Be brave and experiment with different colors, other than white on the cabinets ...pastel aqua or celadon come to mind. Use a round heavy table or a querky garden table you can move around within the space. Add chairs you can easily customize wirh different color fabrics through the year and you will never get bored with the space. Decorating is a journey.

Great points! If you notice, the cabinets are flush with what seems to maybe be ductwork that was boxed in and sheet rocked? Since I will be painting the cAbinets, couldn't visually give the illusion of taller cabinets somehow? Some type of moulding? Or just leave alone?

Felix..this type if color?

YES, brilliant!

Crown molding with an horizontal freizee band and another flat band on the ceiling. This is a most elegant look and appropriate for your house and will help integrate the enclosed space above the cabinets. Finish in a gleaming Dove White paint.

What is the distance counter top to counter top? It looks as though you have at least 9 feet. If this is correct - you have space for a 24 inch wide island (42 inch clearance on each side). The picture of the island that you uploaded is about the right size and look. Having an island in the middle of your kitchen would make it more functional with giving you more counter top and lighting for prep work. I love the look of wood flooring with painted cabinets, but it really depends on what type of wood flooring that you are selecting for durability, especially with children. Is it an engineered wood hardwood or a non-engineered soft wood, such as heart of pine? Tile in the kitchen is not outdated and with the new 3D print graphics - manufacturers are able to create tile that looks like real stone. The 12x12 sized tile is not used as much (unless space or a design requires it) as tile is getting larger in size. Selecting a tile that works with the color of your wood flooring would be key. I do like the idea of the banquet seating.

The picture that I uploaded for a banquet seat is meant to be an example not a suggestion for your kitchen.

There will be many good suggestions for this kitchen remodel from Houzz participants based on limited information from a few pictures and many assumptions but I strongly suggest you consult with a local kitchen design firm that will look at your kitchen area as it relates to your surrounding rooms and take the time to discuss your family lifestyle particularly if your family spends a LOT of time in this area.

You have a lovely home and no doubt you want to spend your updating budget wisely with the greatest return on function. Once you work in the existing kitchen you may find that the appliances are not located where most convenient to you or the cabinets do not function effectively regarding storage or the counter area is lacking or the cabinet hardware is tough to manage or the ambient vs. task lighting is poor, etc.

No matter what you do you will be spending money and knowing the whole picture will help you to make better decisions.

I agree with Scott Design. We can give you a lot of suggestions looking at pictures, but you really should meet with a local kitchen and bath designer before implementing any of it.

Here are some examples of the type of "islands" I believe are a better option for the style of your house. These also reveal my predilection for amorphous design, design elements that allow to change the configuration of a space with ease. Have a most blessed Sunday in the company of you loved ones.

Awesome Felix! Thank you so much! We have had a wonderful sunny day! :)