Anonymous wrote:and what if your cabinet boxes are not wood but the faces are? My faces are pealing so am thinking about painting...but with wood and looks like laminate, what to do? I'm with OP on the inside too...paint that?

(OP: This is not a hijack...more of a clarification question

Good primer and then paint.

You can replace the shelves with cheap shelving from a box store. Paint and if they are basic flat cabinets, add trim.

Don't forget to fill in the holes where the old hardware was so you can put in new hardware and not be confined to the old hardware holes.

Anonymous wrote:Next time, marry money. Problem solved!

Yes, find Wife 2.0, less resource consuming than Wife 1.0

Anonymous wrote:and what if your cabinet boxes are not wood but the faces are? My faces are pealing so am thinking about painting...but with wood and looks like laminate, what to do? I'm with OP on the inside too...paint that?

(OP: This is not a hijack...more of a clarification question

We had old solid wood cabinets and the doors and drawers were removed along with the hardware.
The cabinets and interiors were sanded and painted. This was done after old appliances were out and the backsplash removed and the wall sanded. The counter came off after sanding and before painting.

I guess you can paint non-wood cabinets but I wouldn't sand them.

and what if your cabinet boxes are not wood but the faces are? My faces are pealing so am thinking about painting...but with wood and looks like laminate, what to do? I'm with OP on the inside too...paint that?

(OP: This is not a hijack...more of a clarification question

younghouselove.com

OP here again. I meant, of course "thanks for the ideas."

OP here. Thanks for the ideas? I think painting them will be sufficient. But then what to do with the inside shelves? They are currently covered with some plastic, otherwise are sticky and old.

painting cabinets will make a huge difference. it is just a ton of work.

There are various websites that allow you to buy cabinet doors of any size, then you could also paint them and the boxes the same color.

Next time, marry money. Problem solved!

Anonymous wrote:We live in a 1950s rambler, and the kitchen is still original. Is there a cheaper way to update the cabinets then refacing them (replacing drawer fronts and doors)? If not, could you please recommend a good company?

Thanks!

Sand, paint or shellac, new hardware. Those 1950's houses usually had solid wood so you're fine. Take down any backsplash and get new counters and sink.
http://retrorenovation.com/2012/05/23/stripping-paint-from-kitchen-cabinets-and-returning-to-the-original-1950s-wood-some-therapy-but-great-results/

Good kitchen example I bookmarked for fixing up a house to sell:
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2012/03/kitchen-cabinet-resurface-pennies-per/

how about painting them and replacing hardware?

Or using one of the rustoleum kitchen transformations kit?

Buying used cabinets a place like Second Chance in Baltimore?

(I'm curious to see what other answers you get; I'm trying to figure out the same thing.)

We live in a 1950s rambler, and the kitchen is still original. Is there a cheaper way to update the cabinets then refacing them (replacing drawer fronts and doors)? If not, could you please recommend a good company?

Thanks!