bbstx, thank you so much for the tips. I have some other remodeling to be done by contractors. These days, I have been busy buying lights and materials for bathroom remodeling. Sorry for my late response. For the kitchen cabinets, I will paint them myself. screedesq, thank you very much for sharing your experience, which is very helpful. I'll use the Benjamin Moore Advance Simply White Semi Gloss. For the primer, I'll use Sherwin Williams PrepRiteProBlock latex primer. The sales lady recommended SW premium wall wood primer. But according to bbstx's referred post, the former should be better. I have the external hinge of bronze color. Did you have the same? Did you change them to stainless steel? I don't know if it would be a good idea to change them to internal hinge and if it would be an easy job. Did it take you a lot of time to degloss and sand the cabinets? Did you use a rotary orbital sander to do the job? The contractor who is going to remodel my house suggested Rust-Oleum Transformations. I doubt it would produce the same good result as SW preprite problock latex primer + BM advance? Really appreciate your help.

Do a search on the kitchen forum. I recall seeing quite a few threads where people who had painted their oak gave step by step details and advice. Good luck!

As you said, improving a house for sale, requires a careful evaluation of investment vs. return. Have you consulted with several local realtors to see what the consensus is? IMHO, Jan is correct - the counters and back splash are the problem here, not the cabinets. Unless the cabinets are shot (and we can't see that from your photos), save yourself time, $ and aggravation and don't paint them. I have years of experience staging homes for sale and I would advise you to lose the back splash and replace it with a simple creamy white subway tile to connect the floor and counters. Then lose the green walls because they do not enhance the wood cabs, etc. As Stacy suggested above, replace the pulls with simple brushed nickle. Then call it a day. Best.

My trim and ceilings are SW Pure white. I have stained wood lowers and SW Pure white uppers. My walls are a very light gray though so that gives a bit more depth (Drift of Mist). In your case I would probably use SW alabaster on the cabinets as well unless you want the cabinets to look WHITE and the walls and trim to look creamy/slightly yellow. Personally I don't think I'd like the contrast.