Add more lighting, including under cabinet lighting, and new lighter counters. Then reasses. The cabinets as is are the best part about the kitchen.

I think the cabinets are quite nice -- I wouldn't paint. However, the counter is not an attractive color and does not go well with the cabinets, so definitely replace the counters.

ETA: I don't know what this stone is, but I can envision it or something similar looking quite nice with your cabinets, a soft cream backsplash, and the blue walls painted a creamy shade (similar to your door color -- looks creamy white on my monitor):

Rustic Modern Kitchen · More Info

Yes to changing the counter. I would also do away the 4 inch backsplash when you replace and then tile.

I would keep then as they are now. I am afraid creamish (read yellowish) would look dated.

If it was my kitchen, I would want bigger changes than just color, like getting rid of the corner pantry and the desk and adding drawers in the lower cabinets and uppers to the ceiling, so I would save up till I could make all the changes.

They're nice. Just put in new counters and full backsplash. Upgrade lighting before you start selecting colors. 3500-4000K LEDs overhead and under upper cabs.

I have white painted cabinets and love them. But I must say, I think your brown cabinets are beautiful and were they mine I would not touch them. They are a perfect rich brown and classic style. They look nice with your floor. There are a zillion white kitchens. You can do some tuning (countertops, etc.) as others have suggested and have a beautiful and uncommon kitchen.

Once you change counter, backsplash, lighting, hardware and paint walls I’m sure you will be very happy. To keep it feeling modern, remove the plates and paint the door frame. A warm white might be more complementary with flooring and cupboards. If you can, hold off painting walls until counters and backsplash are installed. BM White Dove is a good neutral, so might be safe painting walls first, as it‘s an easy color to coordinate around.

Wow, I love those light counters and black accents with the brown in Maureen's picture!

I like the dub flight that would go with your cabinets and your backsplash I wouldn't paint it that other color you have picked and make the room darker and no to paint ing cabinets they're really nice

I wouldnt paint the cabinets. I would replace counters and possibly backsplash. Yes to removing the 4 inch strip of countertop along the back of the counter. I would not paint that kitchen greige. The color it is, look very nice in there. Greige, will make it dull and uninteresting. Are all your doors painted white? The one I see in the picture, stands out and not particularly in a good way. It would look nicer, blending into the rest of the wood in the kitchen.

Thank you, all so much! Your feedback basically confirmed what I was thinking. While I like all the white cabinets you see out there, I have been really hesitating painting over these wood ones.

And yes, there is much work to be done on the kitchen, but it all really centered around whether I'd be painting those cabinets or not.

The room actually gets a TON of natural light, which is nice. Most of the time, I forget to even turn lights on in there as it's bright during the day.

The counters are first on my list. It's going to be a bit spendier of a project than just updating the stone that is on our island though, as we have a ton of space and I really want to expand the size of the island, using those little columns/legs you can get for support to extend it.

Thank you @porkchop_z5b_MI and @Maureen for the pics. I've looked at that White Dove color before, as I know it is really popular and I think it may look really pretty in there.

Now.....back to shopping for countertops!

My phone messed up some of my words I said I like paint of dove I wouldn't paint at the other color you were choosing

i think your wood cabinets would look beautiful with Taj Mahal quartzite. From what I read, the polished Taj is pretty much bulletproof. And think about the thousands of dollars you’ll save not painting the cabinets. You can put that toward the more pricey quartzite countertops. Hey, I can rationalize anything haha!

Taj mahal and wood.

This was someones’someone’s’ kitchen here on gardenweb that has similar wood cabs and floor to you. The taj mahal with that creamy backsplash looks gorgeous!

As far as the paint color white dove, I think Minnesotamary did taj mahal quartzite with white dove paint on her cabinets and walls. It looks great together.

Hard no on painting the cabinets. You have the cabinets everyone wants or will want very soon.

Maureen and rebunky posted your template. Taj quartz is ridiculously perfect IMO. You can pull its colorway 1000 ways to Sunday and it looks intentional and cohesive every time.

I think bright color makes the interior fresher, and it can update your living room.