the wood is lovely.
do you want matching cabs and counters all the way around?
then maybe wood on the bottom cabs and painted on uppers would give you the painted cabs you desire and easy care you desire closer to sticky fingers?
or maybe a painted pantry or hutch??

That molding is incredible!

I'd go cream/white on the top and something just darker on the bottom. A little richer than your molding is now.

After it was all said and done, I'd consider darkening the molding to show the detail more.

Are you keeping the paneling under the window? Neither it nor the doors (although the doors are killer) look original. I'd consider losing the wainscoting.

What a great space, from what I can see!

The kitchen is tiny by the way, roughly 10.5 by 9.5.
I don't know what to do about the wainscoting.
Although all the doors and trim and windows are this style in the rest of the appartement I too don't think they are original. It is a 1930's triplex though.

Wow! Nice picture! I'd like wood cabinets (to match that beadboard) and open shelves...maybe a few glass uppers. I don't know if that would give you enough storage, though.

And I was thinking I'd vote creamy white, before I saw your picture :)

This is the opinion of my cab maker, who will do wood or painted cab finishes. He prefers wood because "When it's painted, you're looking at the finish, so if there's anything on the finish, you see it. With wood, you look through the finish to the wood." He wasn't saying this to advise me, it was after my new cherry cabs were installed. I think he's right. My new cabs must get just as dirty as the old cream painted ones, but it's a lot harder to see, so it doesn't bother me as much.

Brooklyngalley's beautiful kitchen, which I think you've seen, is an example of a wonderful small space with wood cabs. Just because wood is darker than white, it doesn't have to make the space seem smaller.

I think wood would be lovely in your kitchen, but in the end, you need to chose whichever will make you happiest.

From the photo, it looks like you have ample light coming in, so you could do wood. I love the idea of creamy white -- that's the route I am taking but it's because I will not have as much light coming in after the remodel. My island will be dark, but all the other cabinets will be the creamy white (glazed, though). Go with your gut -- I love that wood in your photo.

What kind of wood cabinets would you get? If they'll be stock cabinets, the wood might not be as nice as the wood on the door and moldings, and would detract. If you're getting nice custom cabinets from someone who know how to use wood and is sensitive to wood tones, you could end up with something that complements the existing wood and looks like it fits. If not, I'd go the painted route.

I'm usually a paint person, but I think in that case I'd make a big statement in wood, good wood of course. The place really seems to demand it. As for overload, of course not.

Wow! What lovely moulding! You are so lucky that it never wound up painted.

I think that a good wood cabinet in your space would be beautiful. With the right cabinet maker, you could probably come up with something that will complement it wonderfully. I have to think that someone who loves working with wood would be excited about coming up with just the right look for your kitchen.

Good luck! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Thanks everyone for your input.
The one contractor that I've seen does custom work in the sence that the doors, drawers etc can be any measurements. They outsource the doors though which can be all wood or paint and I would choose a stain or color.

Choosing the stain is the problem! Do I try and match the wood, go darker, lighter?
Ideally I would like to find someone who makes all wood cabinets, almost like furniture.

I think a contrasting light wood stain or painted wood would look good. You should consider painting the wood paneling a cream color. We did that in a previous home and it turned out beautiful. It would really open up the space in my not so expert opinion.

I chose custom painted creamy white cabinets, and although I love the look now, they will not hold up over time. I already have nicks and dings that are driving me nuts. Your woodwork is lovely, and I am sure someone can match it nicely. Good luck!

Were you in Montreal? Have you tried posting on here for custom cabmaker recs? There are a few Quebec residents who are regulars on here, I think. Do you have any Mennonite communities in Quebec?

Yes I am in Montreal!

Yes I am in Montreal!

Looking at the picture again, I do think wood cabinets would fit the room better than painted. But as I said, the wood would make all the difference. It looks like the door may have been painted and stripped, can you tell? In any case, it's got a patina now that will be hard to match with new wood. Your best bet might be to identify the species of the door, or maybe the floor, and go with that. Then try to approximate the same finish.

I think your cabinets want to be painted green, something like the gray-green on your walls.

Failing that ('cause not everyone wants green cabinets), maybe something in a warm medium-toned wood to coordinate with your woodwork, which is beautiful. Heart pine springs to mind (or knotty if you can find some without quite so many knots), but I don't know what woods are local or easily available where you are... maybe fir? This room might also be a good candidate for wood lowers (continuing the color of the wainscoting on the lower half of the room) and painted uppers, as others have said.