Do you mean they will connect to make an L or start a whole new wall? I wouldn't want to change styles in mid-L, but a separate wall of cabinets could work in a different style if you gave them some kind of character to make the change make sense...Like fashion it to look like a hutch or something. Do you have a layout and/or photos you could post?

We too have cabinets that really do not need to be replaced, but I am tired of them after 20 years. Our company also is no longer in business. Too bad, these are well made cabinets.

In the name of being "green" I am ordering similar wood cabinets to add to my L to create a U. Then taking the doors from the old bottom cabinets to use on the new top cabinets, and taking the new top cabinet doors and putting on the bottom old cabinets. I think I will have to order one extra door. Drawer fronts will match close enough.

Also after looking all over for sinks - I am keeping my old cast iron one. I cannot find any that I like more than this one, so why replace?

I'm getting 2 styles and 2 colors by 1 mfr -- one for perimeter, one for island. I like the beadboard look (cream island) but didn't want a whole kitchen in that (maple Shaker-ish perimeter). I was careful to make sure the door styles "felt" right together (they have the same size recessing, if that makes any sense, and generally the same plain-ish feel). I had a negative experience in replacing a broken door in my current kitchen -- the guy tried hard to match the style but it was a little off, and eventually the stain faded differently than the stain on the original cabinets. Based on these 2 experiences, I'm ok with the idea of 2 separate cabinet doors in 2 separate spaces (I think it's a trendy idea, if you care), as long as there is some design continuity. On the subject of stain/color, even if you buy the exact same stain from the same mfr who has never changed the formula (lots of ifs there), stain that is 5 years old will look different than stain that is brand new, so I would vote for not hoping they match.

Is buying paint grade & refacing all cabinets an option for you?

No, you can never expect old stain to match new stain. (Have refinshed enough old furniture to learn that lesson.)

What I will be doing is stripping my old solid wood cabinets (hand made by the nicest old italian man, rest his soul) and finishing everything myself. I do not like "stain in a can" so I am really good at mixing my own unique colors and matching. Then a nice sprayed laquer finish on it, and I should be good to go.

rhome410: I don't know how to post a picture, but if you can picture a sq, I have cabs on the N and E. There is a doorway on the top left W side and bottom right corner of the S corner, the rest of the W wall and South wall is blank(actually with junk now). It would be a separate L. I'm not sure about the transition except that I'm envisioning a new granite counter of same would tie both sections visually.
bluekitobscesssed: the idea of refinishing the old slab cabs to get another color and then having that same person finish a new set of unfinished slabs got tossed around. I was just afraid about the lack of warranty on unfinished slab cabs at purchase, let alone staining after purchase doesn't "set" as well? After this thought, we did think about refacing and wonder if it really is less expensive than new cabinets. At least I could get a new style right? I've seen pictures of what you're doing, perimeter one color, island another, but mine are two different sets of walls. Do I dare do be that trendy? Yes, I've been reminded about the stain not matching even if same color..

I have a long, narrow, galley-style kitchen. Truly a one-butt area! One wall is the original old dark wood with the range and sink included; the other is the fridge and a new-ten-years-ago medium oak baking center. The counter top is different, the height is different (I am short, and DH did this for me) and not all of the cabinet doors match as he got the bathroom cabinets from the reject pile at the builders' supply. Do I care? Does anyone notice? I love it!

Hi there-
We are planning on mixing-
I have Omega Dynasty cherry cabinets in Clayton that I chose 10.5 years ago when we put cabinets in at the time we bought the house. (we are only the second owners of a 70 year old house and nothing had ever been replaced) We did what we could afford at the time--now we're ready to expand the kitchen. Will reuse Clayton, which has a beadboard inset-I love the look but I can tell you after 10.5 years of scrubbing ick (two kids, a dog and lots of cooking in this kitchen) out of the beads, I'm mixing in a flat inset door style, Marion Slab. You can see how the styles and build are similar at the link below.
I'm fairly confident about the mixing, but admittedly still a little nervous that it will look okay. We are also working with someone who assures me they can custom stain to match the existing--we shall see.

Kindly,
B

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of Omega Door Styles

We are also getting 2 styles and 2 colors by 1 mfr. Cherry cabinets for most of our L and our island. Painted distressed cabinets at the end of each side of the L.

If you are concerned about 2 different styles on 2 different L's - can you move some of your current cabinets - so you have a mix of your old style and your new style in each "L"

Just want to thank everyone for their help...after much discussion, husband decided he wanted a change afterall and didn't want to 'try' to match, and since there were a couple of other design issues--we going for all new!