I really like your maple cabinets. Not sure what you have for hardware, it looks as if they are white knobs??? I'd go with brushed nickel. My recommendations are tile back splash, a laminate that looks like a granite, if the ceiling isn't popcorn finish, I would paint the angled part a shade lighter than the wall and the top part another shade lighter or both could be complimentary colors to the wall paint such as beige colors. This will accent this architectural feature. If you definitely hate the color of the stain you have, then I recommend going with an off white. and do the counter dark laminate. I hope this helps.

If you are doing DIY paint will be easier you if you want to refinish with stain and want them darker you could strip the clear off of them and use a gel stain here's the thing most DIY projects done this way will work because gel stain is really thick and will cover the previous stain so ends up really solid no variations you might to put on multiple coats you do loose grain though then you top coat with a poly . This is not a thing I would recommend but many DIYers have done on houzz and they are happy with it . It depends on what you like and how much you want to do .

not enough information to suggest either options.

I'd like to see what you end up doing. Our cabinets are not maple but are a similar color and we have that same bulk head above the cabinets.

Hi Betsy (oh, 4 weeks ago)... Stph, are your cabinets in good condition ?

Yea. Just need major update

Paint and new hardware...that is my vote. :)