I wonder if you would be happy with just a new black sink? Maybe darker hardware?

No on the black sink....too hard to take care of ...always cleaning them...but use a granite with black touches and this will look nice....

I love my black sink. It is not shiny and not hard to keep clean at all.

I love the black sink idea, although that's because I think about the money aspect first. Granite is nice but for the price you can buy new laminate tops every five years for 25 years.

I know! I think...start small with a small change and see if it makes you happy. I like the bones in this room a lot.

If you go for a new counter, consider lowering the bar to counter height. You'll gain a ton of counter space and the two rooms will flow together.

That's a really nice kitchen. If the sink is a single, I wouldn't change it for the world unless I could find a black one just like it. Don't see why you would need a backsplash, since the stove has its own and the sink is backed by the counter. The counter appears to be in great shape, by the way.

Golden River would be pretty with your cabinets. It has gray streaks that will pull in your appliances. It looks great with Blanco Biscotti sink.

http://www.artisan-counters.com/products/golden-river/

Here's a better pic.

http://www.exquisitestonellc.com/golden river granite.jpg

I think you need a granite color that has a lot of black to tie in the black appliances.

An under mount sink in any color would look nice. For the back splash I like ones that are tiles and not just more granite.

I love my raised bar because if I have a mess in the kitchen I don't see it from the living room.

Are you looking to update your applicances as well? I can see you stove and dishwasher in the picture. They appear to be in good condition but stainless steel can be a great way to update your look. A cheaper offer may be adding a stainless steel finish to your existing appliances!

If you choose white or a very light shade for paint, I think black counter tops would look great with the wood you have. I've attached a sample image from a kitchen we built.