You could try the wax on the inside back of a drawer front.

The cabinets are beautiful but the yellow is dating them. Grey, charcoal, greige, maybe brown would make them look rich. Floor and backsplash too. There is paint out there for tile and wood floors. They would also look great with industrial touches, more modern. They look great already with the stainless steel. Look at this as a fun challenge. Do research, use paint samples, other samples. You can make this beautiful.

I am not sure if you could lighten them without sanding or stripping. you can deepen the color with Miniwax Polyshades if you use a couple coats of a dark shade like mahogany, cherry or walnut. since you want to tone down the warm red, use a cooler grayish color. try on the back of a door.

Sorry but hickory floors are not MCM and IMO now you have those I would for sure paint the cabinets which also are not MCM at all.

Clean the cabinets with Murphy Oil Soap then add this product in a darker stain. No sanding needed. My friend restores furniture using this product. He recommended it for me to tone down my honey oak cabinets.

It sounds like you want your kitchen to look more modern and sleek than it does? I’d agree with the poster above who suggested cooking the cabinet color with a stain or paint (can be pricey). Change the wall color, countertops if you can, and backsplash as well.

It would be great to see a photo with the new floors. I actually like the cabinets and would simply replace the backsplash and do a new wall color.

Some ideas I found on a quick search here - do any of these appeal as inspiration?

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-houzz-cheerful-cool-and-collected-in-a-brooklyn-loft-eclectic-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~5723969

https://www.houzz.com/photos/peapack-gladstone-contemporary-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~7155962

https://www.houzz.com/photos/1928-spanish-modern-remodel-contemporary-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~2400772

https://www.houzz.com/photos/up05-traditional-home-bar-dallas-phvw-vp~1891428

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Thank you all!

I think I'll definitely do a little testing of the wax and the restor-a-finish that was suggested to see if anything takes the orange down just a notch.

Here's a pic of the kitchen with my floors for you, indygo.

Mary--thank you for the pics! I love that first one with the white countertops, so that's great inspiration for changing out my tile and counters!

The cabinet color looks great with the new floor. I would think about changing the paint, counter & backsplash before changing the cabinet color. The cabinets can be done at any time if the other elements do not help enough.

With this view, your countertops don’t look too bad. I think changing your backsplash and wall paint will make a huge difference. Even subway tile- in a color that complements your counter. And a soft white on wall or even a pale sage green.

I agree. The cabinets are fine, and look good with your floors. The slightly green countertop looks okay, too. It is the yellow wall color and back splash that makes the room look odd. Put in a white back splash and paint the walls white or a very subtle light green (lighter than your countertops).

Good thoughts! Just took a pic of the counters a little closer...they do have a green-ish look but mostly read as grayish when you're not close up.

Cabinets look great with the floor. Change backslash and paint color. Good luck with your project.

Your cabinets are beautiful and look wonderful with the new floors. Change the other elements of the room and enjoy the cabinets as they are.

An alternative idea, is to paint the upper cabinets a turquoise color. Then add colorful backsplash in similar tones. Or strong color of your choice. Mid Century style featured strong, bold colors. Change hardware on cabinets to compliment new colors. This will draw the eye and command attention away from golden cabinets.

following

Just for inspiration, a rough mock up.

You can select whatever accent color you want. Then add accessories that repeat that color. Mixer, tool caddy, towels, tea kettle, etc.

The type of light bulbs you use can affect the color of your cabinets. I switched to LED daylight. For the first few days I was not sure I liked it and was thinking of trying a different spectrum LED, but then my eyes adjusted to the difference. Now I like the daylight which deceases the orange/yellow hue of my stained cabinets.

I did refresh with new counters, backsplash, short apron Whitehaven farm sink and under cabinet lighting. I am very happy with my refreshed kitchen.

Here is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older, refreshed kitchens:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

Lighting effects:

When you use the restore a finish mixed with stain do you need to sand cabinets? Does it make the finish sticky?

Karen,,do not do that. there are steps you need to take before "just use restore a finish'! lol vjs12 is wrong. you don't use Murphys or that 'finish' stuff.

start your own post w/pics of your cabinets, and I can advise you better.

katseattle, what did you end up doing w/your kitchen?

To offset the orange in your cabinets I would change out the yellow. Green gray mid tone paint will drastically reduce orange colour. Copley gray might work but try samples to see colour that best neutralizes your cabinets.

I would replace the backsplash. It’s too busy with the countertop. I’d remove it, get the wall repaired, and use paint for the backsplash. I’d also remove the curvy hutch top, and use shelves over the base. And save up for the kitchen you really want.

The yellow backsplash and walls are making the orange worse. Please listen to BethH. She’s a pro and knows what she’s talking about.

Hi all, I love that this got resurrected! The timing is perfect, as I'm just now finalizing plans for my kitchen refresh. At the end of the month I'll be switching out my white range for stainless steel and replacing my above-the-stove cabinet with a pyramid range hood. I'm updating the backsplash with cloe tile in white--photo attached-- (though I'm debating whether to do subway or square) and of course, painting the walls to match my living room (a very light green-gray). I'll be keeping the counters and cabinets as-is for now, but am hoping these changes brighten it up a bit!

Is update complete? Picture?

The range/hood change and tiles makes a huge difference. Is the sections next to range supposed to have cabinet doors? Or you have chosen to leave open? Overall the space looks much better.

thanks! the open section next to the range was like that when I moved in...never had a door, so I've just kept it that way.

looks great kat. really nice job

the cabinet color in this recent pic looks so much diff than your original pic. i wonder if all of the yellow surrounding it had a play in that

the open door thing is somewhat odd. why not find a door and try to match the stain color? Or, move a door from a diff part of the cab, put it there, and make the other one an open shelving? I think in another part of the kitchen it would look better

what you could also do is get a thin veneer of wood, stain it in the same wood stain, and glue it to the inside of the cabinet. then do the same w/wood shelving. you could put your books or larger items there.

I did it w/my open 'hole' in my island with walnut veneer. it's not difficult

Thanks for the update! I love the new kitchen! Most importantly, do you like it?

Thanks, @drblount10. Yes, I love it! I feel like the relatively small changes make a big difference.

On the open cab, @Beth H. :, I hear ya. There weren't any feasible solutions for a door, tbh, and matching the stain proved difficult. I may eventually darken the interior and add shelves, as you suggest. Right now it just doesn't bother me that much, though :)