IMO a kitchen is an operating room where color is needed to be true not some youcky yellow cast to everything. Sometimes I use 3500K but no lower ever. . I love bright sunlight in a space and that is what 4000K mimics you can choose to not have all the lighting on all the time as I mentioned but IMO better too much light than too little

Yes, a photo would help. Though these older cabinets are cherry (I think) vs oak, the counters were replaced with quartz (Silestone) and tile backsplash.

I see you've added pictures. Completely understand wanting a tile counter top gone.

Find a white quartz with some warm veining or? Dupont Corian, the original. "Cameo White", get a NEW sink, stainless and under mount. Add hardware to your cabinetry, ( NOT black, stainless or satin nickel ) and do a new backsplash if you like. Then stop.

I'd lose the lanterns atop the cabs, limit the doo dads.

As to the bar? Maybe a granite remnant in a honed absolute black, hard to say as we aren't seeing the bar.

It's "forever, no going back " for you. The next person will rip the kitchen: )

I will also add the deep paint color may be adding to the dark look. Once you select countertop anf backsplash look at lighter paint colors, and follow Jan Moyers excellent suggestions

White quartz for light and bright. If you take the stuff off the cabinet tops and paint the range wall white it would really lighten up the space. For a big change and DIY, you could strip the cabinets and use a clear water based polyurethane or whitewash type stain. Painting would work too, if you sand the cabs well and use a good primer.

Re “operating room” lighting, when we renovated our kitchen, it looked to me just like that. I had serious second thoughts. That was just a shock from emerging from previous cavelike lighting. Now I love it. I rarely use the dimmers.

It’s a pretty classic kitchen- at least there are no cathedral top cabinets! I would paint those in a heartbeat and then choose the granite/ equartz/ whatever that you love. Yes custom cabinet painting is expensive and it won’t be a ‘new’ kitchen. Also get great knobs and pulls.

The large window is particularly nice in this well kept kitchen.

Pick up samples of cream colored Corian and quartz. Both will go well with the honey oak cabinets (they look in great shape).

You will need a tile backsplash for either one since neither can be used behind a cooktop installed like yours is (it's a traditional installation) due to the heat generated in cooking.

I think a fairly plain quartz or Corain for the counters and then bring in some color for the backsplash. It will be unexpected and draw your eye past the cabinets, I think and make the backsplash the star. green, blue andmade tiles, etc - you house has a slightly modernist vibe and the window is lovely.

I wouldn't spend a penny on this kitchen.... except I'd replace the sink.

The doors are from a certain era and there's no getting past that. New counters will just make the doors look older.

The tile works with the existing cabinets. I don't find tile counters objectionable. The grout can probably be easily bleached and or filled to make it look brand new.

If you did decide to paint the cabinets, I like the oak grain showing through the paint. It's a desirable detail.

I had white Corian in my oak kitchen and loved it. With Corian, you can have an integrated dish drainer. I loved mine. Dont get the Corian sink. I have heard they can crack with hot water poured on them. But do get a new ss sink and a beautiful faucet. A world of difference.

the clearcoat on those cabs have yellowed w/time. no matter what countertop you put on there, it's going to look out of place just because of those cabinets. you could do a simple white quartz I suppose, and get yourself some hardware.

that's what they did here. but these doors are shaker style and don't look dated. the wood grain is nice and not overly orange.

here's one of my faves. (but keep in mind these oak cabs have been refinished. no yellow or orange clearcoat)

you have a gorgeous layout w/that window. If I had that kitchen I'd save up and redo it.

look at what a showstopper that space could be!

I would do this in a heartbeat! (even just replace the two side windows would be enough. trim them out w/nice case molding and paint.

it could look stunning. even if you just reface your cabs and paint. I know you said you didn't want to, but honestly, that's how you should redo the kitchen. anything else is just lipstick on the, you know. New countertops and tile will just make those oak cabs more dated looking. Refacing and painting would be the best option.

BTW, Oak Grain can be filled.

it's not a big deal to do IF you wanted to keep those same cab doors(but simply refacing the doors/drawer fronts would lessen the prep time before painting. I did it w/my cabinets)

here are similar oak cabs tht have been redone

before/after

before/after

See Jan's comment further down. she has a point. (and drawers are the way to go. you can add drawers in place of the doors if you decide to keep them and paint)

Do white Corian. You already know white looks good in your kitchen. Corian is usually not too expensive so you won't be sinking too much counter money on old cabinets. Good-bye tiles!

Bar is far enough away you can do something different there.

I like no knobs in your kitchen. But, cut out some black circles or bars and tape them everywhere you'd put hardware. I think it is going to look crowded and busy.

I love your current wall paint. It brings your gorgeous yard view into your house.

"We would not like to replace or paint the cabinets due to cost and because oak grain usually shows through paint."

Verbatim, including the bold "not"

Look at the kitchen .

Even if the op wanted to paint? I'd want the hi/lo of the venting cabinet gone. I'd want a hood, and new skins on the side cabs.

now look at all the DOORS below, with hardly any drawers in sight.

Maybe they don't see "forever" in the house, maybe it's simply resources. Tile counters had a day - that day long sailed, because they catch crumbs and catch on the blasted RAG that attempts to banish the crumbs.: ) !

I’m looking at these pictures and see a lovely kitchen! There is nothing so bad or “dated” it needs to be ripped out. The color of the wood is NICE. White Corian countertops and a new backsplash (maybe? I like what you have) is all you need.

Yup typical 80's and nearly everything made then of wood was stained honey oak. I'm not a fan of using white countertops and backsplashes with your cabinets for the simple reason you can already see what it will look like with white. New top or not it will look the same, all you see is the honey oak and very hard to focus on anything else and always in your face.

You like light and bright but recommend light and not so bright cream color with a a small amount of the yellowish brown to pull it together. I Like a moody rich look and would personally go with a high shine black with browns that feather out to the orange browns in the cabinets.

But before deciding anything watch this video and consider changing the color of your cabinets which you can do in stages and over time without sanding or painting. Just elbow work and a can or two of Briwax. It will change the color of the cabinets for very little money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=SjQxCW4HIq0

consider changing the color of your cabinets which you can do in stages and over time without sanding or painting. Just elbow work and a can or two of Briwax. It will change the color of the cabinets for very little money.

Kevin, NO. false. Briwax on kitchen cabs? you can't apply wax over a clearcoat finish. wax goes over raw wood,Otherwise it's just going to coat the top of the current clear coat finish and collect tons of grime/grease and dust/dirt. it's also not going to change any color. On pure, raw unstained wood, you can get a little darker. that's it. I'd never use wax anywhere near a kitchen that gets hot. (maybe if you applied a true milk paint to raw wood, and then used wax to seal that milk paint. but that wax would be absorbed into the wood itself, not just sitting on top.. (I'd still opt for a matte oil clear coat)

Beth did you watch the video? If not watch it and argue your point with the Gal who made the video. I personally would sand and stain the wood, or lightly sand, clean, apply wood grain filler, sand again and then paint. Very good paint, brushes and rollers are required. I've done both a number of times and the last one was old cabinets from the 60's restoring and changing the stain color. Messy as hell doing the framing and It took we a couple of weeks total and hate wood work but saved a bundle and looks great. I'm closing on the house Tuesday and from all the feedback during showings no one mentioned an issue with the cabinets or color. If It was left the way it was I'm sure it would of been the first thing I would of heard about.

Match the tile to a paint color. I would paint the walls that white (and the ceiling). Remove the rug and add a runner. Remove the lanterns....no need for stuff on top of cabinets.

I would love if my kitchen were as nice as yours and I didn't have to replace my cabinets.

I would not have an issue with keeping your cabinets. They are not painted white like so many other kitchens, but I would prefer wood that doesn't get nicked and//or chipped. (Professionally painted cabinets are estimated to have 8-10 year lifespan before needing to be repainted).

I also prefer cabinets with finger pulls to cabinets with hardware. I like the cleaner look and don't see where adding hardware will improve the look of your kitchen.

I would want to replace the tile countertops if it were my home. As others have mentioned, Corian is a good choice, but there is no reason not to pick quartz. Whichever you prefer is what you should get. I would probably go ahead and do the same top or a coordinated top on the bar when I did the rest of the countertops.

I know people will say your can't have a quartz backsplash, but there are a lot of them out there that have had no issues. It really depends on the design of your range and how much heat the quartz will be exposed to. Some cooktops require a heat shield if placed in front of a wall and some recommend that you protect your cabinets with heat shields. I have only owned a few ranges in my lifetime, gas and electric, but non that would have melted or discolored Quartz. My current kitchen has a Formica backsplash behind the stove and it isn't discolored. It has been there at least 50 years as it is the very old type of Formica with a metal edge strip. My last kitchen had a painted wall without a backsplash and I had no issues with the paint getting discolored. Tile is a good backsplash material and eliminated the chance of discoloration from heat.

I like green with oak, but if this were my kitchen I would probably go with a lighter wall color.

As for light temperature - they make several choices because different people have different preferences. The lower temp lights have more of a yellow cast. I use 5000k, my sister uses 2800k. Both look fine in our homes and we are both happy with our choice. There is no "right" answer. If there was only one acceptable temperature they would only sell one temperature light.

I tend to like a lot of color, but your kitchen is so nice that I would probably keep the selection of countertop and backsplash simple. I think a creamy white is better than a starker or cooler white with your cabinets and with a green paint color.

kevin, yes, I've done numerous oak cabinet kitchens (painting) and I'm a wood finisher, so I've done countless wood pieces w/all sorts of stains/coatings.

Yes I watched the video. Her cabs appear not to have any clear coat on them. (which if you reread what I wrote, is what I said. it's fine if there is NO top coat. The OP in this kitchen appears to have a clear coat on her cabinets. If she doesn't, then she can try your idea)

What she's doing in the video, she can do w/a simple gel stain too. (I still would never use that wax in my kitchen. it will turn to grimy, greasy gunk after a few months of heavy cooking)

Your other part about painting is a job-and-a half to prep and paint. If you just wanted to sand off the top coat in order to apply the wax, sanding those cabs will prob remove some of the stain. Very difficult to just sand off the clear coat. removing some of the stain would mean removing all of the stain in order to get an even finish.

There is no way the op is going to do all of that work. I wouldn't even do all that work!

So, my comment still stands. Applying wax to previously stained/coated kitchen cabinets will not work. As I further stated, you must get down to raw wood in order to apply wax. Someone who wants to apply a dark wax to oak cabs that have no clear coat, have at it. applying a gel stain and a clear coat would get you same results w/o having to deal w/the waxy grime down the road.

And once you wax wood, you cannot apply a clear coat poly w/o first removing all wax residue.

Beth, you're right and wondered about the top coat myself but since I know nothing about briwax I'm glad you caught the problem and clarified the flaw in the video.

I will echo a comment or two lost somewhere in this thread. You do have a few dated aspects but so what? Your kitchen is fine. It has ample storage and looks solid and functional.

And I agree the window is the star along with how uncluttered you keep everything.

Excellent choice on replacing appliances with silver

Replacing that tile countertop will go a long way. I’d go with something light and without a lot of pattern so that it does not compete with the window view. A solid surface will fit in your budget as would a laminate. Laminate like Formica and Wilsonart have lost popularity but continue to be affordable. I recently did a small budget kitchen with a Wilsonart that two people thought was marble.

Find your counter top, get a new sink (I like a single bowl) and then think about back splash, paint color and handles/knobs. (Black would tie to your table and chairs) eventually Get a new runner when you have paint color figured out.

There is no reason to lose sight of your budget just because there is a lot of hate for honey oak right now.

I really like your kitchen! That window wall is FABULOUS. The most I would do is change the counter top and back splash and, if possible, remove the cabinet/hood over the cook top, replacing it with a stainless hood. For a counter top, I would go with a Calacatta gold quartz. Subtle gold veining to tie in with your cabinets. Backsplash…perhaps a stacked subway, perhaps an elongated subway. You could even do a 4 x 4 stacked. Back in style! Or on the diagonal as your backsplash currently is oriented. A new runner with some color, perhaps a tribal rug? And no hardware on your doors. Simple is best. Such a lovely room! Bright, airy. Own the golden oak!

@Patricia Colwell Consulting - I’ve been wanting to ask for a long time. Have you had your eyes checked for cataracts or a corneal dystrophy? Or other conditions? I know that as we age, we sometimes don’t realize the slow deterioration of our eyesight. I hope you know this is intended nicely, with concern, and isn’t an ageist insult. I speak from personal experience.

Ptreckel said it best …..-
lovely room,
fabulous,
own the oak!

And she gave you a great for a countertop suggestion.

omg, that's a nice-looking kitchen! get a Corian counter, maybe a big stainless sink, and move on with your life! not every kitchen needs to make the pages of some magazine, and that looks functional and lovely.

Go light with counters. We did Uba Tuba 16 years ago, it’s beautiful, but every morning when the sun shines I see dust. It’s like trying to keep a horizontal mirror clean. Drives me batty!

You have a beautiful home and view
To the outside. What about doing even less than you think? Your counters while tile, appear to be in good shape. What if instead, you paint the walls 1-2 shades lighter on the paint strip than the current color? Clear off any decor and only add back a couple of things (and nothing above the cabinets). Don’t add handles to the cabinets yet.

I think a honed black granite would look nice on the island but wait to see if you really need it.

Sometimes a couple hundred spent on paint is all that’s needed.

Take one door off and go to all the places that provide countertops. A new countertop, backsplash and hardware will give you a whole new look with your perfectly good cabinets.

I updated my kitchen that looks like yours with black handles and a black granite countertop. The granite I choose is basic (I believe it’s called galaxy black) it’s as close to a plains black color that is not busy. I found that it toned down the orange tint in my cabinets and have it a more modern look. I got my inspiration from this photo on Pinterest.

I think you have a beautiful, well maintained kitchen and totally understand your wanting to change the counters and backsplash but keeping the cabinets. I am in a very similar boat with the honey oak cabinets and not having the budget to replace them along with everything else. There are so many great ideas in the comments and it has given me hope I might be able to be happy/satisfied with my 80’s oak cabinets lol!

Your tile looks like it’s in really good condition. I got a quartz countertop and although they say they are so durable, a little over a year out I noticed all kinds of tiny scratches all over. They can’t be fixed. Along with that, it’s already got a tiny chip. This can be fixed but for hundreds of dollars. And just setting a cookie sheet on the counter or it touching the edge around the sink while washing causes metal marks that aren’t always so easy to get out. I would not touch your gorgeous white tile unless there was damage. Not for something like quartz. I will never again put in a quartz countertop.

We have honey colored wood cabinets that aren't in great shape. The kitchen walls were painted eggplant purple! It was a cave. We changed the wall color to Tiffany blue (sea glass color). What a difference! Hiring painters isn't cheap, but paint is the least expensive change you can make. I suggest doing that first, before changing counter tops.

I would replace the tile countertops with Corian or quartz. Years ago, i remodeled a kitchen and put in Biscuit (color) Corian. It is a nice warm white. Either take a door off as someone suggested or go to a supplier and get samples of the countertops you are interested in to bring home. I would never use a dark countertop. We had black granite countertops in a house we bought and it was hard to see spills on them. You have a lovely kitchen with those window. You may want to consider changing the sink to a single stainless workstation sink. I just got one and love it. I had always had double sinks.

I think your current kitchen is lovely and cozy, as is. I would, however, as you said, change the countertops to something other than the tile. The real showstopper is that backyard!!! W❤W!! 😍🤩 Would love to see an update when you've finished your kitchen update.

I'm definitely in the camp of finding some way to paint over those cabinets. If you follow these DIY folks, repainting (when done correctly) makes an amazing transformation. Many people are going over orange oak with a variety of color. Why not invest in the painting and reduce the budget for the countertop. Also remove a few of the upper cabinets, it is amazing how it opens up the space and updates the kitchen. I took down three upper cabinets and installed two 52" shelves. I LOVE it.

Hi Streamline… You’ve gotten so many clever ideas already for glamming up your nice kitchen, I hesitate to post. But I thought you’d find it helpful to see what one person did to update the look of honey oak cabinets by changing the context:

https://julieblanner.com/updating-kitchen-oak-cabinets/

I love all the ideas of painting the cabinets but.....

I say embrace the oak. You already said you do not want to paint. If you have a busy life with kids that will knock those cabinets around I would say keep the cabinets as is. Oak shows less wear and tear than a painted oak cabinet. You will be so thankful to replace the counters with a light stone or quartz or corian. I had those tiles in my old home and kitchen. Detested cleaning the peanut butter out of those tiny grout lines.

A few ideas to help you think about your space.

https://www.granitetransformations.com/project/a-stylish-arlington-kitchen-transformation/

Emily Henderson Real Reader Kitchen ideas

How to make an oak kitchen cool again by Copper Corners Art

UPDATING A 90S KITCHEN – WITHOUT PAINTING CABINETS! by adventures in trying

I love these thick edge counters

Artisan Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Red Birch Elegance Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Gorgeous Kitchens · More Info

IMG_2920.HEIC · More Info

Kitchen Remodeling · More Info

Kokinelis · More Info

For gosh sake, PAINT THE CABINETS! Nothing's more dreary than old orange oak cabinets. Oak will take paint beautifully and you'll be amazed how nice your kitchen will look once you've brightened it up and added new hardware and counters.

If money is a concern, my sister did her own kitchen using a gorgeous blue paint below and white above. She chose "Calcutta gold" quartz (white with goldish veining) counters and gold hardware. White "picket" tile backsplash.

She got some scrap wood and bought an inexpensive spray gun, tried it out until she felt good about the result. She lightly sanded the cabinets so they would accept the paint, then hand rolled with a primer. Next she lined her garage floor and walls with plastic, laid the cabinets out on the old boxes. She sprayed the INSIDE of the doors first. She waited 2 days until they were completely dry, turned them over and spayed the OUTSIDE fronts and sides of the doors. She painted the outside of the cabinet boxes with a roller and brush.

You would NEVER know she did it herself. She bought the best Sherman Williams paint for the job and went to town. You would swear it was done by a professional. And the texture of the wood makes them sing!

Yes, the cabinets are dated. However, I think the room is made more dated by the upper cabinets at the end of the room above the stove. I would remove those uppers and maybe leave the two that have glass fronts. Then you will have given your kitchen a more modern look by removing the uppers. In any event, remove the lanterns above. Then I would consider sanding the cupboards since you do not want to paint them or replace. You could decrease the orange tone with some sanding and staining with a more neutral stain. Some colour would also help either in the backsplash or the wall colour. White walls do not enhance the cupbaords and actually clash with them so warm things up with some complimentary colour with blue/green tones. White quartz is clean but I am not sure how it would enhance the kitchen other than making for an easier work surface. There are some beautiful honed porcelain that has graining in it. I saw a beautiful black honed porcelain with a woodsy graining through it that could pull together your floors, cabinets, and add depth and warmth to the space. I see nothing in a dark granite that would darken your space since you have a large window and a large sliding door off the kitchen. It would also provide some drama and would warm up the addition of stainless steel appliances (I believe you said you were adding those). There are considerations here that you have not mentioned but may want to keep in mind: how long are you planning to stay in your home? Can you wait and save up for new cupboards? Is you kitchen finctioning in every other way or do you have a wish list for changes? If you are planning on selling, it is likely the new owner would factor in your kitchen and want to replace it so spending a huge amount on a counter may not be worth your while.

I do not hink your kitchen is all that bad. It just lacks personality.

Due to post-covid when we moved and the housing spike I couldn't pay people to stain and paint my orange oak cabinets so started doing it myself.

Overall the biggest bang for the buck will be replacing the counters. Your cabinets are pretty classic except for the base cabinets near the stove. You may want to change those while getting a new counter because it will affect the shape. I would say your next challenge would be that your cabinets seem to run into the floor. Using a large area rug helos but a moveable island might help ...

My bottom cabinets are actually espresso stain. Black would have been awful.

A perfect example of what that kitchen could look like. (doesn't have to be the exact cabs as these, just showing the layout and using that sloped ceiling, wall of windows, and the skylites to your advange)

a reminder of yours:

and what it could be. (minus the island)

You could even do this w/your existing cabs, should you choose to refinish them, or paint.

Do an actual range (if you like,) straighten out that portion, get a nice vent hood. I like the beams to enhance the slope as well.

Another option (you could leave the oak on the bottom, do a two-tone on top) remove uppers from the slope wall, try something like this (without the large SS vent hood. too commercial looking)

Instead, you could follow what they did here: and keep the wood if you like

I love this next one:

Keeping your oak cabs, but refinishing them, tiling all around the window, but the big change would be your vaulted stove wall. Tried to photoshop but it doesn't do it justice

here's emily hendersons full picture. you have the perfect kitchen to do this (minus the island)

Or this one. (again, no island) this color by Emily is gorgeous, and would be w/your floors)

You could do this on your window wall by just bringing up the countertop like shown here^.

leveling off the uppers on the stove wall, backsplash, vent hood.

Don't like those? these are a bit simpler (and you don't have to paint. just showing diff layouts for the slope wall)

Paint, hardware, honed black counter, some glass in the upper cab,

Here's a before

and how they redid it

https://www.lemonthistle.com/diy-modern-farmhouse-kitchen-makeover/

How that spot would look on your wall. (you don't have to do the farmhouse look)

as mentioned earlier, replace the uppers w/som glass, straighten out the top cabs (or do some open shelving) diff vent hood. This has White on white. (But you could keep your oak

I am so tired of white kitchens I could go the rest of my live without seeing another one.

@Jennifer Hogan - I’m more exhausted by the “whiting” of every American home. Old houses being painted all white - even precious woodwork - to sell to I-don’t-know-who.

I have a white kitchen but not an “all white house”. If it would have worked in the style of my home, I’d have an olive green one. I had a really hard time with the “Grey Everything” phase, so I’m sure we will move from the All White Phase.

The farmhouse “look” is dead!
Stay away from that trend. I LIKE OAK.

You aren’t here to please anyone but yourself! I would suggest a SLATE countertop! I had one in an old rental house with med finish maple cabinets. Not dark black, but a deep charcoal gray black. I LOVED THAT.

The tile countertops damage and chip bowls/plates. I recommend Corian or Quartz. If you ding or knick Corian, that csn be buffed or sanded out

And why did I not think of this before - leathered uba tuba!!!!

Kitchens aren’t meant to be showplaces, they are for cooking. According to most people it looks like your are supposed to redo your kitchen every five years, just in case you have visitors.
I can see changing the tile counter top, nothing wrong with the stove area cabinets.
We remodeled our 1952 kitchen in 2001 when we purchased the house, so it’s good till we die. I love my Corian counter tops, they look like the day we put them in.