Those look like 1950-60's birch cabinets. Paint is not going to increase their value. I would not spend the money to put granite on them. If you want to change the counters use one of the laminates that look like granite.

I think what Kristin showed would is a good idea. It would look nice, brighten it up and add some value (at a minimum time on market), if you can do it relatively inexpensively. I wouldn’t pay for granite or quartz if you aren’t changing the cabinets.

Nice stain. Please leave as is. New Formica, or, say, Corian, and simple light backsplash would go a long way to improve and to bring you joy meanwhile(2 years can easily turn into 4...just sharing my experience))

I'd say only backsplash since the now-backsplash is the real element that looks out of place a bit; but I can't see your counters, if too worn that might drive your decision to change them too.

Don't do granite..might be too heavy for the cabinets(don't know their age), and I see something more uniform in color, with the current stain.

As a (not very discerning) buyer-I think you have a nice kitchen. If I moved in for example-on condition it all works well and is well maintained-I'd do only backsplash. The rest is all making sense and is easy to work with

Or if I would want to change it all, for whatever reason-I'd rather live with it as is, while considering my future decisions and choices.

Don't try to guess what might appeal to people in several years. Especially as they all are different. People want clean, functioning, making sense.

Two years of wear on those cabinets painted will probably look pretty bad. Leave the cabinets alone. If the countertops are in good shape, leave those alone as well. Painting the brick-look backsplash will probably go the farthest in brightening up the space. The only other change I'd make is add more ceiling light.

Painting this type of cabinet and applying moldings might work for a homeowner to enjoy, but from a buyer's perspective it's a negative. You're turning off the folks who want a truly updated kitchen as well as turning off the folks who are looking for original charm.

Our first home we bought when we got married had the treatment Kristin suggested. I really wish they would have left those cabinets alone in our 1968 home. We ended up getting new cabinets within a year of living there. Would have liked the original that matched the rest of the house.

If it were not for the 2 woodgrain oddities on your cabinets, one drawer, one door, I would have said to leave them. If you CAN find someone to have them professionally painted (remove doors - have them prepped and sprayed with a durable finish and then do the boxes yourself) I would consider a putty colored lower cab and some off-white uppers or all off white / creamy. Change counter to quartz - maybe taupe, and put in a nice subway or crackle tile backsplash. Change that light fixture / fan immediately.

For a lesser do - change the hardware on the cabs, and change the backsplash to something pale, change that fan / light. I think that your counter - while lovely - is dating the kitchen. Your floors are lovely, and most everything looks to be in very good shape.

I like woodgrain oddities:) I feel friendly toward them lol

Fan, I do dislike, but then I dislike fans in general, especially as I did observe one of them falling on us in a restarant, missing my much younger then DD by an inch..Was a miracle, really, that no one got badly hurt. So I trust fans even less, since that traumatic experience. But many people love them, so what do I know.

Here you go:

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Backsplash · More Info

[Link to full kitchen post[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-of-the-week-restored-cabinets-revive-a-midcentury-gem-stsetivw-vs~91884375)

Please don't paint your cabinets or install granite. Spend the money on new hardware, contemporary tile (as in this kitchen) or midcentury influenced tile, solid black or white laminate counter and new light fixture. Try searching through Houzz Stories and photos with the term 'midcentury' for more inspiration. Oh my gosh, it could be such a fun refresh! benjesbride has it exactly right, people who love these cabinets (me!) will hate paint and people who want a white kitchen will start over anyway.

I would typically agree with everyone who is suggesting not to paint the cabinets. I like natural wood finishes too. However, you are trying to update for resale. And all you have to do is read post after post here from people who want to paint their cabinets white to know what the majority of home shoppers will want. You are designing this kitchen for the NEXT buyer, not for you. In this case, “trendy” will serve you well when you’re ready to sell.

Or you can add a "kitchen allowance" of certain amount when selling...if someone wants to keep the cabinets, then they get to choose the counters to their liking..."for free". If they want to rip all of it out (to open it up, get rid of the soffits etc), then the lower asking price might be attractive and you didn't live through a reno with kids (you have door locks...so I assume).

I highly appreciate-as a buyer-when people don't design for me, but for themselves. Somehow turns to be much better job LOL. Not every time, but in most cases.

(in a couple years most people would like to have wood grain. People here get too bored too fast. They're already bored with white, with gray..beforehand they were bored with oak..beforehand they were again bored with whatever was here popular before oak..sorry don't remember what that was since not local..I say: don't fix what ain't broken. And handle every change with consideration to what your house is, and what existing elements are/will stay)

So your plan sounds good to me Juliet. I like your current layout(judging from pics)..concentrate on countertops, backsplash, and sink/plumbing..maybe finding another light..it's a very friendly kitchen you've got, play off that friendliness.

Consult a realtor before you do anything. My realtor here in Portland would say absolutely do not paint the original cabinets or woodwork in your home. There is no ROI on that here and a greater chance of losing all those buyers who want MCM charm.

I do think painting the backsplash would be worth a try, though.

leave as is...you will be surprised...To Do: clean thoroughly, see if you can swap existing hardware for more retro hardware, put some chrome organization things inside, upgrade the chrome faucet.

I would definitely agree with talking to a realtor. Where we are the difference between the op’s kitchens and the one Kristin posted would absolutely make a difference in the sale of the home. The houses here that have original 60’s kitchens go for less and/or sit in the market because most people don’t want to have to redo a kitchen and if they are going to they want a really good price for the house. Other people have said in their areas people plan to redo the kitchen when they buy no matter what. A realtor can give you good advice on what buyers in your market want.

Our realtor told us that allowances don’t work. People make an impression based on what they see and have a hard time getting past that, and the sellers and buyers invarably think the cost of the upgrade or fix is different (sellers less and buyers more).

I'm in a part of the country (DC area), where these kind of cabinets would actually attract young buyers (ditto the metal edged counters).

I'd clean the cabinets really well, paint the fake brick backsplash an off white (unless you want to go with new tiled backsplash or glass), invest in some MCM-like light fixtures, and style it in black and white when it's time to sell.

You won't be able to appeal to buyers who are into the white Shaker/marble look, even with painting and adding trim.

Lean into it and highlight what you’ve got. Replace the backsplash as barncatz says, replace counters with solid color solid surface, and perhaps get new cabinet hardware. Maybe remove the valence over the sink, but only if you can do so without leaving marks on the adjacent cabinets.

..got it:)

Do nothing but clean and declutter. Price the house appropriately and allow the next buyer to re-do the kitchen to the buyer's taste, not yours. It would be lipstick on a pig...