hwilliamson Try having them sprayed at a car body work shop?

dianahb There's another current thread about a woman wanting to paint her (brand new) cherry cabinets white. What is up with painting nice cabinetry? You should let her know it doesn't work, and chips easily.

What is the wood on your cabinets? If it's solid wood, I'd keep it. I rather like the look of these. It has a nice airy light feel. You might get a whole different feeling, too, if you had some of those upper cabinets glass-fronted. What is the big boxy thing in the left foreground of the picture? I assume that's not permanent; if it is, I'd eliminate it. And you could change out the tile, which might make you like it more, but I'd keep the cabinets.

Chetna Patel The white box at the front is another part of the kitchen that has been removed temporarily. There's a tiny breakfast counter behind there, looking out into the garden.

dianahb Thanks; do you know what the cabinet wood is?

decoenthusiaste Check this option at rustoleumtransformations.com

bojaby Please don't paint them. They are beautiful wood cabinets which never go out of style. I would change out the hardware looking for some bold black in the style you are going for. Use some pulls and some knobs to add interest. I would choose some of the upper cabinets for display of red and other colorful items. Have glass put in them and lights mounted inside the cupboard. This will draw the eye up to make the room seem larger and give a pop of color to accent that beautiful tile back splash. Clear off the counter and display black kitchen appliances or glass canisters with black licorice, black beans, etc. against the red back splash. You have a great kitchen. Have fun with it and post a picture when it is done.

timitty2 diito, keep the same color and change other things!!!

nanalea Agree..I Like them too.. I like the glass idea also.. the hard ware would change so much. Post later.please

feeny I LOVE your cabinets! And much as I love white cabinetry too, I would never paint that beautiful maple.

njmomma Love the cabinets, don't paint them. I think if you will love the kitchen if you change out the back splash and change out the hardware.

Can you post a pic of the rest of your kitchen and floor?

heather2436 Dont paint the cabinets. I had it professionaly done in my last house and regretted it until the day I moved......plus it cost a ton of money. The couple that bought the house the first thing she was going to do was have them stripped and refinished back to the original wood stain. My old neighbor says they are back to the color I got rid of. A designer friend told me natual wood never goes out of style..change other things to change the look. Good luck!

dianahb They looked like maple to me, too. I agree-- do not paint those. I really like the hardware that's on them now, too-- very mid-century modern, it seems-- and the cabinets have very clean modern lines as well-- they're really very nice looking.

The first thing I'd do, though, that might change the look for you, is change the backsplash. If that doesn't work, then think about changing out the countertops to something that doesn't provide as stark a contrast. Then if none of that helps, do think about glass-fronted cabinets in some of the upper doors. But I'm guessing that changing the backsplash will make a big difference.

LIke I said, there's this other thread going on here where someone wants to paint (new) cherry cabinets. I really think people need to read up on hardwoods. I mean-- people are paying big bucks to get older furniture that was made with real wood. I agree with the above poster that real wood never gets dated.

The thing is, you can paint all that cheap MDF board-- or cardboard-- or whatever it is people use when they're not using real wood-- but they're painting it, not because they love the look of painted cabinets-- it's because the cabinets are just too ugly and cheap looking otherwise. But YOU have beautiful hardwood cabinets with clean fresh lines.

So when I look at this picture, I love the cabinets. I do not think the backsplash tile and countertop tile mesh very well with it, though. So that's what I'd tackle.

Chetna Patel I am unable to provide many other photos because the rest of the area has been ripped out due to some extensive water damage.

Thanks for everyone pointer - I think we'll start with the backsplash and then take a look at some hardware changes, etc. Any suggestions?

We were thinking of something with architectural interest. We like a few things here: http://www.edgewaterstudio.com

simi11 Im in the middle of remodeling my kitchen and Im thinking between natural wood and cream white since I will also resell the house soon but I came to the conclusion that light wood cabinets are timeless, just like the ones in your pic I like these a lot what I don't like is the red backsplash with the black/dark countertop, don't paint this beautiful wood I would change the backsplash and like many said the hardware and def. also some glas door it opens up the space, good luck.

underedenx change the backsplash!!

Darzy I totally agree not to paint those pretty cabinets and definately change the backsplash for a fresh, new look. This is goint sound "strange". I think putting a large scale subway tile...the same color as your cabinets (since they are so low to the counter) would look great. I cannot find a picture of what I have in mind, but something like this...but the tile color more like the cabinets. Almost like the cabinet bottom and top "collide". Or..even more stylish...is to even do the backsplash in the maple wood veneer (horizontally?). I'll get backsplash backlash on this but it would be soooo pretty and unique! : )

rawketgrl I agree with rest, don't paint those lovely cabinets. Take the granite all the way up to the cabinets for a backsplash. Also stainless basksplash goes very well with black granite and those cabinets. I like your hardware, it is soft cornered and functional. Add lots of light, under cabinet lights and over heads (if possible), all on dimmers. I am not sure what is above the uppermost cabinets but having those be glass with a little puck light in them shining down on several of your favorite dishes/vases etc...would be smashing. Good luck!

dianahb Chetna: I looked at that site (edgewater tile), and while I think that's beautiful tile, I personally think it's too detailed ("architectural") for that space. Maybe that's just me. But I love the clean lines on those cabinets. I agree with Darzy that subway tile might be really nice-- but I wouldn't get a tile so detailed (like those on the site you provided) as to take away from the cabinets. I really think they're a beautiful focal point. Just my 2 cents. I've also seen that tile in real life, and as I remember, it is ridiculously expensive/overpriced.

feeny If you are considering redoing the backsplash, I just wanted to show you one of my favorite backsplashes on Houzz with light maple cabinetry like yours and a dark counter.

Gabberts Design Studio Do not paint the cabinets! They are beautiful! I would switch out the tile backsplash, that will make a huge difference.

nmgiorgi I would change the backsplash to small tile preferably Black and Tans. Your Cabinets are great dont paint them! :)