Since you have that white bookcase nearby, I would paint the cabinets the same color, which would give your kitchen a fresh look that is more classic than what you have now.

I wouldn't waste my effort of money. It really goes pretty well with all that stone in the two rooms. Save the money in hopes you can re-do the entire kitchen a year sooner!

Was the island cart taken by the owners? I'd consider buying an inexpensive one from Ikea. I think that cart really helps the room.

Not sure I would bother painting the cabinets. They work with the stone work there now.

Thanks Ingrid! The color was going to be my next question if painting was an option!

Anglophilia- thank you, yes the cart was taken by the owners. It isn’t my taste either. I like Modern or transitional & this kitchen is far from that. I was hoping to temporarily update it What type of cart do you see complimenting this kitchen?

Agree with pink mountain. That white bookcase is way too stark.

Save your money. Don't paint and redo the kitchen when you're ready.

If you're planning a complete redo in 5 years, I'd save my money. A really good paint job is going to cost around $7K (that's the going rate around me) which is a decent amount that could be put to better use IMO.

I wouldn't paint the cabinets - I think the wood goes nicely with the stone. You can diminish much of the wear on the peninsula with some Howard's Restore-a-Finish. I'd use their walnut color for your cabinets -- that's what they call their medium brown. It works wonders. Other than that, I wouldn't do much of you're already planning a complete redo in five years.

The photo may be deceiving...does the bookcase connect to a wall, then entrance casing then counter?

Adjoining living room with the bookcases.

There are a lot of things I think I would dislike about that kitchen, but the cabinet color isn't on my list. I'm with the folks who have said save your money for a major renovation.

Rantontoo- tried to upload picture of adjoining family room but couldn’t. The bookcase is in the family room on the other side of the wall of the entrance. The fireplace is flanked with 2 bookcases & back wall is a set of large 2 story windows trimmed in the same white trim & opposite bookcases is frenchdoors & another set of windows, all trimmed with same white trim.

Cawaps- I agree! I can’t wait to one day get rid of the stone above stove, the corner sink, the peninsula, etc etc. Just trying to like it a little more right now until we can do all the major changes

Adjoining family room

I'm glad I didn't offend you. Yeah, the stone above the stove (does it even match the fireplace? It doesn't look like it does) and the corner sink were among my top issues, based on what I can see in the photo, along with the stove niche generally and the lack of prep space between the sink and range. I don't think I would like working there.

I understand the appeal of cosmetic improvements, just saying don't let it set you back financially on the march to affording the things that matter more.

If the back of the peninsula is really bad looking, you can paint just that part of the cabinets--probably one of those earthy wall colors.

Overall, it's an inoffensive kitchen and I think waiting for the real remodel is a good idea.

Five years is a long time, I'd paint right now and I'd water down the paint and apply it to the stone too. That alone will make a better look for the time being.

Yayagal- never thought about painting the stone. The 2 different stones so close together bothers me too so that is a great idea!

kathe-which lone cabinet? The one by the stone or the one with the glass inserts?

Whitewash would be better than painting, I think

If you paint the book shelf then you paint both and they won't reference anything. If you intend to go white--leave it be!! If you go with a color in your kitchen you could test it out on the bookshelves first, 7K for a paint job is for sure a sum worth keeping for the new cabinets. I am glad the "island" is gone and again would not spend a nickel on another because it looked to be in the way and who knows in five years what sort of space you will settle on. The stone choice on the "hood" makes no sense, and then a third with the back splash.

That stone alcove over the stove would bug me from a cleaning perspective. But major bucks to tear out. How likely are you to do that? You can paint the cabinets by yourself, but you need to use nasty oil based paint and a sprayer. My friend had hers done, the people took them down and sprayed them out in her barn (so it could be done with proper equipment and ventilation) and then they were put back up. You could do that yourself but only if you were very handy as far as taking them down and putting them back up. If you don't prep them properly, the paint will just peel off. My landlady paints her kitchens with very little prep. every couple of years, the paint does not stick.

I'm lazy. I'd live with it and save up for the redo. Meanwhile I'd paint the shelving units next to the fireplace the same color as the wall and call it good. I wouldn't paint one stone wall and not the other. I painted a cheapo fireplace wall once for that same friend who did her cabinets. It's a lot of work but in her case it was a fake stone backwall behind a wood stove. Stone is stone-colored. If you want white, cover the stone with white tiles. Painted stone looks weird. But that's just my opinion, YMMV so if you love the look of painted stone, go for it. But I wouldn't do it in the vain hopes it's going to look like something else, other than painted stone.

arcy- We would not be diying anything. Hubby is handy but we would let professionals paint cabinets.

l pink- yes the stone really bugs me. Planning on having it taken out by professionals when we redo the kitchen.

I’m thinking not much is going to change this kitchen until the biggest elephant in the room can be removed (the stone hood).

Seriously, don't waste money on temporary lipstick. Use that money towards some new furniture or to update a small bathroom.

You should live in the house for a few months before you start throwing paint on a stone fireplace!

The only other thing I can ad is I learned early on that you tone down a feature you DON'T like not by adding lots of contrasting colors, but by adding similar ones. The white shelving on either side of the family room fireplace, while nice in itself, is highlighting the stone fireplace. If you don't like the stone fireplace, that's the last thing you want to do. Painting the kitchen cabinets white or some other light color, is just going to highlight the stone hood over the stove. I can't imagine painting it would be much better. I suggest going with the flow. But YMMV. You could cover the hood with shiplap, paint the cabinets white and paint the inside of the hood tiles dark grey and you'd be up to speed with "modern farmhouse."

Thanks l pink, I certainly don’t want to highlight the stone! I think being patient & living with it is sounding like the best advice & Ill be sure to check back here in a few years for ideas on how to reconfigure the layout!

One of my good friends lived with a kitchen with orange countertops and a big brick wall sorta like your stone one, for years. She made a lot of jokes about it and just sorta embraced the kitsch of it. Eventually she was able to rip out some of the orange and I think they ended up painting the cabinets and the rest of the countertop before they sold the house. The house she bought had a similarly wonky kitchen but they gradually redid that one. I think you might be able to do a mini refresh just by tearing out the stone hood over the stove, if you hate it that much. That might be modestly expensive and probably about as much as having the cabinets professionally painted. A good cabinet maker could also add a range hood cover that matched your existing set. Something like this maybe . . .

l pink- that’s a great idea & a range hood I could definately live with! We have left over backsplash tile so this may be doable.

Abby I thought of you today when I came across this blog. Maybe going with a dark grey color paint might make the fireplace stand out less. Here's a link to the blog, just for color ideas . . . https://laurelberninteriors.com/2018/02/21/black-and-white-kitchen-replaces-mid-century-mess/

l pink- funny you said dark gray. I just told my husband I’d like to paint the family room BM pale oak & paint the build-ins a darker gray. Thanks for thinking of me & providing the link:)

Most of the paint companies have web sites where you can upload a copy of a photo of your room and try out different types of color combos.