I love those cabinets. You could do off white bead board as the backsplash and go right up to the ceiling. Also cup pulls would be cute. Maybe a black island. Black and oak look great together.

See my response to this similar thread:

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5253835/can-you-help-modernize-my-new-home-purchase

Are you talking about a DIY paint job or a professional one? If it's professional (and I would recommend this for oak - that grain will be tough to cover satisfactorily), you are talking about a LOT of money. You have a lot of cabinets. Your floor color is fine - a really nice, warm color. You do NOT want darker - it will show every crumb, bit of dust, pet hair!!!

But this is not a new kitchen. The cabinets do not go to the ceiling. You have very few drawers. Your island is not a very useful size, and you have a microwave, instead of a vent hood over your stove.

I would live with what I have and start saving for a new kitchen. Living with it will show you what works and what doesn't. Don't throw good money after bad.

I am not normally a fan of 90s oak kiitchens, as the ubiquitous "honey" oak was a domineering shade of orange. But if your photos represent the color accurately, yours are a nicer color than 99% of the 90s-era oak I've seen. If you want contrast in the kitchen I would do that by choosing a painted island, since you are planning to replace that anyway. I'd keep your current cabinets on the perimeter, use cream for your new island, and put runners on the floor if you want to cover up the floor rather than refinish. You'll need a new countertop for the larger island. I think keeping the same counter throughout the kitchen would be the best approach, so either try to match the existing granite or replace it all. A new counter would be another opportunity to introduce more contrast to the room.

I don't see any problem making the desk area into a bar.

DON'T. PAINT. THOSE. CABINETS. They are gorgeous. They are not orange. They are what everyone who hates white cabinets wishes they had.

The desk area is too low for a bar. Sorry.

Do not make the island bigger for seating. You have a table 4' away for seating. Island seating takes up a HUGE footprint of floor space that you do not have.

Can you post a floor plan of the kitchen and eating area and include doorways and windows?

I would....

1. Move the micro wave to the desk area IF you are certain you do not want it to be a desk area. That whole desk area needs to be reconfigured. I would try to make it mirror the coffee station. You can have a cabinet man do that.

2. Put a proper hood over your range.

3. Remove that second backsplash above the granite one and remove that piece of wood the backsplash is sitting on.

4. Change out that light fixture.

5. I don't think that color green is doing you any favors. Pick a different color in the granite and paint the walls that color.

These look like they may be elm cabinets. keep them.

update the lighting, put in a exhaust hood and move the micro and maybe take down or add glass to a few cabinets. choose a lighter counter and backsplash. I would replace all the wood trim to white. the cabinets are the best thing in the room.

try Benjamin moore november rain or gray mirage paint colors. they are both in the grey green family, november rain is lighter and more of a chameleon. it's a great neutral with wood tones. good luck

Your cabinets are very nice! And you have a wonderful granite that looks very fine with them! I would remove the backsplash. I think your floors should be stained dark.

New backsplash, light fixture, remove stuff on top of cabs, would do lighter or darker paint color. Would not paint cabs.

Normally I'd recommend painting the cabinets....but NOT THESE CABINETS. Whatever you do, please don't paint the cabinets. They are exceptional and beautiful and of exceptional quality. The thing I'd suggest changing are your beautiful countertops....again a shame to change the countertops since they are quite elegant...but the countertops are too close in tone to the cabinets and you may want to consider more contrast between the cabinets and the countertops.

Below is a white granite countertop with a very subtle shiny backsplash, similar to what you already have, but they put in a busy tile job around the window (which I wouldn't recommend).

Your kitchen has a beautiful country vibe, and you can amp that up with a white china farmhouse skin. It would look so great with white counters and the existing cabinetry.

While I'm here, also recommending NOT changing the cabinet handles. Those are very nice. Keep the lamp, which is also a nice touch. Also, please no changes to your microwave. The microwave placement is well thought-out and changing it will only gobble up precious counter space.

Artisan Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Hi everyone! Thank you SO MUCH for all of the feedback - beyond helpful and appreciated. So, looking back at the photos, the color/character that comes through on the photographs aren't quite true to the real deal. While the cabinets aren't the typical honey oak, they aren't the walnut with character like the photos look to show. Either way, I'm definitely hearing that many of you think I should not paint them - well noted! We're not quite sold on painting them and have been nervous to do so - we've heard oak doesn't paint well etc.

With that said, I think I could have been more thorough in my original post in what I think the kitchen is lacking - which is contrast. While the pics don't show it the best, the flooring is the exact same color as the cabinets - and the countertop and backsplash don't add any contrast. I'm liking the idea of changing the countertops and backsplash (put in by previous owner which I've wanted to change anyways) and putting in runners! Brilliant!

As for the island - it is really too small and we would like to have island seating for entertaining etc. - people tend to just stand around the kitchen when we have friends or family over and it would just make it more inviting to have island seating. My thought is to have a custom island made - and paint it cream for a contrast. I then plan on adding a cozy little area in front of the fireplace with a few chairs and eating in the dining room instead of the kitchen - old school style!

I like the idea of a hood over the stove - how much does this usually run... ballpark?

I also like the idea of white trim - is painting trim a bad idea - would you suggest just replacing it altogether?

If you want contrast, try an accent color in your kitchen. If you like the color red, try a vibrant red bowl, a red tea pot, a rug with red in it under the dining room table, etc. There are many ways to update your kitchen - you can also add new lighting over the island, get rid of clutter, and add under cabinet lighting.

Cascade Mountain Home · More Info

Cascade Mountain Home · More Info

not sure what it would cost to do a hood.... also in the photo above you can see how just not having all the uppers will help with the "too much wood" look. I wouldn't change the counter, maybe the lighting and the backsplash after reconfiguring the cabinets. then add an accent color if you like. incorporating that color in a window treatment would be nice too.

I think adding an island with a few seats is a good idea, would you lose the round table? the wood tone of those pieces don't really work with your cabinets. you could add a club chair or other soft seating there.

I can't tell for sure from your photo but it there a popcorn ceiling? If so, that will also help update your space.

Another vote for not painting the cabinets. :)

It looks questionable whether you have the space to get the useful island your looking for. Perhaps set up a card table or plywood to mock up what you’re thinking for a while to see how useful it is to you. Good luck!

I think your cabinets look like they're in great shape and because the grain is so strong, I don't think you'll like the end result of painting them.

I have to agree with the others that I would make other changes before doing anything with the cabinets. A new light fixture will do wonders. Also, it appears that you have a popcorn ceiling. If you do, I'd remove that (not a DIY job though). I'd also change the paint color and declutter a bit (I hate things on top of cabinets). Unless you need the privacy, I'd replace the window roller shades with decorative roman shades to bring in a pop of color.

If you want a bigger island, you can measure and see if you have the room for an island with a table attached. Or else just have a bigger island and remove the wood table and chairs.

A new hood would depend on the style and CFMs needed. Most ordinary ranges will do fine with a hood of about 390 - 400 CFM. That would certainly work better than a micro vent. In some areas, going over 400 cfms kicks in a requirement for "make up air" which will make it much more expensive.

You would need to adjust the cabinet crown, but I like this and the simpler backsplash:

42" is a good distance from island to sink or range - that might help in determining the size of an island. 15" is a good overhang for seating - mine is less, but works.

I have painted trim with oak cabinets - but my trim was never oak so it was not a hard decision to paint it.