how about painting the cabinet doors white or off-white? it might work even with the existing tile backdrop.

I don't think the tiles are that bad. What colors do you like? The cabinets might look better painted all one color instead of with the red and white.

I actually like your backsplash tiles but you have to live with them. I agree about either painting the cupboards or stripping and staining a different color. Painting would be simpler. I agree that a soft white, creamy, would look good. On the dark end maybe a rich chocolate brown? Definitely paint the entire cabinet. The whole two color thing is really choppy and unattractive. Maybe paint with a mind to what would complement your eventually new tiles.

I think the tile and countertops along with all the wood in the room (floors, trim) would look really good with green. If you're not up for stripping and restaining the cabinet doors a lighter blonde color I say paint them white or even green like they did here: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20209705,00.html

I agree the tiles are not so bad, they are a little busy but such a neutral color I think they would look fine with different cabinets. My first thought was white paint for the cabinets - that will make a huge difference!

For some reason I'm thinking some shade of green should go in this kitchen. Green cabinets? Or walls?
http://www.cross-stitch-centre.co.uk/acatalog/d-stranded3.jpg

Or what about a shade of orange - inspired by your dining chairs.

I know that isn't much help as far as design goes but perhaps in paint color?

Good luck! I hope you find your inspiration.

I think painting the cabinets a cream and changing the handles on the doors will help clean up the look a lot, and will actually look quite good with the tiles, too.

I had/have similar cabinets. They are solid wood, and as ladymantle said, much better quality than is available today. I painted them out and it looks fab. keep the doors you have and paint them out to match the rest of the cabinet, white, off white whatever. Add some new pulls (I used stainless bar pulls) and you will have a cute, modern European looking kitchn. Maybe take the doors off the cabinets over the sink for a neat display area.

The bar pulls available at Ikea and other hardware stores will look great with your faucet.

The wood trim around the countertop might look really neat with the rest of the cabinety white and will tie in with your wooden door trim, and white will work well with the fridge and stove, basically they disappear.

Good Luck.

Good Luck.

a nice graphic paint job or decal across those upper cabinet doors would be pretty too!

I agree with peachpie. Paint the cabinets and doors a nice, clean white and replace the knobs with modern stainless or brushed nickel(?) bar pulls. And it looks like that would even match the modern fixture on the sink.

I had a neighbor add trim to the cabinets, paint them and add sleek hardware....what about cutting out an window type insert adding trin to the edge and matching the cabinets to the entry door with plexi or something simular?

I actually like the tile. What about taking the doors off and painting the shelfs a fresh white for a simple and modern feel.

I think the tiles will be ok once the cabinets are painted. I'd go white, and aim for a modern/rustic feel with the earthy tiles and the fresh white cabinets. Add some modern hardware (drawer pulls, cabinet knobs) and you'll have a whole different game going on than you do now. Maybe paint the non-tiled walls in a fresh color like a soft earthy green to complement the tiles? Definitely though, those cabinets have got to change.

I agree with the others - but I would also find out what is involved in switching to internal hinges and filling the holes the external hinges leave. It would look cleaner.

I quite like the backsplash tiles, but to each his own. I wonder if painting the cabinets in a colour similar to this one would do the trick.

http://designinc.ca/tr/tr.php?id=9&season=01

or this

http://designinc.ca/tr/tr.php?id=38&season=02

I would pull a color from the tiles to paint the cabinets, and then do a glazing technique to age them a bit and warm up the look. I think a cream color with a mocha glaze would look great. Get some great cabinet pulls and drawer knobs. Maybe a french country look, which would coordinate well with your current tiles and the decor you already have going on in the room. Since your appliances are white, add some more white accents, such as white canisters.
Your kitchen is really cute with a lot of potential.

The problem with the tile has nothing to do with the cabinet paint color. The tiles don't work because they do not relate to the style of the kitchen. Your kitchen is vintage. The tiles are trendy "faux Mediterreanean" -- which despite their relative newness are already starting to look dated.

If you don't like the tile, don't try to make the rest of the kitchen work with it. Just wait, save your money, and start planning your facelift or renovation as a total project.

I had kitchen cupboards that exact colour. Plywood. Mine are the sliding type. They make the kitchen feel so dark and bleak, don't they? I hated mine. I never cooked at home at all!

I painted all the cabinets themselves white, and the walls around them, and then did a bright cheerful mosaic pattern on the cupboard doors, on a white background with shades of turquoise & lime green. I admit to being very needy for colour, but any colour - muted or bright, patterned or solid - against clean white would cheer things for a little while, till you can afford to do what you really want. I love mine nowl I don't think I'd even change them out at this point. (Or you could just go totally white, which would also cheer things up a whole bunch.)

You could also take the doors off the upper cabinets, but you have to be really organized about what you store up there, if you go that way. I did take the double doors off one upper cabinet, and it only gets used for dishes and glasses. Also, I painted the back of it (and the wall it's on) charcoal grey.

I don't think the tiles are so bad - I can't see the colour well, but they look respectable otherwise. It's just that the cupboard doors are dominating the scene. I think changing the cupboards might help a lot with the tiles.

Paint, or reface the cabinets.

New knobs.

Done.

I like (love) the tiles and floor and maybe even your countertops, although I can't tell exactly what they're made of.

What style and paint colors have you used in the rest of the house? The kitchen looks fun and functional, except that is one, HUGE table. Are you able to work off of it, preparing food, if you need to? If not, I'd scoot it farther from your work area and add a free-standing unit that runs parallel with your stove and fridge. Depending on your likes, you can use something IKEA-like or even a fun dresser w/casters.

This might be a bit bold, but what about painting the cabinets white...keeping the tile, and then painting the walls a dark, deep blue to complement the orangish tones in the tile?

I like the tiles and the cabinet doors, actually. My very first thought was that I'd paint the cabinets (but not the doors) a dark slate grey. I think it's the contrast between the white and the wood that's throwing things off. A dark color underneath the doors will make them recede. And then add some new modern pulls. (I keep posting this on AT, but Home Depot has some decent 10-pack pulls in a couple styles that look great and are super affordable.)

If you really hate the tile, along with painting the cabinets you could also paint the tile with bathtub refinishing paint. I've used it on tile and it works really well. That way you are not limited to the colors in the tile. That being said. I like the idea of green cabinets to compliment the tile. And also like the idea of using the orange more, what great chairs!

There are SO many colors in those tiles, just choose a color from them for the cabinets, and then one for the wall. Done.

I agree with painting the cabinets and installing new hardware. If you can, it would be great to also invest in a new fridge and stove in a finish that would work post-rehab. I'd remove the microwave storage box and just put it on the counter. I hate giving up counterspace, but it looks like a funky after-the-fact add-on. Maybe a smaller, round table with a Nelson bubble lamp ceiling fixture overhead. Also floor-to-ceiling drapes and a bold poster/art work by the window. Good luck! I'm sure it will be great!

i would paint it all: cabinets(white, cream, gray, sage) add new hardware and i would paint the tile(white maybe?) for the time being and cover the countertop with butcherblock.

I personally, like many others, really like the tile. I would also encourage you to paint the cabinets a neutral or gray color. I would go with a darker shade to make the tiles pop more. Maybe sometime as dark as the place mats you have on the table. Add some new nobs, and presto. Though this is assuming you're wanting a more contemporary look. If you're going for rustic, I think the tiles still work, but maybe a distressed white for the cabinets would be more fitting.

i'd love to see a gray, light gray/brown or gray/green on the cabinets.

That wood door is so pretty.

hope this helps...here's some great ideas for you - http://www.casacullen.com/2009/12/rwd-home-kitchen-redesign-before-and-after.html
and http://www.casacullen.com/2010/01/reader-reveal-kitchen-bathrooms-family-room-remodeling-project-martina-ts-before-and-after-.html

sure, paint the cabinets. for cabinet hardware, i really like those vintage drawer pulls. i think it would look great if you matched those on the upper cabinets.

Honestly, I think the tiles are the best feature in the kitchen, and I think it allows for much potential. I'd definitely give the cabinets a face lift. That white trim sets the whole thing off. I like the idea of painting the backdrop of the cabinets (not the tile) a shade of earthy green.

I know this might not be feasible at the moment, but I think that stainless steel appliances would also make the kitchen look a whole lot nicer too.

hmm... i'm really liking the hardware on these cabinets. they don't make a big statement, but that's why i like them. plus, count your blessings the cabinet doors don't have dated looking moldings and what not on them.

a simple coat of paint on the doors and frames to unify the look definitely gets my vote. you should try playing with colors in photo shop!

Just painting the cabinets an off-white or cream will make a huge difference in this room. Perhaps change the pulls and knobs also. I think if you do this you will feel much better about the space.

Someone mentioned internal hinges.....don't bother they will not work with your cabinet doors. Plus they only open 90 degrees, which is a pain in butt especially around the sink. You can pay a lot more to get the ones that open all the way, but it's not worth it.

Paint the hinges too. I actually think they add to the vintage look of your home. Like I said before i have the exact same cupboards, mine are mahagony plywood, painted them and their hinges white many years ago.

I am so glad I didn't rip them out, I really like them now.

Also if you paint the cabinets any other colour but white, your fridge and stove will really clash and stick out like ......excuse me..a turd in a bowl of milk...Ha. Of course that's just my opinion.

so pretty.

this kitchen has a lot going for it. i really like the tiles - they're nice. and the floor is great, too. if i was going to change anything, i would paint out the cabinet doors white and add updated hardware. the wall colour is not bad, but i think the trim and baseboards would look better painted out. the door sort of stands out like a sore thumb when surrounded by the wood trim.

Like numerous other have said, I would paint the cabinets white and change the hardware to stainless handles.

Then I would paint the walls a rusty orange. Also I would get a smaller table. A white one.

I agree with everyone else who recommends painting or refacing the cabinets and changing the hardware, but why not incorporate some color? The style of your cabinets reminds me of this kitchen featured in Sunset:

http://www.myhomeideas.com/room-galleries/kitchen-with-spirit-10000001681680/index.html

The backsplash tile is nice, but just looks out of place. You could just cover it with Fastbo wall panels from Ikea, if replacing it is out of the question for now.

The tiles are the best thing going for that kitchen. I would actually try an earthy clay color for the cabinets, with dark bronze hardware. If you have the $$, install a matching dark bronze sink and faucet.

For the cabinets, a color like Yolo Canyon .03 would integrate well with the tile, and with the stained wood trim on the counter, and I think it would look beautiful with the wood floor as well.

Yolo Canyon .03 (scroll to bottom row of color chart): http://www.yolocolorhouse.com/colors_outsidepalette.php

Paint them the same color as the walls, or white to blend with the appliances. Squared cabinet knobs would echo your light fixture and door lights: dimpled square knobs.

Keep the back splash. Looks funky, cute, and organic. Leave the cabinet fronts as they are or stain them a dark rich walnut color. Paint or stain the cabinets a dark rich walnut color. Change the knobs (stainless steel bars?). The fridge & stove don't match, but that can easily be resolved with a can of Krylon high gloss black paint. I'm rather adventurous. The other option is painting the cabinets white, but it may be too stark for the back splash. You seem to have warm tones (wood, floors, paint, etc.)

I'm guessing the tiles and counter are stone? (Granite? Slate?) If so, I'd consider keeping them and (eventually) replacing the cabinets with something more contemporary and light in color -- maybe maple in classic shaker style, or something that relates to one of the tones in the tiles.

Meanwhile, sand, prime, and paint the cabinets you already have a lighter tone. Maybe a cream taken from the tiles or a brighter white to go with the appliances. Or since they are so flat, maybe the doors could be covered in grasscloth or some other neutral colored surfacing. (Hopefully treated for stain resistance.)

Add some slightly bigger more contemporary hardware (maybe polished nickle rod style handles?) mounted from the lower inside corners, not the center. You could paint one of the cabinet-free walls an accent color, and the others might match the cabinets. Or at least, be light and bright. A couple of colorful modern accents (bright orange and turquoise glass vases, maybe?) for punch...

Thanks for including some pictures of the rest of the room to give a feeling for your style. The print of the tablecoth, the mirror, and the plant say "Zen" to me, and the chairs say "but also modern and a little bit fun".

I think that the tiles and cabinets you have could work in a Modern Zen kitchen, but you will need to think a little wabi sabi (you aren't going to turn these cabinets into your dream cabinets with paint, but you could still turn them into something you love...and it will be better for both the planet and your pocket book).

The main problems with the cabinets are
1. The contrast between the door color and the color of the underlying frames
2. The way the dark (and warm) color of the cabinet doors intrudes on the small space, especially the top cabinets
3. The shiny-ness (and I'm guessing sticky feel) of the finish.
4. The undersized hardware and exposed hinges

The main problem with the tiles is they remind design enthusiast of things they would rather forget, like other people's budget kitchen makeovers. Maybe they remind you of rentals you have lived in, or the kitchen of someone you don't much like? My guess is that the tiles could look great if you played up their earthiness (they are natural stone, right?)

So, if it was my "modern zen" kitchen I would:

1. Paint the cabinets and frames the same color. I think that using a dark color on the lower cabinets and the same color as the wall on the upper cabinets could look nice. I like the suggestion of green, but any color you love that also makes you love the tiles more would be great.

2. Consider removing some of the cabinet doors. Take all the doors off of the top cabinet and see how you feel about different combinations of open shelves and doors. Do you have glassware or pottery that you could display? If you go for open shelves try out some color on the wall behind your stuff. You could use paper put up with double sided tape...get a fancy asian print in colors that complement your chairs.

3. Get larger hardware for the remaining cabinets. Maybe these wooden knobs from amazon http://www.amazon.com/Laurey-30833-Cabinet-Hardware-8-Inch/dp/B000WIVNHE/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1265926160&sr=8-15 ?

4. Accessorize your kitchen a bit. Block printed tea towels and fridge art would be nice additions, and would help your appliances blend in more.

5. Cook up something yummy and enjoy it!

I just painted cabinets that were old laminate with plastic doors. If you want pictures of how they turned out - I can send them to you. I originally had a house built in '78 - ranch house and a small one. The cabinets were walnut look but plastic nasty doors. I painted and faux treated them. They lasted about 5 years. I just painted them again. One more time before new cabinets in about 2 years. I used Zinser Bullseye 123 primer first. I then painted them in a satin - I should have used gloss. (Valspar at Lowes - color coffee in my cream). I changed the handles. Originally I had spray painted the hardware brushed nickel but it was 5 years ago and time for new hardware - 11 handles and 6 cup pulls (in the mail to me now) cost me about $66 and $21, paint - $13 and $27. We changed the cheap laminate counter for an updated cheap laminate counter for now also. $188 plus $225 labor. I used styrofoam corbels above the sink for a bit of a dressier effect. They are only about $6 each. It depends on your taste but I must say that if you painted the cabinets in an off-white or cream and painted your kitchen tan taupe with the one wall a deep darker red or terra cotta (the wall with the cabinets). You would have a pretty kitchen and more modern looking.