I'd go with a creamy white for the cabinets, like Swiss Coffee, and maybe change out the hardware to something a bit more contemporary.

I feel like a bad person when someone asks for paint color suggestions for the cabinets and I say "Don't paint them." But....I would change the backsplash to marry the counter to the cabinets instead. Maybe upgrade the cabinet knobs. I feel like if you are going to sell the house very soon, go with a trendy backsplash.

I would pull a nice warm white from your countertop. :) Would be beautiful. Painting cabinets is not easy and needs to be done correctly. Prep it good and then make sure you seal it as well. In time, paint wears/chips off. Even when done correctly.

I hear General Finishes Milk paint is the best for cabinets. I'm going to be giving it a try in the next couple of weeks...I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks all for the wonderful suggestions!

Angela, here are some pics for you.

if doing them yourself, read this on the how too. it's the best one out there.

https://www.evolutionofstyleblog.com/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets-like

this one was done w/SW Aria Ivory

GF Linen milk paint. (you must still prime. read above link)

Friend of mine did a clients in GF milk Paint in Antique White. (or maybe it was Linen.) her oak cabs looked just like yours. full cleaning, sanding and priming,,, 2 coats of paint (after the white primer) and GF Flat top coat.

she also did a few doors in the glass panels and changed the hardware to crystal knobs

more of a white. BM Simply White or Cloud White.

Thanks so much Beth H! These are beautiful!

For resale, it seems like white kitchens are HOT right now, but I still think the backsplash looks dated.

If I was a buyer, I would probably consider it a big cause for concern and red flag that the cabinets were recently painted. That might be because I have enough knowledge about painted over finished cabinets to know if it wasn't done very well, I will have a sad looking kitchen that needs lots of touch up in a few years. I would be concerned because someone painting cabinets to sell a home might not put the $ or work necessary to do it right.

Painted cabinets will not increase the selling price of the home. They are still older cabinets and the home will need to be priced to reflect the true value of the home. Older cabinets that are painted are not considered a new kitchen or even an updated kitchen (though the realtor may try to phrase it that way). Clean your home thoroughly and price your home realistically and unless there are other factors, like a poor location, it should sell.

HGTV shows that make people think they can do a few cosmetic changes and up the price of their home are misleading. That is not the usual reality.

I’m not a fan of honey oak but I question the rush to paint wood. How do these cabinets look up close and how durable is the finish compared to the original factory finish?

I think you will get more bang for your buck if you have your popcorn ceilings stripped and painted than your cabinets. That is a much more intimidating project for a homeowner to take on and one they would avoid buying over. Painting cabinets is a dime a dozen and someone is more likely to take on that project or a whole kitchen Reno over having to strip all the ceilings of popcorn.

I looked into the same thing for my bathrooms. I’ve decided against it for a few reasons: paint will not fill in the texture that oak cabinets have because of the grain. Desirable buyers will see right through it. It’s very labor intensive to do it right. Ive seen people just add a lighter countertop and it looked great. Is your counter granite? Sorry, it’s hard to tell

This also looks nice

Jmint, and others worried about the heavy grain, it can be dealt with.

This is why we say painting cabinets are so much work. (staining too) Anyone can clean them, give them a quick sanding and a few coats of paint. If it was that simple it wouldn't cost 5K for a company to come in and do them.

Prep work is 75% of the work when painting oak cabinets.

https://www.evolutionofstyleblog.com/tips-tricks-for-painting-oak-cabinets

Beth: have you tried this product? I was unsure about it because of the mixed reviews.

Asking a realtor may be a good idea. Just be aware that if they say you should paint the cabinets white, you have a big job ahead of you. Some areas have a buyer population that tends to come in and remodel as they please, so find out if the work is worth it.

And you end up with....painted cabinets. I think most buyers won’t be fooled.

Have you thought about pulling out the gray of the countertops for your wall color and changing the hardware on the cabinets? Also cleaning and polishing the cabinets?

Jmint, I have not used this product, but I have used other wood fillers. It's a lot of work. the poor reviews are probably because they didn't take the time to use it correctly.

I happen to like the grain. However, if you use 2-3 coats of primer, (you must sand between each coat and clean well) you will lose most of the grain-look. I like the spray can of Zinsser Oil base primer. You could brush it too, but because it's so thick, I find it easier to spray, and then sand w/a 220 to knock down any high spots or rough patches.

Your cabs look like they still have a heavy clear coat on them. you will have to sand, use a deglosser and the primer to make sure you get nice adhesion.

Another option you could do would be to get new doors (without the arch). You can buy unfinished doors/drawer fronts, in the oak. Painting the unfinished new ones would be a lot less work. all you'd need to do is a quick fine sand, prime, sand, and paint. a few less steps then what you have on there now. Plus, if you get the new style doors, it will look updated more than the arched style you have. You could also check craigslist. People often sell oak doors and drawers. you may luck out and find your size.

don't forget to scrape the ceiling while you're at it.

if you want to keep the wood cabs, then at least change the counters/backsplash. Look into a pre-fab quartz countertop and a simple tile backsplash. that will appeal to more people than what you currently have.

same cabs. they added trim work to the end panels and the island, and added boxes to cover the gap to the ceiling. new granite/tile splash

heck,,just going from this,

to this, makes a huge difference. No way the oak looked better in the before shot

I think for the purpose of resale, white wall paint and a stainless appliance package can go a long way.

chances are, most kitchens in your subdivision are similar.
talk to a few realtors who have actually sold homrs in your neighborhood before you spend a lot of time and money on things that may, or may not, make a difference.
in the meantime, sort and purge extra stuff, and clean everything till it shines.