Replace all the cabinets? Paint & reface? They're high quality, albeit very dated. At the end of the day it'll.never not be an 80s build.

Next on the agenda is countertops and floors.

I don't have anything to add but I'd love to see outside pictures.

New countertops not expensive?! I guess it depends upon what kind.

Since they are good & you are ok with layout, I would replace doors and pulls on cabinets, paint them & paneling. New floors, countertops & backsplash. Appliances as well obviously.

Also highly recommend soft close drawers

Do you like the layout and usability of the space, particularly the current cabinets?

So much space you could go the 2 island route. Furtherest in for prep space, Further out more of an informal table.

Great way to fill empty kitchen space and add storage.

I'm a fan of putting the double ovens, microwave drawer, and warming drawer under the island.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-verizon-us-rvc3&hs=OwxV&sca_esv=cebce586dd40d497&sxsrf=APpeQnuriWFElWvsHTTVDaGuzawmVuRNng:1789406860556&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFUxGEP8yeZbmk97ajdTjIq-Fell6yjIojusYtuKjXhLi43HlmHdBhkjA3l1LeWMNI1jT_j546JD31ik9LNE8bt0XvFBLkzUcL13JO3UPhiDjB46anzOK51L8uvlHIPQVtXgedj6TfLnBng-SfgjqChZ8mYNOIFkPsQxZRe8ARi3gegyXuMX3I7inSj2iBFQLtJYfm1fe6uFZSBJ4kXxgVLgmUdbuVGi5dFFaBUcwcpSwghcypk&q=2+island+kitchen&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiGvqCCzO6WAxXtliYFHccwD1sQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=384&bih=686&dpr=2.81

As far as solid wood original cabinets, I'm of the opinion that as long as the layout works, you most likely won't be able to afford replace them with similar quality. If the door style can work, painting is a great option.

If the door style is dated, just replacing the doors and painting the cabinets is a good compromise.

The cabinet style isn't bad at all. I'd consider refinishing to a lighter tone/hue. The panel is the really dated part aside from the linoleum.

Many have similar thoughts about cabinet improvements. Much depends on your budget and how much DIY you are up for. Just painting is by far your most economical. Once you get into countertops, replacing doors, drawer fronts and potentially drawer boxes with slow close slides, your budget starts going up dramatically. Could easily get over $20k (much will depend on countertop choice).

My one suggestion would be to replace the island, and turn it 90 degrees, maybe add two feet to the length and an overhang (15") for stools?

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My one suggestion would be to replace the island, and turn it 90 degrees, maybe add two feet to the length and an overhang (15") for stools?

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Agree with this. I don't think the kitchen isn't big enough for two islands, 4' between them & walk space on all sides.

TBH, I prefer a smaller more intimate kitchen (and a less open floor plan in general) than is typically in fashion these days.

Does this mean yall got rid of the "custom" build??!new project?

sorry to post and ghost for a while- here are answers to the questions-

• Layout: like it overall. It's very similar to current kitchen so that's a win.
• Cabinets: Overall pretty good. The shelves are fixed rather than adjustable, so that's a bit of a pain but workable. The microwave tower isn't in an ideal place- I'd rather have the microwave in a cabinet/appliance garage where the desk is. The cabinet above the refrigerator space will have to be removed as I definitely want a modern full-sized refrigerator. The rollers/slides aren't the best and I would prefer to update them and add soft close cabinet hardware. My fear is if taking doors & drawers out, cleaning, re-staining/conditioning the cabinets, that we wouldn't be "that" far off of refacing them altogether.
  
• Island: plan to make it bigger/wider. Currently 37" and plan for 48" or so. I am a baker so I want it to be parallel with the oven, not perpendicular. Plan is the have a smaller breakfast table rather than a 2nd island.
  
• Counters: We currently have porcelain countertops with full height backsplash that I really like. Contractor is suggesting quartz over porcelain for durability, but that also means tiling a backsplash which I don't love having grout lines to clean behind the stove.
  
• Floors: Contractor is strongly suggesting wood-look tile over LVP due to durability. Current house floors are concrete and my back would prefer something a bit softer.
  
• Paneling: To paint or sheetrock, that is the question. Living room is paneling that we want to update by painting it or sheet rocking. It's not a ton of sheetrock, but then we'd have to transition to painted paneling in the kitchen or take down all the cabinets to sheetrock behind them and if we're re-hanging cabinets I think it makes sense to go with new cabinets.
  
• Yes, Beck, we're currently in the previous build but will make this one the long term residence once it's completed.

Exterior pic for JJA-

If you don't like standing on concrete I would skip the wood looking tile and go with a high quality lvp. The only caveat would be if you have Great Danes.

My next $.02.

If you are already on board with doing a new island, reworking the ref area for built in ref, don't love the microwave...I would strongly recommend looking into all new cabinets. If you want to upgrade the existing cabinets be it cleaning, shelving, painting/refinishing, drawer slides,....that's a lot of work for just a small 'L' and you are still left with some tradeoffs.

I guess I just don't see 12-15 linear feet (just the 'L') of cabinetry, getting what you want in terms of conveniences, color, door style, slides, drawers, shelving, etc, as well as matching the new island....being all that much more?

If this is a forever home, are you going to regret not getting the kitchen of your dreams?

I'm slow to the party, but here are my suggestions:

1) Paneling gotta go!
2) At a minimum, I'd put new door and drawer fronts on the cabinets and paint it all.
3) Definitely make the island as big as possible with a nice overhang for 4 bar stools.
4) Rough and tough LVP on the floors.
5) With a tiled backsplash, seal it really well and reapply sealant every few years. Then splashes will wipe right off. Oddly deciding on a backsplash tile/design was the biggest fight with hubby in our current home.
6) Solar screens made a huge difference on our afternoon facing windows and the cost was negligible since we already had full screens.
7) A ceiling fan in the vicinity of the kitchen to keep you cool when cooking or the oven on in the summer.
8) Widen any doors that are obnoxiously narrow immediately before your flooring goes in. We didn't do that on our first renovation and were sorry. Most important to us was to have a 36" door to the garage instead of 30"; this makes a huge difference when you are carrying things in and out.
9) Run conduit for cable/cat6 in the walls while they are open. We decided where the TV's, printers, and desks would be so you good on tech. Drop several in each conduit as you will need more than you think... :-) We have a 10 port switch behind out TV in our living room and use most of them.
10) Put in some of the outlets that have USB ports. Then you can charge at locations like your kitchen island with out power blocks.
11) Install cameras asap to protect all your tools and supplies.
12) Get some really good faucets (etc) at places like Overstock.com. I bought a nice Moen kitchen faucet for $110 and when it broke the manufacturer provided us a $600 replacement because of the lifetime warranty.
13) SAVE RECEIPTS as this is what got us our free faucet!
14) Under cabinet lighting.
15) .... there will be more.