I like your kitchen. Is it the cabinet color you don’t like? Or the granite? Maybe just add some under cabinet lighting. If the whole kitchen bothers you just have the cabinets painted and the granite changed to something lighter. But then you’re talking a lot of money.

Thank you for your response. I really don't like the cabinet color. Too much brown in the room. I dream of a white kitchen but know that wouldn't work in this house and it would be a complete gut job. So for now, would like some ideas on paint colors for the cabinets and anything else I can do to brighten it up without changing the appliances, floor tile or granite.

Congrats on the new home. I would suggest painting the Cabinets White to match the trim, doors, and shutters. It looks like the upper cabinets are built into the wall so I would want a differentiation in color.

You can do it in stages and make big improvements . Paint the Cabinets, then countertops and backsplash, then appliances...

Keep an eye on craigslist as you can come across great barely used appliances for a fraction of the cost or call a new Appliance store and ask about scratch and dent or floor models.

Thanks for your response. So white and not cream? And all of the upper cabinets (including buffet and eat in are) a different color from base? If so, what color for uppers vs lowers? Please clarify. Also--great idea on appliances. Thanks!

Painting cabinets is expensive and time-consuming. It takes a lot to prep then if you're doing it DIY (and they don't last forever) and a lot of money to get it professionally done. You need to ask yourself if that's worth it or if you should live with them and save up for a remodel.

White would also be WAY too stark with all the warm tones you have. You need a creamier off-white. Plus lighter cabinets will only highlight your black appliances.

My advice would be live with it until you can save up and do a full remodel that you'll love.

Thanks so much. I was so focused on syncing with the walls and countertop, I wasn't thinking how the lighter cabinets would look with the black appliances. But I agree--too much of a contrast with them. Sigh...looks like I may need to wait... :(

I have to start by saying I have a bias against painting over stain grade wood. That being said one of the current Houzz stories is about currant kitchen cabinet trends and one of the trends is non matching uppers and lowers. Perhaps just replacing the upper doors with something like glass panel doors would change the look without replacing perfectly good cabinets and still fit the rest of your houses decor.

I would focus on lighting. Under cabinet lights, and pendants over the island. Having an electrician come in to do this is way less than painting the cabinets or changing the counters.

painting all of these yourself is an inordinate amount of work, to do correctly. I don't think you understand what prep work entails. If you work full-time, it would take two of you more than a month to properly do these. If you hire out, about 5K.

they're actually nice wood cabinets. changing out the counter and wall paint and hardware would do wonders for them. You're going after the wrong culprit

heres a similar cabinet that they did with lighter, brighter counter/tile/hardware and paint on the walls. see the diff? these wood cabs are almost identical to yours. imagine your dark wall paint, gold counters and dreary lighting. this is how it can look if you change it

go w/the simplest fixes first. counters and wall painting are easier than painting cabinets.

If this was my kitchen, I'd look for appliances on craigslist. You can't imagine the great deals you can find. I'd also look for countertops. you could prob do a pre-fab counter (go to a stone yard and ask to see the pre-fab. deal in cash and barter) and island piece for 600. hire a fabricator to cut them for you for a 1000 or so. ( do not get the 4" piece but do a nice tile splash instead) paint the walls some other color because that tan shade is depressing. If you want to paint just the island, or the other cabs in the other part of the room, go for it. In fact, why don't you do that first so you get a taste of what it entails?

here is a link on exactly what to do

https://www.evolutionofstyleblog.com/2012/01/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets-like.html

You have a lot of flooring. if you can't afford it, then save up for it. but for now, try the wall paint, counters/splash option.

Highly Recommend on painting the upper and bottom cabinet white or cream and then keep the counter top (budget) purposes and then do new handles on the cabinet doors and leave everything as is

Purewal Contractors Inc

What if you change the counters to white and the appliances to white?

Thanks--actually I do understand what's involved. I painted dark cabinets at another home and the result was amazing and well worth the cost (was no where near $5k). But the space was smaller with less cabinets so this home has me hesitant. Like your ideas about just painting the cabinets in the other parts of the room (buffet and eat in area) which are not near the appliances. Hmmm.. And yes--the tan wall has got to go. But any suggestions on what color to paint it? This depressing tan is the color of the entire room.

5K is what it would cost for expert cabinet painters to prep and spray. 2K is what a hack painter would charge you. guarantee it would chip within a year and look like crap. How long did your other painted cabinets last you?

I wouldn’t touch those cabinets unless I were going to have them painted professionally ... it’s not cheap to have done &, if it were me, I’d spend the money on something else that bothers me ( e.g., new appliances, ). I know others will disagree with me , but I’ve yet to see a DIY kitchen cabinet paint job that would be acceptable to me ... & I’ve seen several.

What about just replacing some of the upper cupboards with glass doors and a nice light runner in kitchen and area rug under dining table. Big job painting if you are thinking of changing it all later

This is not a DIY project--I planned to hire a painter to do it! Waiting on the new appliances because we plan to convert stove from electric to gas (probably in 1-2 years) so will get new stainless appliances then. Love the look of glass doors but too much work to keep cabinet clean, organized and "ready for show". Not a bit fan of area rugs....

I would not recommend painting those wood stained cabinets. Save your money for the renovation you really want down the road.

To me, what really dates the kitchen is the speckled granite. If you really want an update now, can you replace the countertops and swap out the cabinet hardware? Those two things would make a world of difference, even without new appliances.

Also agree with suggestions above for better lighting! Under cabinets, pendants over island, etc.

Thanks--I am looking into lighting options....

hgtvandme, I love your cabinets. But, since you crave white or cream... go with a lighter color you love and save to spend your money on appliances. I am not sure the brand of appliances you have but you can find a suite of appliances at places like Best Buy or Sears that are pretty reasonable. And while you wait on that paint your hardware black or buy oiled rubbed bronze.. LaurenMcBridge blog painted her and kept the hardware black. You could do that while you wait

http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kitchens/best-way-to-paint-kitchen-cabinets

https://www.laurenmcbrideblog.com/2016/03/how-to-paint-kitchen-cabinets/

Ideas,,,,If you keep the appliances and just paint the cabs with your cream floors and the beige granite.

This last one has dark counters but i thought you could see painted cabs with blk applainces

... And for the record, I think the wood cabinets are really pretty and add character to your home! I realize it doesn't matter, if they're just not your style, but just my 2 cents! :)

Thanks so much :) I'm going to try the other ideas--lighting & wall paint for now and then see how it looks.

Beth H--I do love that countertop and also looking into this. It does brighten the kitchen up signficantly!

Keeping cabs organized is not that difficult but you also don’t have to do a clear glass. It’s just to break up some of the wood. I have all my uppers with glass and I like that it keeps me organized but it’s not for everyone

Thanks BoxerPal--those pics help me visualize what it could look like

Like your cabinets, but the appliances look like they might need to be addressed first. I would not paint the cabinets because they are in more than one room of the home.

The rooms do not look too brown unless your new furnishings have added darkness to the rooms. Looks like things go together nicely.

Thanks so much for the visual--never considered white appliances!

Here's an easy fix - put lighting ON TOP of your cabinets. Many different types of lighting would work. I would suggest something unobtrusive, perhaps even rope lights tucked up toward the front edge. If you don't have an edge to hide it behind, that's something relatively easy to have added. If you have artwork, or sculptures you could place along the back wall that would look great. I do agree with what most commenters have said about not painting the wood cabinetry. Changing out a couple of the solid panels for glass would be nice also, but I would also light those internally.

It’s the appliances not the cabinet color.

We also, wouldn't suggest painting the cabinets.

Changing the cabinets or the floor would be the obvious start point, but as you said, is way out of a tight budget.

The best solution would be changing these countertops.. I'll suggest one option in quartz and one option in granite.

The granite Option would be the Colonial Gold Granite:

See it applied on a kitchen:

1-

2-

The option in quartz would be the Clarino Quartz By LG QUARTZ - VIATERA

Applied on a kitchen:

Both colors would change the aspect of your kitchen.. I also think you should have a waterfall edge on this island ... Look at this before and after :

Only the Countertops changed on this kitchen, but this already changed the whole aspect.

I LOVE that countertop! It blends well with the existing cabinets and brightens up the space. Thanks for the idea!