A lot of people think they have to change their cabinets to revive their kitchens. Well you will be amazed to see what a difference it makes to update your countertops, kitchen and faucet! Going with natural stone (quartz, granite or marble) is your best bet if you are thinking re-sale

I thought I would find ratings for different brands of kitchen cabinets on this site? what is the point of CR if there are no ratings?

Every kitchen remodel is different, depending on needs, preferences, and money available. Marble does not hold up in the kitchen, but solid surface does. Painting the cabinets and adding new hardware is inexpensive. Appliances other than stainless steel can be just as attractive and require less maintenance, especially if they are white. I covered the immovable Contact paper on the insides of the cabinets with the newer Contact that is just sticky. Ticky tacky add-ons were replaced with clean-cut fixtures, hardware, wood trim. My plain Jane refrigerator was spiffed up with classy small artwork made in the form of magnets. On the front of one door was placed a snazzy magnetized piece of art about 2" x 3" in place of no cold water and ice cube dispensers. Black paint in narrow strips was added on the inner sides of the front doors, along the bottom vent, and across the top of the doors, which slimmed down the refrigerator and gave it an elegant look. On its side were two magnets of famous art work of cats and a small magnetic calendar I made. I moved the refrigerator out of its cubby hole, which left room for a small desk and created greater access to the adjacent counter and cabinets, and placed it across from the sink and range to make a galley kitchen. I jazzed up the color scheme with orange accents. Imagination and ingenuity and doing what pleases you, rather than using cookie cutter solutions, are what make you a happy, if reluctant domestic. I call it making something out of nothing.