Depends on what you're plans are for the countertops, appliances, and floors. I would not paint anything until you have a plan for the "whole picture". Painting is not only difficult to do and have it look professional (you'd probably want to spray those), but it's also not easy to reverse if you change your mind. Think long and hard before committing.

And just an aside, I really like the light wood. Currently your floor and countertops and backsplash and cabinets are ALL in the same zone, but I can see the cabinets left as is looking really nice with a darker counter and floor and stainless steel appliances for example.

Another thought, if you really end up not liking the look of the cabinets, but like the layout of the kitchen, you don't necessarily have to "rip out" all the cabinets. You could leave the carcasses and just get new doors and drawer fronts.

Remove and reuse in garage or basement.

They may not make them as solid as they used to, but they make the uppers taller and the lowers way more useful, such as drawers instead of cupboards and other nice bits. I'd be pretty tempted to rip this out, but do so in a way that lets you donate the cabinetry to your local Restore for use by somebody who likes or can really use them.

Replace them. Put them in the garage, as suggested above.

Even with painting them (which is costly) they’re still an old style - I vote to replace them.

HI -- Donate or sell because they have done their time and are about thirty years out dated . Maybe your contractor should get them if he likes them so much . Besides this is your house and not the contractors , right ? I would not even put them in the garage ...not worth it . They have wonderful well made cabinets now , so no need fussing trying to do anything with these old ones . Maybe the layout needs to change for you and better to do a proper remodel here . Shop around and visit several kitchen design shops and learn as much as you can about different makes and qualities of cabinets . Perhaps find and hire a certified kitchen designer . Most cabinet shops just have sales persons , so be careful ... they are not kitchen designers . Always check anyone's previous works .

If there is still life in those cabinets send them to Habitat or some such. Would your contractor like to offer his advice on what you should wear next? Grrrrr .....

replace. not worth repainting due to the style of the doors. Is your contractor a designer too? perhaps he'd like to buy your cabinets?

the first thing that needs to go is the fridge cabinets!

you can also tell him that yes, they do make cabinets like that in todays market. They're called custom.

They look like maple to me not pine. Does anyone know when full overlay cabs become the fashion?

Faced with similar dilemma, here is my solution: if they are in good shape ( the pic does not show that) paint them in 2 tone based on whatever color scheme you are going for, and add another set on top, to the ceiling. use current doors for the top and have the current ones fitted with glass doors. replace pulls (check restoration hardware). Replace faucet (that is what is dating the kitchen)

Live with it for 6 months! Who knows how your priorities will change after living in the house. I see a couple of possibilities for changing the layout - I’d want to live with the flow before committing to a sink that looks into the wall and a microwave for an “exhaust” fan.

Are those pine or whitewashed maple?

They may be quality cabinets, but the layout is not nearly as functional as it could be. When I tore out my old kitchen cabinets (cheap builder grade, 20 years old, but solid), we repurposed everything except the sink base and two crappy lazy susans. Some went in our laundry room; some in the garage; some in the neighbor's laundry; some in the other neighbor's garage. I was thrilled to not throw them away (or have to work too hard to find homes), and everyone was thrilled with free storage.

I agree with the others - live with it for 6 months at least, and read all the kitchen design threads you can here, to see what makes a kitchen a joy to work in. Spend plenty of time developing a great plan, save money, and eventually build yourself a kitchen that you will love for decades.

Here is some inspiration: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/soapstone-countertops-cherry-wood-kitchen-remodel-263329?

The old cabinets were maybe made “better; but a lot less functional than new ones and I certainly would not spend money painting those. I always tell my clients to live with the space for a wahile before deciding waht they want and i would suggest that in this instance for sure.

Painting will not change the style.

What's the style of kitchen you wish you had. Please post a couple of pictures of kitchens you wish you had now, so Houzzers can help you make your dream kitchen come true

; )

a vote for Habitat donation if/when you decide to replace. Also agree with delaying decisions-

it would be a really big waste to do new countertops and backsplash, and then decide to change up the kitchen. you'd be forced into paint, strip and stain, or refacing old cabinets...
these look like 80s whitewash maple, to me...
Doing a kitchen remodel before you move in is much easier than after. but, if you're moving in right away, just follow the advice of those who say, live with it awhile.

I think just getting rid of the rooster and wine bottles, and replacing hardware would make a big difference. Otherwise they look pretty nice to me. I would splurge elsewhere, personally. Painting those would be cheaper and kind of fun. You could feel freer to make a more daring choice if you might switch them later anyway.

We moved into our house 10 years ago and the inspector commented on our sturdy our 80s golden oak cabinets were. After some time we realized that they are not great as they seem. Drawers were getting stuck and the layout was not optimal. Now ten years later, we finally have the funds to replace everything and I’m so thankful that we didn’t just update with a nice counter on top of our cabinets. I’m so much looking forward to the new organization features and the soft close cabinets.

A paint job won’t hold up nearly as well as a factory finish. And you don’t have anywhere near enough drawers. I would definitely get new cabinets. The hardware on new cabinets is better so in that sense new cabinets are actually better than old. Waiting is generally good advice.

We waited more than a year before remodeling our kitchen. We found out what worked and what needed to change. There was time to study the natural light winter and summer. Preconceived notions about prep sink, microwave location, coffee bar, etc. morphed into better ideas based on more experience in the house. There is no rush-it’s not a contest, but it is slot of money. Move in, relax, sip a cup of coffee and make thoughtful plans for next year.

It appears that they are light due to a natural absence of light or of windows? in the kitchen? They are beautiful. Buy the house FOR the kitchen, the MOST expensive room to remodel. I am very sorry your new house is not the home of the kitchen you desire. It is very sad...The kitchen is elegant. It would be a hard job to improve the layout or the cosmetics of it. It's your house. A huge waste of effort and money to undue, but it is your house. So, it's your decision to pay for and live with.

Voting to donate or reuse in another space, after living there and zeroing in on the changes you want to make. Some things to think about - The work zone locations in the current layout need to be addressed before updating the finishes. Going to the fridge, crossing the aisle to the sink, then crossing the aisle to the cooktop is not optimal for prep or draining pasta/hot water. Maybe there's a sink out of frame. The gas cooktop would benefit from a real hood that vents to the exterior, and that means relocating the microwave and the cooktop if it isn't on an exterior wall. The fridge is deep in the work zone so people are always milling about while someone is trying to prep/cook. Drawer bases offer more efficient storage. I like that the cleanup zone is separate :)

If it's in your budget, replace them. You can also re-purpose the existing cabinets in your laundry room area, your basement, or garage. rosy tones go well with gray and black.

You can repaint them as well if you are on a budget. Estimated price to paint the cabinets properly can go upwards of 5k to 7k.

It seems to me that your contractor has probably torn out and replaced many, many cabinets. If he is firmly recommending that you keep these then they may well be very good quality indeed. And although they don’t have the latest bells and whistles there a ton of after market add-ins (a la rev-a-shelf) that you can install, once you figure out what works best for you. They aren’t the most current look but they do have clean, simple lines. And a pretty neutral wood.

You’ve already resolved to tear out the appliances, backsplash and other elements that are contributing to the present sad looking color scheme but I would still be struggling with the space above the cabinets, which makes everything look dated. Maybe there is a solution for that. Possibly keeping the bases and doing something different with upper cabinets. In searching for inspiration have you tried tackling the individual design issues one by one? Example: “space over cabinets”

i suspect that under the faux Tuscan surface elements you may have a really nice kitchen. If it were me I would be frantic to get started but I have to agree with wiser GW advice about waiting six months and working with the layout you’ve got while you consider your approach. The good news is that the previous owners went with well made, solid materials - hopefully so for the rest of the house.

Another possible source of inspiration
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/kitchen-remodel-ikea-sektion-cabinets-263464

and yet another resource for those that disparage of DIY paint jobs in the kitchen: www.thekitchn.com/kitchen-painted-cabinets-quality-over-time-263317?

It is not worth painting, remove and replace and find a way to donate ( if the demo job allows it.) invest on your new property and you will be happy for many years to come. hire a Kitchen Designer and have them work on a design that suits all your needs. if there is a perfect time to do it is now, not after you move in and have to deal with dust and debris for weeks.

Back to the point that the existing cabinets have the merit of being well made, Perhaps the upper cabinets could be raised, as appears to be done in this kitchen, and shelving inserted below. It gives the kitchen more of the modern open look but retains the cabinets, which are actually useful.

Re painting, gel staining has been mentioned in other discussions, or if the color really isn’t pink and the finish is intact then maybe they are nuetral enough to let other design elements take center stage?

some of the more interesting and charming kitchens I’ve seen on GardenWeb are those where an older kitchen has been updated in an imaginative way, as opposed to being torn down to the sheetrock. Also, there is the budget - If you or your kitchen designer can come up with a solution that works for the existing cabinets then that’s 30k or so that could go towards skylights, or wonderful tile work or a Subzero, etc.

Adding another cabinet on top of existing ones isn’t rocket science. Here is my own example, after I removed the double ceiling and recovered the full height of the kitchen. Ah! And I totally disagree with those that state that painting is not worth it, but give no reasons for such statement.

the wise thing is to live with it for a year. What is the connection of kitchen space to any adjacent space in the home? That is not shown here. Many issues to evaluate....using these cabinets and trying to redo things?..... will involve many adjustments including painting or staining/readjusting in the layout/ adding other cabinets....or leaving the layout and just changing the surfaces/looks....OR- creating a whole new plan for yourselves....as well...consideration of budgetary issues. For now: Use the space, think of issues and plan accordingly. A casual comment:"they don't make them like that anymore…" is vague and should be disregarded. Compared to what and from what perspective..."builders grade from 20 yr ago?" Cabinets with lots more features and available specs, even in stock quality, are much more varied/efficient/ plentiful/available/ flexible/ and affordable [with care] than in the past. You have to do homework .