That will depend on if you like the cabinets and your budget.

There's a lot to be said for the harmonious visual flow you get now from having the same style and color of your cabinets, door, and hutch. You could lose the curvy wood over the window that would give the cabinets a more updated look.

The middle photo in your kitchen Ideabook shows a kitchen quite similar to yours but with different cabinet hardware, backsplash, and countertop. You could get a big bang out of changing to similar hardware as in your Ideabook photo (although if those are vintage, you might want to keep them). You can definitely fix the under-the-sink situation cheaply and easily--sez me who doesn't really know. If you save on cabinets, think about new backsplash, countertop, and sink. Those look beautiful in that same Ideabook photo.

What is that green flooring in one of your photos above? Any chance you could get wood flooring in your kitchen that connects to the dining area? How about painting the inside of the hutch the same color as the kitchen walls and arranging the dishes in there artistically, say, all your white dishes in there? Or all glassware? Or beautiful bowls? I vote for keeping the cabinets and using the budget for other kitchen upgrades.

I really think you cabinets look nice! For the look of your cabinets, I would recommend replacing the knobs. Here are a few ideas for you:

http://deciture.com/shop/decor/world-market/aqua-bubble-glass-knobs-set-2/


http://deciture.com/shop/decor/world-market/turquoise-and-green-ceramic-watermelon-knobs-set-2/

I have gone to a few cabinet places and gotten prices. My budget allows for me to do new cabinets in a similar layout possibly adding a couple more cabinets. My budget allows for wood cabinets with a few features but not for high end cabinets or a lot of the bells and whistles. I like the cabinets but am disgusted by the fact that mice were in the bottom cabinets under the sink (these are continuous cabinets not separate) and there is a smell in them that I have to try to get rid of if I am going to save the cabinets. Also, I need to remove the bottom wood from the cabinets under the sink and clean out all the mouse droppings. I don't like using or opening these cabinets. I have kids and they like to look inside them, I am concerned because of the mice stuff. I have cleaned it but as mentioned need to remove the wood from the bottom. Thanks for your help.

Do you want to change the look of them? Or just try and get the mouse problem fixed?

We have been in the house 6 months and once we discovered the mouse issue, we got an exterminator and sealed up all the holes. The seller did not disclose this information and our inspector did not pick up on the issue. If there was never a mouse issue I would keep the cabinets but because of the mouse issue I am not sure what to do. I don't want to save them and regret it in a few years if I put in new granite counter tops. I think because of the issue I prefer to replace them but I I don't want to get rid of them if it will take away from the character of my house. So torn, thanks for the advice.

It depends on your budget. If you can, go with at least improving the hip banging corner stove. Is there anyway to get more linear space to avoid that traffic jam in the corner? Space for an island? If your budget is tight you may be able to move the stove to the island, fill that space in with a new matching cabinet, repaint and put in new hardware.

Oh, yeah. Do get rid of the curly trim above the sink.

I think you should just get an exterminator to do a very thorough job with traps, poisons, etc. New cabinets won't really keep a mouse out. They can get in through a hole the size of a pencil eraser and can get into just about anything. A new kitchen is expensive especially if it won't fix the mouse problem. You can almost guarantee they are through out the house like they are for just about everyone else's.

I definitely understand your concern about the mouse droppings. Of course, I don't know where you live or how bad the odor is. I just would hate to spend the money unless you really want/need new cabinets.

I purchased a home that had been empty for a couple of years and was in a sad state of neglect. The cupboards throughout the house were nasty. Lots of bugs and spiders -some dead- and yes, mouse droppings. But the beach location made it worth the trouble.

First, I had an exterminator come to be sure that I was only dealing with dead critters.

Second, I cleaned thoroughly with bleach water one weekend. (I mean everywhere inside - bottom, sides, top, etc. )

The third weekend, I sprayed the inside of the cupboards with Lysol. (I used lots of Costco size bottles and diluted it with water about 50/50.)

I had the exterminator return prior to my fourth weekend. This was the weekend that I painted the inside of the cupboards with bright white paint. Granted I wasn't living there yet and I could leave the doors open for it to dry.

Before I began the moving in process, I also put down contact paper in the cupboards. After all the elbow grease, I knew the mice and their germs were gone. There was no smell and I love that little beach bungalow!

I am convinced that doing it myself, step-by-step, gave me real peace of mind about healthy state of my kitchen.

I think a pencil eraser might be a bit small - maybe you have smaller mice than I've seen? - but essentially if they can get their head through, the rest of them is going through also. (And the danger with smaller holes is that it gives them a nice start on enlarging the hole so they CAN fit through. Much harder for them to just start gnawing at a solid flat surface.)

If the issue with the kitchen is largely related to mice, honestly I'd do a small fix now - maybe have someone come in to clean and just replace the wood on the bottom? - and wait and see if the mouse problem is well and truly solved. Sometimes rodent habits are also seasonal, so you might feel like you've gotten them evicted for now and then in another six months find that they've invaded again because you missed an access point and they they'll be in your brand new cabinets. So before doing a lot of work because mice had been in something, I'd want to be quite confident they weren't likely to return and the problem had for sure been taken care of. Otherwise you might end up spending a lot of money on new cabinets that you then don't want to use because mice have gotten into them also. (Because yes, new cabinets in and of themselves are not going to keep mice out.)

If the cabinets are in good shape still (and you know that the mice are gone!), you could remove the wood trim like housegal200 suggested and update the hardware for a relatively easy and inexpensive fix. Then, if you decide to get new countertops and cabinets later on, you wouldn't have sunk a lot of time or money into the old cabinets. I think dark bronze pulls look nice on fresh, white cabinets. Maybe something like one of these?

Debsurreal, you do understand my dilemma since you have been through it. We live in the suburbs but there are a lot of woods/conservation land surrounding our house. Our house was also empty for some time. we did not discover the mouse droppings until we replaced the appliances, which was about 3 months after we moved in. I have been cleaning and every time I think that the droppings are gone I discover a different area that I would not have thought of to look prior. This time the toe board area or under the boards of the cabinet sink area. The problem is that I have to remove the wood from the bottom of the my cabinets under my sink. which run to the wall because the droppings are under there and that is the only way I can get to them and clean them up. That is why I am considering replacing the cabinets because we can remove them all and gut the kitchen and start fresh. No hidden surprises. Who would have thought this issue would have such a big impact on my budget. My house needs a lot of work so I was trying to stretch my budget but I don't want to do things half fast or jeopardize my families health. I can always put off other projects until I save up for them.

Are you hearing mice? Do you think they are gone? Having grown up on a farm I know you can expect an occasional field mouse but that's not too bad. It's the residential mouse pad that can't be tolerated.

Have you asked your neighbors if they have experienced the same problem? Maybe they have some recommendations.

I know how those unforeseen costs can put everything else on hold. And annoy the heck out of you! I'm sorry. I just really hate to think of you gutting everything just yet. There has to be some other options - less expensive, too.

We do not hear mice. I think that they are gone. I found holes and
Had them all patched. I have not found new droppings but
I have found what I believe to be old droppibgs in places
That I did not think to look early. I did, one neighbor had an issue 3 years ago, she also
Told me that the previous owner had mentioned to her
That she was having an issue (previous owner was 85).
Other neighbor is flipping their house and said that they
Had noticed a lot of droppings in their place and a funky smell but they
Cleaned it up, removed a lot of stuff & opened up walls (which they can do because
They are redoing the whole house) we are not going
To start opening up walls. The house we bought has a lot of character, however,
As mentioned the previous owner was older and it was too
Much house for her so there were and are a lot of items
In need of repair. W have replaced the circuit breaker board,
Plaster numerous walks and a whole room, excavated to remove ivy and shrubs
That had taken over and where growing wild. Put in a new driveway
Since we only had a gravel one and live up north so with
Snow removal the gravel would be tough. We removed carpet throughout
The house and sanded floors, replaced cushions on the built in (especially once
We found out they were covered in mouse urine).we are
In the process of updating all our electrical outlets (they were
2 prong and worn out). So I don't have a problem with having the work done
I just don't want to take away from the character or charm ofmy house.
Is there a type of kitchen cabinet that would work if we decide to
Go this route? The old cabinets match the house but they
Are like book shelves and overall require a lot of work if we keep them.
I am trying to see if there is a type of cabinet that would work
With my house (that's not too expensive) and then weigh my opttions
To see which makes more sense (time and money wise). Thanks again for all the help.
The t.v. Shows make it look so easy! Didn't realize how time consuming it is.

I strongly recommend getting an exterminator out. BTDT. The cost is minimal compared to removing cabinets. Sometimes exterminators can even do the wood removal and repairs. Talk to them. I note that you removed a lot of shrubbery and ivy. This will displace the outside critters who may seek new homes inside. In my area, rats live in ivy, so yanking out the ivy causes a huge disruption in the rat population as they flee to calmer areas (like your house and your neighbors' yards).

Your house sounds like a gem that has been neglected. It will come back to life. I have to laugh ruefully about the electrical work (BTDT). One of those improvements that you will appreciate a lot once you are finished, but it sure isn't as pretty as an HGTV chandelier or a built-in espresso bar.

Thank you! We have had an exterminator come out a couple of times.
He has set traps and when he came back to check on them,
Had only noticed activity in a few of the traps. After his last visit, we also
Had someone come and mortar/cement the openings/holes we saw. We were thinking that the excavating along with the neighbors construction disrupted the
Mice but after meeting and speaking with the neighbor across the street,
Who was friendly with the previous owner, she told us that the previous owner
Had mentioned to her that she was having issues with mice. We are uncertain of how
Long the mice issue was going on prior to us buying the house. Wish that owners had to disclose this information! We are now trying to clean up
The mess that was left behind.

It really is a separate issue from the cabinets. It's easy for them to get in, especially around plumbing systems. Have the foundation and sill inspected by someone independent of the exterminator, and repair any openings.

I would keep these cabinets .. they appear to be in good condition and harmonize with the doors/trim.

To get rid of the mouse odor: clean with 1 1/2 c. bleach per gallon of water. Allow the areas you wipe to air dry.

Place cups of vinegar in each cabinet with the doors closed overnight.

If this doesn't do the trick the 1st time, repeat again.

Do you have your own traps out now? You might need them for the full round of four seasons to deal with seasonal migration.

Do you have a handyman who can remove the bottom of the wood cabinets for a clean out?

Any photos of the bottoms of the cabinets?

debsurreal's methods are about the most complete (and heroic) I've ever read about. With rats, one scrubs, primes and paints. And one continues to use traps for months.

you don't need new cabinets to have self closing doors. All you buy are the soft close hinges :). btw, all kitchen cabinets are built onto walls, it's how they hang.