Hey everyone,

We just moved into our house last year and are getting ready to do some updates to our fabulous for 1978 kitchen! We actually love the cabinets which were custom built and want to keep them. Obviously ALL of the tile countertops as well as the tile on the walls will be going. These pictures are from when the previous owners owned the house. We have already removed the cabinet over the kitchen sink to open the kitchen up to the breakfast room. So here is what I am thinking of doing:

countertops: replace the countertops with a black/very dark granite or quartz. the island would be either stainless steel or concrete?

island: have the island painted black to contrast the other cabinets

replace the stovetop with an induction cooktop - I want the countertop to look as smooth and seamless as possible so hopefully it will sort of match the countertops.

new modern looking stainless steel exhaust fan. we would remove the three cabinets over the cooktop and only have the exhaust fan there.

backsplash - have a backsplash in a mixture of materials that would pull together the black and stainless steel countertops. it would run up the wall behind the newly opened area where the cabinets were over the cooktop.

both sinks will be updated with new faucets - i like sleek and modern, stainless steel.

new lighting over the island(need suggestions for this!)

I am in particular interested in ideas regarding the backsplash and countertops if you have an idea different than mine. I am also looking for some ideas for wall colors once this is all done.

Hopefully my explanations are somewhat clear at least! Thank you in advance for your suggestions.