Your first step should be to address the lighting in the space! You seem to have one overhead light fixture, and lights on your vent hood. I see light rails under your cabinets, but i don’t know if you have under cabinet lighting as well.

The good news is you have electrical service in your ceiling, so you can add LED can lights and a more useful chandelier. You can also add task ucl if you don't have it already, and task lighting at the sink.

As far as the cabinets go, if that is cherry wood under that red stain, consider stripping and re-finishing with a stain that brings a more natural cherry look.

I would not paint the cabinets. Have you put together some ideas of your own?

on closer look, your countertop looks very interesting with a different backsplash.

The flooring, countertop and backsplash, for sure.

The blinds on the window and lighting are dating the whole room.

Gray brings everything down.

I'd like to see a few more photos. What style is the rest of the home?

I'd paint the walls and ceiling white, a light floor in a Taupe tone to contrast the cabinets and the countertop Kashmir White Granite with a white backsplash.

I think the counters (and maybe the backsplash) could work nicely with painted cabinets if you choose that right paint color. I wonder if those cabinets are really cherry or just cherry stained other wood. Unless you are certain they are cherry, I wouldn't bother trying to strip, tho real cherry cabinets in a natural finish could look nice. It would be a much bigger job than painting. I would paint the cabinets and then see how you feel about the counters and backsplash. You might be able to save that money to pay for the flooring instead. And, honestly, unless the floor is in terrible shape, I don't think it looks bad and will look even better with painted cabinets.

The splashback is quite dark, although the counters are light. Before making a decision about the cupboards see if changing the splashback changes your perception of the room. It needn’t be a full change, just placing some white paper over the splashback might be sufficient to get a feel of how it could look. Others have mentioned under cabinet lighting, again testing that out with some inexpensive puck lights could help with decision making.

The pictures are not showing the accurate cabinet color.

What is the budget?

Paint the cabinets and never look back. They are not asthetic and they need a new life. If you choose to paint, do it the right way. Strip properly and then prime/paint. It takes time, patience, and lots of YouTube videos (or pay a professional who is known to do quality work).

Please post a floorplan- my first impression was gut it, the finishes do not work together. Painting is expensive, and it might be better to live with it and do the whole thing to function better and look better. It’s dark because of lack of overhead light. Remove the miniblinds for now.

Please reject even the idea of painting that cabinetry. Talk about an equity drain on your home!! The back splash is the biggest issue. It's dark and visually takes up too much space. I would work toward Lyn's inspiration pic. And as already stated get enough lumens in the space to do the job!!

theres at least one wall and good floorspace to work with. do you need a table within this kitchen ? you can work w the cherry in a few ways......but the avail spots [wall/ table area] will need consideration for long term purpose..... your storage includes drawers so you have a plus. . consider your whole space......you have a backsplash obviously to remove. Counter and floor are in synch but wall color doesnt correspond to floor and counter...makes the whole thing out of sorts. backsplash and wall color for starters is easy and budget friendly.

cherry can be fantastic.....glass door uppers/ classic black or other fabulous granite to coordinate/ personally i might check what granite is in your area.... and be thinking about the space available in the middle of the kitchen.....is there a dining zone in the next room ?

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LIghting and lots of it.YThe backsplash is all wrong with the counter but more to the pint what are you plannig to change the floors to? I was brought up in house full of natural cherry nothing like what you have and honestly I think that stain always looks cheap. If you love the layout then show us the flooring cange and ten we can help with a cabinet color

I agree with Olychick. I would only paint the cabinets something that goes with your backsplash. Everything else seems neutral. See how you feel from there.

What is your budget for this re-do?

Real natural cherry is beautiful. This red stain is dreadful. Paint and never look back. Hardwood floors that match others in the house if possible.

You could consider painting your kitchen walls a light moss green to act as a foil for the cherry cabinets.

Spend about 5k on an electrician before you spend 10-15K to have those cabinets painted. You will get a much better return from the electrician. The main issue with the red dread color is that there is no other strong color to offset and stand up to it. Placing all those neutrals against it lets it run rough shod over the room as the center of attention. It needs some teal, green, mustard, navy, intervention. Jewel tones that match the intensity of the roasted beet color. That will help it look more planned and balanced. Think bowl of veggies.

If you don't plan on painting the cabinets, here's an inspiration picture that embraces the colour showing black countertops and glossy backsplash with brass hardware.. A black counter height table with pendant would complete the look.

agree with lisedv...last comment w a good inspiration provided.....the adjacent surfaces are poorer than the cabinets right now...mauve walls...mosaic backsplash...formica counters...oak top table...almond colored floor.....the sleek black or sophisticated granite would be a good start....you need a palette and and budget and the cabinets can work in harmony. things look worse than what this can be.

The black counters, etc., could be a nice look.

The main issues I see are:

1) The real estate photos are not showing the accurate color of the cabinets (or anything else for that matter...).

2) The backsplash should leave the building.

3) The current wall color, which appears to possibly be a grey ? or maybe a very cool white ? does not work at all with the floor, and is also not so great with the cabinets. The current wall color is really only working with the backsplash (the one that needs to leave the building).

I agree with the advice to address your lighting isuues first. You mention that you’re “on a budget” ( unknown $ ) but some of the things you want to do can be quite expensive.

^^

Absolutely, lighting is #1. Although... much of the perceived lighting issues could be related to the quality of these real estate shots... But yes, lighting is important, overall, and can alter the feel and perception of any space.

And yes, without any info as to the actual budget for the project, it is difficult to make other suggestions.

“Low budget” fixes would be:

1) Painting the walls a color that would be more compatible with the floor and cabinets. Such as perhaps a warm white/antique white. Maybe even a very light taupe... (it is difficult to ascertain the actual floor color from these pics).

2) Removing the tile backsplash - and just painting the wall in an eggshell finish (which makes the backsplash area cleanable/ wipeable, is perfectly fine, and even a current trend). Or - replace the tile with a tile that is more compatible with the counter and/or floor.

And also, since OP indicated that they would like to ”maximize light” - this wall color is not helping with that objective, either.