What on earth can I do with these Panel cabinets?!?

I think the best ssolution is paint. I have painted paneling before and it is not much harder. Clean and decrease the cabinets well, lightly sand to help the paint adhere. If you are using the same hardware you won't need to fill in any holes. You can clean the hardware or paint it the same or a contrasting color as well. I don't know what your color scheme is but a nice cream or French country blue would be pretty!

Check out Designer Trapped in Lawyer's Body kitchen makeover. She has cabinets similar to yours and they turned out awesome! https://www.designertrapped.com/how-to-paint-kitchen-cabinets/

Hire a professional painter to spray paint the cabinets

I also think that you should paint them and I know they will turn out great! Just use a liquid deglosser if you don't want to sand. (Don't worry about filling the seams.) Then a coat of primer and two coats of paint. I'd spray paint the hinges with RustOleum but I'd buy new, more modern cabinet pulls.

Trust in paint!! The cabinets will look fantastic and I'm sure you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Best of luck and let us know what you end up doing. (paint, paint, paint!!! Haha!!)

Remove handles & set aside. 1st, get some wood putty & fill in the grooves to make it appear one solid board. Run your finger down the grooves with the putty on your finger. Make sure it's even with the boards on either side (you can use a butter knife & glide over it to make it smooth) & wipe any excess off the boards with a wet paper towel. Let it dry per package directions. PRIME them, let that sit overnight. You could apply a painter's tape pattern on them, stencil &/or paint your own design. You could use a projector & display an image onto them & paint that. After paint has cured. Shellac over the entire thing (2 coats) & let it sit overnight to cure. Clean with a solution of dish washing liquid & water, rinse with a wet rag & dry with paper towels (or washrag). If you change your mind during the process (BEFORE shellacking), just paint over it with Primer & start again. GOD BLESS!! :)

hiring a professional to do those will cost in the 3K range. (you don't want some hack for this job). doing it yourself will take you a long time. why don't you get a few estimates on local cabinet builders to see about refacing. they can paint them in the shop and then you would just need to spray the boxes. Do not go to Home Depot or Lowes for this quote. they are super expensive. do you own legwork and save money.

Awesome doors, they just need a little 'makeup'. A little time and effort and they can be gorgeous again. Completely remove them from the cabinets along with all the hardware, fill any holes with wood putty, clean with TSP, sand, PRIME with Kilz2. Choosing the color of your choice in a satin or semi-gloss finish, paint the backs first, flip, paint the fronts. Two thin coats with ample drying time between coats will provide good coverage. Add new hardware, hang, enjoy!!!!!! (p.s. at your local resale shop you may find new hardware at half the price of new.) Best of luck.

You can buy "skins" to cut and cover the fronts of your cabinets which can be paired or stained. The skins are thin wood that is sold at hardware stores.

I have an idea that I have kicked around for a long time but have met resistance from the hubs so please know that this idea has not been executed and is therefore, absolutely experimental. I like the idea of canvas prints on a thin backer board with either a plain, Shaker type frame or a bit fancier but not ornamental frame around the perimeter of the cabinet door. If you dont want to commit to anything permanent you could just fasten a thin panel (chipboard, hardi backer, thin plywood, etc.) covered in fabric to the door as a temporary fix to eyeball it and see if you like the idea. This would eliminate the grooves in the door problem, could be changed out as you wanted unless you decided to make them permanent (you could apply with double stick tape at first). Anyway, the fabric could be decoupaged or you could decoupage wallpaper or scrapbook paper or even photos or just paper copier prints. It's a thought but of course, it's your choice. If you decide to go that route, please let us see what you decide on. This is a novel approach and certainly avante guard and not for the faint of heart or very traditional people. Which describes the hubs to a T. ;). Personally, I like to push the envelope a bit. Keep in mind that these would be easy to clean if sealed. Decoupage using "regular" decoupage glues would only be temporary unless you find a more washable medium.

Look into gel staining. Ask your paint guy about it at your local home store.

I painted my kitchen cabinets and it was no big deal. What you need to do is make sure to get them clean of any oils that have adhered over the years. They look like they are in good shape. You might be surprised what a change new handles and hinges would make.

Ship lap is so popular right now, just paint! Follow DIY prep steps. Cleaning with a degreaser is a must.

I agree with the others who say paint them yourself instead of hiring a professional. Just take your time and do your prep. Personally I wouldn't hire someone to paint my cabinet doors. Good luck you can do it 😊

I would paint them just like painting paneling. Clean them with Dawn and hot water. Good primer and paint away. I would change out the hardware to update the look. Just paint the ridges with a small brush like I did with my paneling. Keep it simple. Best of luck! You're going to love them!