I just did a vanity using celticmoon's directions and keep meaning to post a picture for everyone! I didn't do the espresso first coat (just two coats of java) to please my husband. He wanted the wood grain to show; I just wanted it to be less dated looking. The java by itself has the slightest reddish undertone, if that is going to bother you, or you want a way darker look, do the espresso coat too. I would seriously consider finding a way to get the General Finishes products vs. Miniwax. I've used both and General Finishes is about a million times better. Very much worth the effort. Their wipe on poly is amazing. I applied the gel stain with a sponge brush and bought a sack of rags at HD to wipe it off. With the spindles you should probably use the sock over gloves idea to apply it just because it would be easier. You will need gloves. The process doesn't take long at all, (except for the drying between steps), but it IS messy. Wear painting clothes! The whole vanity took me about a week worth of lunch breaks- 40 minutes here, a half hour there, and that's with me putting everything away and changing my clothes each day. And while mclarke is right, you will have to sand before you gel stain, you don't have to sand very well and nothing like the full on stripping you'd have to do to refinish. A sponge sander would be a good choice for spindles. I waited about 5 minutes before wiping it off, but I know others don't wait that long at all. I did thicker coats since that was what was in celticmoon's directions- thicker just means you have to wipe up more excess, but you're less likely to need more then just the two coats. You just don't want to wait too long is all as it does start to dry a little. Good luck!

Thanks - so if you sand unevenly even slightly will the amount that soaks in (or not soaks in) cause uneven staining? Seems like it would, so then the difference in prep work would be just roughing up the surface for gel and sanding down to bare wood for stain perhaps? These are the cabinets we're thinking about doing - same ones in all bathrooms too - so we would start on one of those first to test it out. Yes that bathroom is hideous - we are just buying this house and will fix it up.

OO Thanks for that link! They don't sell that 'general' brand anywhere by me. That is why I have the minwax brand gelstain. So far I did the upper frame and I am starting the doors tomorrow. I am wondering, how does one go about cleaning the brush after with the mineral spirits? Do I leave it sit in a cup to soak? I had a HARD time cleaning up I would get clean then use water and seem worse off again. I also wonder, if anyone used the Minwax Gelstain - does it need a coat of that urethan gel? it seems to look pretty finished - but maybe the clear coat is more for protection?

Take it from me, if you can afford new cabinets - do it! A fresh coat of paint or darker stain will definitely help, but you'll probably still be left feeling like your kitchen is somewhat dated. You have a great space to work with! I had the dreaded orange oak cabinets too, so I feel your pain. I couldn't afford new cabinets about 5 years ago so I painted mine. I didn't want dark/stained so I picked a soft gray color. By the time I put in new granite, BS, appliances, ect - well I should have just saved up and bought new cabinets. Oh well, lesson learned... But I DO love my kitchen after all the work. I love it wayyyyy better than my old space so I don't regret the decision to paint, it's just that my kitchen still feels dated so it's only a matter of time until the soffit comes down and I get new uppers... To sum it up, paint or stain will definitely improve the space. But new cabinets will make a bigger impact so if you can afford replacing everything then go for it. If you do paint, use quality paint. It's not cheap. I used BM Advanced paint. I won't use anything else going forward. I have found dried food on my cabinets and picked it off with my fingernail and the paint never chips or comes off. Here are two examples in my home. The first is my kitchen. I painted instead of replacing the cabinets. I love the space but it's not my dream space. before after Now here's my second example. This time we replaced the ugly oak cabinet. See what I mean by new cabinets making a bigger impact?