If you do a search on the bottom you will come across several threads from people who have both stained and painted their oak cabs. Some have even mixed the two finishes with fantastic results. I don't know if this is your only cab run or if you have an L kitchen. I've attached a link to one thread to give you a jumping off point. Good luck with this project. It could make a HUGE difference in your kitchen. Change out your hardware, new counter/backsplash... it'll look like a brand new kitchen for a fraction of the cost.

Here is a link that might be useful: cabinet thread

Is hating to paint wood a guy thing??? As remodelfla say, there have been many posts here which show painted oak cabinets that have turned out absolutely beautiful (some have used gel stain which also looks good if you don't want a painted look). All of the wainscoting in my house is painted white (as is all of the wood trim) and I love it! I think your cabinets would look great in soft white (Benjamin Moor white dove for instance). If you scroll down on the link below you can see painted oak cabinets that turned out really nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: painted oak cabinets

It's a guy thing in my house! But my sweet dh said he'd go for whatever I want. I just want to get it right.
Thanks for the link!

Your husband may change his mind after he sees some of the painted cabinets you will see on this forum. Covering the grain seems to be the thing in painting cream or white. If you paint dark, keeping the grain looks great, as in girlwithasprin's dark cabs. I will try to post a couple of pics for you of white and dark. Then, go to the finished kitchen blog for more inspiration.

Paint the cabs, or stain them (that would have to be dark if you don't want to strip them), change out the hardware. Get a new countertop. It doesn't have to be expensive. In the finished kitchen blog, look in categories for budget remodels and DYIs.

Good Luck!

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girlwithasprin's fabulous dark painted cabs

Here is a link that might be useful: finished kitchen blog

Girlwithaspirin painted her oak cabinets. Below is a link with great instructions.

Here is a link that might be useful: girlwithaspirin link

we painted our oak cabinets. here are some before and after pictures. also changed out the tile floor, backsplash and countertops.

Oh my! Thanks for the inspiration photos! I love them all! But I think a creamy white is the color for me (although I may use girlwithaspirin idea in my bathroom!)

So is it difficult to cover the grain when painting? I guess there's probably ideas on this board so I'll do some searching!
Thanks

Sorry, paige, I didn't see your post! I love what you've done!! I really like your backsplash! Did you paint your cabinets yourself? How was it? Were you able to cover the wood grain? Any tips?

caramia,
we did not paint the cabs ourselves. when we bought our house it was a house of horrors and the cabinets were coated with about 15 years of yucky crud, grease, gook, etc. --- yours look like a dream compared to ours!!

the painters used a de-glosser type thing. then used oil paint. you could still see the grain but only in that you could tell it was wood below. you didn't see the big swirly oak markings. a couple of coats of good oil paint should go a long way toward covering the grain. There was someone not too long ago who painted their own cabs and gave quite a lot of details -- can't remember who though.

The paint color for the cabinets was BM Mayonnaise in case you are interested.

Thanks for the giving me the name of the paint. From the pictures it looks like a creamy white. I'll add that one to my list to check out!

no problem.

on another note, the countertops we went with were Uba Tuba. It was the least expensive option. Even less than laminate. I found a guy who did business on the side and got them installed for $1500 (this was 7 years ago). Uba Tuba tends to be on the less expensive side for granites - just thought I'd mention that in case budget is a concern.

Re: BM Mayonnaise, it is a very nice creamy white. We are using on trim throughout house except kitchen and I am very happy with.

I think the grain of the wood showing through like Girlwithaspirin did is really pretty. The look of a creamy white with a dark granite is gorgeous. You will be amazed at the difference!