Looks pretty modern to me. I would freshen up the wood and not paint them. The knobs and backsplash need updating however. Please tell me that that soffit across the kitchen ceiling isn't there just for the hood vent.

I agree to leave the cabinets with the wood finish… find out if the company who you used when you did the kitchen can come down and buff it out…they are magnificent, timeless and all the raid right now…:)

I would invest in new countertops and backsplash.

Everything else is truly beautiful. I trust you. And you should trust yourself. You have great taste! 🤍🤍🤍

The backsplash is the best part of this lovely kitchen. I, personally, dislike the dark counter. We all have out own tastes. There is a franchise names Kitchen Tune Up that might be just what you need to refinish the worn cabinets. Perhaps a local realter could give you tips about updating for a future resale.

I agree with the others who complimented your choices from 20 years ago! Your kitchen has aged well. I think the cabinets would look nice painted, and I would also suggest updating the backsplash and getting new appliances. Structurally, as best as I can tell from the photos, you're starting from a good place. You might consider some additional lighting, possibly pendant. I might also look into creating window box/bench seating where you have your nook table.

• Agree on freshening up the cabinets versus painting.
• Have the granite honed - it can be done in place and will instantly bring the kitchen into the 2020s.
• Agree that the backsplash should be replaced, as it's the most dated element in the kitchen other than the granite.
• I don't hate the knobs but you may as well replace since that's a relatively inexpensive fix. If you do, I would consider an antiqued or unlacquered brass. Brushed stainless will make the kitchen look older, not updated.
• I actually would consider painting the breakfast room cabinetry to make it disappear a bit - it's a little busy in that small space right now.

Not a darn thing! It looks great. Freshen the wood, paint the walls, and be done with it.

Thanks for all your thoughts. To make the kitchen larger we put two rooms together - a small then knotty pine den with a small galley kitchen plus a bit of corridor with a coat closet and it has worked out well. The 25-year-old Thermador range and the 20-year-old Subzero fridge are both fine both in looks and function.

So it really is the cabinets and unfortunately "Freshen the wood" does not seem to be possible. The solid and veneered maple has a catalyzed varnish finish and it has worn away around most of the knobs (see photo). I tried the idea of knob backplates to hide this but the space at the side of the knobs is not big enough to accommodate those.

I also many years ago contacted Mouser (the cabinet manufacturers) about redoing the varnish but they said they didn't do it and after these many years the color would have changed unevenly. We got a local varnish guy to redo the bit I am showing you in the photo and it didn't work as you can see. Since it is only the doors that are damaged I could change out the doors but since they are inset I imagine that would be very expensive.

In answer to other questions/comments - all appreciated.... The soffit coming across from the vent hood is actually a support beam as that was the back wall of the original galley kitchen standard in 1930's center hall colonials - we have been in the house over 50 years and this is our second kitchen! Re. having a bench in the breakfast nook that is a good idea but that structure there with a granite top houses a radiator!

Regarding the choice of the granite - I am a chemist by training and researched densities of granites as I was scared of staining and didn't want to have to keep sealing it. And the darker ones like ours came out the best in the tests and I had a chunk here testing with everything before deciding. I certainly never loved it but it went with the cabinets and recently I did actually think of having it repolished but had not thought of honing it.

I know from TV shows that white quartz seems to be the thing for counters these days but my granite has been marvelous - I cut on it sometimes, put hot things on it etc and spill beet juice and it is not damaged in any way. I wonder if you can say that about the white quartz (is that an engineered stone made with resin and bits of stone?).

I will try and do more research on someone who could finish the cabinets but catalyzed finishes I think are baked on but several coats of spray might do us. Next door neighbors had a painter revarnish their oak cabinets and in my opinion, they look too shiny and very dated.

Any ideas of cabinet colors if we do go ahead with painting.

Good idea to ask a realtor if it would be better left. We have updated all of the 4 bathrooms so that would be the only thing to do in the house. Many thanks for all the interest.

mahnrut So if you really need to paint the cabinets but want to make minimal other changes, I would start by considering how your granite counters would look honed. Many dark granites look like soapstone when honed and if yours do, white would look great with them - that's an incredibly classic look and perfect for a prewar home. I wouldn't repolish as shiny granite is, in general and with exceptions, dated and not the most period-appropriate finish. If you know the type of granite, just google it + honed to get an idea.

If that variety of granite doesn't look great honed, I would consider replacing. White quartz is popular now but that's partly because it is often budget-friendly, and Houzz forums are replete with complaints about it. The swirly varieties are not a good fit for a prewar home, but some of the solids can work well. Sticking with granite may be your best option if you really want something incredibly durable, but I would definitely go with a solid dark gray or black in a honed surface. (That's why I'm suggesting you hone your existing granite - you may well be able to use what you have.) Marble or soapstone would be the best options based purely on the era of your home, but they are more delicate (i.e., they patina).

Other popular cabinet color options that would make sense for a home of this era to consider are pale sage greens and blue grays, but it would be highly dependent on the counters if you're keeping them.

The only other thing that stood out to me (other than backsplash) to potentially change would be your range. I think it is somewhat expected to have a professional-style range in a high end kitchen, so if you are considering retail value, that is something to think about replacing.

My parents had similar wear around their knobs. A gentleman who specializes in furniture repair and restoration came out and repaired the worn finish for next to nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Your cabinets look very nice and looks like you have great applicances. I wonder if you used handles instead of knobs, if the area may be a little more camuflaged. Painting the cabinets would brighten everything up, but you are still going to be dealing with chipping paint too. I think the backsplash is the thing that looks most dated. Obviously your choices here would be dictated by the cabinet, counter decision (love the idea of honing the granite!); but to me this is the key change. New light fixture too - some very cool ones available.

Good idea that handles may hide some of the wood finish damage but the handles would have to use the existing knob hole - I could buy one handle from say home depot where easy to return and try that but I think the position of the handle would be odd. With the painting of course they could plug up the existing hole first. Although the cabinets may be a bit dated a friend said yesterday that they have style! If it wasn't for the damage around almost all of the knobs I wouldn't be doing much at all.

But I will follow up on the idea of honing the granite as a more modern look. Pity I don't have the piece I so carefully used as a test piece years back to try it on but presumably whoever was doing the honing could polish it again if I didn't like it.

It’s a very nice kitchen! Honestly, those are high quality cabinets, countertops and appliances. If the appliances are working, keep them!

The only thing I would do is repaint the walls. It’s easiest. Let any new owner decide to replace or change the kitchen. You never know what a new owner wants in a kitchen so save your self the money and hassle!

Paint the walls, add new hardware and then maybe the backsplash.