I think the cabinets would look great painted white. Staining them dark won't cover up the wood grain . . . which is the part of them I find dated. But maybe that's just me. I'd paint the walls something pretty and fresh, like a green, maybe 'ryegrass' from behr. And I'd put up some cute patterned cafe curtains. Lucky you with windows over the sink and in the breakfast nook! But yeah, those current treatments have got to go.

I think it would be best to just paint the cabinets. If you painted everything white, the space would feel much larger and less oppressive. If you don't use all of the cabinets, I would take some or all of the upper ones out. If you don't want to do that, you could consider removing some of the cabinet doors and making the shelves into a nice display for your dishes and cups. I would also add a plant or two, and some nice framed prints. Installing track lighting and leaving off the overhead could also be helpful. Good luck!

I agree that painting the cabinets white is probably the easiest and cheapest solution. If it were me, I might attempt to strip out the dark stain and redo it in a whitewash or light yellow or green stain, which would still show off the woodgrain. (Look world, my cabinets aren't particle board!) Once you have neutralized the overall pallette, pop some color back in via paint, tile or artwork in the gap between counter and cabinet.

Lately I'm into two tone cabinetry. I would stain the ones on the bottom a dark espresso or black and sand the top cabinets and use a matte sealant on the natural finish or paint them white depending on what your into. this might help with your european country shtick while keeping it modern. Of course, decluttering the counter and replacing the curtains is a must.

Have you considered open shelving? I found this off of someone's blog. I hope the link works.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_5De9GE3l1Ds/SH5ubU6sxMI/AAAAAAAADqE/ZlNOkdlghso/s1600-h/4.jpg

or try this and scroll down to the picture of the kitchen.

http://chriskauffman.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

You can change the hardware on the cabinets (once they are painted) too, for a simple update. I agree that some fresh paint will really give you a nice new feeling in your kitchen.

I like your cabinets. New hardware can make a HUGE difference for a little money. And getting everything off the counters will help too. I just moved, and I have NOTHING on my counters except the coffee bar. And I am keeping it that way. I have one cabinet dedicated to the stuff I want to put on the counter. It's pretty cool to have all that clutter behind a door.

If you must, paint everything white, including the cabinets. It will make the room look much larger, but remember, you will now have to clean your cabinets, as they will not be the forgiving dark wood you have now. And I would use a textured shade in your windows, as everything else will be smooth and white.

Will you ever sell this house? If so, you may want to leave the cabinets as they are. Some might find them a reason to buy your house. I had a house once with these awful pickled cabinets. Come to find out, they are expensive as hell, and much sought after. The first time they showed the house, the agent brought the prospects in through the garage, and one look at the kitchen, and the house sold. There is no accounting for taste.

What a wonderful, big kitchen with quality cabinets. For a French Provincial look, you might consider a contact-paper or wallpaper that looks like tile for the backsplash. Use a complementary wallpaper (such as a small print) on the soffit/bulkhead. These would also give you a palette for the rest of the walls...and for new window treatments. Above the kitchen sink consider a gathered valance -- and maybe you could make simple chaircovers that match. Calico Corners for fabric? Finally, add high-impact accent colors with pottery, etc. Stripping, sanding and re-staining wood cabinets -- a beautiful prospect -- but oh my, that's a lot of work. I'm seeing a Provence palette of yellow, blue, red perking this kitchen right up, with no need to mess with the cabinets.

I really wouldn't paint the cabinets dark, it would just make the kitchen bland and uninviting. I would paint them white and put modern hardware on them. That's what I have done with mine and its a country/modern type feel. Get rid of the blinds and paint the kitchen a cool toned color. Also clear the counter tops and that will make it feel larger and more modern. Your kitchen is very open so that will work in your favor also. Good luck!

I agree with the other posters who said painting the cabinets white or light and changing their hardware. that will make a big difference.

A fresh backsplash might also help. Consider that "stick on tile" stuff that was featured here not that long ago.

You might add a high shelf around the top near the ceiling to hold some displayable (copper pans, glass bottles, tea pots, etc.)

And some new window treatments all around.

Good luck. I ca't wait to see what you decide to do.

You can reface the cabinets and just replace the doors with something more current. It's a fraction the cost of replacing the entire cabinet. Check IKEA as well: I just installed an IKEA kitchen and am very, very happy with it. Their wood countertops are gorgeous!

my very first thought was white cabinets (and updated hardware) with a medium aqua/turquoise for the walls. i also like the idea in one of the comments about taking off some of the cabinet doors to show off some pretty dishes... or replace a few of the solid cabinet doors (on top) with glass ones for the same effect.

Instead of stark white, use an off white color. I help my parents update their kitchen almost 10 years ago and the paint still looks great.

Make sure to clean the cabinets with industrial cleaner to remove grease. Sand with a fine grit sandpaper (I used a 220). Wipe down the cabinets to remove the dust.

Make sure to use an oil based paint and use a good primer.

For a more country look, you could go back with a glaze mixture and antique the insets you have.

Do an image search on Google for "wood kitchen" and you'll find pages of kitchens that look a lot like yours. And they are the "after" pictures, not the befores. Full of wood colors and wood grains, custom cabinetry.

Instead of painting the cabinets, which don't appear to be worn at all (and the paint will eventually chip), consider just doing that back splash area with color. Which is cheap and you can redo yearly if you want.

Green back splash:
http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/userfiles/retromint%20subway%20rb.jpg

Blue back splash:
http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2f1j00seHTVkJZAIotM/Solid-Wood-Kitchen-Cabinet.jpg

Red back splash:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2313460695_871070508b.jpg?v=0

Checker back splash:
http://themcmgrp.com/db1/00064/themcmgrp.com/_uimages/ShilohKitchen.jpg

It doesn't get much less expensive than a can of paint. And it's easily changed.

Go light...check out these two designsponge makoevers...

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/09/32909.html

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/11/before-after-laurens-kitchen-kevins-room-j-c-s-bath-and-exterior.html

wasn't there a post at AT quite recently about a low budget kitchen make-over? it went from a dated one like yours to lovely white with pale blue walls and a butcher block counters.

here you go:

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/kitchen-tours/kitchen-tour-ashley-anns-500-light-and-lovely-remodel-103180

Like so many others have said...white! It will brighten up the space a LOT. Then you can have a lot of fun with color everywhere else. You can install a stainless steel backsplash that looks very modern, or use the stick-on tiles that were featured on AT not very long ago.

Also, one of the finalists in the recent AT Room for Color contest was a coral kitchen. I'd love to see this kitchen with a similar hue. Warm colors are preferable for a kitchen or eating space, because they arouse hunger. You could even paint the bottom cabinets in your bright color, install the stainless steel backsplash, and then paint the top cabinets white. I'd also paint your dining chairs to go with your scheme. Throw in some silver hardware and colorful floormats and you're good to go :)

White cabinets look great when you first paint them, but I can't tell you how often I see dingy white cabinets in other people's houses. I suspect that unless you're willing to pay for a really top-quality paint job and/or clean them all the time, they're going to look crappy within a year.

Dove grey or a pale blue could work for a French Country look and still lighten up the room. Take a look at Monet's kitchen to see what I mean:

http://miniaturesmuseum.org/Monets_Kitchen.htm

Such a LOVELY KITCHEN !!!

WHY ??? - in a whole world you want / need to RE-DECORATE it ??? ... It's GREAT as it is - why to destroy it ??

BUT - If you need to change anything :

a. - WALLPAPER the walls with one style - (and even the ceiling with other .... )
b. - Put new SHELVES on the wall both sides of window - so you can keep there your collection of figurines...
c. ... some sweet LACE Curtains on the WINDOWs,
d. ... and lovely TABLECLOTH on table.
e. - Check your LIGHT above TABLE - get yourself beatiful CRYSTAL CHANDELIER - (... for all the money, you will save on "re-decorating"...)

Xandra

For a French Country appearance - I wouldn't touch the cabinets at all...

...I'd paint the walls tomato red, hang some vintage copper moulds and wrought iron roster trivets on the soffits, get rid of the roller shades and mount some roman shades at the windows, declutter and add a black/wrought iron chandelier with some cute little toile shades over the lightbulbs or a lantern above the table, and place some provincial placemats or tablecloth and napkins on the breakfast table.

Hmm. if you decide to paint the cabinets, i'd agree with the person that said a buttercream color.. something warm and not stark white. Maybe use some glaze treatment on the ridge details.

I also don't really like the "take the doors off the cabinets for open shelves" look, if it's a place you actually own. I'd consider replacing the cabinets to either side of the window with actual shelves, though. It'll open it up, and not get rid of too much of the concealed storage. Maybe do them up in the reverse of the other cabinets to mix things up a bit (the darker color for the main color and any detail bits glazed with the lighter color).

I'd also lean towards replacing the countertops before doing any kind of fancy backsplash detail... or even just putting new laminate on them (everything looks like square corners and not rounded edges from what i can tell in the pictures, so it shouldn't be too difficult if that's the case). It's possible they'll end up looking old and tired once everything else is freshened up. An updated paint color is probably plenty to start with on the walls\backsplash area.

Thank you all for the ideas. You have confirmed my thoughts of painting the cabinets white/or buttercream. Does anyone have a specific idea for paint from Behr or SW? All the shades of white make me dizzy... "Hospital" white is out of the question.
I am looking for a softer creamy shade, and adding a glaze over them. I would like to add glass inserts to 2 of the cabinets to also open up the space a bit. Taking down any cabinets won't work for me because I need the storage.
You have all been a great help, I would love to take you with me to help pick color and fabrics!
Any more suggestions would be great, I'll update as I go along.

Thanks so much!

regarding white: Go to Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Home Depot. Get a ton of "white" samples (focus on the Ralph Lauren at HD). You'll see the whites in a color group such as green or yellow. Whatever your accent colors are, look for the whites in that color group.

Then bring the samples home. Many whites have undertones which can clash with the rest of your house like a pink undertone when your tile floor has yellow undertones. If you are not changing your flooring you'll be better off "matching" your white to the floor. Make sure to examine the color in bright artficial light as well as sunlight.

Once you've picked out a white, keep the sample and the color group samples that go with it. Buy a quart and paint one or two cabinets to make sure.

One note: You'll have to live with the paint odor if you don't opt for the low or no VOC paints. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have better quality paint than Home Depot and they have both primer and paint in no VOC.

Either stain or whitewash the cabinets - a heavy paint will just make it look like junk.

If you have the cash, you could swap out some of the cabinet doors with glass ones.

Paint the walls a nice crisp color - like a light green.

Remove the curtains definitely and put up ones that match your style.

And of course if you removed about half the stuff off the countertops it would look a lot better.

Agree with earlier comment - black (gloss) lower cabs and white (gloss) upper cabs. If you can, lose some of the upper cabs and replace with elfa kitchen shelving. Since your on budget, go to ikea and get replacedment countertop.

If you're budget is bigger, than simply replace your entire kitchen with cabinets, countertop, and hardware from Ikea.

I agree with many above that paint will be better than a dark stain. I'd do a taupey warm grey with simple chrome or nickel hardware. And if you can bear to lose some storage space, I would remove a couple of upper cabinets, or at least replace them with open shelves. These "builder" kitchens are usually so filled with cabinetry that there's no feeling of openness.

I would start with the other changes first, and then tackle the cabinet painting. That's a lot of work, and you might find you don't need it.

First, I'd start with the soffit above the cabinets. Maybe paint it a rich color, something daring.
Then replace the curtains and declutter everything.
Next, think about the backsplash-- either paint, or think about something like tin ceiling tiles, or some other interesting back.
Get a piece of artwork you love to go on the wall behind the dining room table, near the window.

Once you do those things, I think you'll be in a better position to judge whether painting the cabinets is necessary and what color will best fit your lifestyle.

If you're thinking French country, I would prime the cabinets, then paint them a pale to medium blue. Keep the walls white. Throw in some bits of fabric with blue and white accents.

Aha, I found it: Williams Sonoma makes adhesive contact paper -- which looks like old French country tiles -- that would look great as an inexpensive backsplash, and provide you with additional color cues to work into your kitchen palette: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku7924129/?catalogId=97

Paint the cabinets and fake a back splash with wallpaper or some of those tin ceiling tiles, which you can paint as well.

My favorite shade of white is Benjamin Moore 1009, which Southern Living once called the world's most perfect white. That did it for me. I am now living in my third home with 1009 as my white, but it's not a butter cream, so it may not be your cup of tea. But I agree, picking out a white is HARD.

we have the same exact cabinets. We painted them off white and they look GREAT!!
Good luck with whatever you do.

Here's a good example of how you can make oak cabinets fit with a modern look.

http://girlwithaspirin.com/4538/kitchen.html

In your case, it might be too much dark brown, but might consider painting the lower cabinets a dark color and using a light color for the uppers, or replacing some of the upper cabinets with shelving.

A modern backsplash would also help, as would knocking out the soffit.

Sharanne, a few links on refinishing:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/kitchencabinets

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=HomeDecor/CabFceLft.html

You'll need to know what your current cabinets are finished with. They'll have to be cleaned thoroughly. Pull all the doors and the hardware. Clean the doors, the cabinets, soak the hardware in something to strip off the gunk. Same with the screws.

You'll want a level surface to paint the doors, where they can dry undisturbed. If using oil paint, you'll want ventilation.

As practice, pick up a piece of scrap wood, any kind, and try out your color in the smallest container you can buy. Paint the scrap wood. You'll get an idea on how long it will take to dry. How many coats. If you're getting brush marks, be glad you tested it out on scrap wood first (cabinets are often sprayed, not brushed).

Once that scrap is dry and has the right number of coats with a good finish, prop it up in your kitchen for a couple days. Just to get the overall feel for the color under natural daylight and artificial light at night.

That is the ONLY way of truly getting a feel for the color in YOUR home. NEVER EVER pick out a paint color just from being at the store. Unless you live in a warehouse full of fluorescent lighting, you'll have no idea what that color will look like at home.

Paint the sucker a warm white just to escape all that wood, now!

Actually, it's better to brush cabinets than spray them.The sprayed on surface is too "perfect". One nick and that's all you'll see. I do think oil is the only way to get the right "drag time" on your brush no matter what they tell you at the big box stores about enamel being just as good. So get ready to ventilate!

Those cabinets are gorgeous as is. I wouldn't paint them, and staining them darker will make you space look tinier. Instead I suggest painting the walls a warm color, adding a stenciled, tiled, or stamped metal backsplash, painting something interesting on the ceiling, and ditching the Venetian blinds in favor of pretty curtains. You should also consider adding a rug or a large floorcloth to pull all your colors together and soften the overall look.

I'd do a warmer cream paint on the cabinets -- as opposed to white.

Then, bring in some chic french country with a lot of toile and wrought iron accents.

Good luck!

Your kitchen has good bones. Painting the cabinets a warm cream or someone said blue would be great, but very permanent. To start, instead of painting you could trade out a few of the top cabinet doors for ones with glass, which should be fairly affordable, to open the sense of the space up a bit. Then update the hardware, and see how you like it.

Other steps you could do would be to get a backsplash, paint the kitchen a warmer color, place lighter curtains that let that natural light in, and enhance your lighting a lot.

If you do paint, a darker color on the bottom, lighter on the top would make it wonderful.

If you can swing it, an island that you can eat around would be great, but that is an expense.

I agree with all the people who've mentioned a back splash. Since it's a relatively small amount of space, you could pick a nice tile without spending too much. A rich, bright color with the cabinets painted cream, plus new hardware would be a whole new kitchen! As for the window treatments, I would ditch the frilly curtains and the blinds and go for one of those in-frame roman shades. Also, a nice color paint for the window frame would really make it pop. Good luck, can't wait to see the results!

Another option: leave the cabinets as is and paint the walls (a deep color) and the dining set (something that pops--white or cream maybe).

It has been a while, but I did redo my kitchen, and finished yesterday...for now. My husband was deployed with the military at the end of December, so everything I did was "on my own". I did hire a contractor to remove the sofits and install new lighting. The rest I did myself. I used S.W. pro classic paint in a custom mixed color. S.W. adhesive primer, deglosser, sand in-between etc... Min-Wax poly-acrylic, 3 coats. Sprayed the handles with metalic oil-bronze spay paint. I will email the photos so anyone can take a look. Thanks again for all the help!