IMO- While I agree with 82mainstreet about painting cabinets white and not expresso, I also believe you won't be happy unless the color combo pleases you. - First, what do you want to accomplish? Are you intending to live in the home for a long time? Or are you painting for resale? - If you are painting for resale, then classic white for your cabinets is your best choice. It has wider appeal. A future owner will find it easier to change the wall color than the cabinets. - If you are planning to stay in the house, you can be more personal in your color choices. - But be wary of fads, especially when painting cabinets. It is much easier to paint walls. From your photo, it looks like your cabinets are nicely finished wood. Personally, I wouldn't change that unless they are damaged. I would just update the wall color, but that is just my opinion. If you do paint the cabinets, don't be swayed by fad colors. I would still recommend white or maybe a pale cream. That way, if you get tired of your color combo in the future, you only have to change the walls to update the room. - Unless you are changing your appliances and flooring, very dark cabinets will probably make your kitchen feel overwhelmingly dark and warm. - Consider your lighting and how you want your kitchen to feel. Does your kitchen feel too warm or too cool when your work in it? - White will give your room a light and airy feel especially if paired with cool blues and greens. If that seems to make the room feel too cold, white or cream can be warmed up with a bright wall color like apricot, lime green or turquoise. Try looking through magazines for color combos you like...or look inside your own closet for colors that make you feel good.

I'd be tempted to try painting the walls man cave first. I think it could look stunning with your cabinets and go a long way toward making your kitchen look sleek. If you have the $$ for it, I'd consider changing out your countertops to something less yellow. If you find a laminate you like in stock at a big box store you can change out the counter yourself for just a couple hundred dollars - and it's easier than painting the cabinets. While you have the countertop off, maybe put up a new backsplash behind the sink - something high contrast with both lights and darks in it. And ... voila! New kitchen!

IMO the cabinets should be a shade from the granite that is more neutral like one of the light colors in the stone.

yeah, the glaze on the cabs is very dated. this must have been a nice remodel back in 2002! so you're taking down the bar level, doing an overhang for seating? Do you like the layout? Personally I'd want the stove under the microwave, not by the window. I'd want the sink by the window. (I bet it used to be there at one time. you may want to check) I'd also do a counter depth fridge and push what's there back a bit as long as you're painting and replacing, why not switch it up? are you on a slab or raised foundation? if slab, then your sink is stuck where it's at. (unless you want to redo flooring) otherwise, move your stove, (all that room on that long area is so much better for cooking. where the stove is now you barely have any space on the right or the left. doesn't make sense to have all the space on the one side where it's somewhat useless) inset your microwave into the lower cabinet (you have plenty of room) and get a custom vent hood made for over the stove. I'd also have drawers made in place of some of those lower doors. drawers are better for storage. You could also consider refacing. Unless you like the more ornate trim on your cabinets. doesn't cost much more to get new door/drawer fronts from the company that will be painting the cabs. (i've recently done this all to mine if you want to see pics) I'd suggest you pick a countertop you really love, and THEN pick your paint color (for cabs/walls) much easier to match paint to something than vice versa did you not want a white paint for cabs? were you thinking of an actual color? any idea what type of countertop? What kind of style you want? Are the floors travertine? Backsplash is the very last thing after the other two are done