Do you have anything specific you'll decorate your kitchen with? You could do almost anything with it. You could paint the cabinets white, get some new hardware and paint the walls any color! If you have any decor in mind then go from there... :) We have white cabinets right now and an ugly backsplash and I'm trying to figure out colors as well.... You pretty have much a clear slate for anything since you have no colors you seem to not need to match! :) Best of luck!

In my siggy, go to the link for updating an '80s house.  The kitchen originally looked very similar to yours. 

New appliances, paint, and a new light fixture, and you'll be set.  (I object to ceiling fans in kitchens for sanitary reasons - people rarely clean the blades as they should, so they end up throwing dust in food.  Bleh.)

 

we just redid our kitchen...similar color cabinets, dark slate color floor, grey counters, cream colored walls, stainless appliances...

 

to be honest, I think a color would look really nice in that kitchen.  you have medium toned cabinets, what looks to be white-ish counters (they look pink on one side, blue on the other, and white in the back haha) and a neutral color floor.  all in all its a pretty neutral colored kitchen.

I would pick something semi bold for the walls (perhaps a rust/terracotta?).  with stainless appliances, stainless (or nickel) door handles and perhaps black accents (towels, canisters, bread box,etc) it would really dress it up. =)

i know the counters look three colors in that photo. They are that kind of creamy color with flecks that was big when the house was built (in 1999)...everything in the house is all builder grade. I don't mind the floors. and PP is also right, we don't have any color scheme. Although, our apartment now ahs a lot of greena dn I kind of wanted to ditch green in general. We live in a loft and the blinds are green because they were just there (the windows are 16" x 4", so they are custom blinds). Our kitchen table is actually glass top with slate panels underneath and brown leather chairs. It works well in our current space, but I kind of wanted something more french country/potterybarn/"all american"for this home... like a large rustic wood table in the dinging room and a huge cream sectional. This kitchen opens right into a large great room that I'd like to paint a light blue... so maybe a pale gray would work with teh stainless? We could always keep the cabinets for now and do a gray/black tone granite. I hate the cabinets so much though- and there are so many. I actually don't mind the fan in there because there is no central air--and so since this is the largest room on the first floor i think its good for circulation---and i don't think you can see in the photo but the caps on the lights have GRAPES on them...uh... but we found that you can just replace those caps. I'm pretty anal about cleaning the blades...although i see what oyu mean about the dust flying around and near the food!

PS. Tarheels thank you! that is exactly what I want to do with the cabinets and when I suggested it to my DH in front of my dad my dad was like "NO DON't PAINT THEM STAIN THEM, Paint is a bad idea" i think he thinks I wanted to do like a slop paint job, and not give them a nice new clean look like yours!

Brina105:

PS. Tarheels thank you! that is exactly what I want to do with the cabinets and when I suggested it to my DH in front of my dad my dad was like "NO DON't PAINT THEM STAIN THEM, Paint is a bad idea" i think he thinks I wanted to do like a slop paint job, and not give them a nice new clean look like yours!

Many men are irrationally attached to wood.  Use your womanly veto power and tell him to get over it.  1989 cabinets are not the same thing as XYZ antique that's worth preserving.

Please don't ditch the island!!!! It is such valuable food prep and gathering space!!!! I have had islands in both the homes we've owned. I grew up with one. They are so awesome!

The island is moveable and is going with teh seller. But we def. want some kind of island, so I have been looking online for some! I have never had one before, and am excited to have the extra work space, antoher place for pots and pans or for serving ware!

I lived in my house (built in the 60's) for several years before re-doing the kitchen. It also had builder's grade, but from the 1960's, LOL. My ex was against any of my ideas, which is one of the reasons he's an ex, and I waited until he was gone.

I had worse cabinets that the prior owner had painted blue. There is no detail on them with framing or molding, just flat doors. The style of kitchen you are talking about is similar to what I ultimately wanted, and have had to scrimp and save for. I've done a lot, but a little at a time. I also had very ugly light brown tile backsplashes that I painted white as well with a higher gloss paint, no problems, and it's been about 12 years.

YES, you can paint wooden cabinets. Tarheel's look is wonderful. I painted the outside and doors white. What I did in my kitchen for some of the overhead cabinets is take the doors off, paint the inside of the cabinet white and use them with baskets (for baking goods), or like a china cabinet top with crystal in them. I think I left the doors off about half of the cabinets. I found fabric gingham contact paper and put it on the bottom of the door-less cabinets, with a slight overhang onto the cabinet facing bottom, so it looks a bit "French/country chic/Americana".

I will be building a corner nook with a longer country styled table, and chairs on the side opposite the built in bench. At one of the short ends I'm going to get bookcase and small desk from Ikea (or build them) so I have more shelving and a place to store paperwork. I have tons of cook books and don't mind an open storage look.

Don't let people criticize your ideas. Start small, with one door maybe. Sand and paint carefully after priming. You can have what you want, and it doesn't cost that much.

Also, it is possible to buy custom doors only. Google "custom replacement kitchen cabinet doors". You can get them with glass inserts or anything else you like to supplement what you are doing. I have 19 cabinet doors and multiple drawer fronts, and when I priced this out several years ago it was less than $800. If the cabinet bases themselves are solid, this is often a good option. Especially if you don't mind the floorplan/layout of your kitchen.

As for colors, I'd recommend getting those small sample sized paint jars from the home improvement stores with some colors you like and painting an area when you are ready to start.....helps you to avoid "mistakes" later. 

My motto in life: There's nothing I can't do, only things I haven't tried. Take your time making decisions and you won't regret what you try.

We had our kitchen cabinets professionally refinished for a few thousand dollars. They turned out amazing! Now home depot sells a diy kit called cabinet transitions or something like that. For about 95% less than paying professionals but with the same result. I would NOT paint them a flat color. I would cover the color with a glaze like what the kit includes to give them depth and a more finished, professional look. 

Beyond that, granite is always a good, easy and functional choice and it looks beautiful. Price varies greatly depending on grade.

Once cabinets and counters are done, then I'd worry about selecting a paint color. Though you could always paint first and repaint if necessary since it is relatively inexpensive.

 

I absolutely LOVE pinterest! I found this and just loved the idea...

"Paint it! Thomas' Liquid Stainless Steel can be used on appliances, faucets and countertops. The water-based resin is stainless steel in liquid form, and it provides a brushed-stainless look that is as durable as an automotive-grade finish." 

Here is the link to it    

http://pinterest.com/pin/54606214203060819/

 

And for the cupboards (also found on pinterest lol) I found a great way to spray paint them! I can't wait to do both of these in my kitchen this summer!! :) 

http://pinterest.com/pin/233765036878868279/

 

Hope these help!  Good luck :)