How about a solid stainless backsplash? Then, you can paint the ceiling an accent color. That would add interest and style.

That might be a cool option. I hadn't considered that. Thanks!

I think you could keep your cabinets, but just change out the countertops to carrara and really improve the appearance of your kitchen. Maybe remove the wing walls into the kitchen or at least one of them.

You could remove the panels in some of the doors and replace with glass - clear, frosted - there are many choices.

If you have enough storage, you can remove one cabinet and replace with shelving to display a few items that reflect your personality - maybe even picking up the blues and teals you like. Think twice before you opt for too much shelving as some love it, but some find it a chore to keep clean, especially if storing dishes.

I like a pretty hood - for your to do that you would have to relocate the microwave, and that might not be feasible. You might be able to retrofit a microwave shelf into another cabinet - put a wine rack above to fill in the extra space. I am not sure about shiplap - you can always try:) In a kitchen, I often think of using tile. You can remove the 4 inch granite backsplash and tile up a wall.

Nothing helps brighten up a kitchen as much as under cabinet lighting - especially in winter. I have a new hood with a bright light and new under cabinet lighting in my main prep area and it has brightened my kitchen so much - and I have wood cabinets:)

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I wouldn't do a stainless steel backsplash either - I consider the kitchen a medium dark, not dark; for a backsplash I would pull out the lighter shades of grey or darker grey from the granite, install 6" x 2" (approx) like Toronto's Olympia Tile "Linen" in 'charcoal grey' tile which has a lovely texture and is dark greenish grey, and use same colour grout as the glass tile; instal the tiles stacked in rows. Easy maintenance. Very chic. I would not install ceramic tiles so as not to have too many focal points; granite or caesarstone counters are usually the main focal point in a nice kitchen, and the backsplash their complementary feature.

HOWEVER the biggest issue here is it's use of improper lighting: use 2700 Kelvin LED bulbs in the ceiling!! Bright & warm (not cool lights) this will make all if not a huge difference as well as some under cabinet lighting - xenon lights here will counterbalance beautifully with 2700K LED's at 1/4 the price of under mount LED's. Proper lighting is the most difficult thing to learn, but reduces eye fatigue and improves enjoyment in any room. How many? one to the L & R each of the sink & stove, and one to the L of the fridge. The under mount lights would have their own switch. When you have company at the table you would keep these lights on + the light on Low from the OT microwave, ceiling lights off. Lovely atmosphere! Light!

How about painting the walls aqua?

Thanks guys for all the suggestions! Unfortunately I can't remove any of the cabinets because I run a cookie business out of my house and need the storage. I might try switching out a couple of the doors to glass though. If I were to add a more subtle backsplash do you think it would look funny if we start it right above the 4" granite lip we've got? Or do you think we would have to remove the granite lip first?

If you do an image search of "backsplash on top of granite backsplash" you will get some images - so yes people do it. Kitchen designers will tell people doing a new kitchen not to do it and not having the 4 inch piece is preferred. Here is a forum thread from John Bridge Tile forum on removing the piece should you decide to do that.

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=83341

I understand needing the storage. I have a small kitchen, but one glass corner door and a plate rail cabinet - both I love. The great cooks always like open shelving - but I'm not a great cook.

Martha:

(via Hooked on Houses: http://hookedonhouses.net/2015/11/24/julia-childs-charming-french-cottage-for-sale-in-provence/)

I could never take all that open shelving!

Under cabinet lighting can be expensive. If you cook a lot you will want it. Mine is a DIY using LED under cabinet strips in tracks. they plug into each other and then into the wall. Right now the plug shows, but I am going to have some work done next spring and see if I can have one outlet put under the cabinets with a switch so I can plug the light in unseen. The cost of my set up was $65 (three tracks under the 5 doors running around the corner). Having it professionally installed with a nice wall switch can get pricey.

My kitchen is very old fashion - but I like a vintage vibe - and it is a work in progress:) This shows the under cabinet lighting.

Also - I like my plates on the soffit. For you, something more modern and colorful:

Giada, Dinner Plate · More Info

I happen to have a ctering business and I do not like open shelving all it is is a dust collector I would remove the granite backsplash and do a glass subway tile with some under cabinet lighting.