New larger scaled lighting fixtures will help tremendously. Maybe you bring it down to 2 larger fixtures. At least get rid of the backsplash. The kitchen is incredibly dark. A lighter backsplash will help. Eventually you can paint these cabinets and really have a change. Painting will be much less than new cabinets. I would take the granite off of the face of the peninsula. That is very unusual to see that as granite and not wood.

More up to date pendants, add under-cab lighting, for starters. I'd get rid of the scallopy valance, which doesn't go with the cabinets anyway.

I'm not sure how hard it would be to get rid of the granite backsplash. I suspect it would be a big job, but if not, a new backsplash in a lighter color would help, too.

I'm totally a white/light/pastel kitchen person, but I don't think I'd paint those cabinets. They look pretty nice as they are.

Everyone else nailed what I was going to say- removing the scalloped wood and getting a new backsplash. Stainless steel appliances would also help but if those are newer ones I understand not wanting to replace them.

Consider painting that crown molding the same color as the baseboards too. There are too many types of wood going on and it doesn't make sense for that to be a different color than the floor ones.

New glass pendants will definitely help! If it's possible, I'd swap out the backsplash for a simple modern subway tile and paint the cabinets a lighter color - either gray or white. See below for a few inspiration images. Good luck!

The fastest update would be to change out the granite and remove it from the counters/walls/peninsula. That kitchen is dark on dark on dark. The biggest upset I see, is the SUPER DARK counters/granite wall finishes.

If you get rid of the counter top granite (all surfaces) you will have the fastest update imaginable. Or you can remove the granite on the wall/vertical surfaces (like the peninsula) and then add some bright tiles....but you will still have a dark, heavy space.

Removing the granite from the vertical surfaces will do plenty....but not enough to relieve the HEAVY DARKNESS that is your kitchen. Imagine the granite is a crisp white = bright kitchen with a transitional vibe. If you don't want a full update, perhaps a laminate counter top+new backsplash to hold you over for the next few years while you save up for the redo in a few years (and remember: the average cost of a kitchen renovation = $50K). Your kitchen might only need $30K - $40K worth of investment to get the modern vibe you are looking for.

Just a thought.

Concur with others about removing the backsplash, taking down the scalloped piece over the sink and replacing the pendant lights with something more modern in clear glass, not frosted.

A few other things that I don't think have been mentioned:

1. Remove the dark (granite is it?) on the base of the counter. Paint it the same color as the walls.

2. Replace the dark (wood? bronze?) cabinet pulls and handles with something more modern -- a simpler design in stainless steel.

Thanks for the advise all! As much as I would love to change out all the granite for something lighter, it just isn't in our budget right now. Thanks for the tips to make some incremental improvements, I'll keep the bigger ticket items in mind for a full renovation down the road

"Your kitchen might only need $30K - $40K worth of investment"

You can buy half a house here for that kind of money. I've never heard it done but is it possible to tile over that granite backsplash? I do stuff "everyone" says can't be done but I have no money. I can't spend what I don't have. Those cabinets are to die for. Different lights. Whatever you can do to lighten the backsplash. Paint, tile, wallpaper? Modern wallpaper isn't your grandmother's wall paper. Glue on some beadboard? Cover that granite on the peninsula with something! Some really nice cabinet grade plywood. It's not cheap but cheaper then anything else I can think of. Have you ever used liquid nails? But if you use that, what ever you glue to that granite is never coming off!

Don't start painting your crown. Once you start there's no where to stop and you'll be doing the whole house. I don't understand everyone's obsession with painting beautiful wood. If you're going to paint it get the styrofoam stuff to begin with. Painted on the ceiling who will know? Painting cabinets is not as easy as painting a wall. Don't start.

you could paint the cabinets yourselves for a few hundred bucks, (if that) and many weekends. It's not that difficult, and you don't have that many cabinets to do. that would be the biggest bang for the buck.

right now that kitchen looks like a black hole from across the room.

new handles, lighting, remove the scallop, paint a new wall color, paint all the wood crown/trim white ,,,yes.

you might even try something to cover the kick area under the bar overhang. look at skinning it with something else.

It's the granite. It's just so much granite. I wonder if stick-on tiles would help. I like the idea of bead boarding the back of the peninsula and painting it to match the walls.

Consider painting the skinny crown mouldings throughout as well as putting in undercabinet lighting, removing the scallop trim and changing the peninsula pendants. Find a roman blind you love and mount it at the ceiling so when open it completely clears the window for maximum natural light.

I wouldn't mind the dark kitchen, it sort of vanishes with lights out. I do want enough light in there to get work safely done.

Try getting new hardware for the cabinets and newer pendant lighting. It will make a big difference. If you want to add some color as well try a rug and a colorful tea kettle.

I agree that the granite is just too dark and doesn't really look good with the color of the wood. For a quick and fairly inexpensive fix, I agree with looking at the stick on tiles. There are some very attractive ones in light colors.

check out apartmenttherapy.com for articles on kitchen updates for renters. Inexpensive, non-permanent ideas that will work until you're ready for a more extensive remodel.

that said, I love the white cabinets with the dark counters that Beverly posted.

It's a lovely kitchen, just not to your taste.

I would look into light colored canisters for the counter. Cream colored? a decorative fruit bowl, again keep it light. Then, on the island, a beautiful vase with maybe dried hydrangeas.

Choose all the furniture in the room as light as possible. Or, make sure to have light colored accent pillows.

Interesting art on the walls that reflect your young vibe.

I think once you put your finishing touches on this, you will be fine.

It is a traditional kitchen. It's not something a young person would probably choose, but it is what it is.

ETA: post this over in the Home Deco forum. Since you can't make actual changes I wouldn't post over in kitchen until you are ready to make major changes.

Kitchens will start by having you rip it out to the studs, moving walls and plumbing and painting everything gray. Decorating is slowly evolving to the same thing. For now, you are safest here until those people discover your post.

how about removing the OTR MW and putting in a SS hood? that'd lighten up some of it.

and change out the knobs/handles to something 'silverish'.

when you get some other color in there and put around some lighter appliances (SS toaster? mixer?) and dishes, it might lighten up enough.

do the small things and live with it for a time and see how you feel then.

Simple solutions: and inexpensive

#1 cover over the vertical dark granite on the peninsula. Door fronts can be ordered from big box stores and installed over the dark granite

2. paint the crown molding

3. There are companies which specialize in retrofitting kitchens with new doors and covering the existing boxes in a veneer. New doors do not need to be wood; new technology have molded profiles with no seams.

4. believe it or not-you can use mirror as backsplash

This installation is an up scale kitchen-but the concept here can be duplicated.The backsplash in mirrors are like new windows. Front of the peninsula can be resurfaced. Top cabinets can contrast from base cabinets.

Check around for resources who can retrofit the footprint of you existing kitchen.

good luck!

Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group, Inc. Great resurfacing comment except for the mirrors. I am all about mirrors I LOVE them but with out the light counters the mirrors will only reflect back the dark counter again and back to square one.

i agree with most to go with lighter accent pieces with out changing much but maybe handles to some thins silver or lighter than the wood that is there. It is so difficult for me to see some one rip out a perfectly good kitchen but this one is quite dark.

Someone recently recommended laying aluminum foil on top of cabinets. It somehow reflects the light and makes things brighter. An added bonus is that you can replace it when it gets dirty, rather than wiping down the tops, which would be a difficult task.

i used those peel and stick floor tiles cut to fit the tops of my cabinets. I left the backing on them so I could lift them down for cleaning then put them back. This has made cleaning so much easier.

You've gotten some good advice so far! You could also change the cabinet hardware to something more modern or transitional. Satin nickel pulls would add some sparkle and brightness to the room.

Replace the hardware on the cabinets to something more sleek. DON'T paint the cabinets! If the backsplash bothers you, have a machine shop or auto body repair place cut some sheet metal (stainless steel) to fit the space and attach it (or you could just lean it against it - the metal will probably just stay where you put it). Maybe some colorful pendant lights.

My first thought was to cover up the dark back of the peninsula, as the biggest face toward the rest of the house -- cheapest would be to remove the granite and replace with painted drywall. Another possibility would be to replace or cover up with some kind of reclaimed wood, which would bring some "young people" vibe without requiring you change up the whole space... Putting some jaunty modern bar stools there will help too.

The granite tile on the side of the peninsula MUST GO, or at least get painted or covered over. And it can take that squiggly wood valance with it.

Those two changes would get rid of a lot of issues.

The big scary unknown is how the granite tiles are attached to the peninsula back ... if gently prying them off doesn't work, covering them with thin drywall or even plywood (construction adhesive is your friend) and painting it would be my suggestion.