Change the hardware and stain them a darker colour.

I'd keep them the way they are, and switch out the knobs, either to a bright color (red?) or black.

I like them the way they are, actually. I agree with annef. Swap the knobs to a bright color (anthropologie makes stunning door knobs, if you can afford to splurge).

I actually have more problems with the backsplash than the cabinets. To me, the backsplash makes the kitchen dated.

I'd go with white. I love all white kitchens and they are classics. The wood floor would be enough to warm it up. If you wanted, you could paint the island a different color - maybe the grey could go there, and the right color grey would bring out the black in the backsplash.

If you do go white - make sure it matches your appliances or, at least, they don't make each other look dirty.

If you like the open shelf look, I'd suggest taking the doors off and painting the insides of the cabinets white.

Personally, if you like the white/grey look, I wouldn't worry about what you'll think in a couple years. You can always paint them something different then .

I'll just add that painting your cabinets white to match your appliances makes everything look more built-in.

I think they're nice wood cabinets... simple design, nice wood color. Perhaps taking the doors off some of the cabinets and creating open shelving or putting on glass doors on the uppers would zip it up enough, but be relatively easy to undo when you get sick of it.

I'd paint them white. A kitchen heavy on white is classic and timeless. Also consider taking a few doors off the upper cabinets and painting the inside a bright color. I definitely suggest painting the island a darker color.

I'd also get some different stools- they are the thing that pushes it just over the edge of 'too much wood'... some white, or bright colored, modern metal ones, perhaps.

I could totally see white as well. Especially with a re-done blacksplash, possibly a nice silver or even natural glass. Keeping it neutral would really allow you to up the color things like barstools, toasters, and small appliances.

Then again, if you want to really make those countertops pop, you could go with some kind of funky IKEA red or even a darker brown/stained wood.

Sorry, should gather all my thoughts before posting. ANOTHER idea is you could paint the island only, make it appear more like a piece of furniture than a lopped off bank of cabinets.

Funny, I was going to say the same thing as the first couple of people. If you want something you can live with for a decade, I would just change the hardware and keep the wood. (If it is high quality wood, that is --- it may not be.) Everything depends on the quality of the cabinets when it comes to the long-term. If they are cheap cabinets, then go ahead and paint them a color of your choice. Off-white would be fine. I have to say that I am starting to think that the all-white kitchens I have seen so much of lately are going to seem very 2011 in a few years, though.

I like all white kitchens because they look so bright and clean. Just add colorful accessories.

since you have so many cabinets you could totally do that open cabinet thing on the top, and only use them for your prettier dishes.

is that dark color on your backsplash black? are your counters true white? (your dishwasher is bringing out the beige in your counters in your pic). personally i think your space would look excellent with very dark lowers and white uppers to coordinate with your backsplash. paint the island either the very dark color or a bold accent color. maybe paint a couple pieces of foam board different colors, tape to your cabinets and see what floats your boat before you do the whole shabang.

i'm going through the same process as you to figure out what to do with my dated wood cabinets and i also have white appliances. figure out now whether them popping from dark paint would bother you or not. have fun!!

You say this is a new kitchen.. my advice go slow
live with it for a while and do not make any hasty decisions. For some reason I always tend to make better "decorating" decisions in the fall, maybe it is the cooler weather?

Either all white or white on top/grey on the bottom. I painted mine and have never looked back. Don't worry if you think the white/grey combo will look dated in a few years. If that happens to be the case, you could always paint the bottoms white since an all white kitchen is classic.

I agree about the backsplash though---to me, that is what makes the kitchen look dated even more so than the cabinets. If replacing the backsplash is not in the budget, I personally would paint over the black tiles with tile paint. And I love the idea of incorporating a complimentary color on the island.

Good luck!

I agree with those who have suggested painting them white, and maybe swapping out a few doors for glass. and get some new silver knobs for them as well. Also, I think the island would look great with an espresso finish on it and some new stainless steel stools.

I recently saw some where the bottom cabinets were painted a dark grey color and the top were white or a really pale grey, it was hard to tell from the photo but I thought it looked great. They grounded the cabinets but the top ones were light so it didn't close in the space.

I am 100% against the leaving them as they are idea. I hope that blonde oak look doesn't come back into fashion in my lifetime.

Whatever you do, keep in mind that your floors are about the same finish as your cabinets, so you need something that's going to complement them. The contrast between your gold floors and a dark gray might look very trendy today, but that might be a dated combination in a few years.

Your backsplash tiles have kind of a vintage flair. I'd go with that motif. Paint the upper cabinets white. Because of the white countertops and appliances, paint the lower cabinets a bright, vibrant color like candy-apple red or turquoise, or even lime green. Also paint the stools - I'd paint them the same color as the lower cabinets and island so they blend in, then maybe get a coordinating, patterned fabric to make some cushions for them.

I'd leave the base cabinets and island alone, aside from changing out the knobs to something that blends a bit better. Take the doors off all the wall cabinets along the wall with the window and paint the interiors white, as well as the interior of the space above the microwave.

I'm assuming the checkerboard backsplash is black and white. Why not add a saturated cobalt blue into the room with a new curtain, some kitchen throw rugs, decorative dishes (for the newly opened cabinets), and new bar stools? That'll catch the eye and contrast both the warm wood and the stark black/white pattern. The red/black/white thing has been overdone and a paler blue tends to look country with oak cabinetry, but I think a cobalt or navy color would be crisp and timeless.

The bonus to leaving the cabinetry alone now is that you can re-evaluate your options in the future and have perfectly untouched cabinetry to work with. So keep the doors and store them when you take them off!

If you must paint, I'd select a color that makes the navy checkerboard appear intentional....

...perhaps Navy Blue lower cabinets with cream (not white) uppers?

I'd also do something about the island to make it appear more of a piece of furniture - such as beadboard panels and turned legs at the corners - and paint it the same cream as the upper cabinets?

And new knobs & pulls are definitely in order - perhaps some nice chunky antiqued bronze hardware?

gray

please DO paint the cabinets white, change the backsplash (updated tile would be great, but stainless steel or painted walls more affordable) and change the island top to butcher block for warmth. Time consuming but much cheaper than a new kitchen and things even a novice handyperson could do. Please post your rennovations!

agree with another commenter who suggested don't rush. if you haven't lived with this kitchen (or house for that matter) for more than a couple months, just give yourself a mental break and wait a bit.

Paint the cabinets white, utilize color on the walls and use colored cabinet knobs/drawer pulls to break up the cabinets. New stools, too. I don't even necessarily think you need to do anything about the backsplash to be honest.

White! That way the appliances will blend in and look way better. Also, it is really classic and timeless. That way you can have fun with the wall colour and assecoires, which is also easier to change then the cabinet colour if you get tired of it after two or three years.

I've seen some wonderful paint updates using a rich grey color on the bottom cabinets (and perhaps also the island) and white or a lighter grey on the top cabinets. It sounds odd but it really makes the room appear taller and keeps the room from being overwhelmingly white. Something sort of like this:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://st.houzz.com/simages/22857_0_8-0614-traditional-kitchen.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/390625/list/kitchen&usg=__B5eGa9fxBbEb4gvvZQCNNFKu_0g=&h=317&w=400&sz=38&hl=en&start=130&sig2=SkK7fclcCEiAk4cg3-oEjg&zoom=1&tbnid=sEDCaPIxzfNM6M:&tbnh=146&tbnw=184&ei=C3gkTtPPMebniALSv6DCAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgrey%2Bbottom%2Bcabinets%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1C1CHKZ_enUS430US430%26nord%3D1%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D781%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=194&vpy=310&dur=427&hovh=146&hovw=184&tx=107&ty=57&page=5&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:26,s:130&biw=1600&bih=781

Another vote here for leaving things as they are for a bit. Or, consider changes that are easily switched if you realize it isn't the look you want - new hardware, glass in one or two of the upper cab doors and perhaps painting the soffit in an accent color.

I really agree with Abstractionist - white kitchens are the 'thing' right now it seems. I expect to see a lot of info requests in a few years re: how to strip paint off cabinets or what is the new color to use when you're bored with white.

I do think white would be too much unless you want to change the counter tops and paint the walls. I would paint all the cabinets gray, remove some of the doors to display some nice dishes, and get new hardware. I personally like bin pulls used on drawers.

I would also paint the base of the island and buy modern stools. You can add pops of color with throw rugs, a new curtain, and the dishes that are displayed. I wouldn't redo the back splash.

Also, I think if you're thinking that white cabs in addition to the white appliances and counters would be too much - you're probably right.

If the idea seems less than perfect at the outset, it may not be the right one for you.

I love the idea of you doing a two-tone kitchen. The upper cabinets could be a white or slightly cream, and the below cabinets could be a chalkboard dark, dark gray almost black. That would look so slick with your black and white tile backsplash!

In Sarah Richardson's farmhouse kitchen (from the show Sarah's House on HGTV) she used a light grey on the lower cabinets, a white on the upper cabinets and a nice yellow on the island. All counters were white quartz, iirc. The floor was wood.

You may be able to find pictures of it at HGTV or even full episodes. It's a georgeous kitchen.

You're lucky to have such simple cabinets to start with. Paint them white, change the hardware, maybe even do some beadboard paneling? And then you have to change the backsplash :(

One last thought - it looks like the kitchen may open to another room - maybe a family room? What's going on in there color-wise?

We recently did a two-toned paint job in our kitchen:

http://firewifekatie.blogspot.com/2011/06/lets-see-what-some-paint-can-do-kitchen.html

We have absolutely no regrets painting over those cabinets!! I say go for it!!

Sorry, forgot the link to our kitchen project...

Painting this kitchen will be very time consuming and not done properly will decrease the value of the kitchen.
Because of the hardwood floor, the cabinets should actually be darker. The tiled backsplash does not really go with anything. The countertops dont either. Because the appliances are not high end, painting the cabinets white would only make it look dated in this case.
My suggestion: Do nothing now, save some $. Replace the backsplash and go with darker cabinets. Go with appliances that are "panel ready" This way your appliances will always go with your cabinets.

Make those white countertops shine with a navy, dark hunter green, or another high contrast combo. A dark stain would look lovely, but it is a ton of hard work to achieve.

Personally, I wouldn't go white, but I would paint the stools white.

Here is some inspiration so you see what I am getting at:
http://themachinehouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/red-white-and-navy.html

http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/03/05/kitchen-cabinets-the-color-of-blue-jeans/

http://www.elledecor.com/image/tid/4655

-Good luck making a decision!

Facelift idea while you decide the longer-term change: do NOT paint the cabinets. Change the hardware. Replace the backsplash or paint the tiles to remove the checkerboard effect. Replace the stools to something other than same-tone wood. Consider changing the countertop on the island only and/or painting the island.

Personally, I like color, so my preference would be something bold, but you should pick something you like and maybe work it with the colors in the adjacent rooms. It was hard to tell from your post what your preferences are, other than all white. I have similar colored cabinets and floor as you and also have white appliances. My kitchen facelift included a black countertop, cobalt blue backsplash, and lime green walls, and more modern furniture. I like some all-white kitchens, but it would not have looked right in my house with my budget.

You have really great lighting in that kitchen and the cabinets look great to me, IMHO. Hardware change is easy peasy. The part that sticks out at me as dated is the backspash.

I think you could update the backsplash with some subway tile (glass ones if you want to go more contemporary) in a subtle color and you'd have classic but updated kitchen.

You people and your cobalt blue... so 1990s. Yikes. Almost as dated as the honey/blonde oak cabinetry.

Have fun with it. Don't be afraid to paint the cabinets. Don't be afraid of color, and if retro is your thing, that backsplash is GREAT. If it's not, you might want to replace it with something, but for the LOVE OF GOD don't do cobalt, PLEASE????

I'd paint them white, and paint the walls a color - green, red, something bolder. Then I'd also swap the stools out for something else.

All colors are dated at some point and gray is next. Reality is that there are a limited number of colors that work well with warm-toned oak. If you don't want to whitewash the entire room, or hope to avoid reworking perfectly functional cabinetry, you work with what you're given.

Paint them Sharkey Gray by Martha Stewart. You can see what this combination will look like with white countertops. It's a chic, fresh neutral. I love it. I almost bought this combination for a kitchen reno using Martha Stewarts PureStyle laminate cabinets but opted for maple grade painted wood in linen from another cabinet maker. That way, I can always paint them Sharkey Gray if I get tired of white. Here's a pic of sharkey gray cabinets and sea salt corian countertops. You can always change the wall color.
http://bargainhoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/P1030958.jpg

i'd go with white cabinets. and maybe paint either the stools or the island turquoise. and maybe some turquoise knobs on the white cabinets. some yellow pops of color might look nice too, maybe in the curtain and possibly in some utensil crocks on the counter. if you painted the island turquoise, maybe the stools would look nice yellow.

here's a photo of something similar...

http://pinterest.com/pin/44994692/

Here's what you do:

1. Live with it for a while.

2. If you still don't like it, remove the fussy litle feature trims around the window and the nook above the microwave, and introduce some other shades of blue in curtains, dishcloths and accessories.

3. If you still don't like it, try some new hardware. Get a bunch of different styles - you can always return the ones you don't end up liking.

4. And if you're STILL dissatisfied, then go to all the hassle of painting.

First, paint the walls and the island. Add some furniture legs to the island. Change or paint the stools. Change the hardware. That woul dbe my lazy way out.

Then if I still hated it, I'd stain the cabinets super dark or paint them. Not sure whta's with all the backsplash hate, but I like the vintage look. I've seen worse.

I'd say do a potrack over the island but I can see some pot lights, so that wont work.

I say go with a deep burgandy or a a greenish gray and pretty knobs!

http://statementpiece.blogspot.com/

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the great advice. We have so much to consider! The cabinet frames seems to be quality wood, but the doors are not. And we do have plans to get rid of the backsplash. We haven't moved in yet - this is still the previous owner's furniture. Our plan for the moment is to get moved in and then make changes in baby steps. Definitely a new backsplash, a furniture-looking island, and then possible paint for the cabinets.

The room is open to the dining room and living room, so our plan is to start with some color there, and then see what will coordinate well.

I'll be back in touch with updates when we have them.

What a lovely, spacious kitchen! I agree - too much wood. I would remove a few doors on the upper cabinets, see how you like it. The doors can easily be routed to be fitted with glass if you like the open look. I think a 2-toned kitchen would look great - you just have to coordinate with the adjoining room. Small steps like painting the stools will give you an idea of what you like. You can also check into this: http://cabinets.rustoleumtransformations.com/. I have the same dilemma, and am thinking of going with the rustoleum treatment. You can try it on your island first. Good luck & post picks. ps - no to an all white kitchen - boring!!!

White or slate.

Center your fridge in the fridge hole!