Your cabinets look very nice -- they don't look 20 years old! You've obviously taken very good care of them.

I would absolutely NOT paint them.

One thing that does seem "off", to me at least, is the cup pulls on the lower drawers. I think it's that they're so large compared to the knobs on the top drawers and the cabinet doors. Try changing out the cup pulls for simple drawer pulls on one set of drawers and see how they look.

Develop a plan before you do or get anything. This will depend a lot on your budget. Get organized. Get a thin three ring binder, loose leaf paper, and tabs. Your categories will include budget, ideas, vendors (stores). Don't look at each detail without considering the overall look. You want your room to look cohesive and unified. The backsplash over the stove looks way too busy. The cabinets have a lot of vertical texture, and they really clash with that horozontal backsplash. That's the first thing I would look at. Don't do things just because they are trendy. Do it because it works for you and your family. The kitchen is one of the hardest working rooms in the home, so plan carefully. Measure twice, buy once! Also consider the exterior of your home. I am a firm believer in the respect for the similar style of the exterior to the interior. You can get ideas on this website. Looking forward to see the process and result! One idea: https://www.houzz.com/photos/pickerington-modern-kitchen-columbus-phvw-vp~16261073

The first thing you ask yourself is what is your dream kitchen. What does it look like?

For me? Your counter top riser and splash behind the cook? Tata. Trade both for a new tile.

The mish mash hardware isn't ideal. But the cup pulls will cause you a problem. There will be a noticeable change in wood tone behind them. The mix of pulls and knobs on lowers......not great, and no kitchen needs two styles of pulls WITH a knob.. To correct without painting? Need a bit of refinish/look below : (

Do you love the granite? Or not? I don't see white as the answer with the flooring or the cabinets. I can see soapstone, a honed black granite, maybe a taj mahal quartzite if the slab had enough warmth.

So..........what's the dream kitchen is the question: ) to you .

If what you want is a white or some other painted cabinet? Don't be scared off by those who will label it sin. It isn't that. At all. If you want to do it? Get a pro. Pay$$$$ for the good paint job.

More pics of the rest of that living floor would also be helpful.

Again........if money was no object, nor time or disruption.....what's the "dream"?

If it was possible to relocate washer and dryer to anywhere else? What THEN?

You're " Not crazy about the floor" .....

Taking up tile to change to.......laminate as the rest? Something else? Flooring, tops, and cabinets are a marriage. You want a very good marriage, and a house that flows. You marry budget with wish list.

So...........you may ask, why all the questions? This is why: What's the dream, how long will you be in the home, and what's your budget for changes, large or small variety,

I think your cabinets look fabulous and would definately NOT paint them. A few things that might help:

1. Agree that cup pulls look too big and would reconsider changing those out to something smaller. Or perhaps changing out hardward to another finish....brushed brass????

2. The backsplash behind the stove is not helping the space....too busy and very outdated. I would remove that completely.

3. You could remove the small 4 inch piece of granite backsplash and then install and tile backsplash from counter to below cabinet. Something that would pick up a color from your counter. You would need to remove the busy backsplash behind stove for sure in this case.

4. Your pendant lights do not seem to fit with the rest of the room. I would look for something else.

Good luck. With a few tweaks your space will be beautiful!

I don't think you need to make any 'radical' changes to make this kitchen look more modern. Switching the countertops to a white color is an idea as good as any, especially if you'll like it more that way. Plus, it will go splendidly with the cabinets and the flooring. Personally, I'd also change the see-through hanging cabinets and remove the washing machines out of the kitchen :)

You are so right your cabinets are fabulous and should not be ruined with paint!! What's your idea of how an 'updated' kitchen looks? The stove back splash is what tells me this wasn't' built yesterday but the rest looks pretty TODAY to me, meaning some would choose them tomorrow. I would love it if we could move past this disposable mindset and just embrace what's there until it is no longer functioning!! Change for change's sake needs to be abolished!!

The backsplash behind the stove looks like something you could change and I think it would affect the overall look of the kitchen, even if it's not a big surface. I also really like the cabinets, but you had 20 years of looking at them and if one day you feel like you want to paint them - go for it.

depends on your desire/interest to slog through details and choices. The cherry cabinets prvide a good backbone for a list of optional things. First pic shows all new lighter counters and splash to refresh in a more major way. Second one imparts an effect you should start with by removing the old mini blinds and replace the pendants w a softer pendant look.......then evaluate for more things like backsplash/ counters/floors.. maybe your own search for inspiration pics will reveal something for/to you. there are tons of updated cherry kitchens.....you're in good shape to move forward but be selective.

Marmi Natural Stone · More Info

Custom Cherry Kitchen · More Info

Before I'd recommend anything I'd ask you what you mean by "updated"? If you mean changing the kitchen so that it looks like every white and gray kitchen you see on Houzz, then you need to make a radical change. Which means big bucks. Do you mean a few tweaks? Then I'd say that changing the backsplash, especially the narrow mosaics over the stove, will provide the biggest bang for your buck. (It's not outdated, it was just an awful idea to begin with.) I'd also replace the blinds with a different window treatment--a woven wood or fabric Roman shade would add a lot. Changing the hardware for matte black would look nice, but as Jan said, you need to consider what the wood underneath the cup holders would look like. If you have the budget, replacing the counter tops with a dark stone would be beautiful. Lastly, the floor is a big job, especially if the tile is underneath the cabinets. With cherry cabinets, a dark tile or wood floor looks great.

The biggest question is do you like the layout? If yes, then a few tweaks here and there will freshen up the space. If not, then save your money for a total renovation. You can donate your cabinets at that time.

Here's a beautiful cherry kitchen with soapstone counter tops, dark hardware and a wood floor.

Raised Panel Cherry Kitchen · More Info

This is a very dramatic and beautiful kitchen with cherry cabinets, honed black granite counter tops and wood floor with inlay. The beadboard ceiling and pendant lights add a period flair and the green window casings are a beautiful complement to the cherry cabinets.

Cherry Kitchen · More Info

You have a good base going. I would change the hardware to simple pulls that allow you to use the holes already there. A bronze or brushed brass would be a more “ now” finish. Put doors on the washer dryer cabinets. Take down the tile behind the stove and put a piece of glass over painted sheet rock if you need a tall splash there. Once you pick pulls, find new pendants in a coordinating style and finish.

"I was inquiring for ideas as to how to bring it up to date without too much expense."

What is too much expense to YOU? Have you priced new countertops? You are probably looking at $5K for countertops. Is that too much expense? For me in your kitchen "not too much expense" is new window treatment and backsplash. You are so fortunate to have the laundry in this area

Definitely a new backsplash is in order, but before that, let's add some lighting. How about under all the uppers and inside the glass cabinets? You seem to have a lot of small appliances on your counters (toaster, micro, coffee pot.) Could some of those go in the cabinets above the W/D? All new pulls (no knobs, IMO) would really update the look. Go for more contemporary, sleek ones. up and down. Some area rugs or runners and a new window treatment would be helpful and pretty. Ruggable has many styles and they're washable. Plus you can match runners, rugs and mats.

I LOVE Love your kitchen. It is beautiful which means timeless to me. The only thing I'd think about is the back splash behind the stove and the lights above the bar. I'd also down size to 2 only and cap the middle light. Copper pendants would look very nice. Just changing those will renew it for you.

What a nice kitchen! if it were me and i was looking for a refresh i would change the pendants, replace the tile behind the range with a simple stainless steel panel and get a rug I loved

Your cabinets are really nice!!! I wouldn't change them.

I only see two items I would change in your lovely kitchen. The window covering and the tile behind the range.

First, tape together a few white pieces of paper and cover the tile behind the stove. That will help you visualize the room without that very distracting mini backsplash. Live with that for a few days.

Second, consider if you want to change your countertop. As mentioned, it represents a few thousand dollars of your budget so visit some stone yards and see if you fall in love enough to spend that. I would look at deep colored ones to enhance your wood cabinets and not compete with your tile floor. Black granite or deep gray (Virginia mist) would look stunning in your kitchen.

Third, remove one of the cup handles. Is the wood of your door faded enough that you can’t use a more “open” pull to replace these? If not, start looking for new hardware.

Last, keep a Houzz file on beautiful cherry kitchens so you can come up with a plan and a budget that would make you happy. Diana got you started (but most of those kitchens do not have your tile flooring.)

You will lots of help here.

In addition to all the great ideas above, here’s an idea that’s not for everyone, but an inexpensive large rug or several matching rugs in your kitchen area could add a lot and disguise the tile that you don’t care for. It could be an indoor/outdoor rug, a Ruggable, or an inexpensive synthetic. I have rugs in my kitchen and surprisingly, they don’t get many spills and anything that does drip on them wipes right up. I would stay away from anything with a central medallion. Here’s one concept:

I appreciate all these ideas. I will definitely be changing out the backsplash behind the oven. It was a mistake to begin with. I will remove one of the cup pulls to see what I’m working with and throw a big rug down to hide the floor until I can afford to replace it. I will also try to eliminate some appliances from the countertops. We did have doors on the washer and dryer and when the original washer and dryer pooped out, we could not find the same model and the only ones we could find that would fit would not let our doors shut. I like the idea of changing out the window treatments and that will happen. I think I still want to lighten up my countertops but I will be doing a lot of research and create that binder of ideas and create that plan before anything else. Thanks to everyone for some great advice.

Beautiful cabinets!

I would change out the pendants and backsplash, but beyond that I think it looks great!

I would start by changing all the ligh bulbs to LED 4000K and probably that backspalsh behind the stove then see if you need anything else. I think your kitchen is very nice as it is even those lights.