I think I would first try adding silver cabinet hardware, under cabinet lighting and, as you say, removing the blue wall and pendants. 3 pendants may look nice depending on what that entire area looks like. I would also suggest switching out the bar stools for one's that are more refined.

Get me a bucket of paint, please!!A good professional paint job will hold up very, very well. That means doors and drawer faces totally removed, taken off site, cleaned, lightly sanded, primed, sprayed. Face frames painted in house of course, with same treatment.. Add beautiful hardware and they're reborn. Plan to spend 3500.00 to 6,500 area of the country depending....and worth every penny.

Don't let the naysayers scare you to death. It's done all the time. To unbelievable lightening and brightening effects.

A pro paint job will be a perfect solution to your concern about the paint coming off. The cabinets will be stripped and then refinished. Glad to hear the blue is going that is just awful . I do agree that a new backsplash and some handles, and under cabinet lighting might make a huge difference in how you feel about the cabinet color

Thanks for your ideas!

I love the wood cabinets - very rich and elegant looking. They go well with the flooring. As mentioned above, a new backsplash and removal of the 'blue' would do wonders. But in the end, you have to do what makes you happy!

i'm in favor of painting, i'm also in favor of swapping a couple more of upper cabinet door panels to glass ones, if you sort of like the dark just want less of it. you can still paint after; a couple glass doors will still look nice.

1. add hardware 2. redo backsplash 3. add under counter lighting. 4. assess.