I just had my cabinets painted and opted to switch out my door/drawer fronts for new style shaker. they sprayed them. Find a place that can order them for you.

what I would do, hands down, is trim out the back and sides of your bottom cabinets. those will look 10X better this way.

Many different ways to do it, and it's not difficult. (Search, 'how to trim out island or peninsula panels)

as for choosing a paint color, don't match it to the granite if you plan on changing it down the road. Just do a neutral White like Simply White or White Dove.

Look into Pre-Fab quartz countertops. a 9' X24" countertop piece should only be about $450 or so. (you hire a fabricator to cut it and install. maybe another $1000 or so)

(this is a different color, but they basically look like this)

all of these (except the large slabs in the back) are pre-fabs

any major stone/slab supplier should carry them. and plain white quartz is the cheapest.

Just paint the existing cabinets a darker tone, charcoal.

The doors are 50-75% of the cost of cabinets and refinishing these is not worth the investment.

OK. I agree with felizlady ==. First try changing the hardware on the doors. I don’t hate your cabinets.

You can order new doors and drawer fronts online. They have tutorials on how to measure and install them. It's by far the cheapest quick fix option.

If you move into a new house the best thing you can do is wait 6 months to a year to do any changes. Especially if money is tight because things will always come up and they're usually the things you wish didn't. Those hidden things that make the house work but add nothing to the aesthetics of the house.

The doors are 50-75% of the cost of cabinets and refinishing these is not worth the investment.

I disagree. Painting these cabs herself is a huge undertaking (to do correctly). not everyone has the time or he skill to do this. And quite frankly, painting them in a darker color, she will still have ugly cabinets. Paying someone to paint them would be well over 5K. Maybe more. And if the cabinet bases are in excellent shape, why wouldn't new doors be worth the investment? They were for me. If she goes this route, then she should order new door fronts and have them paint those as well.

I just did it w/my kitchen. I had custom wood cabinets and hired a company to come in and strip and spray lacquer them. We both determined that getting new shaker doors/ drawer fronts would look better when painted. my doors were all solid wood. the new doors are solid wood w/mdf panels. better choice for painting. I have a lot of cabinets. getting everything refaced was only an additional $2100. I was already paying for the labor of getting everything painted, so the new doors/drawer fronts really wasn't that much.

Overall, it wasn't super cheap, but getting all new cabinets (mine were custom built 15 years ago) would have been triple the cost.

I'm not completely finished w/everything, but here's a quick before and after showing the new doors in the pantry area. My older doors had a secondary routing design around the inner panel. They couldn't replicate on my drawer fronts (For some reason I had both slab, and shaker style on my drawer fronts. I wanted them all to match)

So, getting it refaced was not that much more. Certainly wasn't 75% of the price.

Stacey, if you have very little for remodeling, then you're going to have to live w/these for awhile. Determine if the layout works for you. Are the cabinets in good shape (other than the looks)? If so, you can have the skeleton painted and refaced. do not go w/HD or Lowes, as they will charge you the price of an organ. Go with a smaller company or custom cabinet builders. Or, look online if you have standard sizes and order those. If you paint them yourself you'll save a lot more (I have a great tutorial if you need it)

The cabinets don't look that bad in these photos. Try the simplest thing first: change out the hardware. Something in satin nickel would virtually disappear and make a real difference for almost no cost.

And the lighting. Change that out while you're at it. Another low cost update.

What are those fake rivets made of? Could you cut them off and just repaint those spots to match the door color? The doors might look ok without the

If you keep neat shelves, you can remove the doors of the top cabinets.

It is regional, where I live refinishing and replacing doors normally cost more than getting brand new custom cabinets.

And if she gets new doors she has to get everything painted, so sure the doors only cost 2K but then you are paying 5K for them to be painted.

My personal kitchen was 8K for custom cherry natural cabinets w/ a custom hood and 3'6x7'6' island. It would have cost me $5K to have my old crappy cabinets painted and not increased the function in any way.

Painting this crap would have cost $5K

Five Corners Kitchen Remodel · More Info

All new custom cabinets cost $8K

Five Corners Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Just save up and do it right.

custom built, solid cherry cabs for 8K? that's a steal.

Get yourself a modern track light to replace that thing in the middle of the kitchen, and something simple for over the table. You can install them yourself. You can install new hardware on the cabinets yourself as well. All you need is a screwdriver.

The kitchen wall color doesn't play well with the counter or the colors on the dining nook walls, and that will make the counter less attractive. Look for a warm white to repaint the walls, perhaps one with a hint of a similar blue or green (or repaint the entire area).

The advice to wait to see how the kitchen layout functions is excellent. In the end, function trumps looks (although I want a pretty kitchen, too!). Also the advice to wait and save money to do a good remodel in a few years.

Unfortunately painting the cabinets as they are really won't cover the rustic look. Black would just turn your kitchen into a cave.

While you are waiting, you can start researching options. Figure out how much you will be willing to save up and spend. Google for local cabinet makers, places like Grossman's Bargain Outlet, other local sellers and remodelers. If you have Ikea nearby, you can use their planner to see how much new cabinets from there would cost. Google discount granite for your area - prefab granite is available. . Maybe you would prefer an attractive low cost solid surface or laminate, or wood, if you dislike your current granite that much and decide to change it

If you decide to move forward with making changes now:

Both Conestoga (RTAStore and CabinetAuthority) and Barker Door offer good quality on line; they have both been mentioned positively here over the years, but they may still be out of your price range. There are many other sources of replacement doors and drawer fronts but I've no experience with them to make a recommendation. The reality is that even "builder grade" cabinets will usually hold up for a long time - and there have been quality issues with even some of the expensive brands.

I don't agree that it is impossible do a decent job with buying unfinished and painting them yourself. I've seen many examples here of fine DIY jobs. You would need to be sure to get the correct type of paint (Cabinet Coat is one that is pricier but supposed to produce great results), learn what prep you need to do and do it thoroughly, and practice on the throw-away doors before you tackle the new ones. Or if you are just going for a temporary fix, get the cheapest doors/drawers and just proceed carefully with a good quality paint. There are many tutorials on youtube to teach you technique.

Do you have the time and patience for it?

The bright white would get to me as well, but black would be very dark and might still clash with the granite. A cream or tan or ??? color would help a lot.

Painting cabinets is not trivial, but not months and months of arduous work. I painted my kitchen cabs over a weekend and a week of weeknights (after work) for around $100. Look over the steps needed before diving in.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/kitchen/diy-kitchen-cabinets/surprising-tips-for-painting-kitchen-cabinets/

but I honestly don't know how much longer I can look at these cabinets.

Good gravy! I feel you! Those doors have to go. Don't try to doctor them up with new hardware.

Paint both the kitchen and the breakfast area the same color. Try BM Revere Pewter with the granite as a neutral, if you don’t have a particular color you want.

Thank you everyone. This is all great advice! I got a few basic estimates for refacing at aground $6k, which is what I expected. But you do make a good point about waiting to see how the layout works.

I love the ideas of trimming out the bottom cabinets, and changing the light fixtures are definitely a top priority. Those old 80s fixtures are all through the house.

The paint color we’ve chosen for all our main areas of the house is SW Amazing Gray, which is similar to Revere Pewter but it’s a few shades darker. I plan on painting this weekend so hopefully that will be a big difference.

I also like the idea of just removing the doors in the upper cabinets. At first I thought that would just look unfinished, but I just saw photos of several that were trimmed out and it looked nice!

You all just helped me gain a little of my sanity back haha

That grey actually might be a good solution for the short term!

I have to say that is a particular obnoxious door style.

However, you really need to live it. The thing with houses is there are unexpected expenses usually in the first few months. And it takes time for a house to speak to you and for you to see what does and does not work. Even a suddenly large car repair bill can throw the budget off. Because the bank really is over-generous in what it thinks you can afford.

The darker grey beverly did makes the oddness of the doors stand out even more. Could you just paint your walls, do a greige on the cabinets (the white will be a nice primer, as it appears they have already been painted, do it yourself it's not that hard,) then put all the dollars you saved away for the total redo, when you can rid yourself of the bulkheads and get the kitchen you really want. Change out the light fixtures with some low cost but big style fixtures from Menards or Lowes to distract the eye from the cabinets you don't like.

go to chrislovesjulia on Instagram .. see what they just did to their kitchen with similar countertop color..

Its easy to do a decent paint job and transform your kitchen until you do a major overhaul. Get a good, self-leveling paint. You can also use Rustoleum on the hardware so it doesn’t stand out so much—- $20 tops and easy fix

The issue is there is so much contrast the the cabinet really stands out with the stark white. Given your floors are staying and the granite is staying, work with those tones. Find a soft beige that’s in the granite (possibly Monroe Bisque or slightly darker). Then paint the cabinets in that and the wall; everything will soften and serve as “background “.

Try squinting your eyes and looking at it, may help imagine how if the cabinets and granite, floors and walls all blend together it won’t be so noticeable.

Good luck, enjoy

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whats not to like about your cabinets? faceted glass knobs or white porcelain knobs. Remove the 4 in backsplash and put in a white patterned tile. Paint the bulkhead a white as the greige does not work with the green wall. This is urban cottage...eclectic.. Use coral with the green if the green is staying [ the green is workable] Color be your friend!!!! Look at those last pics!!!! Yes sure the kitchen will probably get redone...later!....just play up the feel of what it is for now You have a nice seating area ...floor rug.....table décor.....maybe small special chandelier …..plants.

I totally get not loving your kitchen. We have lived in ours 3 years and while it wasn't awful, it just wasn't my taste. Live in yours a while. Determine if the flow suits your family. Save your money until you can do the remodel that you want. If the doors bother you that much, remove them. But if you only have a little money to do any renovations / remodel, save that money and grow it. You never know what unexpected expenses will come up in the next few months. And other areas of the house may need more TLC than your kitchen.

Maybe remove one set of doors on the uppers if you want for decorative pieces or serving pieces that look nice and to break it up, but don’t remove them all. You don’t have a ton of cabinets which means everyone will be looking at your Tupperware, mismatched glasses and bowls, and limits what you can store based on how it looks.

Ugh, that granite has been installed in so many homes! In our last home we had it as well, we painted the cabinets Benjamin Moore’s Dove White which is creamy and coordinates with the stone very well. Good luck!

@Susan Sease you were braver than I to paint those beautiful cabinets and what a beautiful outcome you got. Looks fantastic.

I like herbflavor's suggestions as well as those that suggested maybe removing SOME of the upper doors (finishing out the trim etc and changing lighting). I think you might just find it makes a big enough difference that it will grow on you

@Stacey P

I can see the lowers in dark navy, the uppers in creamy white, and brass hardware to pop the counters. Have a tile guy get rid of the 3” dated backsplash and go with a subway that compliments the creamy white.

You have ‘bossy’ granite and working with that has to be part of the plan.

The poster said:

2.What style cabinet? My style is transitional, but tend to lean more towards contemporary. Basic shaker?

Those cabinets are not going to grow on her.......They need to go!

Stacey - you can't Rock those cabinets, but you can Rock the countertops.

These 50 year old cabinets were a beat up, worn spotted mess of dark stain and black strap hardware and ring pulls. The boxes were good. Old laminate counters replaced with quartz. With so many updates needed in the house, we opted to paint instead of replace the cabinets when preparing this home for a sale. Paint is transformational as is hardware.

The before pic is a neighbor’s home that sold - same finishes

If I’m this OP on a limited budget, I would

1. paint the lowers navy, uppers creamy white, replace the hardware with brass -

and...

2. When budget permits, replace the counters and reface.

I would not replace the hardware with brass. Part of the problem is that the hardware (hinges and knobs) add to the business of the door style. You need hardware that fades into the background.

Embrace the business of the cabinets, tell that bossy counter it isn’t the star, and really pop all of it with bold statement paint on the lowers, awesome hardware, complementary light uppers because the kitchen isn’t large and then get rid of that backsplash. Go subway to complement the uppers. Hide the hinges if possible but otherwise, replace them or have a pro spray them metallic To match the pulls.

I have never heard of cabinets being described as “Viking-looking”.

I get it: they look a bit like wooden viking shields. Still, with a limited budget, I say embrace them /learn to love them. Paint them yourself, if you must (I've done it, and I have no special painting talents -- it cost less than $50 but took SO MUCH TIME). Replacing cabinets /doors isn't a quick-fix /cheap-o change, and trying to half-way something will only bring more sorrow.

They ARE NOT awful from the viewpoint of someone who doesn't live in the house.

ideally I'd have a white quartz or marble ... My style is transitional ... lean more towards contemporary. Basic shaker? ... paint color we’ve chosen for all our main areas of the house is SW Amazing Gray ...

I say this very gently: Are you describing your own personal style, or are you describing what's trendy /hot at the moment?

@mdln yes the previous owners painted the cabinets white, and they did not do a very good job at it either! I will need to sand everything down before attempting to repaint

might be worth it if you can inquire what they actually did in the painting process. sometimes people don't really do the 'whole" process and intentionally or otherwise do things like use wall paint etc. Its possible you may just need to scuff a bit ...and start from there. Is it semi gloss? are the dings and knicks showing? these cabs have details..you could pick a shade for the carcass......and highlight the detailed doors with changes in gloss or lighter/darker effect on door fronts with the horizontal bands. If I thought that a full remodel was 3 yrs out or more I'd probably make something of a project with the doors. But then again you could scuff and just pick one shade like a blue or green high gloss and be done with it. Blue would work with the gold-ish counters as the two are complementary...just get the right shade. Get the right light bulbs in first and foremost.

no way I'd go through the hassle of repainting those. order new doors if you have to. sometimes on craigslist people sell entire kitchens. a lot of them are those oak kitchen cabinets. For cheap too. maybe you could find someone selling theirs and see if their doors would fit your boxes. Those you could paint to hold you over until saving up for a new kitchen

I am not familiar with all the "grays" out there in paint. But I do question if gray is a good choice to work with the counter. On the SW website, Amazing Gray looks a bit too cool to work with the counter granite.

I strongly suggest that you get a sample of the Amazing Gray, if you haven't already, and paint some large pieces of poster board or drywall then bring them onto the counters to be sure they are a complimentary fit. This will work best if you prime coat the colored walls with white first (as those colors will affect the way your sample and counter look.)

Check to see if you can get plain doors locally. I know I’ve see carpenters selling simple unfinished cabinet doors in my city on Craigslist. I understand. I could not tolerate your doors.

Paint the cabinets a color you can live with a while longer and save your money until you can redo the kitchen the way you really want it to be.

If you don't have a color in mind, consider taking the lightest tan color from the countertop and painting all the kitchen walls and cabinets that color.

One place you might consider creating something that could be the focus of attention when looking toward the kitchen is that left blank side of the peninsula. One thought, with the sink in the peninsula, you might create a "well" below the sink You could paint a three foot wide area just behind/below the sink blue and add a fish.

https://www.novica.com/p/fair-trade-hand-carved-wood-cutting-board/209940/

Do you have a hobby or particular interest that you might use some art to celebrate it on that blank "canvas"?

If you don't want to hang objects on the base cabinet, consider wallpaper with a pattern that speaks to your interests.

Just wanted to say that the access door on the dining side of the peninsula to access that otherwise hard to reach corner is a plus.

As usual, I think Groveraxle nailed it. Replace the light fixtures first

@Stacey P Pretty sure everyone would agree if you had the budget to change them and you hate them, then change them. Many are saying save the money and live with them until you save enough to do it right. Some are offering very affordable updates including painting them, but others are saying it will be pain to get them stripped and do it right. Others are saying, just change the hardware and lighting. As for removing the upper doors, you don’t have a huge kitchen so that might be a nightmare for hidden storage of non-displayable pieces in the lower cabs only (not a lot of cabs). Maybe one set of doors, but not all. Add change or paint the oven hood to the list.

If I hated my cabs as much as the OP, then I’d get some chalk or milk paint and go right over them knowing in time, when I can afford it I will replace them. It’s not a permanent fix.

These cabs are in the board and batten family and that look is charming. Not sure about the spikes and wondering if they can be removed and patched before painting.

To me, the issue isn’t the cabs style as much as it is the bossy granite that the white cabinets are fighting with.

1. Painting the cabs dark will enclose an already smallish kitchen. Go dark only on the bottom and creamy white (goes with the counter) on top.

2. Paint the oven hood the same as the bottom cabs if that is an option (not sure if painting an oven hood is an option).

3. Remove the bossy backsplash which is outdated.

4. Change the hardware and the light fixture.

A little sweat equity is always the answer for an immediate improvement without budget. It is what it is and the OP will be happier when she refocuses the eye off the blazing white cabs with dark hardware.

Changing out drawer fronts and doors is possible....not cheap, but better than replacing all the cabinets if the boxes are in good condition. A cabinet professional will measure right, make doors to fit and will install them right. I would encourage you to specify hidden hinges for a much more modern appearance.
A light creamy color on the cabinets will go better with the granite than that bright white. The cabinet pro can do that, too.

Hi Stacey Palmisano

HOLY SNOW WHITE!!!

(And congrats on your first new house!)

There are sooo many clashing warm/cool colors between both rooms, fixtures, walls, etc it's like a fun house!

Honestly?

Just paint the walls, change out a few fixtures and make payments on your lovely new house for at least a year knowing that something much bigger/important than kitchen cabinets may rear its ugly head in the interim.