is it because of the black fridge you desire darker wood cabinets in that area. I would say, do the light cabinetry everywhere, skip the glazing, and invest in a newer fridge in white or stainless and pay for a little carpentry work to recess it so the sides are not protruding. You can stagger the heights on the L if you wish, but I would keep it the same plane and run some molding across the top. Do you feel the cabinets must go for a reason? Some things could be done to your kitchen to update it without removing the cabinets unless there is something we can't see or know from the picture.

I was planning to get quartz countertop and also do a nice backsplash. The current cabinets look nice from a distance but they are not of good quality and some of the edges have started chipping so since i also wanted to do a counter top stovetop as well as have built in oven/microwave and change the counter, decided it would be a good time to change the cabinets as well.

I could change the fridge but except for the colour, there is nothing wrong with it and I feel guilty just discarding a perfectly good fridge :).

I wanted the 2 tone as I thought having only off white cabinets might look too bland. I had decided to go with off white but I went to look at the cabinets today, I wasnt sure of the off white. The only off white cabinets I liked had a glaze on them.

I like the look of two toned cabinets with white on top and a different color on the bottom, or a different colored island. I agree with herb about recessing your fridge for sure. You have a nice functional layout.

https://www.google.com/search?q=small+two+toned+kitchen&biw=360&bih=615&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisvfvswfPLAhUlmoMKHbiOB20Q_AUIBygC

Recessing the fridge is a good idea. I will talk to my contractor about it. The wall on the side of the fridge is only 6''. Is that enough to add a recess?

I have an 11x20 L shape kitchen and I'm doing two tone. That's only 1' longer than your kitchen.

beachem, Thats nice. Do you have any pictures to share?

I think it could look nice if you make the cabinets in the darker tone look like furniture, maybe some glass doors or something? I have a wood stain around the perimeter and an off White Island with a little bit of antiquing. I love the combo.

Amber, That is the kind of idea I have too.