I only changed a small section of my kitchen cabinets (wanted to get rid of kitchen desk area) but wanted to keep my old great quality (but ugly) cabinets. I found a local cabinetmaker who was willing to build me the new section of cabinets, new doors and drawer fronts for the old cabinets, and reface all to match. The old cabinets are oak and oak veneer and I wanted a dark dark cherry. The new cabinet section is solid cherry. Unlike what I've read so often on this forum, my guy actually makes his own doors and drawers. He also showed me the cherry veneers he used for the old cabinets. no contact paper here. real cherry sides placed on sides of cabs and all frame elements (including inside the doors) in a more flexible veneer, but still real cherry wood. I think it looks fantastic. My kitchen has about 33 linear feet of cabinets....most of it has uppers except for the window area and the penninsula. It was only about 6500 dollars, including the new section. To me, this is a lot of money. But certainly way cheaper than all new cabs...not to mention the fact that all new cabs would be such a waste, given that my old ones are so solid. I would try to find local people who do kitchen refacing, or you could order the doors and veneer online and DIY.

Hope Shelayne is still hanging in there with us, and comes back to tell us how her house is doing after almost a year. Oh, ML, you are just too sweet! Thank you for thinking of me! The house is still standing--LOL. No, we have done a lot of work on it and are now working on the basement. I think I can say that the kitchen is finally finished. Well, there is the stairwell off the kitchen that needs to be finished. I suppose I need to post finished pics someday, as I did promise to do so. I need to find my camera, as my phone camera is just *pfffft*. I also need to post when it's clean, and right now, with the kids home from school and all the Christmas festivities, it is being used. A lot. And that is a good thing, really. I am truly blessed. :) A belated Merry Christmas to all, and to all a very happy new year!

you're doing a lot of changes comparatively speaking of course..you plan to change some cabinetry and work with new color..you plan to choose new countertop, new backsplash i don't know about costs but I feel starting new will be easier..refacing plus creating new pieces sounds expensive. Countertops, backsplash-all that is disruption and money. If you wanted just to paint would be different story. It can be done of course..purchasing new pieces and all..it just won't be less headache. Or so I think. Can you leave the island as is? The cabinet part? That'd save a lot. as for priorites-right question. say was it me-I wouldn't even touch the kitchen (but I'm obviously less of a cook than you..so that matters too). I'd style it pretty and paint walls a different color and go to Kauai..and buy there an art in Hanapepe..:) But I think it seriosly bugs you probably if you consulted three different pros so choose the option that will allow you for the least headache, with most satisfaction in the end. "Headache" can be money or time or ..you know yourself. Yes, kitchens are usually popular on Craigslist, so selling is definitely an option. BTW granite is too. People buy everything.

Are the doors and the cabinets a slightly different shade of white? It's hard to tell from.the photo, but maybe that is attracting your eye. I've never done anything other than paint the walls in our kitchen and change hardware, but I've imagined changing it for a long time, so I understand where you are coming from. From my understanding, it would be possible to change out doors and drawers, but again, the cost to paint cabinets can be in the thousands. I entertained that for my own kitchen and decided against it. I think the backsplash would be a more impactful change. My two cents.