I'll be interested in what people say about this one. I live in Astoria, Queens, and most of the rentals here have these exact same cabinets. As renters, we aren't allowed to alter them one bit. I hope you get some great replies! I'll be paying attention. ;)

Please tell me he will at least let you get rid of the hideous wavy thing over the window? If not I fear divorce may be your only solution.

*shudders*

Oooh, this is when I pull wifely rank in the relationship and paint that sh*t.

I like the idea of blue walls with a black and white rug, but with those cabinets, you'll need to be verrry careful with the blue or it will go real country, real fast.

Or you could just go with the country look. Get some cute gingham curtains, some rag rugs, and keep it modern by changing up the ceiling fan, the accessories, and the cabinet door fixtures.

I had similar cabinets. I painted them antique white and changed to aged-patina copper pulls for hardware. It's like I have a new set of cupboards. I have a small kitchen and spent around $100 for paint and $50 for hardware.

Hmm, interesting challenge: I say, get rid of decorative bits and pieces, including frou frou curtains; paint walls black; change pulls; add bold patterned oriental or modern rug with black in the pattern; put lots of fabulous framed art prints or black/white family photo's on the wall. . . Then, close the door and forget about it! Focus on the rest of your gorgeous house!

Go for a black and white theme. I like your idea of the black and white striped rug! Try the Marimekko Unikko Black / White Fabric for curtains. Use a Grundtal rail behind your stove and buy new, modern-looking black utensils like Oxo's Good Grips set. Fresh flowers in a black vase would also be nice. Most important: Keep all your counters and cabinet tops bare -- this is key to keeping those cabinets from looking too country-cozy. Good luck!!

This is not really a budget friendly suggestion, but may be something to think about for the future. If y'all have a basement or shed that could be finished, you could finish it and move the oak cabinets there. That way he can have his hunting-lodge-looking- man-cave and you could have the kitchen of your choice.

Sorry I couldn't come up with something better. I just don't think there is a lot that can be done with those cabinets.....I feel your pain though. I have awful, very country looking kitchen cabinets that I have been saving to change for two years. I think we will be able to do it by the end of the summer. :)

Use a sponge roller to paint the cabinets a crisp white. Pale blue-grey walls with your black and white striped carpet. Silver/brass pulls.

On the other hand, crisp white would make the countertops look outdated, so I agree, an off-white/ivory paint job perhaps?

I have very similar cabinets and hate them as well (of course!) I really, really like missbrown2you's suggestion!! This could look great, and if you go that route, please share photos!

I'm laughing because our dream home also came with these cabinets! I've ended up playing them up with a little kitsch (iron pot holders hanging on the wall, my vintage owl salt&peper shapers lined up by the stove, cute coffee/flour/sugar containers, etc).

For now I've finished it off with contrasting pale mint paint and a black accent wall. But my long-term plan is to put in white silestone counters and 1x1 glass tiles in complimentary tones as a backsplash.

I don't know if this helps at all, but I hope you get some ideas for managing it. And Congratulations!!

I would go with some sleek nickel pulls and you might even go for some new hinges to match, since they are exposed. I would recommend against a blue for the walls as blue and orange (close enough to describe the wood) are complimentary colors and make each other pop - which is sometimes a good thing, but in this case you are trying to play down the color of the cabinets. I would try warm colors (that you like) to tone down all the wood. Warms: yellows, oranges, reds. A simple, pull-down solar shade will un-frilly the windows too.

Maybe try painting the inside of the microwave niche black (to match the stove) and if hubby would be amenable - paint just the corner breadbox(?) so that top and bottom cabinets feel separated. (Or could you remove it?)

And a little story: my dad pulled the same thing on my mom in their last house so they never re-did a very dated kitchen. UNTIL they were trying to sell it. Literally, as part of the staging, they did a kitchen renovation - after. they. had. moved. (And my dad loved it, of course.)

ps - I just looked at the photo again - I'd trade out that fan for a very modern light fixture, With a few modern elements you can make it look current, especially with the recent uber-vintage trends!

Oh jeez. I would definitely get rid of that decorative wood wavy thing in front of the window and replace it with a pot rack. Get rid of the fan and put in mini can lights all over. Change out the cabinet handles for brushed nickel to match the future faucet. Nice new white blinds for the window. And I'm with latoyaversailles that you should be very careful with the blue. I would go with a gray blue and heavy on the gray just as insurance.

Oh my, I have those cabinets too. I am getting ready to paint them in Benjamin Moore Mascarpone with Guilford Green on the walls and I'm replacing all the gold hardware with oil-rubbed bronze. I can't wait! I tried a lot of different options to make the cabinets something I could live with, but in the end it just wasn't the look I wanted. Is there no compromise your husband would accept? Even a slightly darker walnut stain would make a huge difference!
-Robyn (www.amateurdecorator.blogspot.com)

Maybe you could bring your husband to allow you to at least take the doors of some of the upper cabinets off? Then put some pretty things in those cabinets. That way you would have a little bit less wood to look at.

Can you add a backsplash to inject some color and frivolity? or some modern wallpaper? I also like fulinlin's idea of removing a couple of doors on the uppers...

"Accidently" spil stain on them, and tell you husband that nothing can be done and you have to stain all of the cabinets

Hm, there are a couple of good examples of kitchens almost this color wood that don't look country below (from the saucydwellings livejournal community). I know they're not exactly this color and that the curves on the inside of the top cabinets make it a little more difficult to make it not feel country, but these might work.

http://community.livejournal.com/saucydwellings/1653107.html#cutid1

http://community.livejournal.com/saucydwellings/1653107.html#cutid1

I also agree with the two people above who said to paint the room black. I would also suggest changing the ceiling fan to something not wood colored and get a lot of mats or rugs to cover the wood floor. Anything to break up the block of color from all the wood and make it seem less like the kitchen is part of a hunting lodge.

Good luck!

Well, I like country, personally-- I realize not everyone does, of course, but it always bums me out a little bit to see how much it gets ragged on at Apartment Therapy. That said, I have basically the same cabinets in my new house, and I would also prefer to paint them (cream), but husband also said no. I also have black appliances. I've changed the awful hardware out to a nice, art-nouveau looking oil-rubbed bronze, am adding a bronze backsplash, and I ordered the Giani granite stuff in Sicilian Sand to paint the faux wood counters this week.

I think the suggestion to remove the frilly bits will help you get where you want to be; consider the Giani black to get different counters, and instead of bronze, maybe a stainless or stainless look backsplash. I haven't tried it, but for a tight budget you might consider the stainless look contac paper.

Best of luck, and please post pictures!

Hi - A couple of suggestions. I have the exact same cabs in my house and here's what you can do for a quick fix w/o painting.

A nice subway backsplash, keeps it clean
Remove all the junk on top and have him wire some uplights with dimmers.
Under cab lights also are a good option
remove the curtain, it is really nice to look out of the window when you do dishes :)
Remove some of the doors or replace with frosted or clear glass.

Oh and I have a light green wall in my kitchen from SW called impetous. Green works well with the brown, since it is the most common color combo in nature (think trees)

My .02: lose the wavy cornice board thing (my parents have the same one...eek!), make some of the cabinets glass front to reduce the oak forrest look, and definitely lose the appliance garage thing in the corner. THAT is awful. Hello, 1983.

Other than that, updated handles and a better counter top (not sure what color...? helpful, I know) will be nice. Making it as un-contractor circa 1983 will do the trick.

IMHO, I think that the kitchen is THE most important room to "allow" a woman to have control over if she does most of the cooking and kitchen chores. Honestly, if my husband told me I wasn't "allowed" to change the kitchen, I would tell him that I wouldn't be cooking in there until I was allowed.

It's hard to tell if you have room, but what about throwing in an old white farmhouse style island? Or maybe even red, just something with character to draw away from the sea of oak. I like the idea of an old Oriental rug as well.

And to break up some of that wood, maybe hang a chalkboard on the side panel next to the oven/microwave area. Lean a white marble cutting board against the side of the corner appliance garage.

Chrome or stainless hardware - maybe cup pulls and handles that are Restoration Hardware style.

Paint the walls a deep charcoal gray.
Ditch the wavy thing. Get a canvas or linen roman shade for the window.

Yes, replace the ceiling fan... With maybe a schoolhouse light, or a fun painted chandelier in red, or maybe green?

and finally add a little herb garden in the window. :)

send after photos!!!

Perhaps you could establish a 6 or 12 month rule: in 1 year or so if he still loves the cabinet you don't paint them, but if he's sick of them after x time paint those suckers! For now i'd get rid of that wavey thing (gross), maybe the fan (or paint that white & change those glass lanterns). Update the curtain, rug & artwork. I think a nice very pale, blue, almost cream might look nice.

I think blue walls are more likely to make the wood stand out, and since you hate them in the first place, I don't think that would be a good idea. You might do better with a warm wall color that blends with the wood; maybe an apricot or yellow.

(These comments are hilarious. I love the whole 'pulling wifely rank' and 'paint 'em anyway'. As if the kitchen decor is more important then their marriage.. )I think your kitchen is gorgeous and it may as well be the mindset to have if you can't change it too much. Personally I would paint the walls a warm caramel shade and then get a new light fixture and window shades and oilcloth for the floor in black. Oh and +1 for removing the wavy wooden window valance. My folks just took that off their similar kitchen and it made a world of difference. Congrats on your new home!

Also there are ways of making old applicances look stainless steel by painting them or covering them with a thick sticky film/sheet. It's an upgrade and semi temporary solution if you can't afford to buy new ones now! I dont remember the brand or site so you'll have to google it - anyone else here know?

Oh, don't paint it. Kitchen trends seem to change so fast these days. Just wait five years and suddenly everyone will be utterly mad for them again. By then you'd just be cursing the paint as you try to strip it off and revarnish the wood, and you'll never get the colors to match, so you'll just have to revarnish *everything* or get rid of wood cabinets and replace them with MDF.

I'm going to go with previous comments and say you'll probably get a lot of bang for your buck just by changing accessories. Get a more modern looking fan/light fixture that is NOT oak colored. Get some sleeker, more updated handles, but go for classy timeless hardware, not something too modern.

Since you already have black appliances, maybe you could consider making the countertop black or dark grey? The contrast helps calm the honey color in a way, and makes it look far less like it's from the 80's, which is why your eye is so frustrated. (The 80's had a lot of white, oh my.)

Of course, you did say that you can't replace the countertop yet, but if you decided that you liked the darker look, there are temporary products designed to cover up your countertop with a new look until you were ready to replace it. Lots of them have been posted here, even.

Don't believe me that it would look better, just google "oak cabinets with black granite." Not that you have to use granite, of course, but that google search will give you a good idea of the classier kitchen looks you can go for with oak and still get the darker palate that is more popular today, and can give you some ideas that don't involve the countertop too. :P

I like the idea of a black and white rug.

Do the walls gray, not blue. Blue will read country against those cabinets, I fear. Also it will make the cabinets more orange. Black, which a previous poster suggested, would be brave, but in a good way. Especially with the black and white rug and black appliances.

Gray if safe, black for brave on the walls.

New curtains.

Only a very modern ceiling fan should be allowed.

Or another pendant/chandelier altogether. I'd probably go with a silver tone, and match it to new hardware on the cabinets.

Seriously, what is it with guys and those cabinets? You'd think their mother's wombs were lined in Golden Oak.

Like others have said, I think taking off some of the upper cabinet doors (and the wavy thing) would really help, as well as swapping out hardware and replacing the ceiling fan with something more modern.

I've also seen a cool thing on several websites... folks took the doors off their cabinets and inserted painted/papered panels against the back wall before replacing the contents. Some of the panels were even reversible so you could change the look as much as you wanted.

With an electrician husband, you could probably also have awesome cabinet lighting...

Not sure if this look would appeal to you, but faced with a situation where I had not only oak cabinets but oak paneling that couldn't be changed, I decided to stop trying to fight the wood and embrace it. I added more wood pieces, but in different tones to break it up, and lots of plants. It was sort of sweatlodgey. I didn't hate it as much.

I live in an apartment and cant change mine either- they are the SAME ones. I painted the walls and added a bacK splash and the dont look to bad now :) the white makes them stand out. take a look: http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Kitchens/Teeny-Tiny-Kitchen/detail.esi?oid=23500345879

http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Kitchens/Teeny-Tiny-Kitchen/detail.esi?oid=23500345

sorry dog leaned on keybrd!

AnastasiaBeaverhausen and Meghan rule

Does anyone else know how to request how to ask a question besides the link at the bottom of the post? Whenever I try and click on the link it tells me my default mail client has failed. I have a question I really need help with.

ladyearl0803 - You can just email your question to editorial@apartmenttherapy.com.

Change the countertops-- would some kind of black surface work? Get rid of the wavy thing. Change the light fixture to something more contemporary. Same with the cabinet hardware (brushed nickel). Paint the trim of the window (I'm just not a fan of stained wood window trim). Find a black appliance (or something) to fill the space above the oven. The cabinets aren't awful-- they actually look like they are very well made. They're just a bit outdated. You can still make the kitchen nice.

Our house has similar cabinets, but it's an old house and everything is oak, they blend pretty well and don't bother me (also, we painted he cupboards at our old house, and it is not the quick and easy fix some would have you believe!).

Somebody else already pointed this out, but a blue color will contrast with he orange in the oak and really make those cabinets pop. If you want to minimize them, you need to go with a color that blends with the wood tones. Gold or orange are probably your best bets. I know that probably isn't what you want to hear, but you're never going to make this kithen look modern. It is what it is, and adding modern elements will only highlight the cabinets.

Ladyear, have you tried just copy-pasting the email address into whatever you use to write email?

It should be this:

editorial@apartmenttherapy.com

If you usually write your emails with, say, gmail, the email program on your computer may never have been set up. When you try to click the link, your computer tries to use a program instead of going to webmail. It's a common problem.

So try to copy and paste the address I just gave you, it should work no matter how you send your email.

I would clear out the kitchen and take a good look at the counters and take good look ate them. Whatever color you see wi ll be the wall cabs and the walls..Then choose a dark color that complements the wall and paint the lower cabinets. Replace the microwave with one that fills the space. Paint the column of microwave and oven dark. Find accessories with these colors. A rug that is black and white with an accent color,orange. Make the drawer pull very simple This should really change the look. You may like it.

Just pointing out that if those are actual oak then once "paint-your-kitchen-white" trend goes out of style you might regret that paint. I would painstakingly strip the polyurethane and stain, then use a white-wash so it is still white but you can see the wood grain.

If you can't change the cabinets, change everything else!

1. Fresh white subway-style tile for the backsplash
2. Paint all the trim you can white
3. Black and white checkerboard vinyl flooring
4. Get rid of the vile green drapery at the window and put in a white venetian blind or a simple roman blind.
5. Put in white or steel appliances
6. It will look better without the watering cans - go for ultramodern accessories and countertop gadgets
6. If that storage thing on the counter in the corner is not built in, get rid of that as well
7. While we're at it, get rid of the ceiling fan, replace it with a new light and install under-the-cupboard lighting
8. Choose one colour, preferably a warm but fresh shade that you really like, and work with that for everything else. Remember when you start with a colour, it often stays with you from house to house.

One idea you might be able to sell - if the cabinetry is solid wood, would your husband be averse to sanding it back and revarnishing in the name of 'restoring' the wood. It might lighten the colour and make it less plastic looking.

I feel your pain. We have those cabinets, too, in the home we bought a few months ago. Needless to say, they don't exactly go with the Danish teak dining table and the McCobb chairs. But, I also firmly believe in living with what you have for a year or two before renovations, so we are living with them for now.

I like the idea of grey walls, updating the hardware, black and white accents, getting rid of the wavy cornice, changing the lighting (Schoolhouse Electric?) etc. Keep things simple.

I would change all the cabinet hardware (the brushed nickle would make it look brighter & more modern, especially if you go with a b/w motif), change out the lighting (super easy if your hubby is an electrician), put up a nice tile backspash (I think a subtle colored glass tile would both look good and be relativly inexpensive). You'll also want to watch the accessores you put into the kitchen if you don't want it to be too country looking; I'd keep everything simple and sleek with lots of glass, black, white, and nickle.

As far as paint color, I'm a fan of grey when trying to make a space look more modern. If you're leaning towards blue, I'd go for a more mid-tone blue-grey.

Hope everythiing works out with your kitchen, and would love to see some after pics!!

Look at the good things: you seem to have plenty of cabinets and counter space. The kitchen is relatively spacious.

I really like the missbrown2you ideas and think that lighting, backsplash and as much openness as you can achieve while enjoying the black and white idea. Get as much mileage as you can from the window. Ask electrician husbnd about installing a power strip way up under the cabinets to get rid of the blotchy looking outlets. Study lighting. Get some light on the work surfaces and maybe deemphasize the overhead light. In other words, try to draw the eye away from the cabinets and toward the rest of the room.

Keep the husband. Electricians are expensive.

Hey Everyone! Thanks for the great feedback -- and the sympathy. I definitely cannot paint the cabinets. He's even against staining them, though I promise that I will continue to work on this issue everyday. Together we can fight orange oak! The wavy thing above the sink will go, though!

We are adding new flooring in the kitchen -- currently has faux wood vinyl -- so maybe I can do something with that to tone down the cabinets? The other advice is great! I thought complementing the orange with blue would help, not stand out, so I'm going to avoid that road. I can do a backplash, so that might be a place to tone down the wood. I just don't know if I should do a subway tile to try to modernize it or some glass mosaic to complement it.

Sadly, this is not my only dilemma. His other demand is that we must hang his taxidermied bear head/torso. That's a whole different design challenge!

I think I would go with a green for the walls - something modern, like a crisp pear shade. I love the idea of some black and white graphic touches like the rug you mentioned. I would really consider a black countertop - that beige one is definitely adding to the dated feel of things. Perhaps you could consider the new countertop paint products that are out there? Also, IKEA offers super well-priced counters - the PRAGEL counter (I'd go with the black stone effect) is only $70 for an 8 foot piece - meaning you could probably re-do your entire kitchen for a couple hundred bucks. Nixing the wavy bit/appliance garage, installing some clean-lined lighting fixtures, and hardware will get you a long way as well.

Those are fugly hideous. If the doors are gone, they could look better but perhaps you could sell them? Will he agree to that?

hmm... maybe inform the hubs that in the near future the master bedroom walls will be painted flaming hot pink and no other color will do under any circumstances...unless maybe he was willing to meet you halfway in the kitchen. two way street honey.

compromise really sucks sometimes...

this was mentioned before but seriously, the best compromise I can see here (other than the pink threat) is to alter the top cabinet doors to reduce the amount of wood.
cut the centers of the doors out and put glass in. then have that handy husband install in-cabinet and above cabinet lighting. i think you'd be able to take the wood better if there was simply less of it at eye-level, and he still gets to look at it whenever he wants!

agree with others, take out that ceiling fan and go for recessed can lights. it's hard for me to tell what color would neutralize that orangey oak, go get some samples and experiment.

enjoy your new house!!

Yellow walls. Behr's "corn silk" works in a lot of different light (some yellows turn greenish or orangey in certain light). I've used it in two different rooms in two houses so far, and it's been nothing short of a total win. Right now it is in my dining room, which has french doors with a similar finish to your cabinets. It really warms up the room, and the doors suddenly look LOVELY. Replace all the pulls with something somewhat rustic and earthy. Search etsy.com for vintage pulls, or just go to Home Depot and get something new. Go with a warm feeling, not cools. I agree that blues and other cools will make the cabinets stand out more. And consider replacing the fan with one that is white or bronze. Ideally white, so the eye isn't drawn to it. It will make the kitchen seem higher. And maybe you can put in some lighting around the tops of the cabinets, so it reflects up to the ceiling, drawing the gaze up--and away from the cabinets. If you have a big blank wall in the kitchen, consider finding a vintage poster you like and framing it--a poster ideally with some yellows, greens, oranges, etc.

These aren't exactly the shades I had in mind, but might offer you some general inspiration with the oak/green combo.

http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/userfiles/image/bijou-blend-green-lime-500.jpg

http://mamaspocketbook.com/picts/greenkitchen3_sm.jpg

http://img4.sunset.com/i/2005/12/kitchen-main-m.jpg?300:300

http://www.bedrockindustries.com/tile_images/tile_gallery/green_kitchen2.jpg

http://www.readysetmom.com/.a/6a00d83451c9bc69e20115710ffe92970c-800wi

I'd be grateful to have those oak cabinets in my old kitchen. :)

Oh, and to echo what people have suggested about going with a yellow sort of paint over blue-- I went with Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow and it is wonderful! Everyone who sees it loves it and it works with the oak quite well.

Search "oak kitchen cabinets" in Google, Rate my Space etc. and try to find the look that would work for you. You could go with black counters, green/olive walls; or white counters, white walls: http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Kitchens/Modernized-Cape-Cod-Kitchen/detail.esi?oid=443588 is one example. Modern nickel pulls would be out of place next to the arches in the upper doors, maybe cup pulls? I would stay far, far away from any paint color in the yellow, orange or red family. It would not make the cabinets blend, it would be a sea of awfulness. Fall foliage colors are meant to be seen in nature and photographed for a limited time, not replicated in 1992 kitchens.

Try to photoshop a painted "appliance garage" as someone suggested, flanked by uppers with glass doors. Once you clear out that window, you may be able to live with that look. The not-oak island idea is also good - for all that oak, it doesn't look like you have a lot of counter space anyway.

Good luck!

I was going to make a crude bartering joke but I'll hold back.

Here's a suggestion: print out some finished kitchens, sit him down and show him some of the styles you're looking for. Maybe he needs to see what the final product will look like to be convinced. I think oak is very beautiful but those are a nightmare. Hey, show him this thread. Make him read it.

I'm a guy so I probably could get away being okay with a rustic cottage-y man-cave kitchen. Like, I would play up the country kitchen and do eclectic details. I do like the idea of black and white. I'd get rid of that wavy thing, get some stronger curtains, change the microwave to fill up that space, get some taxidermy and add backsplash.

This is a real challenge.

I'm starting to think I'd want to go back to that bartering suggestion... Hehe....

Also, get a new faucet. Nice, bright and modern.

Another possibility would be to sand the cabinets down and set them free from that intense color. It seems that that wood is pine so, sanding them would probably reveal a very light color. Then you can go with all the other suggestions on wall colors, appliances, rugs... I think your husband won't have a problem with sanding as the wood remains intact, and you will see a much ligther kitchen.

Here's what I would do. Take the center inserts out of the upper cabinets in that first pic and replace them with glass. Have your electrician husband put downlights inside the tops of all those cabs and replace the shelves inside with glass. Then put your prettiest dishes in those cabinets.

Like this, this, or this. Bonus points if he'll go for painting or wallpapering the interior of just these cabinets.

This is in addition to the suggested changes to the fan/curtain/rugs/wall paint/wavy decorative business. Lots of good suggestions for those above.

Personally, I like the oak cabinets. It is just how the rest of the room has been decorated that doesn't work. I also prefer the lower cabinets since they are square, with no curves. If it were me, I would look up photos of arts and crafts kitchens for inspiration. The upper cabinets would look great with glass (although, this is not necessarily budget friendly).
Best of luck!

I would paint the walls a great orange and accessorize with black and white gingham/stripes.

I am sorry to say this, but I don't think you can keep the cabinets, AND the countertops, AND the black appliances without this looking dated.

I say change hardware and countertops. Actually, you can tile right over that sucker that's there now for next to nothing.

Personally, I would tile the countertop in all white, paint the room BRIGHT white, get stainless hardware, and hawk the scratch and dent sales and Craigs List for stainless appliances. I think all that coolness would tone down the warmth of all that wood.

Also, could you move them up to ceiling height and add a shelf underneath? The floating in the middle of the wall look isn't helping.
:)

Props to you in respecting your husband's wishes. He could change his mind later and until then you saved money in the process and might have money later on to do more. Okay, Here is what I would do. Take down the scalloped plank above the window. Take down the curtains. A roman shade would look nice. Change the hardware to bushed nickel. Take down the stuff on top of the cabinets. For a quick fix while you save for your countertops. Paint your existing countertops. There is actual countertop paint. I have done it twice and it is very durable. Rustoleum makes a countertop coating. I think their cobblestone color would look nice. The only think you cant do on it is cut on it (you can't with laminate anyway) or scrub it with commet. You can spray it down with cleaner though. A can of this paint is $20.00. You might have to get two but maybe not. One thing that I really think will help in breaking up the monotony of those cabinets is taking off some doors and making a few cabinets open shelving. (here is an example: http://theinspiredroom.net/2010/09/21/do-you-have-a-maid-and-other-q-as-about-open-shelving/ ) If it were me I would take the doors off on the cabinets just to the right and left of the sink. I would also do the middle two doors or maybe the middle four doors of upper cabinets the long cabinet wall. Dress it up with baskets, colorful dishes. You have so many cabinets left to conceal other things. As far as paint, I would go more neutral and than put punches of your color palate in things (roman shade, cannisters, dishes in open shelves, art on the wall) Oatbran from Valspar could be great (and would go with blue accents) I think bold colors with these cabinets will make them look even more dated. If you make them look cohesive then people will pay attention to your accents (open shelving, things on your counter ect, things on the wall.) Paint the trim white. That will pop with the oatbran and make the cabinets look like you chose them to be that way! What about a blue and white bold striped or chevron rug instead of black and white? I would also do a backsplash. Maybe white subway tile (cheap at Lowes and HD) or maybe even white tin celing tiles (Change the outlets to match the backsplash.) Lighting: What about a stainless "barn" pendant light like this one: http://www.barnlightelectric.com/pendant-lighting/barn-pendant-lights/?gclid=CMrkiLH45KcCFYXu7Qodkxsyjw
Its country yet modern. You can get cheaper ones at ikea. Get rid of that fan and pick a simple ceiling light. You could even have stainless/metal bar stools if you have an island. (or spray paint them) It would go with the modern country theme. Hope this helps!

www.iloverehabs.com

For the people saying oak will be back in style in just a few years, maybe that's true. Infact, I already think oak can be alright, with the right stain. But ORANGE oak? No. NO. And certainly not an orange oak sea of cabinets like we're seeing here.

I really feel for you, OP. I have a friend in the exact situation: her husband loves their horrible oak cabinets, and won't let her change them in any way. I know someone here commented that choosing cabinets over a marriage would be crazy, but isn't marriage about compromise?

I'm really more here to sympathize than give advice, but if I were you, I would really consider removing some of the upper doors. Paint or paper the interior. If your husband hates it, you can put the door back on, but opening that space up could make a huge difference.

Dear dear, I would paint the cabinets, whatever the husband «allows».

"Seriously, what is it with guys and those cabinets? You'd think their mother's wombs were lined in Golden Oak."

Wow, I just nearly choked to death laughing at that comment! Wicked!

Great advice on here, we have the same (rental) cupboards so ripping them out isn't an option. Would love to know if anyone has any good ideas about how to make a temporary/removable backsplash for a rental kitchen.

Depending on your design style blue in this kitchen could work. I love the look of talavera pottery and a backsplash with some splashes of deep cobalt blue would work well. I would still get rid of that wavy thing over the sink though, replace the ceiling fan and hardware and try to declutter as much as possible.

The taxidermy is a whole other problem and one that I don't envy. Good luck!

I feel for you! Luckily, my husband is one of the few men I know that actually despises oak. Our cabinets, though not oak, are a similar shade stain to what you have right now, and based on experience I would NOT paint the walls a golden or apricot tone...it was too much of the same color family in our kitchen. To update your kitchen, I would recommend painting the walls medium to dark charcoal gray. Remove the appliance garage - it looks a little dated, and you'd gain a lot of counter space without it. A backsplash would be great - maybe one with a mix of rectangles and squares in creams and whites - think Devine Design kitchens on HGTV. I would probably avoid a crisp modern white subway tile - it's very modern looking, and might clash with the current cabinets. I would go more transitional but in light tones. Update cabinet hardware with nickel or pewter, and update your faucet in a matching metal tone with a modern design.

I would also remove the wavy cornice above the window, possibly put in wooden blinds, maybe in white, or a tone to match the new flooring you plan on putting in. When you do choose flooring, I would avoid going with the same tone wood as the cabinets. Choose something several tones darker (and a different wood), make it look like a well thought-out design decision, and not an attempt to match the cabinets. Darker flooring can really update a home, and would pair great with the metal accents and light backsplash. And last but not least, time for a beautiful new light fixture! Treat yourself to something updated and stylish (without a fan!) - you won't regret it!

I know you're not crazy about those cabinets, but it is possible to make your kitchen feel more updated and contemporary and make this compromise livable for both of you. And sorry about the taxidermied animal issue...I also deal with that!!

I meant Divine, not devine. It was a late night. ;)

So we just bought a house with THESE EXACT CABINETS down to the pelmet over the sink. We ended up ripping them out because the soffits built over them were killing the size of the kitchen and opted instead for full ceiling height cabinets (and also much more modern ones).

You basically have a couple of options:
- pull the storage card - full height cabinets just hold more stuff
- try to convince him to stain these (seriously, this look is so 80s is insane) a darker color or paint them white, which would at least buy me a few more years with them before I would change them.
- replace the top doors for more squared style. They could definitely match the color and the bottom drawers, but that curved part is part of what kills the appeal of these for me.
- new countertops ( an interesting granite if you can). This would ONLY be worth it if you know you're keeping these cabinets. You can't transfer countertops once you've templated them and it wouldn't be worth it to have to toss them.
- live with the kitchen a bit and see what wears out. these cabinets are likely not high quality and they're probably older, too.
- come to peace with the fact that you have a country kitchen and live with it. We would have just painted if not for the storage/soffit issue. Paint a few chickens on the wall. ;) Maybe not, but if you do decide to upgrade something, like the hardware or counters, don't try to go too modern. It might feel right in the store, but these cabinets just aren't made to go with brushed nickel bar pulls and a stainless steel countertop.

Good luck!

I don't think your marriage is on the line if you choose to fight this battle, at least not if your marriage is solid.

If nothing else, look on the bright side, Annie, "complete decorative freedom over the rest of the house" sounds like your chance to go wild! (We'll be watching out for your question on how to decorate around that taxidermied bear head tho'...)

this is a really interesting problem and discussion because so many people have similar problems. There must be a whole chapter about not painting wood in the Secret Handbook of Men.

I like the idea of taking the upper cabinet doors off and then doing something to the backs of the interiors of the cabinets - paint, fabric, wallpaper, painted beadboard panels or those plastic panels that mimic metal ceiling tiles - whatever suits your style. You could even do glass shelving and have them lit inside from above.

And a backsplash could help, too. A white railroad tile backsplash would be easy and cheap to d-i-y.

And, of course, using more modern handles, and getting rid of the things on top of the cupboards. And putting up more graphic art. etc.

When you are choosing a color make sure you test it first against the cabinets - those orangey wood colors are tricky.

dcirene, not true! My teak table (was my parents' in the 70s) looks pretty nice with those cabinets. Of course, since I'm going for more of a kitschy thing I pair a few modern elements with some more kitschy ones and voila - it becomes vintage instead of country.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhines1/5553365426/)

I would get rid of the funny breadbox thing in the corner, it does not look like it was part of the original cabinets and it takes up a lot of counter. The Secret Handbook of Men--ha ha so true. Memories of shop class and doing wood projects with dad? "Respect the wood son, painted wood is for sissies."

We just bought a house where they put new granite counters and new stainless steel appliances, but kept the old (not wood, but particle board) cabinets... We're planning on taking the top cabinets out and installing shelves and painting the lowers and putting some pulls on them to freshen them up.
Good luck! Kitchens get used a lot and unfortunately they are not cheap to redo.

For those arguing that marriage is all about compromise, and a two-way street, why is it always the husband who has to compromise on what he likes? This couple is compromising--he gets to keep the cabinets, she gets to do WHATEVER else she wants to. Compromise doesn't mean one person gets EVERYTHING he/she wants.

I do something like - take the upper cabinet doors off, get some foam core cut to the size of the back of each cabinet and 'upholster' with fabric (black & white gingham for ex.) attach using tape/velcro, etc. change the pulls to something silver/nickel, don't fight the black appliances add a touch of color on the backslash (or adhesive silver tile) temporarily and take the bottom doors off and make 'country style' curtain panels on rods to match the same on the window. I think will look charming and lived in.

my sister has the same cabinets with black appliances.

we changed her oak pulls to a nice flat black and it helped (i think that would be better than brushed nickel).

i'd choose a sleek black ceiling fan without a light, and have your husband install recessed lights. (and lose the light above the sink for a nice pendant)

also, i agree the wavy wood above the sink needs to go, and i'd stick with a warmer wall color. a cool color like blue will make the cabinets stand out more. (i paint everything benjamin moore's china white...it's warm and neutral, but still lets white trim pop....but you may be looking for more color).

i like the striped rug idea.

also, you could pop the doors off of a few upper cabinets, and paint the insides. (maybe the upper double doors to the left of the sink...or the right side too if you want flanking open shelves, but i can't see what you have to the right of the sink in the pic).

hope it goes well!

I haven't read all of the comments (79!), but one comment resonated with me - who will spend the most in this room? Will you be doing the bulk of the cooking and cleaning, or will it be your husband? If he is the cook in the family, then fine, leave it his way since he'll be looking at it more. But if you are the one who will spend the majority of time in there it should be to your taste, not his. You need to emphasize this. A subtle way would be to produce lackluster meals. If he wonders what has happened to your culinary skills, tell him that kitchen depresses you too much to spend much time there. Voila! You get to paint.

I agree with a lot of the suggestions here including losing the wavy pelmut, the ceiling fan, and the appliance garage. I will go against the tide a bit, because I think adding clean traditional elements will serve these cabinets better than contemporary elements, so no nickle or silver, and replace the fan with pot lights instead of another fixture. I would use wood blinds to keep the look clean. If it's in the budget, I would swap out the white microwave for black, and black countertops. I think the key here is a rich wall color to balance and neutralize the wood - what about a really rich green? This restaurant has a good one: http://www.armandspizzeria.com/Arlington/index.htm

I think the cabinets are beautiful, and if your husband likes them, that's not such a bad thing...
...tho I wonder if he'd go for you painting the insides of the cabinets? It would be really cool if the insides were a bright red or green.

Definitely change out that lighting fixture - I'd suggest a simple black hanging lantern or black iron chandelier-type fixture. I'd definitely avoid going the stainless steel appliance route - It's not going to ever work and it will make the cabinets appear even more dated.

Otherwise, I'd go w/ a modern/slightly-French country kitchen with charcoal grey walls, a graphic black & white zigzag rug on the floor and when the time comes, all new dark grey quartz countertops w/ a hammered copper sink (or a white enamel sink if you can't afford copper) and off-white subway tile backsplash grouted in dark grey. With red cafe curtains on a brass rod, red Le Crueset cookware, vintage copper jelly moulds on the walls, vintage stoneware and yellow ware bowls, French Bistro-type dishes, etc - and other red & copper/antiqued-brass/black wrought iron accents, you'd have a great country kitchen.

I don't think anyone has suggested this yet: you could get an apron sink, which would eliminate those two fake wood drawer fronts below the current sink, and would be a statement piece.

I would also consider painting the inside of the microwave cubby the same colour as you choose for the walls. Brighten it up a bit.

I also agree with the suggestions to remove the wavy piece above the sink. Find some curtains you love.

And, as long as you are keeping the black appliances I agree that having other black accents (like cabinet hardware) instead of trying to introduce stainless steel would be best.

I would definitely get cabinet pulls to match the sink/cooktop and a modern light fixture to match. Then paint the walls an ivory/off white but warm tone and put in a backsplash. On top of the cabinets, display some brightly coloured pottery or something of the like. This should all come together to draw the eye away from the cabinets.

Also, chose an accent colour wisely, something bright enough to offset the overpowering oak.

If you could put the microwave somewhere else, I would get good undercounter lighting and also light the microwave box and use it as a display case. Again, drawing the eye there.

Lastly, if possible, remove the breadbox (?) in the corner. The problem is not the cabinets themselves, it is the connected overpowering, popping out mass that is like an oak-monster!

eh to the blue idea, unless super country quaint is what you're going for in which case it would be great. I would go for a green, something along the lines of the greens in the curtains in the pic. I think it would have a updated feel, but keep it's cozy-ness.

I think painting them might be a mistake, since you never know when wood cabinets might come back into style. This kitchen can easily be modernized with less permanent changes.

Change the ceiling fan for a more modern fan or light, replace the hardware, get rid of the wood valance above the window, ditch the curtains, get a light rug, and paint the walls in a yellow, like previous commenters recommended.

I don't think the cabinets are so much the problem here. The country look comes more from the valance, curtains, hardware and watering cans IMO.

If you are, indeed, the primary user of the room, could you possibly "trade" rooms with him? For example, he can have veto power over the decor in the TV room or the office (or some other room that he uses a lot/will be in frequently) and you can have veto power over the kitchen? I think there's a lot you can do with the cabinets aside from painting them, so you *can* both compromise, but perhaps there's a less severe solution than a complete ban on doing something that could be good.

And I agree with the comment about showing him photos of rooms that you like-- I know with both my husband and my father, they think anything that's not beige, natural wood finish, and contractor-style is awful...until they see that you're not planning a hostile hot pink, sequined, maribou room.

The cabinets aren't so bad... they just need a little fix up. I would take the wood above the sink off, change the light fixture to some sort of modern pendant. I would remove the terrible counter blacksplash and add subway tiles for a clean look. I would paint the walls a light blue color and remove the curtains and add charming white linen cafe type curtains.
And about that awkward space above the oven... I would buy a black one slightly bigger to fill up the space or remove the mircowave and place shelves and create some sort of bookshelf to hold cook books.

I would add new bright red handcloths to place over the oven.

I second the yellow walls suggestion. There is SO MUCH cabinet in that room, I don't think you can make them fade into the background with blue or black & white. I think using brighter accessories could draw attention away, and if your husband ever sees the light and lets you do away with them, what could be easier than repainting to complement whatever you may someday choose?

Look at the bright side--the cabinets are solid, real wood. More hateful are the pressed wood cheapies. Makes me kind of sad to see all the hating on woodwork. Not every kitchen needs to march in the lockstep of white cabinetry.

I would keep the colors minimal. Since you already have black appliances, paint the walls black, get a black rug and black granite countertop. Maybe add some white accents. I think black and brown together looks very stylish.

The one who spends the most time in a room is the one who gets say, just like the driver is the one who gets to pick the music.

Ergo, if your husband's doing all the cooking & dish-washing, then the cabinets can stay -- that way, you aren't the one stuck staring at that hellacious design for hours each day. He likes 'em so much, he can be the one to enjoy them. Clearly what he's trying to tell you is that he wants to spend an hour every evening in there! I say, encourage this desire. Enable it, even!

I've been doing lengthy renovations on our kitchen, but all design elements and storage features are run past my SO, who gets final say. That's because if he doesn't like it, then he might stop doing all the cooking and kitchen chores and grocery shopping. I raised the sink by five inches so he wouldn't hurt his back while scrubbing pans, and then I raised the dishwasher as well so he didn't have to bend over so far when putting in/taking out. I put down cork floors to make it a little softer (but still cleanable), and have even installed the mother of all lazy susans because I know he likes having lots of storage. And now I'm mid-countertop replacement, since he's decided he likes butcher block countertops best.

Unfortunately, I haven't figured out a way to make the washer-dryer so attractive he'll do my laundry as well as his, but I'm working on it.

Looking at the OPs photos, it's solidified my decision to not have my kitchen cabinets match the wood floor.

I'd tell my hubby that he can decorate the rest of the house if I get carte blanche in the kitchen and those cabinets would be white in an instant. I'd risk a living room done up in Tarantino movie posters if I could eradicate the expanse of country-style cabinets.

Hey, I'm the one that does all the cooking and everything else in the kitchen...it should be my decision what decor goes into it.

I love hellcat's recommendation for talavera tiles, pottery, etc. Folk art might be a good direction to go for now.

I have those cabinets too (doesn't everyone with a house from the 80s?). I painted the walls a light blue and it makes the cabinets pop (in a good way). Some yellow, green, and red accents help keep it from looking country.

I think going warm in the kitchen and harmonizing with the oak might work too. Shades of Tuscany with yellow and reds and greens.

When your husband isn't looking, knock out the horrible wavy trim above the sink. It's so 'country' I'm shocked it doesn't have little hearts cut into it.

That wall cavity for the oven looks big enough to support two smaller double ovens. Might be worth considering in the future.

For working with the oak, I suggest going for that rustic industrial/scandinavian look that's big right now. Oak is a hefty wood and can take design elements like that.

Think Restoration Hardware. You could really change the look with accessories...natural fabrics like linen and burlap, exposed light fixtures, wooden crates, antique kitchen utensils...etc. And changing the hardware (knobs, drawer pulls, hinges) would help too.

I'm going to second an earlier suggestion from NDprairiegirl to use a gray paint where you can on the walls. I work in an office with lots of wood, some of it a honey yellow. Some walls are dark gray, others are white. The floor is a dark gray marmoleum. They all balance the wood.

I remembered an article 'decorating for men' and one slide is The Wonders of Wood, which does suggest not going overboard. Maybe your husband could look at this slide? The same article has another slide showing a lighter gray on the wall and even has one slide for Tactful Taxidermy. Although, fish are far easier to deal with than a bear....

I wish you the best of luck. And I'm thankful that I only have sport bike motorcycles to incorporate into my space.

Can you go for an Arts and Crafts look? (I'm not sure of the style of the home or your other furnishings). I've seen craftsman homes with similar oak cabinets that look quite nice. I would suggest: install sage green backsplash tile, as well as a light green wall paint. Remove the wood scroll detail over the window, remove the hanging light fixture and replace it with a more simple light fixture (Schoolhouse Electric?), replace the knobs/hinges in a dark oil rubbed bronze and eventually replace the countertops with something darker, maybe black silestone? Then add some warm golden accessories (bowls? rug? curtains?) and maybe the cabinets will blend. Good luck!

Lighter fluid? ;)

Wow, I expected to DESPISE your cabinets, but I really don't! No, seriously -- HEY put that pitchfork down. I can explain....

The ones on the bottom with the square insets could really easily go Craftsman. They're wood, but there's wood and then there's WOOD and I think these are the former. Change out the hardware for some beaten copper or something and learn to love the square.

The top doors are the problem, it's that awful gambrel curve in the top. Take off all the ones that are half-height and use as open shelving. The two or 3 that are full-height cupboards...are just going to need new doors with glass or something. Sorry. Can't help that at all.

Is it possible to take the doors off of the top cabinets and paint the insides white? If your husband is an electician he could install some lights on the inside to highlight your glass and plates. That would break up the sea of wood, while still keeping the bottom cabinets for the less stackable items.

Finally, is it possible to get ride of the "bread box"? The three levels of wood really draw the eye down and make it feel heavy.

Everyone else "on the mark" when they said to take out that scrolly window valance board AND the roll-front appliance hider in the corner. First things first, c'mon now. Those two jobs can be done in 20 mins.

Blue or yellow walls, subway tile back splash, painted countertops or new countertops, modern light with no fan, and curtains that POP.

I would also have some bright yellow or red accents in the room.

The cabinets really aren't that bad. Be glad you don't have what my kitchen has - white mdf cabinets from the 90s. Uhg! Oh how I wish we could have your cabinets!! I love REAL wood cabinets, no matter what their colour.

Get rid of the window curly trim and appliance garage. Change out the handles to brushed nickel, get a larger black microwave, and paint either a light to medium gray (BM Stonington) and maybe do an accent wall in BM Concord Ivory to jazz it up.

Unfortunately if you painted these cabinets (my first choice), you are still stuck with the curved inlay on the upper cabinets which is dated, as well as the exposed hinges.

I am looking at these comments with a lot of interest, since we are planning to redo our kitchen, and my boyfriend is planning to make all new oak cabinets, with dovetail joints and everything. No way would he let those get painted.

I agree that a major part of the problem is the orange stain. I understand that he opposes painting the cabinets because paint grade cabinets are usually cheaper wood, so in his way of thinking, painting them would make them look lower quality. It's too bad that he opposes staining them something less orange, too. I also think that the curved tops are a major contributor to the dated "contractor" look. Thank goodness I have the ability to design the profile of the cabinets, so I can at least avoid that.

I agree with the people who say to remove the bread box/appliance shed corner-thing if possible, and to remove the wavy valance over the sink. Also, switch out the fan for something not oaky and install a pendant light over the sink. Preferably something like the barn lights linked to above, or something modern or industrial in your chosen accent color.

I think it would look great with a bold, graphic rug with a chevron pattern. Like this. You could make a big rug that covers most of the floor by just painting some canvas.

Then add a large furniture-type island on top of it, painted in a bold color -- I'm thinking red, with a little white showing through at the edges. You kitchen looks like it will accomodate an island like this, and the island would take up most of the visual space when looking at the lower cabinets.

Remove a few of the doors in the long wall of cabinets to break up the visual block.

Look out for that orangey color in images of rooms that you like, not just kitchens, to get ideas for color palettes. I think it could work with either warm or cool colors -- including blue -- as long as you are careful with what you select. Once you have an idea, get yourself some test paint pots.

Here are a few color palette ideas:

http://pinterest.com/pin/5365647/
http://pinterest.com/pin/5021716/
http://pinterest.com/pin/5021533/
http://pinterest.com/pin/2023540/
http://pinterest.com/pin/1584204/
http://pinterest.com/pin/7207177/
http://pinterest.com/pin/6887290/
http://pinterest.com/pin/6565457/
http://pinterest.com/pin/9291324/
http://pinterest.com/pin/8003436/
http://www.readysetmom.com/.a/6a00d83451c9bc69e20115710ffe92970c-800wi

As you can see, the colors that will work with this orangey oak are extremely varied, and you should be able to find something that will suit your style.

Also, don't put your husband's bear head in the kitchen. I'm betting it could look really cool in a very modern/spare space.

You've probably got all the comments you need, but I totally agree with the idea of removing doors from the uppers or converting to glass doors. Then wallpaper the insides to help break up the orangeness and infuse some non-country personality into the space...I think it will change drastically. Especially if you also do the microwave cubby as well. Just nothing too busy, it will compete with the business of the orange grain.

Additionally, yes curvy piece has to come down, update the light fixture, and update the pulls. I wouldn't go TOO comtemporary because then I think you run the risk of it looking like you're trying to "put lipstick on a pig" and the juxtaposition of the cabinets with very sleek contemporary accessories will look fake. I think some modern/updated traditional styles and colors would be good.

And finally, if there's anyway you can do a new backsplash and new counters, I would. White subways (you mentioned glass mosaic, but I think you need something less busy to help tone down the look). And black granite. I also hate the color/style, but I think if you made those changes you probably won't notice them nearly as much.

Your husband is right - there's no point in changing cabinets (expensive!) if money is tight. And if you can't change them yet for an overhaul to something you BOTH can agree on, it makes sense to leave them as they are, and work around them. (They don't really bother me, but if I wanted modern or something else instead, I'd wait until I could do a full redo. Which I would do here, but for reasons completely other than the color of your wood cabinets.)

They look much better as they are than they will ever look painted. Spoken by one currently renting whose professionally painted cabinets (by landlord or previous owner) are chipping paint off from the dry heat - I would have much preferred the [actually quite ugly] color of wood I see underneath - at least it is smooth.

But when I bought previously, I didn't buy a kitchen I didn't like - and I wouldn't, unless I had the time and money to redo it. Remember that you chose this house. When you can afford a kitchen reno, do it. Until then, I wouldn't spend a lot changing things here you'd just have to throw out - that's just wasteful - I wouldn't paint the cabinets, change the countertops, or change the floor (that's easily covered up), or the sink yet. Just do small stuff, while you plan for the big one (I can tell from your post that it is coming when you can afford it. Go earn the money for it.) And stop complaining about your husband - he's not the problem. In the meantime, remember that you'll likely be able to sell the cupboards when you do - and they'll be worth far more unpainted.

It is amazing the amount of change you can make to a look with small stuff and choosing the objects you put in the room carefully (I even managed to to it with a hated pink fixtured and pink tiled bathroom in a rental - made it look good with my choice of colors for everything else, so that even I barely noticed the pink anymore.) You can do this with your cupboards. You've got some really great advice here. (But the great advice is not the stuff you'll probably follow- it is true that oiled bronze or black iron knobs will work way better with this than chrome or nickel, and bin pulls are not for this style of cabinet!)

I don't think your husband is the problem here. You can't afford to change your countertops - so clearly, your main problem is money. (Though if this "house in the country" is a "country house" the way NYers mean it - a vacation house - then clearly money isn't much of a problem. It always amazes me when those who can afford two homes complain about not having money.)

I was going to say your are lucky your husband has better taste than you, and then you went and mentioned that bear...

We bought a house with almost identical cabinets last summer, and I got the same "can't change the cabinets" shpiel. We actually DID paint the walls blue - a bright turquoisey shade that was a complete contrast to the orangey oak. I LOVE it! The blue really pops, and tones down the too-warm/orangey feel the kitchen had before (painting the walls another warm color would have only accentuated the orange of the cabinets).

Most of my appliances and countertop items have a brushed nickel look, but since the rest of our home's decor has a more aged, oiled-bronze look, I'm planning on replacing the bright gold cabinet pulls with weathered pewter ones - they'll create a bridge between the modernity of the kitchen and the rest of the house.

In our last home we had similar cabinets, but opted not to paint them since our counters and appliances were both "almond" and we did not have the budget to replace everything. We painted the room a red color called Ruby Slippers (just a bit darker than a true red) and accented with white curtains and black & white accessories. It was bold, and could have easily gone too country, too 50s diner or too "Americana", so we kept the art and accessories modern and sleek, avoiding crafty and chrome. It was much better. The warmth of the red cooled our honey-oak cabinets.

There are a million comments, but just to help the original question-asker, I'll add my two cents. We have golden-orangey oak cabinets, too...not my favorite, but they came w/ the house and we can't afford to change them. Our backsplash is dark slate gray, counters are dark green-gray granite. We painted the walls are a buttery cream (Ben Moore Devon Cream, I think.) The combo of these things helps tone down the color of the cabinets. Especially the paint on the walls!

Oh ick. I feel your pain. My first idea was to refuse to cook anything until your husband budges. But, he may the primary cook so that wouldn't work.

Other than that, like others said:
Get rid of the fan
Get rid of the wavy thing above the sink
Change the hardware

I also agree with others' suggestions to get rid of some of the doors up top (if hubby allows) to open things up a bit.

Good luck and congratulations!

I think what really dates the look is actually the contractor's white walls and the fact that the cabinets don't go up to the ceiling -- my MIL just redid her kitchen, spent $65,000 to replace oak with oak (I know, WTF?) but the new ceiling-height cabinets instantly modernized the space. I wonder if you could move some up, or fill in above with additional glass-fronted cabinets?

Look at yacht interiors for inspiration. They often have a lot of wood without looking cheesy. I think if you add DARK colors, like black or chocolate brown, you'll get a more elegant result than if you try for light blue.

I'd start by eliminating some of the most hideous elements of the kitchen design.

1. Repaint the countertops black. (Google "painting countertops" for a plethora of ideas)

2. Change up the hardware to ultra-modern, ultra-simple, ultra-stainless steel.

3. Paint the walls a nice powder gray-blue. I'd paint that breadbox-thingy in the corner to match if the hubz will let you.

4. Replace that outdated curtain with a high-impact roman shade or something less frilly.

5. Replace the country accents up top with something more your style (plants, paintings, sculptures).

6. Throw down your striped rug you mention. Hopefully the new flooring will improve this room quite a bit too.

7. Add lighting under the cupboards, at the floorboards, and up at the top.

8. Change the fan to a stainless steel fan or a statement-making light fixture.

9. Get rid of that microwave. One to match the other appliances or to pick up the stainless steel accents will do nicely.

10. Mount a chalkboard or chalkboard-painted piece of wood cut to the size of the wall that's to the left of the microwave/oven (where the picture is hanging.)

11. Ask your husband if he would mind terribly if you painted the inner beveled part of the cupboard doors an accent color.

12. Tell him he owes you big and he has the most awesome wife in the world for actually pulling these cabinets off!

I would just work with it.

I like Bepsf's comment.

I would change out the light fixture, change the door hardware, add a rug (I love the idea of a chevron look), remove the curtains, remove the corner appliance cabinet and get a microwave that fits the hole better in black or stainless). I would also try removing all the upper cabinet doors as they are more frou-frou than the lower cabinets but only if you have the space to display your plates and glasses pleasantly. Either minimize what you put above the cabinets or make sure you only display a modern looking collection, maybe Art Deco style vases only or all white vases only or something like that. I actually like the wavy bit above the window. I like symplicated's suggestion of painting the counters black to match your appliances. If you can convince your husband to keep the wood look but go with a darker stain that might be a good compromise too.

I have similar oak cabinets except that they are a little darker.

For your kitchen, I would...

1. Get rid of the wooden board thingie (sorry dunno what it's called) in front of your window
2. Change the window curtains into something more modern (e.g. roman shade)
3. Change the hardware into brush nickel
4. Change the light fixture (you should know more about this than me...)
5. Add a backsplash
6. Paint the wall into a yellowish/ beige color if you don't want the cabinets to pop.
7. Add a kitchen island if you have enough space

OK... now my experience. As I said, I have similar oak cabinets but they are a bit darker. So what I did was to paint the wall creamy yellow. Then I changed the classic bronze cabinet pulls into brushed nickel pulls. And then my friend and I re-did the counter top tiles and added a backsplash and trim all above the countertop. We used the Italian tiles from Lowes. I chose a mixture of beige/ golden/ salmon tiles. Also I changed the white sink into an almond one with a new faucet. And got rid of the ugly blinds and added a more modern curtain. You know what, it turned out great! Now it's like an Italian style kitchen.

For the cabinets, yes I still hope that I can paint it or something. But I'm afraid it won't turn out good or worse. Few weeks ago, I came across this: http://cabinets.rustoleumtransformations.com/
You may want to look into this.

Anyways, if you're not going to change/ paint the cabinets, I think the best bet is to go with the throw. I personally don't like too classic/ country but my kitchen turned out pretty good after the stuff I did. At least it's much better than before!

Depending on what the inside looks like maybe you can just take off some of the doors. My friend did that at her place and as small of a change as it was it helped. Also maybe a compromise would be to change some of the doors out to have some windowed cabinets.

Tell your hubby that your happiness in the new home depends upon those cabinets. Either the oak appearance goes or he goes. His choice.

I like the previously mentioned idea of painting the master bedroom hot pink. Or, while on the subject of the master bedroom, you could tell hubby that he will not be participating in any master bedroom activities until you're happy with the kitchen cabinets.

Seriously though, if the cabinets are something that mean that much to you, he should understand that relax his stance on painting them. Did your hubby explain his attachment to them and why they mean so much to him? Something else to factor in to the oak vs paint debate: Who spends more time in the kitchen? If it's you, then you should surround yourself with something appealing to you. Same goes for him.

Change the hardware. Consider changing the inset panel.

Will your hubby let you stain them? My parents had a very similar kitchen, and they had the cabinets stained a dark brown. It kept the woody look that your husband likes, and updated the kitchen from 1989 (which is when it was built) to 2010.

Just keep it from looking dated by using fixtures that are the same style but a bit more updated. DON'T get some super modern fixture and silver pulls, you'll hate it. I would do black knobs/pulls and some kind of dark iron fixture and a new sink to match (undermount black sink). It isn't my personal taste but honestly, when I see houses like this with silver knobs and super modern lighting it just looks weird.

I am suddenly relishing my single status. lol I've had worse cabinets in prior houses, so I could live with these, but the bear? Oh, the things you do to compromise with a spouse!

I too had the same cabinets and decided not to paint them. We fixed ours up by adding a 6 inch oak crown molding along the top and then rope light it to give a soft ambiance. (Super easy and cheap.)

I too would get rid of the wavy wood panel above your sink and the curtains. I think a upholstered cornice board would give it a cleaner look without breaking that line.

Good luck!

Who does most of the cooking? That's who gets to decide...

As for what to do with them if you are truly stuck with them... Here's my 2 cents worth, since no one else has mentioned it...

In furniture and flooring, oak has made a big comeback -- BUT it is very different from the glossy contractor-yellow/orange that you have there: it is matte, not varnished but rather hardwaxed or oiled with a white oil.

Here is a little explanation of what I mean:

http://www.delaespada.com/Emailings/Spotlight27US/

The most appropriate finish in your case would obviously be an oiled finish. It would mean refinishing your cabinets, and wouldn't involve either painting or staining. Here's some more info on some products and the process -- I'd urge you to contact the manufacturer/retailer to find out if the products are appropriate for your application (I would think so; Espada uses similar products on cabinetry), but it's good to check:

http://www.thesolidwoodflooringcompany.com/Blanchon-White-Wood-Ageing-Agent-and-White-Hard-Wax-Oil-p-467.html

http://www.thesolidwoodflooringcompany.com/Blanchon-Wood-Ageing-Agent-5L-to-create-that-unique-colour-and-aged-hardwood-floor-p-313.html

http://www.hardwoodfloors.uk.com/accessories/lacquers-oils/osmo-hardwax-oil-white-foundation

Good luck!

This is almost identical to my parents' kitchen, and I'm here to tell you it's not the oak, it's the arches. Oak with a shaker profile is workable, but the arched panels are a country giveaway. Your lucky that your lower cabinets don't have the arches. But enough negative talk, I have some ideas for you!

1. Take off some upper cabinet doors. Not all of them because you need to hide some mess, but some of them to break up the repeating arches and oak. I'd keep the door above the appliance garage to make that feel like a column anchoring the space and take off the doors on the cabinets on either side. If you aren't allowed to paint the inside backs of the cabinets, put a graphic contact paper on them.

2. Definitely incorporate more black to help the appliances look intentional. When you can do a countertop, think honed black granite or similar. Black paint seems like a good idea gone wrong to me, but a black/onyx or just dark backsplash and accessories are a step in the right direction.

3. Embrace the country a little bit. Not a lot, but I think the commenter who warned that blue could go country is right but wrong. If it goes a little country, that might be OK. If you fight it too hard, the oak will look worse. If you embrace it a little and just skew it modern, it might look intentional. You can do this with the things you display in the upper cabinets, paint, art, etc.

Another idea: keep with the traditional feel of the kitchen. I like modern but putting ultra modern hardware on super traditional cabinets just looks stupied and naive. Play off the strengths of the room, heavy cabinets warm finish, I think the more you run with what you have the better it will look.

@Rebecca_South
This couple is compromising--he gets to keep the cabinets, she gets to do WHATEVER else she wants to.

I thought this too, but on the other hand it doesn't feel like compromise if one part of the couple genuinely does not give a damn what happens in the entire rest of the house (as long as there is a bear in it). If I were her, I, like blogkitten, might (... might...) prefer turning over a few rooms to the husband's control (would be interesting to see how that goes), particularly if it's a room less heavily used than the kitchen (meaning, all of them except for the bedroom?) in exchange for being able to do what I'd want, here. Especially if I (she) were the primary user of the kitchen.

Wowza! Ask and ye shall receive! Thanks for all the fantastic comments and ideas. My husband and I share kitchen duties fairly evenly so I really can't pull rank for all who made that suggestion. The truth is, he LOVES these cabinets more than I hate them, and he really isn't asking for anything else. In fact, there are golden oak contractor-grade cabs in the bathrooms and mudrom and he's fine with me painting them. It's definitely the craftsmanship he wants to preserve and I respect that.

I think maybe the way to go is to embrace the country look... and there were lots of good ideas here for doing that. I shouldn't try to make it something it isn't. It is after all in the middle of the country, five miles from the nearest human being. The view from that window consists of a chicken coop, cows, and a lagoon. :)

I'm so grateful for the response. I've spent way too many hours since we signed the contract on the house Googling around to find some lovely kitchens with oak cabinets online and I just keep seeing "paint it white." I emailed AT in total frustration, and I'm so glad I did. I'm actually looking forward to the challenge of making this something both my husband and I love. Thanks!

Your kitchen looks fine - you have plenty of counter and cupboard space, it's perfectly functional. Your husband's right. No need to paint, just enjoy your new home and cook some delicious meals!

My goodness, a bear head? You should confine it all to one room. Throw the bear head up in the kitchen! ;)

This is pretty:

http://xcski.com/~vjrnts/newkitchen/cabinets1.jpg

I would go with losing the trim, the appliance garage, the ceiling fan, door hardware etc. I think for the floor you should look into laminate flooring - Witex makes a line called Xenia that comes in some really neat choices. Alloc has a stone laminate called oxide black that is a tone-on-tone black that would look super with a black and white or black and whatever patterned rug. I think probably a darker countertop would be better to tone down the wood but be aware that lighting will have to be better - lucky you that you can fix that easily! I think if you go with the black/white/accent color you could put in a black island and go wild with the countertop there - and add some stools and glass pendant fixtures to bring out your color choice. The source for stainless steel film is http://www.stainlesssteelfilm.com/ - yes that really is the web site! And lastly - look for a really cool stainless hood to replace the black one - that can make a huge difference!

I feel your pain. I also have honey oak cabinets that the husband refuses to touch. They are apparently sacred. Oh and they are custom cabinets so that makes him even more defensive of his precious cabinets. Anyway the first thing I did was change the handle hardware. I put on modern looking brass handles. I tried nickel but because of the stain it just made the cabinets cheap looking. So modern brass ones. I got them from Lee Valley. They are item # 00W58.40 from the Hardware catalogue. I also asked at Benjamin Moore a colour which would minimize the oak. I can't remember the colour but that's an idea for you. They give the advice for free in store so it's worth asking. I hope you post your makeover when it's done. I'd love to see your light fixture ideas.

Try loving the ones you're with. We did not want to change our oak cabinets or black double ovens for environmental reasons (we used the budget up on green--both color and mode--counters and stainless appliances and fixtures). We got a a calm look with celadon subway tile backsplash that matches the counters and cork floor in the same color as the cabinets. Walls are a bright beige. We put money into modern stainless cabinet hardware (and washer-dryer). Feels contemporary in spite of the 25 year-old cabinets, which we cleaned and polished. By going minimal, it feels luxurious, contemporary, and virtuous all at the same time.

Someone needs to do a study into a man's psyche as to why they love oak cabinets so damn much.

We have the same issue here. We're living in a house that my fiance's cousin bought as an investment, and while he updated everything else to our specifications, he refused to paint the early 80's oak cabinets. He actually had them refinished to their 1980's glory instead, and then I let my fiance' pick the color of the appliances... he chose BLACK. Ugh. Anyway, I went with all green accents with some other bright hues thrown in here and there. A bit of blue, a bit of yellow, and a bit of orange. All very bright though. I basically did what I would have done if everything was white (what I wanted) and while I still hate the cabinets, I can live with them because everything else is how I want it.

I seen a diy project where they cut out the center of the cabinets and put in frosted glass. It really updated them, cheaply, & they looked very modern. An easy lighting option is also rope light hidden under the cabinets. A nice backsplash is an easy project that will make a huge difference too.

First and foremost, I would suggest removing the fan from the kitchen and replacing it with a chandelier. As for the cabinets, Rust-Oleum has a wonderful product called "Cabinet Transformations" http://bit.ly/gOjA2q. This could be a great and inexpensive way to refinish those cabinets! I suggest looking at the "linen" color they offer. This could be a beautiful contrast to the flooring. They also carry a "cabinet transformations" line. This would be an inexpensive way to help out those countertops! I would suggest the charcoal or onyx on the countertops. Other than that, toss in some modern hardware (Ikea has some great, inexpensive options), a modern rug, some neutral paint, and you'll be good to go! Best of luck! :)

I have nearly identical cabinets.
1. I second the idea of removing some of the doors for open cabinets.
2. It might be possible to reverse the cabinet doors so that the arched design is on the inside and the plain side on the outside. Then you could easily use ModPodge or starch to post art on each door.
3. I found that using 0000 steel wool to knock down the polyurethane shine on my cabinets made an instant, powerful difference. The matte finish is so much more sophisticated. The sanding is great for that back-of-the-arm jiggle, too!

Rapunzel scooped my first response: get those cabinets as clean and nice-looking as they can get - including a little de-glossing if hubster will permit/won't notice.

Then I suggest going with the flow, but without letting yourself be taken by the current. The Craftsman/Art Nouveau feel to the cabinets can get you to a sophisted form of rustic, and looks good in a cast-iron not-quite-black that you can pick up as an accent color to match the applicances. Get a black microwave while you're at it.

Lose everything lose-able (watering cans, curtains, pelmet, light fixture, appliance garage if permitted, wall outlets if possible). Make hubby do cabinet-top uplights, & undercabinet downlights and a power strip. Use Craftsman or Nouveau stained-glass sidelights/framing (faux or otherwise) instead of curtains on the window, with any non-cabinet-based light fixtures in the same style.

Walls do need something with a touch of the orange - red, yellow, green, caramel, oatmeal: get your paint chips/samples and go to it. Trim in another one of those colors, accents in black.

Appliances in black or white, furniture Craftsman (esp. Misson) or Nouveau. The cabinets themselves not withstanding, allow nothing in the kitchen that you do not believe to be useful or know to be beautiful.

As for Mr. Bear:
First he goes to the taxidermist's to be cleaned/maintained/restored to his best condition possible (this point should be utterly non-negotiable).

Then how about dressing him in a top hat and tux, white tie, gold watch chain, monocle optional? Flower in his lapel (carnation for everyday, rosebud for special occaissions; color to suit mood and season) can be faux, or a real one in one of those little buttioniere vial-vases.
Placement on stair landing, or else in entryway to greet visitors.

Ick, no to Rapunzel's modge podge idea. IMO it won't work, and will look a bit hodge podge, excuse the pun.

For the upper cabinets I would try finding some doors with glass fronts, or seeing if you can install glass in the existing doors. It will make such a difference to the overwhelming oakiness of the room

See, this is why I shouldn't comment on these things, because now that I know you have an AWESOME BEAR HEAD, I would completely put a chef hat on him and make him a paper-mache body with a frilly apron and hands that could hold spatulas. Then I would decorate the entire kitchen so be so equally happy/silly that everyone who went in it was too busy laughing to notice that you have a wavy thing over the sink.

who lets their husband make the design decisions? I would definately paint them. The new cabinet paint line by Rusteoleum looks great. That is what I am going to use. AT even tried it out.
http://cabinets.rustoleumtransformations.com/faqs.php

We are shopping for a downsized house, and many of the ones we see have similar cabinets. My husband and I are having the same disagreement. I say they have to be done away with, and he thinks they are "fine as they are".
I am not sure this will work, but the first thing I would try would be to paint the walls in a color similar to the tones in the cabinets - like a beautiful soft gold or bronze...the idea being to camoflage the cabinets so they sort of blend in to the walls. I would try to make the backsplashes interesting. Lead the eyes away from the cabinets with colorful accessories.

God, let's hope he does the cooking......

Seriously -- strip them, and finish them in a white oil/hardwax. They will be cutting edge instead of last century. The most important thing is to get rid of the yellow and the gloss; oak is actually a beautiful wood, it is just what is done to it which is not beautiful!

It would be nice if the top cabinet doors weren't arched, too, and if the doors were inset... but just getting rid of the yellow will make a world of difference. If it were me, I'd get rid of all the uppers, tile the wall with Moroccan Zellige tiles everywhere, and 2 shelves running the full length over the bottom cabinets (in the same waxed oak or perhaps stainless). Zelliges look particularly good because of their crisp (undercut) edges and the resultingly-thin grout lines.

http://domesticnotions.blogspot.com/2009/08/moroccan-zellige-tiles.html

Emery & Cie is a source for these tiles -- if you treat the oak as I suggest, then I think colours 3, 4 and 25 would look the best (don't be afraid of the black -- it looks particularly stunning with the bone-white oak, and these tiles reflect light beautifully).

http://www.emeryetcie.com/en/what/tiles/zelliges/colours/

A nice complement to your cabinets would be either soapstone or cardoso stone, or a veined white marble such as Carrara or Volakas for the counters.

And this small knob would look great:

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Mintcraft-SF671-10B-1-1-4-Inch-Cabinet-Knob-Oil-Rubbed-Bronze-2776300.html?lct=s

Would your husband at least agree to replace a few of the doors with matching glass insert ones? That's one way to make those oak cabinets look a little newer and more upscale. It also keeps all that wood from becoming overwhelming.

Getting rid of that wood breadbox would give you a cleaner, less cluttered line in your cabinets, and it would free up a lot of counter space.

That style of oak cabinet is traditional by definition, and it could look weird if you try to go too modern. Instead, I'd find some handles that are still traditional, but simpler and more elegant. I'd replace the valance and curtains with something classier and less frilly country kitsch.

You should take one of your cabinet doors to the paint store with you and hold a lot of different paint chips up to it. Sometimes you'll find that a color you never considered complements the wood tone really well.

I know you said you don't have the budget for new counters, but they don't have to be a huge investment. I know everyone wants granite. We had too much counter space for that to be affordable, but we found a discount builder's warehouse in our area that had pre-formed counters in the newer, better-quality laminates (like Wilsonart HD), with nice bullnosed edges and built-in backsplashes. They cut each piece to our exact size specs, and it was easy to install ourselves. My husband and I managed to demo our old counters and install the new ones in a day, all for about $300. True, it's not granite, and a few years down the road we may decide to upgrade. But it looks more upscale than you'd think, and makes an amazing difference in the kitchen.

Annie - I just realized you're in the L.A. area. The place we found those laminate counters was Builder's Surplus, in Santa Ana. Their prices are worth the drive.

Well, since you cant paint, this most likely would not work for you but, for everyone else with 80's oak cabinets you might be able to do what I did with mine. I realized that the inside of the cabinet doors were basic shaker style! I turned the doors around (put the inside on the outside), painted them white, added modern brushed silver handles & hardware and voila - modern looking cabinets!

I had to paint the cabinets due to some filler needed on the old inside of the doors and also due to the places where the hardware was originally installed. Used a spray gun to apply the satin finish paint to get a really smooth look. Depending on how your "insides" look, you might be able to get away with not painting? I also installed a white/gray solid surface countertop and glass tile backsplash and now I love my kitchen.

I think u should go with some warm colors for the wall.yellow for instance will open up the space..that would really make a lot of difference.also try adding some backsplash..something with red in it..and repeat red on a rug or accessories..
here r some backspalash ideas ti get u started ~

http://www.genuinestyle.net/traditional-home-kitchen-with-red-backsplash/

http://www.savvyhousekeeping.com/geometric-backsplash/

http://interiordec.about.com/library/photoday/bl_photo306-01.htm

http://family.warrenfalk.com/2009/02/05/my-red-kitchen/

as u mentioned u r on budget and cannot change countetop, u can try this. this will also add substance to the kitchen ~

http://countertops.rustoleumtransformations.com/

ps ~ plz remove some of the doors from top cabinets and add glass door with bright color at back of cabinet.ur kitchen wld look gorgeous m sure!!

It's all been said already. Be careful with blue walls. I rent and the kitchen is super cute midcentury but some jerk made the metal cabinets faux wood stained and painted the walls a country blue, it's a horrible color combo. If you go blue, go very gray to violet. I like the suggestions of gray or black walls. Take out the wavy thing. Have your awesome electrician husband change out that overhead light/fan. If you can, convince him take a few of the upper doors off, and maybe line the inside walls of those cabinets with some fun wallpaper or fabric. Keep it clutter free and use you can make a huge difference with accessories, depending on how you want to go there have been some great suggestions already. I like the idea of all black or cream and white. Good luck.

I third the black or dark gray walls. I think it could look really funky/sleek to make the cabinets pop against a dark background. Keep the countertops white, and punch it up with a graphic black/white rug and a shiny modern light fixture.

"you'd think their mothers' wombs were lined in golden oak" hahaha!!!!! "together we can fight orange oak!" also cracked me up. Good luck!!

Yeah, be careful with blues (or any cool tone) as they will make the oak look even more orange. Pick a color with a yellow (warm) undertone, and that will minimize the orangeness of the oak. I think I'd paint the walls in a color close to the cabinets, and then accessorize with a different bold color. For accessorizing, my first choice would be a yellow-green, sort of like the avocado green of old but could also be navy blue, barn red, black, etc. I'd use dark pulls, bronzy-brown ones and change the faucet to match. Please post photos when you are done!

I would go with really happy intense wall color..to play contemporary and light feel vs old cabinets. some were mentioning yellow, and I agree-would take it to the lemon side even. pear, apple green, turquoise might be nice as well. Would go without window treatments, or if a must-a very unpretentious one. Accessories and decor-something quirky and unexpected, rather than predictable country stuff..something very personal and talking to you, maybe funny..like family pics, or funny postcards from nice galleries..
Bright rug-if you must have a rug in the kitchen..it might all work out, until you like it, or until your partner decides to go with a bigger change. Oh, and I would put a pot or a vase with a flower, or smth like that..whatever you decide to do with it-good luck with your new house!

I would take out the scallop above the sink, change out the fan/light and add classic style cabinet hardware that doesn't stand out too much, like a patina finish. A brushed nickel/bronze tone would look nice and not clash with the wood tone. Since the backsplash/walls are not a huge area you could tile with travertine and go for a tuscun/french old world look.

i have golden oak cabinets and have kept them because they are in good condition. I upgraded the countertops to granite and have a new faucet and stainless steel sink. Get rid of the wavy thing over the window. Add a tile backsplash and maybe upgrade the cabinet and hardware. Get new countertops. Don't paint the kitchen blue but use a warm homey color such as a caramel as suggested before. Sometimes you have to go with what you have and not rip everything out.

I have VERY similar cabinets and I used to hate them. They looked dated, too country, dark, and heavy to me. Without touching the actual cabinets (we're lucky to have real wood), I made a few changes AROUND them that changed their look entirely and now I LOVE them.
1) The front of a lot of appliances are typically removable panels that are black on one side (what yours is showing) and white on the other. Unscrew the edging and peek. If it's white on the reverse, flip it. White will break up the cabinetry better than the black and give a crispness that helps the cabinet color look it's richest.
2) Paint the walls. I discovered a color called Keystone Gray by Sherwin Williams (you can see it on their website). It's a warm dusty grayish taupe. For some reason the color was the perfect depth and shade to pull out the lovely just-barely-there, but much more modern orange-ish hue in the wood.
3.) After lightening and brightening the room by painting and reversing the appliance front panels we put down striped FLOR carpet tiles that we installed with the stripes running in a horizontal/vertical/horizontal/vertical pattern on the floor right in front of bottom cabinetry in a single long linear row running the length of cabinetry for some modern pop. Now I LOVE our kitchen and it was, at most, $100 for the carpet tiles and gallon of paint.

- Blue on the walls is going to looks sooo country. The cabinets are bright, so keep it bright and think BOHEMIAN instead of sophisticated modern. This means go for COLOR & PATTERNS.

-Try a yellow or lime green on the walls, which will contrast well with the black appliances (as the black + oak is pretty awful in itself). You might even put up a patterned wall paper if there is a wall with some space. Or consider a patterned/colorful floor tile, something art nouveau-ish could look good. Don't be afraid to mix patterns.

-Choose unique & colorful knobs, maybe even mix & match some shapes & colors. Get some fun colorful rugs & sheer curtains (something like the stuff at Anthropologie).

-Take down the ugly ceiling fan & put up a better one (they are practical for keeping those stupid smoke alarms from going off after all, haha).

-Put out fresh flowers & fruit & hang pots & pans from the ceiling, maybe even some plants. I like the idea of taking some of the doors off the cabs & displaying your prettiest dishes. Play up the "we cook & live here" aspect, as it will go with the homey look of oak.

- Stay away from modern stuff that is "cold" - it will just look silly with the oak. Instead of country, think artsy though.

All clutter on top of cabinets gone, same for counter space. Paint or get rid of white look by stove and coffee maker, something that blends in with wood, darker color. The rest of wall space above and more, Behr powder sand. Solar roller shade for window in off white, shadestore.com. no frills. No cieling fan but built in halogen spotlight , under cabinet LED lights. But it is hard to tell what look you in general, no idea how your other rooms are decorated, or your style.
Wow, what a challenge.

First, don't put any (*)(*) on the top of the cabinets.

Second, go with wallpaper. I would suggest a large colorful flower print. I mean large, with a white background and a repeat of no less that 18". Or an even larger green floral print that is basically floor to ceiling. This will draw the eye away from the cabinets. Use it only on the unbroken walls. On walls with cabinets, I would use a faux painting technique, something with small brush stokes.

If you want a black and white rug, get one. I don't see the tie to the room. If you want a black and white motif, you might want to get a wallpaper in black and white as well.

FYI 1) My last kitchen was a black and white kitchen. I had it for fifteen years. I tired of it after a couple of years, but I was onto redoing other rooms by that time. 2) I had a house with pickled cabinets. They are supposedly very expensive, and my husband basically wanted the house because of those (*)(*) cabinets, but I thought they were the ugliest thing I had ever seen. I was shocked at how impressed people were over those cabinets. You have my sympathy.

Nickel drawer pulls, no curtains, no fan. Forget the blue walls, country is no way to decorate! Try reds, something that will make you forget the cabinets. Wall-to-wall cabinets are insane. Will hubby let you take down just the ones framing the window? some floating shelves
could make it look more modern, if not, i agree with a previous poster: lose the doors to thoae cabinets. Black an white is a great idea!

Ps- apparently there are kits to make your appliances appear to be stainless steel, never tried them, but you should check it out!

The material is pretty prescious so it'd be sad to see it roughly over painted. Even if I'm not a fan of dark wood - I prefer very pale ones.

I donät know how the finish of your cabinets is made - it it's laquer you could for instance use a darker laquer. If it's varnish you can use a dyed varnish. Both leave the wood visible but play with the lightness and hue.

Also one thing I recommend is to use a really good cleaning/polishing substance - we used one (Pronto I think) in my grandma's place and the cabinetry got a much better look - it's brighter, shinier and clean from all the grease and smoke gathered onto it from cooking, smoking, dust etc.

over at manhattan nest, that guy re-did his bathroom vanity cabinet all on his own-i think it was really cheap, and it also turned out really nice. you ought to check it out.

I love that people uniformly trash these for being dated, yet there are a number of suggestions for glass panelled upper doors with downlights to display special plates. That look to me screams late 90s overpriced house and land package. Please god don't replace something super dated with something only slightly less dated. What a waste of time!

I would so so so so love to see these stripped back. If there was something a bit more like a blonde pine behind it, you could do practically anything and bring in a lot of white and have tasteful simple farmhouse, instead of country cottage nightmare. Can you convince him to do a test swatch somewhere inconspicuous - maybe on the appliance garage if that's going to go? He won't know if he likes it with less stain until you guys see what's lurking under there!

Hi Annie,
I'll concur with some of the previous posters that suggest brushed chrome/pewter hardware on the cabinets and that pale gray walls will balance the color of the oak (tone it down if you will). I would also suggest Formica Quarstone in Smoke for your countertops - it mimics slate in texture and color and is an inexpensive and transformative. These easy changes will update your kitchen and give you a natural looking foundation and allow you to bring in pops of other color that will tie in with the color schemes of adjacent rooms. I think it is prudent to work with what you've got and make the best of it before you sink the huge investment into a kitchen re-model. If the appliances need to be replaced, you'd want to go with stainless steel finishes. I new sink and fixture should be chosen at the time you replace the countertops. Good luck - and have fun making your home your own!

Flipping the doors to the inside Shaker-look is flipping brilliant.

Thank you JacarandaSpirit!!

Hi there, we have the same type of cupboards and we went with Buckhorn Chinchilla from Benjamin Moore and it abosolutely took the yellow out of our cupboards. Now I love our cupboards.

I would consider removing some of the doors on the top and painting the walls a golden color. I would focus on a european cafe look with a nice light fixture and a rug.

I haven't read all the comments so I don't know if this has been suggested already. If you remove the doors on the upper cabinets turn them around and remount them (just reset the hinges) the doors will look less busy because the inside of the door will not have the deep arch that is currently on the outside of the door. If the upper doors then look too different from the lower ones, you could just turn the lower doors around too. This may result in a 'craftsman' or Shaker style look which may be all you need to change. With all due respect to the person who posted the comment about cooking less than wonderful meals until your hubby gets the hint - I don't think that is a good idea. Hubby may never take the hint and you might just feel frustrated or hurt that he didn't even notice. Better to have open, direct communication. I would tell him that you naturally want to spend more time in a kitchen you love and therefore will be more inclined to cook. (For me that is true) There may be ways to accomplish that (a kitchen you love) without painting the cabinets.
If you opt to turn the doors 'inside out' it may be possible to set an inset of etched glass, tin or something else you like into the recessed rectangle that will now be on the outside of the doors. That would break up the oak without having to structurally change the doors or paint them. Also, try to focus on the positive - real wood is so much better than crumbling particle board! Good luck!

I just came across this post and I need to go through the comments b/c we have the same cabinets and I loathe them. Saving up for a kitchen reno is so long. And for me it's not even so much the color as the awful curve pattern at the top of them. If they didn't that 'country' charm curve, I'd have attacked them with paint but I just don't feel they're even worth bothering with. Right now I'm contemplating taking off the doors and having an open kitchen just so I don't have to look at them.

I have similar oaky cabinets, and came across this link on the Armstrong website. The icy grey balances out all that oak, and the only thing I would change in the Armstrong's design would be to install off white interior plantation shutters in the window. I never in my life have stood at the kitchen sink gazing dreamily at the view while doing any sort of kitchen cleanup, and don't understand why all home architects seem to think women like to stand at the sink and look out the window--LOL! But I digress: Here's the link

http://www.armstrong.com/rescabam/na/cabinets/en/us/room_image_large.asp?styleId=32&finishId=16

Good luck. I can't paint my oak nightmares, either.

Go to Lowes and purchase the DIY glass tiles. Color name is " Multigrain". Those tiles have cream, tan, bronze and dark brown glazed tiles. You will die when you see them. I have the ugly cream counter tops and ugly oak 80's cabinets. Incredibly easy installation that a monkey can do. Please look into this! $150.00 a box and I have a large kitchen. I bought two boxes.

Ok, judging from the dates on this thread you have probably long since resolved the issue for yourself, but we also have the dreaded golden oak cabinets in our kitchen. No one on the planet has hated their golden oak cabinets or bashed them more than I have!
I didn't know if I could do this renovation without getting rid of the oaky oak oak grainy mess that I have despised all these years (and only those who have lived with it truly know what I'm talking about LOL).
My husband asked me to do this renovation step by step and to give the goaks a chance - and reminded me there's always kilz and a paint brush if I just can't stand them after making other changes.
Well, last week, after 13 years of living with the goaks and white formica countertops and backsplash, we pulled the backsplash down and replaced the countertops with coffee brown granite. Just removing the white laminate made a huge difference - the bright white was making them look even more orange. We replaced the old worn fading brass hardware with oil rubbed bronze cup pulls, knobs, and hinges. Wow, what a difference. We haven't chosen flooring or a backsplash yet, but I can tell you that my kitchen is taking on more of a craftsman vibe - and I can't even believe I'm saying this without having a psychotic episode, but I'm actually beginning to like the warm feel of the kitchen when I enter it.
After having seen the difference that removing the white and adding the warm dark brown of the granite and oil rubbed bronze hardware, I am avoiding cool colors because I don't want to bring out the orange tones in the wood again. We have warm colored dishes and accessories in the breakfast area, so this works with the overall color scheme and I will be able to keep my wall paint colors, which I still love.
So, surprisingly, in the middle of this kitchen reno I am finding that those old golden oak cabinets are growing on me. I am the most surprised person on the planet. Or, maybe I am psychotic ...

I also have oak cabinets. However, an update was not truly challenging but rewarding. In your case, you can have the same experience by changing the oval pattern doors to straight edge doors. For example, the two small doors over the stove area can be replaced for about $70.00 doors by ordering the straight edge little doors from lowes cabinet area (Shenandoah is the manufacturer). Actually you can get as creative as possible with all straight edge framed doors which bring in a simplier contemporary look. This means replace some of the curve doors within creativity to fit your budget. Also, putting straight stainless steel handles and knobs on the cabinet will bring an updated appearance. Don't forget to tear out the outdated wooden breadbox in the corner. You want to work towards a clean straight look from all angles. Taking this away from your cabinets will give you room for a lighting system to be evenly spaced underneath the cabinets. Don't forget to take that ceiling fan down. Stay away from replacement fans that have the four way global lighting. There are fans which maintain one single light in the middle. Since the hubby isn't thinking about granite, try the corian countertops for a updated dimension. Oh yeah!!! don't forget to change the old outlets to stainless and the light switches to sliders. Things are not as bad as they seem.

Oh! And don't forget to change your sink faucets to a modern long neck faucet set.

Inserting a stainless steel microwave in that big space over the stove will give your kitchen a new look alone.

Nice instructions. I am looking for refinish my oak cabinet.Thanks for sharing sweet knowledge about how to update it and it is perfect.
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Oak curio cabinet : http://www.curiocabinetspot.com/shop-by-finish/oak-finish

therealsuzie -- how did things end up in your kitchen? What kind of floor and what color walls did you end up with? I like your use of dark brown instead of black for the countertops. Wood w/black seems 70's to me.

Hi Annie, I'm sure your kitchen is finished by now, but if it's not. . . I had the same dilemma. I went with a Tuscan kitchen theme. For the backsplash, I found a very wide wallpaper boarder that had an Old World design of wine bottles, glasses, corks, and a kind of faux finish paint background. I painted the walls with the same faux finish green color to blend in with the backsplash. I used olive green subway tiles and dark cherry red rope trim tiles for the area behind the sink and below the windows. I installed a really nice Delta Victorian stainless kitchen faucet. I replaced the countertops with a laminate that looks just like granite and has a rounded front edge. I installed a lighter color Italian porcelain tile for the flooring; I took a cabinet door with me to the tile place to make sure the colors didn't clash. Believe it or not, I get raving compliments on my kitchen all the time.