The cabinets are the best part of the kitchen. Absolutely do NOT paint them. A plainer backsplash and better lighting would be a good change. Gray would just be a vile unappetizing change for any of that. It is over and done with.

Your kitchen will never look like your inspiration kitchen. Your cabinet styles are completely different. Yours are a bit outdated, but, they are beautiful. I would leave them. Your inspiration picture is just a very simple understated cabinet. There is nothing simple or understated about yours. That said. You have a very nice kitchen. I would live with it, because paint will only emphasize what you are not liking now, and you will end up liking it even less if you paint it.

put on some black handles and get some pendants with black and some other metal..Metals are a way to upgrade.... and your space is traditional so that would work well. Cant figure out the pendant over the table.....that could be coordinated too.

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Yep, I agree with the above - except I would not call classic, high quality cherry cabinets in good condition "dated." Some well designed, quality built things just defy categorization into dated vs. undated. Sure there's things you can do to make them look a bit more contemporary, perhaps square off the arches ... but is it worth the effort. The doors etc. have all simple, rectangular lines, the hardware unobtrusive. Its all good! Im not seeing what painting them does to improve them? In fact the opposite.

Perhaps update with lighting as suggested above, maybe replace the folksy elements like the design above the stove. Consider also a richer, darker grayer blue-gray for the walls. Youve got a beautiful contemporary color scheme in your backsplash, stick with that! Maybe paint out the dots in the backsplash cos that was kind of a 90s thing I think. The checkerboard backsplash design above sink is very nice and has stood the test of time, colors look great with counters. If its not broke....

No to gray. I would paint them a soft white.

Either you are a fan of cherry or you are not.

Getting a professional paint job will extend this kitchen for many years.

To me the style of the cabinets don’t seem dated, but it s the cherry finish hasn’t been in popular rotation for many years.

LOVE the cabinets and the granite looks great with them - the backsplash is dated. I would just do the backsplash.

I agree that the countertop and backsplash are dating the kitchen more than the cabinets. What inspiration kitchens do you love that have cabinets more similar to yours? What qualities are you reacting to in your inspiration (lightness, low contrast, same material on counters and backsplash, very rectilinear)?

I too would keep the cherry. Though not what you may have want to hear; it is a response to your question about cabinet colors, though.

Your walls plus adjoining room are blue, cool blues, and hence tend to emphasize the orange tones in cherry. You might find a new paint color that is warmer but still works with your countertops. I’m not the best color expert but other folks here might be.
Soft greens & gray- greens look great with cherry woods, but maybe not your counters.

In no way would I paint those beautiful cherry cabs. And, definitely, not any shade of grey.

While the vent hood is too ornate for the current style, and I’ve never been a fan of enclosed cooking areas, such as you have…on the whole, the cabs are not dated. Aside from the vent hood surround, the cabs are not overly ornate. Just because they’re not Shaker style, doesn’t make them outdated.

The dated features in the room, are the blue pearl counters, the high rise back behind the sink area, and most especially, the backsplash.

I can understand not wanting to ditch the blue pearl granite. There’s a lot of it, they’re still beautiful…albeit, not the flavor of the 2020s. And, they’d be expensive to replace.

However, the backsplash is an easier, and more cost effective fix. A simpler tile, with no dotty detail, no mosaic anywhere, and without the cutesy detail behind the cooktop, would greatly update the look.

Can’t see the floors in your pics. What are they?

Given adjacent blue room as well as your strong backsplash and counters (if the floor tiles suit), I’d go with a shade similar to the cream backsplash, so as not to introduce an additional color and paint walls the same color. If you search on Pinterest for Blue Granite counters, 90% the cabinets are white (some with a more creamy undertone).

https://www.southerncrushathome.com/best-white-paint-colors/

Once again, it would be helpful TO SHOW THE KITCHEN FROM ALL FOUR SIDES!!!! SHOW THE FLOORS!!! so we know how much cabinetry/countertop/backsplash we're dealing with and what other "givens" you have--floors.

I'm in the don't paint the classic (not dated) cabinets camp just to chase the dying gray cabinet trend, which won't harmonize with the rest of your space. It's all one space. Keep it that way by painting that other space a creamy white per Maureen's suggestion below. The blue dates that space across from the kitchen.

Given the limited visual information provided, here are my suggestions/guesses given what we do see:

--Paint all walls, including your dining/living room/family room/whatever space in a creamy white the color of the backsplash in the stove alcove. This will connect your dark kitchen to the space beyond.

--Remove glass-fronted cabinet to open up the space to more light.

--Replace ornate range hood with something simple.

Then, if you want still more changes:

--Replace the countertops and backsplash with same cream finish as you have in stove alcove.

I was going to ask about the floors as well.

You cannot look at bits of an inspiration picture in isolation. In your inspiration picture the counters are basically white with the same backsplash - very simple, and the floor has grey in it as well.

Unless your floors are grey you don't have grey anywhere else, your kitchen is much more detailed than the inspiration picture so your kitchen will never have the same feel or look as your inspiration picture.

Why and what don't you like/about your cherry cabinets? Is it because you think that they are outdated? The cabinets themselves are not but they may be adding to the fusiness of your kitchen. So update your kitchen and I agree with others - don't paint the cabinets. Instead, change your fixtures (including the light in the eating area) and hardware (including faucets) to black. That will look really cool against your countertops, And yes, change out your backsplash to something less fussy - get rid of all the dots, and to something a little bigger and all one colour.

If you really want to make a big change - take your painting budget and redo the vent hood. But again - not needed but its an option.

Have to agree with most of the above. Maybe change your lighting, backsplash to update...a focal point above the cooktop isn't done much any more. My SIL had a custom tile job done of the old-country family crest artistically above hers and it cost a small fortune. Only 7 years ago and I think it will be staying ;)

If you are sensitive to what you feel is dated, you will not like gray which is somewhat 'yesterday' and on its way out.

Those cabinets are classic now. I'm sorry cherry isn't your fav but you have an overall beautiful kitchen. Give it some more time and thought and you may come to appreciate it.

Really, don't go for painting those cabinets, and certainly not gray. There must be a 100 different ways to bring the kitchen more to your ideals than painting the cabinets.

Have you ever seen those photos of celebrity facelifts gone wrong?

Showing more pictures will be very helpful. Yes, these are beautiful cabinets and they are yours to do with as you feel. My suggestion would be to purchase some paint in 2 or 3 colors you like and paint them on pieces of poster board the same size as your wall cabinets. This way you can tape them to the doors and take a step back to see what you think. This should help get the right color for your space and the things that area staying.

I am not sure that gray color is right for your backsplash. I'm sure it would be ok with the tops. I think I would lean more to the beige side of a gray color or a nice warm white.

Take your time to do it right.

Good luck

My kitchen cabinets were cherry and I have the same granite as you. Last year we had our cabinets painted Thunder by BM and the island Hale Navy by BM. Painted the walls Kendall charcoal also BM. We love it and it really brightened up the room.

" Either you are a fan of cherry or you are not." Disagree - rarely in life are there absolute good vs. evil, life vs death choices. Yeah there are some, but home decor is not amongst them LOL. One other alternative to colors you dont like is to change the context of the color so that it reads differently. Of course OP's always have option to do whatever they want and maybe theyll be very happy with outcome regardless what other people think - goes without saying.

I do not love that cherry color so no issue with painting. But before even beginning to plan change the lighting to all LED 4000K then look at colors. I like Vancouver Day from C2 for a really pale gray that you only realize is gray next to pure white .I think done in a higher gloss finish with new backsplash and not accent behind the rang e will take this space in a much more modern direction. Of course we need to see the whole space and for sure the floors

Update:
I’m adding a photo of the cherry floors as requested - this kitchen was done in 2008 - I had wanted a kitchen with white cabinets in 2008, but husband really wanted cherry cabinets - the granite is Blue Pearl which was very popular in 2008 - now the cherry feels dark and dated to me - so trying to do a small, cost effective facelift to lighten up the space just to buy some time until a full kitchen remodel planned in 2028 - thought a gray paint would work with the existing blue Pearl countertop and backsplash, but maybe I just leave as is and wait for the full remodel as like to do a light gray kitchen with quartz counters in future, but trends change. This kitchen is lighter in day time with sunlight and looks far more orange in photos. The cherry cabinets are made by Omega. Thanks for your great suggestions as we consider our options !

What I'm hearing is that you always wanted a lighter kitchen and the cherry cabinets were a compromise. What would you think about having the cabinets painted a white/off-white that you love, keeping the blue pearl countertops and changing the backsplash?

Thank you for the extra photo. Again, paint all walls including living room area a white that harmonizes with your wood cabinets, Remove glass cabinet unless you're attached to it. Then, think about light creamy countertop and backsplash if you're still dissatisfied. That may be enough to never remodel. Here's a link to some additional ideas:

https://kitchenprofy.com/how-to-lighten-up-a-kitchen-with-cherry-cabinets/

Other suggestions to lighten the space"

--New, larger pendants over island

--Paint the island

--Paint the uppers

wait for the full remodel. You're likely to get a mediocre result by just painting but spend a huge amount of money for it.

I have never regretted painting wood cabinets I was not thrilled with. I think white would be better than grey with your existing counters and then i would change the backsplash.

In 2028, gray cabinets will be seen like the ”orange oak” cabinets of past years. Overdone, and overdone badly, means even high quality ones look “terribly dated” to most eyes.

paint the hutch and hood maybe...is that all you have at eye level? it would do quite a bit and you'd save painting all the base cabs...

hutch makes sense to differentiate with different color. and do the hood along w it. I'd consider that.

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Paint them a dove white!

Your cabinets were crafted to look like furniture and if you paint them they will look like painted furniture. Your inspiration photo and many of the photos in the responses show paint on cabinets that were crafted to look like utlity cabinets, so paint elevates the look. I don't think painting is going to elevate your look. I think it is going to date your look, just like painting furniture makes it look used.

I think it's your backsplash which isn't so current-your cabinetry is lovely and suits the space if your home is generally traditional in style and furnishings.

I follow Emily Henderson's blog and there was a post just five days ago about cherry kitchens and multiple color schemes to update. You may wish to read it and an older post linked within that post by Arlyn about her own cherry kitchen for inspiration. https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/6-color-palettes-to-make-your-dated-cherry-kitchen-so-much-better

Grey is absolutely not going to work on your cabinets. If you want that look, you need new cabinets. If you paint what you have now white, it could work, but you are going to have a cottage look - versus “modern.” So if you want a more “modern” look - the only thing for you to do is get new cabinets. Donate yours. Someone will be thrilled to have them. Wood is back.

If you want a classic/timeless/modern look with your existing cabinets - change the backsplash and get rid of the blue wall paint in the kitchen and adjoining room, in favor of an off-white/warm white type color. Also, as has been suggested, bring in updated lighting.

I see how the cabinets paired with the floors may be a bit much. If a full remodel is penciled in for 2028, I would wait. Even just painting the cabinets will be expensive. OP, if you do have $10,000 to spend on home improvements right now, is there another, smaller project you want help with?

I'm with mytwocents -- you will be shocked how much it costs to paint cabinets, especially those with as much detail as yours have! Save the 10-15k to put toward your new kitchen in five years!

I sympathize with your cherry overload after seeing the floors -- that's just too much. I love cherry cabinets, but my floors are light gray and my counters are near-white, so it's not overwhelming. Still, I think you're best to tough it out. Get a couple fabulous rugs (gray and trendy or colorful and cheering) to keep some of the cherry at bay, and treat yourself to a matching mixer or tea kettle or set of new towels (or maybe spend $400 for a nice black faucet to see how you like that and to get a fancy feel) and put the rest in the penny jar.

Five years is a long time to wait if you dislike your kitchen. Painting cabinets, new counter new backsplash would be a fraction of cost renovating that kitchen.

My thought that if done right, OP will be able extend out the time frame for the major renovation. Or, it might be enough to keep and forgo the renovation.

That said, life will happen in a new kitchen or an old one.

I agree with eld6161...what's the driver for a full kitchen remodel in 2028? If it's inevitable as part of a larger renovation project, that's one thing. If it's that you never loved this kitchen, then maybe there's a middle ground.

I changed the backsplash - but wasn’t able to remove the decorative tile; I might suggest removing that, also. And i put the grey on the floor - using a luxury vinyl tile (LVT). LVT, Sheet vinyl, linoleum /marmoleum are all easy to install over the current floor - and also have the added benefit of being easier on the feet and legs, versus hsrdwood and tile.. I also swapped out the pendant lights - and there are of course many ways you can go with that. I did not have time to paint the kitchen and adjoining room wall(s).

very rough visuals and they are incomplete - but just to give you the general idea.