What colors do you like? I mainly see browns and black - were you thinking of a pale color for the cabs or a shade of off white? Are you painting them yourself?

Ghostlyvision, will hire a pro to repaint it. Definitely lighter color...not too white tho but yes leaning towards off white.

Gcubed, i thought changing counter is more expensive? Thats why I opt to repaint.

Professional painting on cabinets can be as much dollars as new countertops. In your case, your cabinets are already very nice, so if you must change something, change the countertops.

I too think your cabinets are nice as is. Sometime painting wood cabinets leads to chipping and bleed-throughs just a couple years later. And then you’ll be disappointed. I think you’d have better long-term effect by switching your black appliances for stainless steel, installing a more current counter, undermount single-bowl sink and more current single-hole taller faucet.

Cat_ky & Shannon_WI, any suggestions for countertop?

Been in this house for 10yrs already so I kinda like to have a brighter, lighter color.

I think new counters and undermount sink may end up cheaper than professionally painting the cabinets! What about soapstone on island and a white/light color on perimeter (even Corian White which may be cheaper than a white granite or quartz). If you want a bigger change than that, what about painting your island? I think a green or blue would look nice. If that's not in the cards, then change counter/sink and paint walls a nice shade of light sage green or blue-- just the window wall and fridge wall so as to define the dining/kitchen space. Not sure if that would coordinate with the rest of the open living space, but those colors would look good with your wood cabinets.

I dont even know what color my cabs are. Hahaha. Im staying away with too white counters. My backsplash is close to being cream because i tried to pick the lightest color from the counter with the thought that it would be enough to lighten my kitchen. Due to painting the house twice already, my cabinets have a few speckles of paint here and there but just on the sides. Dont get me wrong, I do like my cabinets, i dont have to clean it as often as would a white colored cabinet be. I just need to lighten the room.