Is it just the lighting, or are your lowers and uppers a different wood/different stain?

Also, I don't know a ton as I'm not a pro and this is the first kitchen remodel we're doing, but I do know from reading that prepping and staining your own cabinets is quite a process, and having them done is expensive. Are they very good quality and thus worth saving, as opposed to replacing?

ETA, of course that would mean replacing the counters too, and things start to add up....

Lonnie: why? kitchen is smallish..two tones not the best .The light wood,simple door is the best. change to simpler hardware, remove cranberry curtains. streamline window treatments..shades of some sort.

There is a dark grey gel stain. The prep is just thorough cleaning and light sanding.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YCLONMO 

I definitely agree with hf's changes. Maybe start with those and then see what you think?

lazy, are the gel stains easy to apply correctly? I feel like I've read about problems with those. But maybe it was just with certain species of wood?

Ca we see a picture of just the countertop?

I had the same question. Why?

This is a nice kitchen. Love your slate floors. Please don't fall prey to the latest trends by painting those fabulous bookmatched birch doors.

The cabinets are awesome. Get rid of the purple stuff and clutter. Possibly change hardware to clean simple brushed or satin stainless or nickel. And I agree, the fridge is too big for the room...

I love your cabinets as they are!

Wow. The are incredible cabinets and they're not even remotely my style.
Those MCM handles and gorgeous floor? Wow.

Trying to stain that birch white (whitewash?) would make them a strange yellow color.
You could do the gray, but you'd really have to take them down to bare wood.

With the size of your kitchen? I would start with the counter tops and back splash, maybe new hardware if you're not into it.

You have a great period kitchen. Too bad you're not into it!

The purple is making the wood look orange. And the bad lighting. And the too dark backsplash.

Leave the cabinets alone.

What Sophie says. Ditch the purple curtains , area rug, lighting. I personally dislike using refrigerators as a bulletin board. The magnets, calendar, etc. are distracting and add to clutter. I love the cabinets.

The problem is the purple curtains AND the blue backsplash. The complement to blue is orange and the complement to purple is yellow so those two colors are what are making the cabinet color "pop". Pick a more neutral color for the backsplash and use something like shades for the windows and you'll find it will make a huge difference.

I didn't say to change the appliances. I said to change the backsplash because the blue color brings out the orange in the cabinets. It goes to color theory and the opposite color on the color wheel of blue is orange. When blue is put next to orange, it makes both colors appear more intense.

Love the cabinets. The counter and the soffit/upper wall color need to be reconsidered.

I love your cabinets too. I would start saving for new counters and backsplash.

Yes, I agree with the others (it appears to be unanimous, so I hope you notice that!). Keep the cabinets as they are. Not only ditch the window treatments which you said you are doing, but also the counters and backsplash. The wood cabinets and floors will look sharp with lighter backsplash and counters. People actually seek out cabinets like yours, but with better backsplash and counters. Also your clutter of dingy mat, fridge stuff, etc. de-prettifies the kitchen.

You said you want white. Instead of faking it with an attempt to cover the beautiful wood (which will not be easy, and with good odds of ending up looking worse than what you have), insert your white with subway tiles (check out Daltile Rittenhouse Square at Home Depot which is classic white subway tiles, not expensive, and you just can't go wrong), and white/cream formica counters (for the mid-century look) or spend more on white quartz counters if you want.

I would love to see someone with photoshop skills do a mock up of friedajune’s suggestions.

I'm not feeling the love of the cabinets as apparently everyone else is. I too dislike orangey wood tones. I'd like to see a closer view of the cabinets, for color and surface texture.

That said, there is MUCH that I would change before tackling cabinets. New countertops for certain. Agree that the backsplash is way too dark, and that purple stuff needs to go. And I would absolutely replace the cabinet hardware.

No, you can’t paint tile unless you want it to look like the cheap ugly hack that it is. It must be removed, and you start over.

I have actually painted time before and it looked great. It's not a smooth tile it's looks more like panels of some kinda cement

You seem to want to wholeheartedly ruin this kitchen and tank your home’s value based on dated decor ideas and cheap “fixes”. No one will stop you from doing that. But you will pay the price for low quality hack work in reduced home value, and lack of durability of the hacked surfaces that will require replacement.

Whst you have is classic, and only needs tweaking. Gray cabinets are dead and done. Wood cabinets are the emerging hot trend. And you are already there. Great wood slab doors have been popular from the 30’s on, and they have design longevity when done right. Those are really done right. They are expensive, and perfect for the room.

The first rule of design is the same as it is for doctors. First, do no harm.

The cabinets close ups and tile close ups looks really nice, but that granite isn't working with any of it.

It looks like Birch. I can understand not liking Orange wood, but I think the counters due to their colors are making them look more orange than they really are. Although unstained birch could look orange depending on the finish that was used. The finish often will yellow over time.

Okay after seeing the closeups, I’d be inclined to not change them. The wood is beautiful. Not orangey in those pics, to me. DEFINITELY change out your lighting! And I really don’t like that granite. :-(. Or those awful cabinet pulls.

Here is a picture that shows you the combo of white and natural, which you mentioned earlier. This is a Scandinavian kitchen and the slab birch doors are very common there.

White/off-white counters and backsplash with stainless hardware and your kitchen will look modern and fresh.

in a sense, I like the counters. I believe a white backsplash would change the entire look. Although the darker slate look backsplash has it's groove, too, [and I would probably leave it].....but, in your space a field of white for the splash could be the trick. So: white window trim remains which will pop in a good way, with white backsplash, near white or white walls....attempt to leave counter and leave floor would be my approach, if I was itching to do something.....[and of course change hardware-find something special but understated]. you have a nice kitchen, actually.

The granite also has a blue cast to it which is also not helping your cabinets. As mentioned multiple times, blue will make them appear more orange than they are. However, I don't mind the counters with the cabinets. I think herb's idea of a white backsplash will do the trick.

Up close the cabinets are even better than from afar. You have gold there! And unlike Chess, I love those handles.

Those counters are laminate. I would have no issues ripping them out and replacing with white Corian or quartz. And a new light backsplash.