A full-blown project to take the cabinets down to bare wood and restain and gloss them is the most ambitious route you can take. Only do this if your really hate the current shade and are ready for some work. The gloss on the cabinets can be taken off with chemical strippers or, of it is not a thick high-gloss shell, it can be taken off with a power sander. You will need to power sand below the current layer of stain as well, getting it down to light wood. Apply new stain with a brush, letting it sit on the wood for a few minutes before wiping it down with paper towels. Varnish or polyurethane gloss is applied afterward, in two or three layers.

If you like the shade of your stained cabinets, but the gloss is worn and cracked, consider re-glossing the cabinet. It is a simpler project that a full refinishing job. Hand sand the gloss until you have taken off the shine but you haven't sanded into the stained wood. Apply new varnish or polyurethane with a brush, taking care not to let bubbles form. After the first coat dries, lightly buff it with very fine sandpaper (220-grit or more) and brush on another layer. Repeat with a third layer for nice thick glossy finish.

The refinishing process known as "glazing'' is a wide-ranging one that includes everything from a light coat of white to a thick, crackly layer of textured paint. The main idea is to make the wood look antique, even battered. Glazing compound can be purchased as a clear liquid and mixed with paint, or bought pre-mixed. You brush it on, let it sit for a minute, then partly take it, leaving enough to work your art. One common method is to wipe down the glaze just enough so that it is mostly off the flat parts of the surface but still gathered thickly in corners and lines. Whatever method you choose, it has to be coated with gloss afterward to seal it.

Painting is the last resort for cabinets that are too damaged or just plain ugly to be re-stained, glossed or glazed. If you decide to paint, sand all gloss off the old finish so there is a flat surface for the paint. Use a good sealing primer to make sure the paint adheres to the cabinets. Paint in the direction of the lines of the cabinets. Since you have abandoned the idea of a natural wood look anyway, consider a two-toned approach, painting the doors or trim in accent colors.