Here is how to post a Design Dilemma to get the best results. You need to show the whole space—all four sides of an entire space—even if it’s about one specific Dilemma.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6417709/unofficial-design-dilemma-boot-camp

Keep in mind that you're inviting some design pros and people with a design eye into your home via photos. If they walked into your actual space, they would take in all of it: all four sides, doorways, floors, windows, ceiling, built-in fixtures, lighting, trim--the "givens"--then the features that can be changed--furnishings, paint, art, rugs, decor items, etc. It's all one first impression. Same thing with photos. That's why it's important to provide well lit photos of the entire space, taken from all sides of a room regardless of the size of your problem.

Yes, there are refacing companies who specialize in this, i.e. changing out the door fronts. Find one near you. I would actually leave the cabinets the same wood and instead change out the floors and the backsplash to make it feel more up to date. Some inspo:

Chautauqua Kitchen · More Info

Cherry & Blue · More Info

I agree with Sabrina.

I also wouldn't put any money into the kitchen unless I was really happy with the layout, storage space (all drawers) and how the kitchen worked for my family. Sometimes you are better off saving your money for a few years and then doing a bigger remodel.

Your limited visual information makes it hard to see whether the cabinets are the actual problem. I don't think so. The backplash doesn't work at all, nor does what looks like gray paint, or the floors. There's no photo of the lighting, windows, doorways--all features that affect the brightness or darkness of a space. We need more photos to help solve your problem.

I would change out the backsplash. It doesn’t work with the cabinets.

I am so envious of your beautiful wood cabinets. I understand you don't like them. I hope you find someone near you who will adopt them so you can have what you love. Shaker will be dated some day, but slab won't. Depends on what is most important to you.

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DIYer. So, others may have comments if this is practical.

Thinking the bottom panels are fine; it is the top panels that scream '70's. ( I was there!)

Take off the fronts and reverse; paint the box, fronts, and top moulding white.

https://www.27estore.com/blog/can-you-reverse-kitchen-cabinet-doors

Maybe paint them a bright white like the counter.

You can reface the whole kitchen to have shaker cabinet doors in whatever color or wood you want. I refaced my kitchen because the oak was dark and depressing to me. Now I have a light, white kitchen. I did add several more recessed lights into the ceiling, which also adds a lot of brightness.
This is the before.

This is the After.

Another vote for changing the backsplash. Your cabinets look like they are in good condition.

However, I also have cathedral doors on my upper cabinets (+ the same lower cabinet doors as you do). I am renovating my kitchen - and my new kitchen will have doors that are a "fancier" type of shaker style door (they aren't shaker because they won't be just plain rails and stiles). I also have the dreaded golden oak - your stain color looks much nicer than mine does (the oil poly that was used in the 90s changed the color - they started out basically a natural color).

I'm surprised that someone hasn't already posted a comment telling you that replacing the doors will cost 75% of the cost of new cabinets - so, you should replace all of your cabinets instead. I have found that not to be true. I helped someone plan her updated kitchen + select new doors. We also changed the overlay of her doors (they were partial overlay - we changed them to full overlay). You could do the same with yours if you decide to replace the doors only. It made a HUGE difference in her kitchen.

I also know someone who turned partial overlay cabinets into cabinets with inset doors. Her husband had quite a bit of experience working with wood - he was also very OCD re: measurements. They used a simple style door - and he used a laser to measure the cabinet openings. I think he used this blog re: how to size doors correctly:

https://housefulofhandmade.com/cabinet-door-sizes-hinges/

Change hardware and backsplash. Your cabinets are nice. What type of counter is that?

I'd replace the floor and backsplash before I'd paint the cabinets. Or have a whole plan of how to brighten up the kitchen. Painting the cabinets white while keeping the dark floor and busy backsplash isn't going to be a good look.

I'm still fantasizing about the depth and glow of that wood. I'm not seeing it where I am shopping for cabinetry. Does new cabinetry not have good wood? Or are dull stains popular now? Or am I shopping in the wrong places? The OP will need help too. What's going on with stained wood cabinetry these days? Where are the best sources of stained wood cabinetry?

The arch on the upper doors is what's screaming for an update. Those were very expensive cabinets. It's not doing your kitchen justice to cheapen up it's looks which is what painting it would do. The raised panel doors on the bottom call for raised panel on top too, so just swapping out the tops with shaker is not an option. You are asking us to ok going from your grandmother's solid maple furniture to IKEA. You may get hip and happening but you also get less worth on your bottom line. From the very tiny glimpse you've shown only the back splash screams time to go, to me.

there is nothing inherently wrong with this. Traditional kitchens when suited to the home are as beautiful and timeless as we are led to believe Shaker now is.

Red Oak Arched Cabinet Door · More Info

In your kitchen the floor and backsplash if changed can help create a palette that is pleasing and durable. Just depends on your eyes and ability to go through the changes to make the high quality cabinets a value rather than question their role. We dont know that much about the home's era/ quality/ condition, nor do we know anything RE your skills, abilities, timeline, and budget/goals .

I

traditional kitchen is equated first w hardwood floor on any project list I'd create.

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I would start by removing the backsplash and painting there instead since you already have the countertop/backsplash. Currently looks too busy with the floor. Then I would save up for a complete remodel.

Even Shaker cabinets as we were introduced to them are currently morphing into something with thinner frames and shallower insets. I would not call them timeless, especially now. I see investing in Shaker right now as a bit risky if your top priority is to update and be trendy. We are in a transition away from all-white and away from the Shaker we have long known. Don't get me wrong. All-white will always be best in an all-white house. Shaker will always be an option in an American Colonial house. I don't think anything is literally timeless. Better to look at the whole house, judge the age or era it attempts to evoke and choose something appropriate to that era. Or... go contemporary.

You wrote "...or something else to brighten up my kitchen?"

The fastest and least expensive way: Change your lighting. You can either put in brighter LED bulbs throughout the kitchen, replace old fixtures, or add new fixtures.

The cabinets are beautiful.

I think first is the question do you love all the kitchen for function ? If not refacing costs as much as new usually and so does painting by a pro. Take pics of the whole space and tell us if you love the whole kitchen but not the style of cabinets. For me the space looks dated not just the cabinets so I would wait to do it completely . As for the style of cabinet thta is more decided by the style of your home . Post the pics of the whole space here in comments DO NOT start another post . Tell us what else you do not love about the space or if you love it all.