No. Treat cabinets and trim attached to them (cabinet crown) as one finish. Base, case, doors, and ceiling crown (not attached to cabinets) as a separate finish. We do it all the time.

Note the crown colors here:

Deer Creek Kitchen · More Info

I have to agree with herbflavor. The cabinets are beautiful, its those walls that are such a problem. The yellowy color does nothing for the room, and in fact, clashes with the cabs and trim, and doors. Painting walls, is a whole lot less money than painting cabinets, and a whole lot easier too.

I totally agree with others, the cabinets are beautiful the way they are and should not be painted. I love them! It's the wall color, backsplash and granite that date the room. If it were my house, I'd paint the walls a color that plays well with my furniture. I'd paint the doors and trim white because I love white trim. and think it looks great with stained cabinetry. I'd leave all of the cabinets as they are. If I could afford it, I'd update the backsplash and counters. Half inch white quartz or corian would look amazing in your kitchen.

I had planned to also paint the walls and replace the backsplash. Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

Leave the cabinets. Paint the walls and trim instead.

Painting the trim will suck, no two ways about it, but the difference it will make will be dramatic.

I painted my houseful of honey oak trim last year. It was a complete PITA but it was 1000% worth it.

sayboone, what about the baseboards? Is it ok to leave them the stained color if I paint the trim?

@Karen Winnick I'd paint it all. (Sorry, probably not the answer you wanted to hear! :) )

I would first paint cabinets and walls. Then you will see if you like not painted trim and door. You can paint them later.

I would paint the walls first before doing any trim. Once the walls are painted a nice color, then save for some new countertops. You can always go back and paint trim later if you still want it painted, but, getting rid of all the yellow would be top priority for me. Baseboards are trim, it should be painted too, if you paint.

Celery & cat_ky: Thank you for your feedback and the visualization.

Your cabinets are beautiful as is -- would not paint any part of them.

Would paint the gold wall instead to update and lighten up the room.

Would replace the backsplash and (side splash) over the countertop with the sink with a single row of either single color 4"- 6" backsplash tile and paint that wall above the short backsplash as well or, at the very least, stop at below window sill height, including for the side wall(s).

Consider both your new backsplash and your new wall color together -- have them coordinate well -- the wood cabinets will go with anything.

To take stock of the open areas: do you like the fp units? with stone, with medium warm grey curtains, etc.. seem nice.

Why change the kitchen cabinets particularly?

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Also to get your 'general picture' - do you/ yours think of your house like these photos, Craftsman...

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As a comparison - this first too much in one spot !

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They change the island color -

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Based on the majority of recommendations, I will keep the wood cabinets but paint the walls, get a new backsplash and countertops. May consider just painting the island .

Is subway tile still the going trend? I'm not particularly fond of this tile and would appreciate another suggestion. I can just imagine putting in subway tile and then it being out of style next year (ha.) I would also like to remove the wood backboard above the built in cabinets and replace with the same backsplash. What are your thoughts on that?

If you like subway tile, go for it, it has been in style for a whole lot of years, and it may go off trend, but, it will always be in style. Do not pick backsplash, until you pick countertops and actually have them installed. Your island would look nice painted.

If you don't like subway tile, don't install it. The backsplash is one of the easier things in a kitchen to change, so there is no reason not to just totally suit yourself with it and not worry about anyone else.

I don't know if the subway tile trend is waning. I have been expecting people to get bored with it every year for like five years and keep being astonished when they don't. Surely we are all overdue for a change?