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Check into putting a new veneer on them. I bought some actual wood veneer and redid all my cabinets. Everyone thinks I spent big money on new cabinets. It wasn't hard at all. Just do a search on the net for cabinet refacing.
The cabinets mtnwmn did look wonderful. I have also seen people do a similar paint job & then line the cabinet doors with mesh, chicken wire, or glass. Also I have noticed some people leaving the doors off their cabinets.
First, it is great that you want to recycle, rather than just tear them down and toss!
When we built our little cabin in the woods, we decided to go with two sets of older cabinets and make them our own. We actually had them in pieces, which you may not want to do. I sanded, primed and painted each cabinet a navy blue (denim-type color). All of the cabinet doors had a panel in them, which we removed. I then painted the doors a bright red (going for the Americana theme). I purchased sheet metal, which I cut the size of the panels (be very careful doing this - you need tin snipes and good gloves). I drew designs on paper and then used an ice pick and small hammer to punch the designs into the metal. I attached the panels and they are magnificent. I did use chicken wire on two cabinets with double doors, so that I could display my good dishes. I was given a Home Depot gift card, which I used to purchase matching silver cabinet handles and spraypainted the original hinges silver to match. I am so proud of my cabinets and no one else has them! The cost was approximately $300.00 for everything - much better than the $11,000 quoted to us for having them built.
