Your new maple will probably also end up that color. That’s how maple ages. If you don’t like yellow orange, you probably need to look at a darker stain or a paint. Maple takes paint really well, in fact it’s easier to paint than stain. You will want an experienced person to do the staining if that’s the route you decide to go. I refinished my maple kitchen cabinets years ago (when. I was young and had lots of energy). I used shellac wash coats in between stain and wood in order to avoid blotchiness. They came out beautiful, but it was a lot of work.

Susie, can you share your painted maple cabinets pictures. Thanks

your kitchen is an interior space..no windows.....if this is to be a long term change and you will be done for a while now w the island and the area to the left of fridge as your improvment...I would really get paint primarily . you could have a stained island though. the older maple would benefit if painted a light shade for the long term given no windows. Do you have some time to bring in white or light paint cards / and contemplate stain on the island ...or contrasting painted island. The plan is changed midstream . I think you have to spend a little time to figure out what budgeted money is avail [painting by a pro will be involved] , and long term: the best solution. If those are not for an island.....would it make sense to have painted lowers one shade...and uppers a lighter or white shade??? where do those base cabs go???

Strip and wood bleach, white or light gray- toned stain, non yellowing finish ?

Thanks Susie, this will really help!

I am leaning towards painting the island and bottom cabinets on perimeter SW curio gray and upper cabinets and pantry in natural finish after getting it refinished in natural clear finish. What do you think?

"Getting it refinished" is major labor, and major cost. If you are not willing to DIY strip, and sand down through the aged maple to fresh wood, then painting everything is going to be what needs to happen. New wood will never match aged wood. Even if you stain them to match, at this one moment in time, the new wood will age and darken naturally and end up a different color.

Maple yellows. There may be a UV blocker that you can use, but refinishing the existing ones just to put a clear sealer on - you will end up with the same yellowed finish in a few years.

After discussing with our cabinet maker, we have decided to paint the island and all the bottoms where countertops will sit on and leave uppers and pantry cabinet in natural finish as we love our old natural maple cabinets. It is going to cost some more but don’t want to end up with mismatched kitchen. Any color recommendations?

you can strive to find the correct blue...if costs are spiraling the Ikea butcher block top in some spots would look good and that saves on the budget considering the detours you've had to take from the original plan.

Portage, IN. Haas Lifestyle Collection. Two-Toned Maple Kitchen · More Info

I think greens look great with natural wood and also blues. Since you are doing the lowers, I would choose a color with a higher value than the maple (darker). Some ideas below.

What will you do about the countertops? This will help decide upon a color to paint newer cabinets.

What do you think about SW 0038
library pewter. Countertop has a brown hue.

I dont know - what's your color scheme? Have to be thinking of this wholistically, how ALL colors fit together. So far we've got browns/gold-browns/wood-tones.... and is that green on the adjoining walls staying? If so, a different but related version of that would be nice, maybe darker - providing contrast with the wood tones while still connecting nicely with the space.

your space does not have much natural light. the pewter shade will read grayish most of the time. Find an actual color: green/blue/ barn red etc. can you bring home a couple dozen cards from the paint store and prop them up? what counter is it? "brownish hue" do you have a pic of the sample of counter when you brought it into the space? do you have a name of the selection? brown can be grayish/ or yellowish/ or reddish/ or bisque if lightish.

Countertop is cristellao quartzite. Hard to see the correct colors in the picture. But it is off white with brown/orange spots and some grey in some areas.

https://i0.wp.com/production88files.stoneprofits.com/files/pgm/90238D_245546.jpg

I would call that a white and gray surface. But again the actual cut you will be getting/ or sample laid in your space has a bit to do with it. I would take some sample paint cards to wherever that piece is located. they'll let you prop them up and then take a picture . Good feedback will result from folks here. At least better than working w phrase "brownish hue" which doesn't seem to actually fit.

Hi Houzzers,

Thanks for all your help, after a month of sleepless nights, we are almost done with our kitchen remodel. Here is what we ended up doing. Painted bottom cabinets SW peppercorn and left the uppers in natural as whole family is fan of natural wood color. Painted walls in SW neutral ground.