I agree with living with the kitchen for a while before deciding what to do (and yes, changing the up-lighting color temperature).

That said, they look like lovely cabinets and I wouldn't paint them. A different cabinet pull might freshen the look.

You might tuck away the idea of removing the appliance garage and the "walls" on either side of the cooktop if you do get into more involved work. That would lighten the overall feel and make it seem more spacious. Maybe even change out that heavy-browed cabinet above the cooktop for a chimney hood or a shorter cabinet with a stainless hood below.

You'll likely have to redo the backsplash at that point (get rid of that 4" granite piece at that time as well) and can go with something more white and less beige.

Sina and Michelle's advice sounds like wisdom. Assuming all is well with function, I would do option 1. Although I'm not a fan of cherry cabinets, the finish is beautiful and the cabinets appear to be quality. I would focus my efforts on everything else; counter, backsplash (no 4"), lighting, and furnishings (barstools).

My dream kitchen has always been cherry cabinets. I would never paint any nice wood cabinets. the flooring, paint color, light bulbs and backsplash are things I would change. it's a nice layout. We bought our current home last year. I really didn't like the knotty hickory cabinets in the house. But really liked most everything else about it. Now a year later I really like them. It wouldn't have been my choice but they work in this Montana home.

What about flooring? Would you replace the tile flooring with wood? We're looking at doing a hardwood extended throughout the first floor but I worry it will compete with the cabinetry?

Painting those gorgeous cabinets would be a mistake, in my opinion. Once the white trend eventually fades and wood finishes make a comeback, and your non-factory site painted cabinets start to look beat up, you will regret the time, effort and money you spent.

Below is one of my all time favorite kitchens....(and I LOVE white white kitchens). But there's something very lovely and timeless about this natural cherry kitchen. Your kitchen has the makings to look a lot like this! Don't give up on it yet!

I would get rid of: 1. the mantle hood that comes down to the countertops, the appliance garage, the set on granite splashes and possibly the fluted boxed columns on the island. Then see if the manufacturer still makes the wood/finish and get a wood hood that doesn't sit on the countertops, and new island legs that fit your taste. You can even buy them unfinished and stain to match if you can't find one from this manufacturer. Do you know who the manufacturer/maker is? Then get a nice tile backsplash like in the photos below. A handmade ceramic would be nice. Another option would be to replace the island in a painted finish (see pic below).

Click here to see one of my favorite cherry kitchens: [https://www.houzz.com/photos/ireland-in-ct-victorian-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~2536755[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/ireland-in-ct-victorian-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~2536755)

I would take out the hood to the counter cab immediately...would make be claustrophobic and replace with a stainless one...then new wall paint and light backsplash. If you replace the backsplash, take off the 4” granite backsplash and run tile to the counter....one kind of backsplash not both. Light counters will help lighten the space but existing ones work. Updating the pendants might be a nice finishing touch.

Here is a backsplash idea. Something with a little sparkle.

And definitely replace the pendants.

The majority of homes today have hardwood and the color typically is a complementary color not matching. This is illustrated in the photo above by Glo European as well as a couple of examples below. You can utilize hardwood regardless if you are replacing the cabinetry or are painting them at a later date. Waiting to see the functionality of your kitchen is a good idea prior to making a decision on replacing cabinetry.

You asked about the floors - how do you feel about tile floors in the kitchen? Some love them, some hate them. We're on the hate them end (so hard on your feet/knees/back when cooking for a long time), so we replaced tile that looks much like yours with hardwood and didn't look back.

Please don't do a busy glass mosaic backsplash - while dark, the present granite (looks like uba tuba) has enough variation in it. Plus those busy mosaics are very dated. Go quiet (and light) with a new backsplash - it will make the space feel more open and bright.

The kitchen in my house looked similar when we bought the house 8 years ago. It looked great in photos, but once you looked closely at the cabinets, you noticed that the quality was not great. Cheap drawer boxes and glides.

My original plan was to restain or paint the cabinets and add new counters and backsplash, but it didn't make sense to upgrade everything and keep cheap cabinet boxes. I lived with the kitchen for 8 years and gutted the whole thing last year. So glad I didn't waste any money when we first moved in trying to patch things to look better.

Also, after living with the kitchen for a while I realized that the fridge had to be moved from its location too close to a corner.

“Tear it out” is a quick, easy and expensive solution. What happens when the style changes in 5-10 years (as it surely will)? Tear it out again? I think the poster needs some practical solutions to living with her new kitchen for awhile....

Looking at the pictures again, I'm not sure how functional the layout is going to be for you. I wouldn't put any money into the kitchen until you've lived with it for a few months. Then you'll have a better sense of whether you want to put money into cosmetic fixes, or you want save for more significant changes.

I will chime in and say those look like really lovely cabinets and I would not paint them. I might think about replacing some of the doors with glass, or maybe even one or two with open shelving just to lighten it up. I agree with maybe changing the hood, and possibly consider painting the island (only) .

I also happen to think the tile should stay although I know that's not "on trend" lately but it looks good and goes so nicely with your cabinetry. I would honestly try by just changing the lighting, maybe tweaking some of the cabinetry, and then ultimately I might consider changing the counter tops to something lighter (and backsplash). I too have tired of the mosaic backsplashes and would go with something simpler.

I think it's a gorgeous kitchen.

I would not tare out the cabinets nor paint them.

They seem to be in great shape and of quality.

I would first live in the house for a few months before deciding on changes to this kitchen.

I would hire a cabinet maker to adjust the kitchen.

- Remove the appliance garage

-cut down the hearth (wood hood) legs to be even with the cabinet or remove entirely and use a stainless steel hood instead.

-I would use the crown that is left over from the wood hood to finish the sides of the adjoining cabinets.

(most of the time the sides of the cabinets are finished, so I am assuming they are for now)

-new hardware

-new backsplash

-new top

-new wall paint.

-The flutted legs and fillers are an issue in terms of making the kitchen look more traditional but with the above updates I think you might be able to live with them as is.

That is all you need to freshen the look.

As others have said I would be hesitant to paint them as the white craze will wane just like the Tuscan etc

Filipe, I agree about removing the hood cover and replacing it with stainless. I think that is the piece that is primarily dating the room and making it look heavy.

Beautiful kitchen. I actually love the black granite and cherry and think that combo plays well with a more transitional style. You could update and balance some of the heaviness with new hardware in stainless steel, a SS hood, and updated lighting (with cooler light). A lighter simple backsplash is another option, but I would tackle the easy issues first and then reevaluate.

That kitchen is gorgeous as is! At any rate, live in it a while so you know if the layout itself works for you or not ... give it a good six months, then decide on any changes. Turning it all white or something... meh. This kitchen deserves better than that! Change out some hardware where needed, but otherwise, this is a LOVELY kitchen.

At this point, the only things I'd do is change the light bulbs from that yellow/green to warm white --- or just don't turn them on; it looks like you have enough lights.

And get different pendants (less traditional).

And different stools and a snazzier runner.

Looking again at your kitchen....those cabinets are truly beautiful...have them professionally cleaned and polished. The existing backsplash is simple and quiet, not something garish that needs to be replaced, imo.

Gosh, I don’t think I would do anything beyond changing the light bulbs. While not screaming 2010s, It is a beautiful kitchen! I absolutely agree that regardless of your plans for the kitchen, move in and live with it for a while (6 months minimum) before doing anything. If you really need to lighten it up, I would change the countertops, backsplash and light fixtures, and leave the cabinets alone. But if I were in your shoes, I would leave the kitchen be for now and focus on getting settled and/or tackling other necessary projects after moving in. It looks like a beautiful home. After living there a while, you may decide that you like the kitchen “well enough” for now, in which case you can invest whatever money you would have spent on it, and splurge on more substantial changes in ~5 years or so.