The cabinets are oak. Yes, one could paint them, it's just a little challenging with the deep grain that oak brings to the table. There are lots of sites and Pinterest pages that give good advice on how to best paint them. Because there is so much oak, almost anything ELSE you do will not have as much impact as that cabinet colour will. Actually, once/if you paint the cabinets, everything else you do will just add to the new fresh look. ;) Even the granite counter might look a little more updated with a new cabinet colour around it. Best of luck!!

Great post, but two very important questions are 1) what is your style and 2) what is your budget? The leaded glass cabinet inserts are sort of faux Victoria. The ceiling fan has some ornate curly things. I’d probably get rid of both. Do you feel that you need a fan in the kitchen at all? I’d also change out to a counterdepth refrigerator and a simpler, more modern light fixture over the table. Oak cabinets are difficult to paint well since the grain will remain visible. Is the wall behind the stove load bearing, and what is on the other side?

I’m sure that you’ll get a lot of responses, as well as additional questions, on this site.

Enjoy your new home, and be sure to buy that mattress.

Paint the cabinets can make a huge difference for the time being. Or taking down some of the uppercabinets and replacing with shelves.

If new cabinets are not In The budget I’d leave the existing cabs As is. The chocolate brown counters are not helping . Whitish family of counters and backsplash would do a lot. Remove ceiling fan. Try some patterned floor mats in greens or whatever you see you like. Biggest decision is whether the cabs remain for a time frame that warrants new counters. If so that’s a good spot for a major tweak. I would not paint the cabs.

Painting done well will not be inexpensive. I too find painting oak to not give one an end product that is pleasing. What's the time frame of blowing out that wall? I would try to live with as much as you can until you are all in. Any money spent now--is money the new kitchen won't get.

At most, I would remove the 4" granite backsplash (and ceiling fan and valance), put in a new tile splash to the bottom of the cabinets, and paint the walls. The layout of this kitchen is not optimal with the sink, DW and stove all packed in one corner. Since the oak cabinets aren't going to paint well anyway, wait for anything more until you can gut it!

How much work are you interested/willing to do. If your not redoing the cabinets for another while I’d definitely paint them and add hardware to them. If you want a cheaper counter solution you can go butcher block but I would maybe go cement. Otherwise I’d obviously do a granite or quartz. Definitely would love to see a backsplash there depending on what paint you go with. Also remove the fan and replace it with a pretty light fixture
Lots of potential here and I’m excited to follow Along

We are over the moon with the feedback!

You have shared valuable lessons with us: small fixes, like chandelier and fan replacement will go a long way (but what do those even look like? Ahhh! What potlights can you envision?) The cabinets are oak - good to know- and painting results will be likely disappointing, even if they do give this more life. And now I know those window looking cabinet things are “faux Victoria“ and I still don’t like them. Hurray for an expanded decor vocabulary!

So here’s some answers to questions:

Timeline for remodel, perhaps one year. Start really depends on how much $ we have after we get basic furniture (house is three bed / two bath, that’s not our furniture by the way). Budget... it was $15K but I’m wondering if that’s even realistic anymore, now that I’ve looked at the cost of a stove vent (what’s that thing that absorbs the smoke?) and because we’re recognizing that as a long term investment: replacing cabinets sounds like the better upgrade over painting. Also, the wall is not load bearing, by the way. I envisioned an island there instead but I can hear the cash register dings and it’s getting scary expensive to think of the cost of moving the stove...

As far as aesthetics, we are wanting to honor the ranch style of the house, but we have our quirks. I always did like white or light cabinets, but am not as into the subway tiling look. I wonder if we could add our touch and make a backsplash blue or teal or, even yellow.

Also, as soon as I can, I will load a scaled diagram. But so far, this has been great, thank you!

(Seriously, imagine being spun around several times and then trying to know which way to go. I think the experience is this forum is really giving us a sense of direction).

I think your kitchen looks quite functional and livable for the present. I wouldn't do any changes until you live their for several months (ideally a year). Then you can browse pinterest and find inspiration photos that help you refine your style. If you find that you like the layout and that the cabinet locations work for you, you can look into options for finishing your cabinets to your liking. You can strip them and do a new stain colour (driftwood is popular right now), or paint them, or whatever suits you then.

Changing lighting is super easy and has a major effect on the space. First thing we did in my new home was get sparkly chandeliers in all of the rooms. Everything looks so fresh now!

Congrats on your new home!

I think you have a decent kitchen. It is good sized, and its in good condition. It may not be exactly your taste, but, it is functional. I would add color on the walls, and appears to be no backsplash, so I would run the wall color on to the entire backsplash area. You say you like teals, well a light teal, would perk it up considerably. Change the fan and the light fixture over the table, if you dont like them. Make sure all your light bulbs are led daylight type 4000k. You just moved in to the house, there are many more important things, to spend your money on right now, and the kitchen just isnt one of those things. I dislike the wall color, so that would be a priority change for me. I dont mind the fan so much, but, I dislike the fixture over the table, so that would be priority. Everything else, I could live with, and be thankful, its a nice sized kitchen, and in great condition.

Mariana - $15k won't get you very far in kitchen remodeling even in a low cost-of-living area. If you're replacing cabinets, lighting, counters, etc. and taking out a wall, plan on at least two to five times that amount, depending where you live. If you're experienced DIYers with mad skills you'll be able to do it for less, but not nearly as inexpensively as you're probably hoping for.

BTW, you can probably replace those glass inserts in your cabinets for a very reasonable cost. Light fixtures are fairly easy DIY projects. Paint, rugs, curtains, etc. are also affordable. Your kitchen looks pretty good to me -- I've lived and cooked in far, far worse. Just make it your own with simple changes and some fun decorative items. And congratulations on your new home. It's a big milestone.

I’ve started the google search of DIY updates for 90s kitchens with oak cabinets, to still give it some oomph until a larger remodel can take place. This is exciting.

For those who wonder why this would be priority: it’s simple, the kitchen has a lot of significance for me. It’s where my girlfriends gather with me to try new recipes, where my family hangs out DESPITE having a full living room with more comfortable seating, It’s the actual home in our house. And I am very grateful that I was able to find a home at our budget, that does allow for us to make updates down the line.

So to start: I think I’ll begin with lightening the counter space, replacing the sink / faucet, and adding accent lights and freshening with new curtains. Until we figure out what the cabinet and wall destruction will cost, that’s a very safe and return-worthy place to start. I’m also very excited to turn the small dining area into a nook with a round table. I’ll post photos!

Painting walls, less expensive and easier to change if you don't like results!

Don't spend a ton of money on counters if you plan to redo the Kitchen within the next 3 to 5 years or so. It will be wasted money since it is highly unlikely you will be able to re-use them. For now, if you decide to replace the counters, go with laminate or butcher block, not stone -- real or engineered. Similarly, if you decide to put in a backsplash, pick something relatively inexpensive and, maybe, one you can DIY (if you're a DIY-er).

For undercabinet lights, consider inexpensive lights that are easy to install.

Don't spend too much money on things that will be changed later. There are at least a couple of functional issues that, hopefully, you will address when you do a full remodel. Until then, live with what you can.

Good luck and enjoy your new home!

I also think what’s dating it a lot are the appliances. The black on it...

I'm certainly thinking of a DIY budget for enhancements, depending on what we get quoted for a remodel. I've looked at laminate to go over counters, and backsplash too.

I wish replacing appliances was not entirely out of the conversation, but unfortunately it is!

I have read the comments on painting the oak cabinets and with all due respect, I disagree. I had golden oak cabinets the same as yours and painted them myself and really loved the results. But I am very much a DIY girl.
But you have to put in the work and the cabinets have to be in good shape.

• I took them all down, numbered them and took off the hardware. Each door was carefully sanded, then tsp powder applied. Each door got two coats of benjamin moore primer next. Dont rush the drying. Then two coats of benjamin moore Advance cabinet paint .Left them off the cupboards for 28 days to cure and harden then reinstalled. Three years later they still are not chipping and I still really love them.
• i ended up keeping my flooring and granite counter top, which had been installed to try and get me to love those golden oak cabinets because I liked the kitchen results so much and it seemed to go well with the new colour. Saved a bundle!

How cool, and very dedicated! Do you have any photos? Or what color did you opt for?

Hi Mariana. The colour was benjamin moore silver fox. It reads as a very very light taupe

the primer was STIX ( totally recommend it)

here are a couple of photos. No regrets . whatever you decide to do, just be sure to make it your own. some people will like the wood, others will hate it. I had it for 17 years and enough was enough LOL

Mariana, just read all the responses to your very cheerful request for input. Congratulations on your new home! I wondered if the furnishings pictured were yours or the sale pics - was guessing latter as didn’t seem to match your voice! My 2 cents is on the side of waiting & spend very little now. The change to your furnishings will be a major change. The only items I’d spend $$ on now is those 3 wildly different light fixtures! I’ve never seen a ceiling fan like that in a kitchen. I’d also change out the glass in upper cabinets. Depending on your dishes & / or your tidiness level, maybe look at glass that hides contents & has different vibe. Something like reeded or ribbed glass. Paint would also be a great backdrop for your preferred colors. That‘s all I’d spend any $$ on now. Then I’d live in the house for year or two to give you the chance to learn what works for you and what needs to change. The thought of taking on painting cabinets makes me want to hide under the covers!

Here is kitchen we designed for a client. We know you said you don't like the countertops, but perhaps seeing a kitchen similar to yours will aid you in your dilemma.

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