Painted cabinet doors are generally at the top of the price point, with polyurethane in either gloss, satin or Matt finishes being rather expensive, and hand painted doors even more so. Laminate on the other end of the scale are cheaper, but also only have the option of a flat door. If a profile is what you what, as most if not all painted doors are profiled, ( have a door shape), but the durability of laminate is wanted, then a vinyl door can provide both. Depending on your door provider, try to stick with Australian manufactured vinyl doors to ensure they meet our regulations, such as albedor or tesrol doors, and they will give you best of both worlds. Also, being that they are cheaper than painted timber doors, modern kitchen construction means replacing doors are as easy as clipping off hinges, and ordering new ones!

Please ladies, enjoy your kitchens - you have to live with them all day every day. Unless you are thinking of selling in the really short term then have what you love - the next person will probably replace it all anyway, especially if you plan on being in your home for even 10 years. Kitchens are changing so much with all the new technology and products coming on the market. Mcctrish more photos of your kitchen would be helpful, I really can't comment too much with the photo you have provided, but I have just totally redone my kitchen (all for me) and I intended having a glass splashback but when the time came, I found it was just too plain and would do nothing for my kitchen. I think with the glass, you need to have a stunning feature colour to make it effective. That was my problem, there was no colour I could have to make it 'sing'. Look at photos on Houzz and you will see that glass splashbacks are the feature of kitchens. Start with the splashback before you decide anything else. Also, if you are just replacing your doors, are there any other fixed panels in the room that will be replaced also or will it be necessary for them to stay, which will then affect what you choose.

Emulsion is a water based paint that you use on your walls but you can use it on furniture if you sand and prep properly. I use it on pieces that need a reasonably tough finish but you need to sand it to get an interesting finish.

What look are you hoping to achieve? When you say 'update' can you elaborate?This kitchen looks new. Compared to my old Barbie pink, laminate, falling apart beast, this is a dream! I personally would never paint a kitchen myself- especially not one like this. Lots of sharp edges means lots of future chips/scratches. If it is 2-pack poly you could get it resprayed. I can see scope to change the cabinet pulls, add a plant or 2 to the shelves, bigreaders suggestions about moulding are awesome. Even if you got a cabinet maker to pull out the open-shelves and replace them with a timber or timber-laminate as a contrast. All this would soften it and add personality. I can see your roller blind on the window- changing that to a roman blind with a pattern/texture/colour through it would add character too.