I would have to see your kitchen before saying much.

I do not think you inspiration/ result is oak. Probably a stain on maple in both photos

looks like a dark stain rubbed, sanded, and then clear-coated on maple. Doesn't look like oak. Love the look though and think it could be accomplished with oak. It will just look a little more 'grainy' (if that's a word).

The grain on the back cabinets looks much too prominent for maple.

To get them lighter, they would have had to have stripped them.

Stain only works on bare wood. Applying stain to a finished surface fails because the stain cannot penetrate.

Oak and ash have variegated grain characteristics, most other woods do not have. stains/finish remain in the deeper grain pattern after sanding and some attempts at brushing. Stain cannot penetrate and the application of stain then results in blotching.

Staining to a lighter color does not work, since stain is done by adding color.

You could have the doors/drawer fronts professionally stripped, but the cabinet boxes cannot be removed and sent out for stripping.(Actually, that can be done, but replacing the cabinets would be better).

Painting oak(a personal opinion) simply winds up looking like painted oak, since the grain patterns show. And that looks(to me) horrible.

I think that may be a faux paint treatment with a darker off white colored base, then a bit darker wiping glaze, which brings out the grain pattern that will still be apparent. Any of that will require SOOOOO much work. Weeks. And a great deal of skill to not apply too much, or too little, glaze.

Wood is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Perhaps you find a way to live with them as is until you replace them in a much bigger renovation?

If you post pictures of your kitchen, I'm sure that you will get suggestions to help you personalize your kitchen that don’t involve weeks and weeks of work.

So none of the Pros can give specifics on what this result is? How would you duplicate it if a client approached you saying that’s what they wanted