These look like good cabinets and they will look so much better in white. However, painting oak is a real challenge because of the texture of the grain, even though YouTube has talented DIY'ers that make it looks so easy. If she can afford to replace the doors, that might actually be the best way to approach this project and paint the sides and frames.

Those would be "cathedral style" cabinet doors. And they're, well, terribly out of style - regardless of color - sorry to say. And cupofkindness is correct. Oak is b**ch to paint well and can often require grain filler.

That is the question. Replace the doors?
She is trying to make a change as budget friendly as possible.
Original plan was all new cabinets using an RTA company and then saw her neighbors freshly painted oak cabinets and painting became an option. The cabinets will go to a company that specializes in this to be painted.
She doesn't like the cathedral style doors though. Gratefully they're only the upper cabinets, but now struggling to find a local company that does that and reasonably.
Confirmation the door style is outdated will help with her decision.
Thank you! Love the help from Houzz!!

I painted cabinets like these and honestly worried so much about the grain because of this forum, but truly the grain was the least of my worries. Adds character, that's about it.

(not a pro) From what I've read here, professional painting is fairly pricey. It will be in her best interest to get a few quotes, and ask for samples of their work on cabinets with similar grains, and then compare those quotes with new cabinets. What do the inside of the doors look like? Wondering if it would be possible to flip them. If they're being painted anyway, holes for the hinges can be filled and painted over.

No use to have a professional paint that door style. Your friend is right, it's very dated and very 80's-early 90's. I would wait to be able to have new doors made for the uppers.

It can look great especially if you like a white kitchen much better but not in the budget for a complete redo.

Out of style??? SOOOO, NOT TRUE. I have painted 7 sets of kitchen cabinets for various friends and family members. I use

FUSION MINERAL PAINT which is usually sold in small specialty stores. It is a great and an “easy to use” product. Just need to follow the directions to the letter and put aside a week to do the work. Give plenty of drying time between coats...2-3 coats of the paint (depends on the color you choose) and 1-2 coats sealer. If you painted your cabinets a white/neutral color and put nice hardware pulls on them, I am sure you would be pleased!!! Top photo AFTER Bottom photo BEFORE...painted charcoal gray.

Yeah, they're still out of style, no matter what color you paint them or hardware you use.

OP: if your friend does want to paint them white/cream/light color and decides to hire someone - make sure to ask about tannin bleed for those oak cabinets. If they look confused or pooh pooh her, tell her to run, do not pass go, do not collect $200. They need to use the correct primer or her white cabinets will not be white very long and a good cabinet painter will know this....

I painted oak cabinets like that in my mother's house before I sold it. There was no tannin bleed because the cabinets were properly sealed to begin with. It isn't raw wood that you're dealing with. That's more of an issue with unfinished wood.

It was a ton of work but it came out great. I don't put much stock in the "out of style" question either. A raised panel door is a traditional look that keeps coming round. The dark look of the original oak becomes a nice white enamel and brightens the room. The oak grain remains as evidence that the door is solid wood and not particle board or MDF.

It comes down to time and budget. For the painting to work you have to do a lot of degreasing. Don't sand away the original finish. That's ruinous. Dull the original finish to help the primer. Multiple topcoats. If you aren't solid with your prep and technique don't bother.