want to have to get all new curtains, rugs, and towels!

The cabinets look good! make sure you sand w/a 220 grit to make them super smooth. Zinsser has an oil based primer in a spray can that's very easy and dries quickly. (again, after it dries, give a quick, fine sand). So does your husband want to go on the darker side for the cabinets? Those tans you have chosen tend to be on the yellowish side. Does your tile have pink undertones? I would get some other tan/brown colors to compare.

any of these look good?

The tile might have a pink undertone, but I painted the front door this fall with a darker beige that ended up having a pink cast to it and I hate it. I think 'mauve' every time I see it. My bedroom curtains and bathroom curtains are a suede camel color. I want to keep those.

And all my trim is golden oak. I hate it, but I don't think I'm up for painting it yet.

I have these color swatches, also.

You have white doors right? Paint all the trim in this room white- cabinets, window and door trim... this will look completely natural to have white in here and wood elsewhere in the house, especially since you already have wood doors.

The doors are white, but the door frames are golden oak. I really thought going white with all that creamy countertop in there would be too much.

I see you're painting it now, but for anyone with similar cabinets, gel stain works wonderfully, with minimal sanding. I did my oak cabinets about 6 years ago and they still look just as good as the day I finished them.

One coat of primer on.

Chalk paint my friend! No stripping, no sanding, no priming. And afterwards you can wipe it down with their buffing wax. The finish holds up. A beautiful finish. For name brands research Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. You will not regret it.

Sorry but wax doesn't sound like a good finish for a bathroom. If you read above, she's already sanded and did most of the hard work, so no need for short cuts. A quart BM Advance is much cheaper than a couple of cans of Annie Sloan.

I've chalk painted and distressed a bedroom set with beautiful results and it has held up beautifully. However, I sanded it, too. I just can't bring myself to skip the prep work. I've seen others do it and end up with chipping paint within a few months.

Way better with just the primer. I would add another coat of primer.

Bm seapearl is a beautiful offwhite to consider, in case you've not yet decided on a color.

Came across a bedspread at Dillard's today. Not positive I am keeping it, but I think I like it. Anyway, it inspired me a bit. We (husband and I) are chicken poops with color, but what if we painted the cabinets blue? Have I gone bonkers?

not sure what 'chicken poops with color' mean, but a nice blue on the vanity would work.

Poop is a synonym for a 4 letter word that starts with 's'. We are scared of color.

ah, ok. why? lol. It's just paint. so if you choose that slate gray for the cabinet, what is going on the wall? I'd rather you do that blue on the wall and do the vanity in a cream tone or white or something that's in that flooring. Those paint chips you have, what other color do you like for the vanity? you can accent w/blue towels and rugs. if you want to paint the vanity blue, then pick a blue like the darkest large square on that quilt.

I painted! Waited for the paint to cure on the doors a few weeks before I hung them. I used two coats of primer and 2 coats of Benjamin Moore Advance. I can't recall the color name right now, but it's a dark, smoker blue.

Looks so nice... and brand new. Great job!