I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm bumping your message up to see if someone else might see it and answer over the weekend.

I'm a cherry cabinet lover, and I can't believe those are 19 years old. It sounds like you have big plans for other elements of the kitchen -- it's great that you have solidly built cabinets to work with!

You can absolutely do that. I do it all the time.
The one thing you must do, however, is use oil. Since there is a varnish, of some sort, an acrylic may not bond.
It's a process of applying the glaze to the crevices and wiping off. You would have to buy a few materials from the art supply store.
I'm curious about the quotes you are getting.

Thanks for those responses - so I would use an oil-based glaze. But then would I need to re-varnish the entire cabinet to give them a nice finish?? We've gotten two quotes so far - one painter that wants to apply an umber stain over the entire surface of all of the cabinets at a price of $3500. The other bidder would just highlight the recesses and molding and would completely sand and re-varnish them and her estimated cost is $7000. We do have a fairly large kitchen, but I'm not sure the difference this would make is really worth the cost to do this update. Seems like a lot of money to me - and I'm sure with the other changes we'll be making, I'll be much happier with these cabinets. I'll take another picture later to give you a better idea of size, number of cabinets. Thanks.

Another View

In this case, I am going to be one of those troublesome people who advises you not to touch the finish. The current finish is beautiful. Update everthing else to go with it.

I agree with palimsest. The finish is current and natural. I wouldn't touch them. They will look great with updated other finishes: floor, counters.

I disagree. I think a simple glazing will give the depth you are seeking.

An all-over glaze would be difficult for a DYIer.

To mix up a glaze, apply in the recesses and grooves with a paint brush and then wipe off, is do-able. If you use an oil glaze, you do not have to varnish.
Now, depending on the # of cabinets, those prices seem a little high. And I am in lower Fairfield County, CT!

I vote with the other two for leaving those cabinets alone. I also have cherry cabinets about the same shade--only mine are 32 years old and look like the day they were installed. They have a wonderful glow. I have put in new appliances and added an electric wall oven (my range is gas), as well as putting in red oak flooring. Nothing more needed or wanted.

Add me to the don't-touch-that-finish camp! Those cherry cabinets are the best thing about the kitchen. Adding a glaze or tint could just as easily ruin them as improve them--more easily, perhaps. If you update the floors, counters, and backsplash, you'd be able to convince people that the cabinets were new, as well. Only the arched uppers date them at all. Embrace what your kitchen already does well, and improve the outdated parts.

I have to add, though, that the new hardware you chose, while attractive on its own, does not do much for those particular cabinets. It's just too tiny and dainty and blends into the cabinets too much. I think if you found something larger with a little more contrast, it would perk up the cabinets in the way you're looking for.

I have cherry cabinets of a similar age that were looking faded. I used a hand-rub type oil to give the surface a little more luster (the old surface was dull) without changing the color. The finished appearance will be like that of freshly applied lemon oil or Scott's Liquid Gold but will last much longer. I actually make my own finish (3 parts polyurethane-oil based, 2 parts turpentine, 1 part boiled linseed oil) but you can buy similar products like Homer Formby Tung Oil. You just rub a small amount on and let dry. It's a very thin finish and won't leave runs, streaks, etc. You won't need to sand. You will need to remove grease and old furniture wax if you've used that on the cabinets. Murphy's Oil Soap may be enough to do that if you haven't used Butcher's wax in the past.

Colors can be off in pics, but the current wall color doesn't seem to be that complimentary to the cabinets.

Very timely post. We are in the process of installing recycled cherry cabinets only slightly younger than yours and I have been cleaning them up as we go. It's encouraging hearing the cherry love here! I've been using Cabinet Magic which I'm not even sure is still available - very old container - but it works great. There is one place where the wood on the face frames of two adjacent cabinets doesn't quite match. Riverspots, are you saying Tung Oil is ok to use over varnish? That I might try.

Jeanmw, we're also adding some kind of moulding. I'm going to use a strip of egg and dart to hide the undercabinet lights, but the crown moulding we inherited is too wide to fit on the cabinets nearest the windows, and also looks a little excessive on the two single cabinets, so I'm looking for smaller options. Anyone know of a kind of crown moulding that doesn't extend horizontally more than 1.5"? All I've found so far is something called bed mould, which might be more appealing with a different name. I'd love to see photos of non-traditional crown mouldings. Just realized I've veered off the subject of your post! Sorry! So add my vote for keeping the cabinet as they are, but see if you can just warm them up. I am a big fan of lovely old wood.

Another vote for leaving them alone. I do think however that you need different hardware. A dark color and bigger knob/open handle would really do a lot to set off the cabinets.... maybe somebody could photoshop on something?

They look great. I would leave the finish alone - maybe switch to ORB handles. If you proceed to refinishing, test a door or drawer that is not very visible - or better yet, an extra one if you have it. Testing on the inside of a drawer panel might work too. Can't wait to see what you decide!

Thanks for all the great feedback - I'm attaching yet another view of our kitchen. Yes the paint looks bad in the pics - actually it's more golden tan than green (Benjamin Moore's version of Tobacco Road) as it's showing up. And the small handles were my quick attempt to replace the brass and white ceramic knobs that were original. Tried to use just the one hole that was already in each cabinet door & drawer. So I'll definitely be looking for a larger alternative when we reach that point in this remodel. And after looking at several kitchen cabinet showrooms over the weekend, I'm leaning towards just leaving my cherry cabinets as they are - or at least waiting till the other updates are done to decide. Thanks again for your help - it is much appreciated, as I'm sure I'll be back again over these next several months.

Here is a link that might be useful: Another View

Yet another view of our cherry kitchen. Haven't figured out how to link more than one photo in a post. Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Pic 4

Here's the link - hope it works this time. Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: One more pic.

I can see doing a dark brown glaze - burnt umber or Van Dyke brown. Be some work, but I can totally see doing it.

I can see doing a glaze, but I'd wait until you've changed the other elements and see if you still feel the need to. I think counter, flooring, hardware, trim and possibly wall paint (looking too yellow on my monitor) would do so much -- and when you get a black island in there you may feel that is enough. If not, I'd be one to DIY -- but find something to practice on.

The crown molding, counter, and undercabinet lights will make a big difference, I think.

You're going to replace the current cooktop island with a new one? How big is it? Is there any possibility of putting a vent hood in above?

That is a very decent kitchen. Its aged well. very well. I still like the natural cherry. I like woods that look good without stain. For me its classic. The lack of a hood would bug me though.

One more thing. Someone mentioned Cabinet Magic. My experience with it is that it attracts dust to the cabinets. I would not use that or any other polish that would do that.