To Paint or Not to Paint?

I asked this question on my personal Facebook page, but I’m not getting any answers!

{Okay, okay, okay. I’m getting responses, they just aren’t saying what I want to hear.}

Here’s the deal:

Would you leave these atrocious, 1980s oak cabinets as they are or would you paint them out to a nice, light, neutral tone?  I’m thinking ‘antique white’.

Now before you get all, “Noooooooo! Not the wood, don’t  paint THE WOOOOOOOOD!”  -- let’s get something straight, here.

THIS is Wood:

I would never, ever dream of painting those beautiful wood details.  The fireplace cabinets are retro-chic.

But THIS? This is retro-SHEESH!:

They are much worse in person. You’ll have to trust me.

From what I see on HGTV (and I watch a lot of HGTV), painting outdated cabinets is the first thing these home stagers do when they come in to spruce up a house.   So I really don’t get why all of my friends are so anti-paint.  These cabinets are gross, ugly and outdated.  Am I the only one who sees this?!

{Yes, I know the border is very cheesy and the wall colour needs to be changed as well, but that’s not what I asked you about. Keep on topic, will ya?"}

Would you buy a house with outdated cabinets and plan to actually keep them that way? 
 

Or would you prefer something modern & clean looking, like this:

{Please click the photo to see the “Before” picture and then tell me again why you are against painting 80s oak!} 

The goal is to make the room look inviting enough for someone to say, “Hey, this is really cute and clean! I could live with this kitchen until I had enough money to gut the thing and completely re-do it.”

Basically I’m saying that these cabinets are not long for this world. If a buyer wants to redo this kitchen, they are NOT going to just put in granite counters and stainless steel appliances and leave the cabinets as is.  They are going to be torn out. I just figure why not make them more appealing for what little life they have left?

What do you think?

And have you voted in my Cute Pet Contest yet? Please do!