If you are looking for that very sleek European kitchen look, I think you should look at this clip from Color Splash. I wish that more details were available about this episode because I really found the whole thing brilliant. I will try in my very unprofessional way to explain what he did to this kitchen. First, when you watch the video, remember that the colors that were chosen, were picked by the homeowner and you would have lots of options. He had new door and drawer fronts made by a cabinet maker. At the cabinet maker's shop there were tons of laminate samples to choose from (just like when you pick out laminate for counters)...he wanted a high gloss, European look, so that is the finish they chose. As I said, the homeowners made the final call on the colors. He then took a sample of the laminate to the paint store, had the color AND finish matched for the cabinet frames, which were being painted. They used the same laminate for the door/drawer fronts on the ends of the cabinets. He added really sleek and oversized hardware from Ikea. I think the room turned out so nicely and it really was done on a relatively low cost budget. Also, during the episode, it turned out that the cabinet doors were made a little too small, he wanted them to be larger, closer together in some places and so that less cabinet frame would show. So, if you want a high gloss gray, or whatever, I think this might be something to consider. Here you go, perhaps the whole episode will air again. Here is a link that might be useful: The video from Color Splash

Well, don't be offended but I don't like those cabinet doors at all. They are different, but to me they look very 1970's. Not that I think we have to give in to the whole "dated = must replace" mindset. I'd get new doors, if you like raised panel doors (I do too, although everyone seems to be doing Shaker today, but I think raised panel, like shaker is pretty much timeless) Your backsplash, appliances and counters look good. You could of course go with the dark gel stain, or could paint them, , white or gray would look great with the counters and backsplash (or even white uppers/gray lowers) If you don't like oak, you can get brushing putty to fill in the grain of the cabinet boxes and frames. But that is a lot more work, and if its going to be a rental, I'd just get the oak doors and gel stain or paint it. The visible grain isn't a deal breaker, especially for a rental. Leave the counters and backsplash, it will look fine.

$1750 is a hack. Not a Pro. It’s not even half of what a good job should cost. 7-9K is average, from someone that knows what they are doing spraying a conversion varnish. Lacquer is a 10 minute finish for cabinets because it does not hold up to moisture. House paint belongs on houses, not cabinets. It won’t be durable enough. Read about the KCMA testing that all cabinet manufacturers undergo for a factory finish. That is the kind of durability that you are giving up. For chips, runs, and drips, and bugs and dust. https://www.kcma.org/certifications/ansi-kcma-certification DEMAND a finished door sample to do your own testing. You will end up in the same boat as these people. The tide has turned on white cabinets. Wood cabinets are coming back strong. And those are ahead of the game. When white cabinets are the new avocado green, you’ll wish you had your old wood ones back.

these are photos from the listing Theresa, first, let me say-I'm in love with all the cacti! Incredibly cool. many great things about the house. I'll try to answer the question about white cabinets. There will be many who'll say white kitchens are classic, and they'll be right, in a sense that there'll always be houses where white kitchens would look great and appropriate. Whether it's white glossy contemporary kitchens in some urban apartments, or white beaded doors in a cottage, or many others. Then there'll be many who'll say a white kitchen is at the end of its cycle, and they ill be right too, because too many people install same kitchen everywhere, and in 7-10 years another trend comes, and the other new trend is already here, and it's stained wood again. (especially certain woods in certain stains) There are also painted (or colorful) kitchens that are not white, and they can be also very nice, and fit a house like a glove. There's not one color that will make a place modern, or traditional, or whatever, all by ttself, because every color is a part of the bigger context. And our associations with it will depend on our own traditions, our own likes and dislikes, and how it correlates with the rest of the place. So I'd take the "whether white is here to stay" out of equation, and my questions to myself would be: -how white will work in my house, its style, where it stands, etc? how it will work with all the other elements, and what these elements are/will be? and -do I love white enough to look at it every morning and evening for years to come? Second question, only you can answer. In terms of the first question. Your house is transitional (whatever it means because it's not a very exact term) already. The legs on the island are the most traditional thing about our kitchen from what I can see. White itself wouldn't make it more contemporary kitchen. It might make you personally happier, but it won't be significant change in the feel of the kitchen. It will stay a transitional kitchen, pretty nice at that, just in different color. Now, I can't see the backsplash-but changing backsplash can give it more modern feel. Or changing legs on the island and refacing, say, to slab doors will give it more modern feel. But I need to understand whether that's what you want-or you just want departure from dark wood because you don't like darker wood. which is totally fine. For example you want just the departure from stain because your preference is painted. And your preferred color is white (which it doesn't have to be. My kitchen is taupe for example, and another colors I seriously considered were purple and, to the less extent, green) Then you need to decide-you keep your counter which is softer taupe..you take very clean bright white out of equation. But look for a softer "muddier" version of white. The one that'll work the best with your countertop..and the backsplash if backsplash stays. Maybe it's an off white, and you'll have to try several(ask for samples done on wood if you enlisting a pro) and look at them in your kitchen with your countertops etc, to make a decision. For us to give the best advice it'll be best to see the countertop and the backsplash up close. When you say "taupe" I guarantee you, well almost, that my brain pictures one color, and you mean slightly another one. There are hundreds of neutrals that we call white, gray, taupe, off white, etc, etc-and while it gives general description, it's not enough to then say "in your kitchen, with its light and all the unique things it has, color X by brand Y will work". All these colors change with light. and also in presence of other colors, and you need to narrow onto several and try them there. And it might be that while looking for that white you'll see another color you'll like more. Or you'll decide to go not for paint but for a different stain. That you like more. Or melamine (which means refacing. But maybe that what you actually want when you say "contemporary") Now don't forget that you'll decorate differently than previous owners did. It seems like too much dark wood because there are many elements in same stain. Most of them seem built in, but maybe not all of them are? You can also go with different materials when you pick tables, and chairs, and whatnot. You can introduce different lighting. (Layers of it too-very important) You can layer textures and add colors. You'll bring in your own art. Plants. Etcetera. In short, you won't see just the kitchen. The kitchen will be a part of a whole. Look at many pictures if you haven't yet. and see how they make you feel, to choose the general pallette for the house first. A start. Can be interiors but many images can be inspiration for colors, from fashion to cinematography. And also nature. Especially landscape surrounding your house(they did a great job with it)-whatever you see from your window is still your space)) Part of it. So let it inform you too and inspire you, when you choose. Most choices that look great throuout years and never bore us are these that go with the house and its surroundings. I quite like the bathroom, and it doesn't feel dragged down to me. It's just largely empty because they staged for resale. As they did with other places. Add but a flowerpot-and it'll feel differently. I really tried to make this post short, but didn't quite succeed))) Bottom line: I can see why you like the house. The previous owners didn't do anything majorly irritating. They neutralized for resale and had quite a lot of one-note things, certain stain, stacked stone that adds a bit of heaviness etc. But it's a nice house. I know that feeling of being in a hurry-but try not to be, give yourself sometime to figure out the pallette that works for both you and the house, maybe start with furnishings even as fabrics give us inspiration and ideas too..don't worry, you'll get to that paint thing, but you'll be happier with whatever choice you make when you make it not in a hurry. I personally would be inclined to yes, use sage green..or some other soft grayed green, yes..but would it be kitchen itself, or walls, or fabrics, or accents? Or maybe tonal shades in several of these? I don't know. I'd need to be in the house and think. Same goes for every other choice. It's a puzzle that you put together. And as with puzzles-there's fun in it. Enjoy the process. Enjoy your new house.