Here are photos of the cabinets

Your cabinets are beautiful and right on trend. They are what people are putting in at the moment. I wouldn't paint them. I would remove the heavy valences over the windows.

The bar counter dates your space. Are you having that made into one height with the new counter?

Another thing you might try is changing the grout colour to a much lighter colour - assuming you are keeping the floors.. You could try using grout colourant in an inconspicuous place and see how you like it.

New lighting over the peninsula would also be an easy update.

ETA: I've lived in a kitchen with wide aisles like you have and found it didn't work for me. I need to be able to pivot and drop. It might not bother you, but if it were me, I'd get some sort of small moveable table or island in the middle. Painting that in a light colour would also break up some of the wood.

I’m not a pro but an enthusiast. I think you’d be much better off leaving the cabinets as is and change out the hardware. They look pretty and seem to be in really good shape. Your money would be better spent changing the floor which definitely feels dated. You could remove the wood valance over the window which also feels dated. And possibly adda backsplash.

Oh and make the two level peninsula all one level. Excited to hear others’ suggestions!

Your kitchen is gorgeous

Cabinets are beautiful, floor is awful.

Thanks for feedback. Yes planning to level the peninsula and continue the quartz counter to a waterfall end on it. New hardware and light fixtures. New taller windows on the way will remove the valances. But yes the floor is not so good.

Thoughts on flooring? Our counters will be a white quartz with light grey veining.

take the peninsula apart . its funny/awkward... compared to the rest of the good kitchen... use the peninsula cabs for an island in the floorspace. add a different top and then do the new flooring. it will be a new kitchen without painting the cabs.

North Beach Residence · More Info

Stickley inspired · More Info

I agree with the above. Put the quartz on hold until you have a cohesive plan. You're going to do all this work and spend a load of cash, do it right so you are completely happy at the end. Don't do it hodge podge/piece meal.

I'd do a either a light charcoal floor or creamy limestone look.

If you are redoing the floor, you might as well do what herbflavor suggests and move those cabs to create an island that will fix the wide aisle problem again, might not be a prob for you, but some don't like it (altho, I happen to really like the shape and function of your peninsula set up you have now).

If you do an island, you could carry the wood floor into the kitchen and then paint the island to break up all the wood.

Waterfall counters are difficult to do properly and seem to be on the way out trend-wise.

Do you have a designer helping with your project?

The cabinets are beautiful. I would not paint them. What is dating your kitchen are the wooden valances, appliance garage, two tiered counter and floor. If you change those things your kitchen will look fresher.

Grey / white quartz is too modern and will clash with your cabinets. Ditto for a waterfall. I would do a charcoal or dark honed granite or soapstone.

IMO the cabinets are great the floor not so much and no waterfall the cabinets and the space are not contemporary enough for a waterfall counter . Right now do nothing until you have a very cohesive plan the first thing for me would be is this a new to you space or something you have been living with?

I wouldn't change the cabinets - they're beautiful! - I'd change the floor. Change that out to

something neutral and viola! your kitchen will look instantly updated. I like your counter but I know many will naysay it, if you get a new counter yes level it off and no waterfall -- absolutely does not go with your cabinets.

The Charles House · More Info

This is my newest inspiration photo reply to anyone with stunning wood cabinets who wants to paint them. Either don't paint them at all, or use the same color white for the uppers, wall, ceiling, and tile. Use a nice smooth white counter.

Your wood cabinets are gorgeous. I as others have said your floor is the problem. I also concur to hold off on the counter material selection until you have all of your choices made and can plan them in concert with one another.

This is all great information!! Thanks everyone. I have been battling the quartz idea and think we may go back granite. I’d like to do a mountain modern ish look anyway. Love the soapstone idea will have to look into that. Unfortunately even tho it is spacious the width of the kitchen is too narrow to do a traditional island, we have picked out a John Boos butcher block island/table for this space.

Also this is a newish to me space - been in it a year tackling other areas of home projects. I haven’t had any luck getting a designer to do this project.

great advice! I think the best floor for a kitchen is the same as the rest of the house -

in the meantime, you could throw down a huge jute rug, put the butcher block in the center (maybe drop in a vintage stool or 2 around it if there's room) - it would distract from the floor

Agreed that your kitchen is way too narrow for an island. It is really an excellent layout, looks like a nice place to work in.

No, don't paint. And, oh my, no waterfall counter with that cabinet style.