If your house has a somewhat rustic character, rather than replacing them or changing them, I would clean and refinish the cabinets, and make them an asset rather than a liability. Even the rustic hardware could look intentional with the addition of some pretty copper pots or canisters on the counter. Trying to do an entirely different style would make either the kitchen or the rest of the house look like the ugly stepchild. You'll likely NOT get your money out of new cabinets, and predicting what a future buyer will like is impossible. A buyer not attracted to the period will likely not be attracted to the rest of the house anyway. Or, they'll want a complete re-do to their own taste. You already know you'll have to clean and declutter, which will do tons toward sellability.

Do you know which wood the cabinets are constructed from? I can't tell from the photos, but they could be wormy chestnut. If so, you might have enough in cabinets to pay for your entire renovation. Chestnut in this country was wiped out by a blight between 1904 and the 1950's. Worms invaded the dying trees, and the wood harvested resulted in wormy chestnut. It's worth a good sum. I have seen prices from $15 - $40 a board foot. I would take it to an experienced wood person and get an opinion, and if it is; make a big deal out of it for potential buyers.

I will follow up with some other thoughts, since that got a bit "windy" :-)

Chroma Natrix may have identified the wood. Here are some photos of reclaimed wormy chestnut cabinets in a new kitchen. See how the mid-tone granite and stainless appliances look in this kitchen. I'm not recommending either one, but it is interesting to see the colors. Click on the photos til the third one shows up.

http://www.mundayhardwoods.com/photo-gallery/reclaimed-hardwood.html

When you sell in a couple of years, you might use these photos as examples of how empty the staged kitchen counters are. In the meantime, a few sippy cups and trophies make it feel like a lived in home, not a staged real estate photo.

Danielle Rush,
Don't worry about matching your sink to your appliances.
Sink should match the counters :)
You will find granite companies will either sell you at almost wholesale or even throw in the sink for free...
Due to the fact that they cut for the sink at their shop (if they did it at your house it's a GIGANTIC mess and a PIA.) They would rather use the same two or three templates that they already have then keep track of everyone sinks.. When you supply your own sink and have the shop cut for it they have to have the sink.. and that becomes a liability with workers running around, other materials bumping into it.. They would end up replacing a lot of damaged sinks.

I would personally go for black appliances in your case but save your money and put it where it counts!
All stainless appliances use to be a hot selling point.. Not so much.. It's all about a stone counter tops.

I've never heard of slate counter top... Maybe your thinking soap stone?? that would look amazing but more expensive..
It's another element that is going to soak up light rather than illuminate.

Slate tile? But it wouldn't be a cleanable surface.. the grout and rough texture would be a turn off and limit your spectrum of buyers.

I'm thinking of a color maybe idk. Ive got a million ideas running thru my head and just need to figure out what we want to do plus get some money together for it. Little at a time.

Do u have access to pre-fab granite countertops? If so, u can save $$$ there. I'd go with a a creamy Colonial Cream, or Golden Silver. Something that has cream, browns and rust vein color running thru to pick up on cabinets. Quartz materials will cost twice as much and are more limited in colors. What city r u in? Larger metro areas have the pre-fab granite.... And for sure do a tumbled stone backsplash. Will look nice w/ rustic cabinets.

this is the unique farmhouse sink I can visualize at your kitchen window

I think Chroma Natrix nailed it with the rendering of the black counter and white sink and black dishwasher. I've also read that slate gray is a new appliance color.

Wow I love it! Gorgeous! Did u just use Photoshop to do that it looks great!! I cleaned and decluttered some yesterday it already looks better lol

I live in western MD we don't have much around here at all. Lowes and maybe one other construction supply store.

I think the kitchen posted by apple_pie_order is on the money. The counter colour, the stainless sink and appliances all look fantastic with this timber. You really should give this look some thought Danielle.

Oh I love it! Absolutely!

Here's another possibility based on some of the great suggestions you've gotten (just can't stop myself LOL)....

Omg I love this one too!! Keep it up I love it ;)

Can u do one with stainless appliances black counters white sink? Just to satisfy my curiosity? Thank u so much!

Chroma Natrix, I have a boring stock kitchen if you're interested in telling me what to do.. I"m over my head. You know, just in case, you are bored! lol, Nice work!

Here's one as requested Danielle!

and one more for grins, then back to my own renovation!

One suggestion...if you are putting a tile backsplash, do not put up the 4" strip as it looks much better without. Thinking about resale, I would suggest you do not use a black counter as, from what I have learned, they are less appealing to the majority of homebuyers.

Any other suggestions from the pics presented? What do u suggest for counter top color then?

My choice would be more like the counter colour in the kitchen suggestion by apple_pie_order. I think this would appeal to a broader range of buyers also (much easier to keep looking clean and streak/smudge free).

Hi Danielle if your still interested in the best quality barn doors and hardware take a look at our site, we have many styles and custom choices you can make on each order. You can also get a good idea of the cost of planning your space. http://rusticahardware.com/barn-door-hardware/

Cathieg's right about backsplash... see below

Where were u editing the pictures? What program is it

I love your cabinets and wouldn't do anything to them. I would do an oil rubbed bronze faucet with farm house sink and granite Or soap stone countertops

OK, stop me... I'm obsessing :-). I think marble is probably too formal for your cabinets (and can be vulnerable to chips and staining), I included it to give you an idea of how a lighter countertop might look. Maybe a white or cream stone or quartz with warm caramel colored "marbling" or crystals.

Just clean it

Love your work Chroma Natrix

Thanks cathieg!

They all look great its hard to decide!!

http://www.jupiterelectronics.com/digital-differential-pressure-guage.html
http://www.fivebrosforgings.com/products/forgedflanges_Stud.html
http://www.steelrange.com/fire-protection-cabinet.html
http://www.bajeria.com/aluminium-braided-flexible-connectors.html
http://www.opportune.in/hr-saas/

Saw this made me think of your job

For your color... I'm back at my original suggestion.. The dark one like what Chroma Natrix posted

I like your cabinets, you need to stage your kitchen. Right now it looks like you don't have enough room for everything. You want it to look like everything has a place. Box up everything you don't use all the time, remove everything from the top of your counters so the buyer can make up their mind what they want to do. I agree that new black appliance would look smart.

I will stage whenever were ready to sell we have probably 2 yrs before that happens though. Can't decide on counters yet. Or appliances whether to get white,stainless or black.

i think i'd go with a light back splash and counter top to help lighten up the room. i think the cabinets are fine. i tried really hard to find a picture of a kitchen which i thought i'd seen on here that had similar cabinets. I believe they had a light colored butcher block. this is just laminate in the next picture ... if you had the money a solid surface in white would be nice
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-material-is-used-here-for-the-back-dsvw-vd~45015
the paint color in this kitchen is nice and maybe a little warmer than what you have. Hard to tell through the computer
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-type-of-counter-top-is-thisthanks-dsvw-vd~45003
and here is one with a shinny counter top and white sink

I would probably change out the hardware myself. And I'd be concerned about spending too much for resale to get most of it back out. I liked the black appliances photo shopped in. Or white if you go with white/light counter tops. Can you can a panel that would match the wood color to put over the dishwasher? When they look more or less seamless its so nice. le sigh. I'm going to hunt some more for that kitchen that yours reminds me of!

i found it! it wasnt on houzz though. Also I'm putting a rustic red. Too dark for me personally but it shows dark cabinets with a dark counter top and also the country look. The cabinets are darker on both and I wouldnt ever be brave enough to paint your pine white I might be brave enough to paint or stain daker.

If you are in need of some inspiration, check our my 'Kitchen" board on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/bryghtcom/kitchens/

What do u all think about butcher block countertops in my kitchen? Yah or nah

Not butcher block

Black appliances. Black granite counter top. Backsplash of a cool design. Farmhouse sink with skirt in copper. Leave cabinets...paint will eventually chip.

Slate tile floor.

Granite is not that expensive. Find a slab place. Use three remnants. You don't need much.

I have a good bit of counter space to cover and I'm pricing it all out. We are putting a light beige ceramic tile floor down in the kitchen and thru to the laundry room.

I think you should go darker on the floors and lighter on the counters.

Hi,firstly they say always de clutter keep it simple. Take away as much Knicks knacks then move the drainer to the other side and put the microwave on the end ,the side the drainer was. The kitchen looks dark due to the dark wood so if you can just replace the fronts (measure all to be replaces there's always good deals on and cheaper than replace whole units). Someone else mentioned the floor needs to be darker and they are right. With say a mid - dark grey floor with cream front units it would lift the whole room and appear bigger. Put as much away in cupboards is the key. Hope this helps,good luck. :)

Thanks we bought acacia hardwood floors for the whole house it has light n dark tones. Its really beautiful just not down yet. Still working on counters and gathering $ but I think light is the way to go too. Ill declutter closer to putting it on the market right now thats not possible. Right now were busy replacing drywall in our whole house. What a job this is!!

Hi Danielle- we'd recommend laminate countertops, specifically as it relates to your budget. Great options that provide the look of stone at a fraction of the price. Check out some of these colors and edge profiles; let us know if you have any questions! Best of luck. www.vtdimensions.com

Here is our flooring and what it looks like in relation to the counters.

Oh my gosh. Just read through some of this thread. cathieg - saw your recommendation of Granite Transformations. WOW...it looks great. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for your suggestion. Danielle Rush - if you haven't checked this out yet you should. Looks like a great way to update countertops without the expense and mess.