Painting - Staining Kitchen Cabinets

I am moving into a "new" old house. The kitchen cabinets are nice oak or pine, with a light stain on them. I don't like the light stain currently on them. Is there a nice darker stain that I could apply to give them a more cherry like look? Or just a darker look. Specific stain brands to look for?

Sand them first eh?

If they don't look good, I have a nice milk type paint from our previous cabinets.

Looking for advice/recommendations.

Thanks.

If the cabinets have only stain and nothing else on them then clean them well with mineral spirits to remove any wax (very possible if not varnished) and any residue from cooking or fingers then try applying stain in an out of the way spot to test for absorbtion and color.Sanding isn't really going to help you.

If the cabinets have any sort of coating such as polyurethane then clean same way,very lightly scuff sand,use tack cloth to remove residue from sanding and apply tinted polyurethane to attempt color change etc.

Brand names probably aren't as important as a color you like.

I'd just clean them up and go with the tinted poly.

I would add that it's a good idea to top coat the tinted poly with clear poly to protect the color - so it won't get worn off. Also care must be used when applying a tinted poly, runs, drips or lap marks will have more color.

Most paint stores will tint poly/varnish for you. Minwax polyshades is a factory tinted poly.... comes in a bunch of colors.