i should mention it is quite a sunny kitchen, the window faces south west.

Hi Amy. I wouldn't go for a wood effect tile with the units and table as it might be wood overload. Re the units it really depends on whether you like them or not. It may be quite difficult just to change the handles if you keep as wood. I've seen a few shaker kitchens in your ideabook. Why not turn the door fronts round and add a very slim mdf border which would give you this effect which you can then paint and change the handles? You could get someone in if DIY isn't your thing. It should be a pretty cheap update though

I think the shape on the door moulding is a little old fashioned even if painted but depends on budget. You could get new doors put on then paint all. Or as Minnie says turn around & add moulding.

They actually look like that in the inside already but what about where the hinges are cut out ?

That's good! You should just be able to use wood filler and get a good finish if you're painting them. I will caveat that by saying my DIY skills aren't the best but I think it should work!

Will inspect when I get home , seems a shame to get rid completely as they are good quality but the design is dated !

Definitely. My kitchen is handmade but c23 years old so I painted it when I moved in and changed the handles. Part of me wants a gleaming new kitchen but I know I'll end up with something not too dissimilar!

We went looking for new but I didn't like what I can afford at the moment - not for this house anyway - shiny gloss won't work and the shaker looked plastic ! If I can turn the doors and paint them I think it would be perfect .......

I am now researching replacement doors ! Can't turn the doors around as the moulding is also on the inside :( looks like a whole new kitchen, thank you for the comments x

If you are going for a new kitchen then maybe a new layout. Block in side door and have 3 small bi fold doors to the garden if you have 3 doors you can use one as your access door.?

That is exactly what I said when we moved in ! But I want to have our first summer here so I can get an idea of how sunny / hot the kitchen gets - love bifolds and keen to.get them in somewhere.

That sounds like an option - I have been speaking to a builder today who said he has painted a similar style cabinet door and it looked completely different after painting- but to make sure I use a soft sheen finish , he is going to send me some pics so we shall see - off to howdens today though to check out replacement doors , it would be easier if it was broken lol

if your thinking of getting new doors from a different brand of kitchen then make sure you measure the distances down to the hinge positions or it could get messy ?! (: -n

Painting will transform the units. Add a different handle (maybe a cup design) and they'll be unrecognisable. Even if you still want to change the kitchen after you've painted it, at least you can see how the room looks for a modest outlay.

Thank you , I think we will try painting , we have a matching cabinet in the garage which I can experiment on , with new handles and flooring and metro tiles hopefully the outdated routering on the doors will fade into insignificance !

We are painting them, a professional is going to come in and do them next week , once that's done we will tile , paint walls and change the floor , resembling!!!

This is where we are at now - still need new blind for the window , flooring and accessories but getting there !

If you've got the time and the inclination (and budgets are tight) I reckon it's worth giving the paint a go to see how it looks. Lots of the kitchens we're doing for clients now are ones with painted finishes and although (as mentioned above) this isn't the most classic style/a bit old fashioned it will look completely different painted. New handles... save up for the kitchen you really want!

Too late ! We have changed the doors and tiled and are now saving up to do the floor

We change the doors after weeks of deliberation! Unfortunately the moulding on the original doors was too old fashioned and would have looked dated what ever we did and painting was way too big a job to undertake in the off chance it might look OK !

Looks really sleek, well done.

I do think it might be even better with the side panels painted in with the doors.

They are from howdens , we did thimk about changing the end panels and plinths but thought we would try it without first as the oak end panels match our kitchen table ...... Once the floor is done we will be able to make a final decision , I am still waiting for the new blind to go up , patiently waiting lol.

Well done, looks lovely so far and the chairs make the room lighter again. The room looks well.