More downlights too

Don’t paint good cabinets. Change your lighting. Those bulbs are nice-looking but may not provide sufficient light. It looks like you have recessed lights over the sink area, but you need good lighting where you do your prep work. Check out several forms of under-cabinet lighting: you have room for them. This is a case of selecting form over function.
Painting the cabinets will cost a whole lot more than good light fixtures. You need 100-watt bulbs.

Nice kitchen! Yes, you definitely need better lighting! Don't bother with painting such nice cabinetry. Install more ceiling lighting (if it's feasible) with large, clear covers, downlights, or more can lights that can be angled as needed. Install undercabinet LED strip lighting (make sure the lighting shines on your work space, and not too far toward the wall) , on a dimmer. You could install lighting above the upper cabinets, if you like. If your lighting above your table permits, think about switching to higher output bulbs to give you the equivalent of 300 watts, using soft white LED's on a dimmer. Perhaps your can lights could be switched over to higher intensity LED's, to provide better work light (although they may require a dedicated dimmer-not all LED bulbs are compatible with all dimmers).

Thank you for your input. Going to look into more lighting.

do you think two hanging pendant lights would look silly over the sink? I could turn those can lights into regular pendants

I would definitely not paint those cabinets. First, improve your lighting. Then, paint the room a brighter white color. Then, save up for a new floors...they are making the room much darker than your cabinets!

Michele, You could hang items from your ceiling over your sink to replicate hanging lights (to see if they would be in your line of sight) before commiting yourself. My can lights are high above my sink, but so bright that I need no further lighting. Are your bulb wattages sufficient, or are you restricted in can light wattage? Hanging lights above your sink are an option if it works for you. Make sure the globes do not create a glare.

I can't tell what your wall color/paint sheen is, but a semi gloss or satin sheen should bounce more light. Given your cabinet color, I would look for a complementary pale color in paint, and consider painting the ceiling a bright cream or white, if it matches your backsplash color. I love how neat your kitchen appears!

Thanks for your help. I will hang something there temporarily to see how it looks! Didn’t even think of that! Lights are bright when I turn them on in the evening. I’m just so caught up in hgtv lately and everyone is updating with white. I need to think this through. The walls are a sand color. I just might lighten up to off white. Maybe that will help. Thank you.

yes, better lighting first, and then see.

have you though about doing a little island in the middle?

as for painting, I had custom wood cabs and painted mine after 15 years. I got tired of all the dark (and I had a lot of lights!) So only you can answer if you want to paint them

Not that I'm advising you make further changes, but I deliberately chose to have several glass front upper cabinets to bounce more light in my own kitchen. You can never have too much light in this workspace, but achieving it tastefully is the trick. I was advised not to have my ceiling look like swiss cheese with an overabundance of can lights :). Hanging the objects above your sink will greatly help you visualize the length and size, in advance.

Paint your cabinets if you want to. There is nothing wrong with doing so. I resisted painting my cabinets. Now, I am glad I did. My kitchen is much lighter and brighter. I love it.

Hi there, you have a very nice charming homey kitchen. Before my whole kitchen remodel remodel recently I had a similar dilemma with a darkish kitchen with honey oak cabinets. I took down the upper cabinets next to the windows, the light just poured right in. You could do the same, possibly adding beautiful shelving if you need the storage for items you can show off. Daylight LEDs also do wonders.

I love painted cabinets and had them put in during my kitchen remodel and of course you should do what you love... but I wouldn’t paint those. The wood is very pretty and not that dark. Painting those would cost over $5K...and for that amount you could put in much better lighting (even if it means ripping up the ceiling to put in cans) and get a few doors modified to have glass inserts. Excuse my messy kitchen but wanted to show you how much lighting I put in my kitchen (helps to have a son who is an electrician!)

I like your cabinets. I would echo the comments above: better lighting, think about removing the cabinets to the left of the window, add glass front to some of the doors, updated pulls/handles. Good luck!

Lights, glass doors and new pulls. Got it! it makes good sense to do that stuff before I consider painting.

I appreciate the advice from everyone.

Susan, your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous!

No!

*right of the window I meant

Okay, I see what you mean. Thank you

Yes I agree - removing the cabs to the right of the window would add so much light and open-ness. Also, brightest white paint high or semi gloss trim around the windows and sliders/doors will reflect more light

Personally, I’ve grown tired of white & like the wood. I enjoy 2 tone kitchen cabs & color. Yours are not 80s oak like the cabinets I plan to paint. I don’t dislike the pulls but agree you can update that way inexpensively. I don’t care for bright lights so the hanging type sound good. I like the island idea and/or a colorful rug. I’d save for new floors. More pops of color might brighten & energize. But overall your kitchen is very nice & tidy.

Thanks Maureen. I had brushed nickel” bird cage” type pulls before. Then, I switched to these oil rubbed bronze knobs. What do you think about adding a bin/cup pull on the drawers? (Farmhouse style.) Or, are you suggesting something different all together? Definitely going to get a nice little area rug in front of sink.

your kitchen is nice. up to you if you want to paint. (I'd still think about bringing in a small, black island w/wood top. )

and you could always just paint the lower cabs if you like.

cup pulls would be fine.

i like these runners

Changing your floor tile would be your best update.

First, upgrade to 4000K LED lighting for true daylight feeling. Install in ceiling and under upper cabs. Change the backsplash tiles to something a bit shinier and reflective. Take them all the way up the wall where you remove the cabs on the right. Add new vertical pulls with some bling. Change the floor to something equally as bright as the backsplash. Get a new breakfast set in a lighter color with a pop of fun to it. Change the light fixture over the table to a more blingy style.

Hi again. Sure, clamshell bronze pulls would be easy. A table runner to complement the new rug ? (Large as practical to cover tiles). I like the island idea too.. There are nice washable rugs on the market. A bright teapot for a few dollars. I plan to put bead board over my ugly tile backsplash (yours is fine) then paint color of choice. I’m no professional but am pretty frugal. I realize you may be focused on lighting but that’s not an area I can comment on, except dimmers are always wise. Good luck!

The only adjustment we might make is to add a rug.

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