I would...

Get rid of the dated decorations and window treatment.

Update the flooring.

Change up the opening around the stairwell.

Change the stools

And Paint.

After that if i still did not like it, change up the more expensive items.

New flooring, take down everything above the cabinets, change backsplash to simple subway, take down valance, change stools, change hardware & paint.

I would change the flooring. Normally I would say to run the wood floors into the kitchen, but in this case I think that might be too much of the same wood tone. You can also change the cabinet hardware for an easy updated look.

Update the seating around counter
Update cabinet hardware
Update window treatments
Ditch appliance garage
Remove everything on top of cabinets
Install larger casing and baseboard and paint it
Consider painted crown molding (not sure since cabinets are pretty close to ceiling)
Remove wall phone
Paint risers, spindles, newel post, and wainscotting
I think your flooring is fine IMO

I had a similar kitchen (although my counters weren't as nice as yours) and I ended up taking it out and replacing as I couldn't get past the arched doors and scrolled trim work. Plus my island was stupidly small for the space.

It's a nice kitchen with a nice counter and matching backsplash... it's a little traditional for my own taste, but from what I can see of the adjoining areas, this is a traditional looking home and decor. Are you staying with a traditional style or are you wanting to change all that up? If you're staying traditional, I'd only remove the decorations above all of the cabinetry and find another place to display the plate collection, and I'd get some nice, upholstered barstools, and maybe lay down some larger area rugs. I might change up the window dressings some too.
If you're trying to get away from the traditional style then you might look into refacing the cabinet doors, changing door pulls, and probably going with a matte stone look porcelain tile on the floor. (I personally dislike trying to keep a shiny tile looking spotless in a kitchen or bathroom... or a foyer for that matter)

I think your countertop and backsplash is perfectly fine to keep and can go in a lot of different directions.
You could also put wood flooring in the kitchen, but then you'd want to paint the cabinetry I think or it's kind of wood overload. You might be ok if you stained it much darker with light floors, but I'd probably change the tile, oak is a hassle to paint and have it look really nice.

Just realized... those might be maple cabinets... that's a lot easier to paint if you wanted to go that direction.

We are buying this house. None of the plates, widow treatments, bar stools etc will be there. I am not sold on tile floors, as we currently have hardwood, but I am afraid it will be too "wooden." I am leaning towards refinishing the kitchen in a darker shade and replacing the outdated doors and hardware. Still not sure how to go about all the door and window trim that is currently in the same color as the spindles.

I like classic. So replace the trim with white or paint it. And do a natural black stone flooring to help break up the wood. Painting the walls will help a lot too. I would knock out that wall dividing the rooms and change the spindles to iron to modernize the rooms.

I think you could remove all the decorative stuff, change the hardware and appliances and be well on your way: Everyone calls oak doors with cathedral arch "dated" but on the other hand companies still make this exact door. If no one was buying it, they would stop.

That is a very lovely kitchen! I would absolutely run the beautiful hardwood into the kitchen. Choose a nice paint color ( please...NO GRAY). Add some pretty rugs. Congrats on purchasing such a nice home!

I'd do nothing-except for changing the flooring if it bothers me(too slippery for example or very hard to keep clean..then I'd go with tile still..I think the room is well defined enough, the transition between the different flooring should be easy. What tile-will get dictated by your house's location and your material/style preferences. I might do smth with pattern there. Play off the "older" feel. Or. I might go with darker tile, plain, laid in interesting pattern. I love hardwood but then one needs to find same, maybe refinish it all..gets too complicated). wouldn't do refacing-it's not I'm in huge love with the doors but I'm not bothered enough to pay several thousands they'll ask to reface them.

I'd change hardware..I'd put new barstools (smth like what Serena and Lily carries...but that's personal preferences of course)..I'd put accessories I love, and art, and generally lazy me would play with the vibe I like rather than making big changes. Unless the kitchen doesn't work with the house at all and is dysfunctional. I can't see it happenning here though.

I'd go for a deeper shade of paint, quite possibly. -not neccessarily dark, just deeper-to ground the wood a tad better. Obviously would depend on other rooms, whether I change flooring, etc.

Since I love displaying stuff-I might consider replacing couple doors for glass ones.

It seems a rather nice kitchen to me, ready for you to make it yours.

If you find out the layout is bothering you-then I'd think how to improve, and save while thinking.

Looks like a nice kitchen. Paint over the stenciling, add new barstools and enjoy your new home! Congratulations.

We replaced the door and drawer fronts in our kitchen about two years ago. If the boxes are in good shape and the layout works for you, that is a great way to update for less than half of new cabinets (in our case). Darker stain on the cabinets or maybe glazing would help? I don't like shiny floors myself, water on shiny usually means slip-hazard, but, if it works for you... Maybe consider some long gelpro mats or similar if you are unsure about replacing the floor. The right rugs can make a huge difference there.

It looks like you have a great space to work with! New paint would be a great place to start, and we'd suggest updating the cabinet hardware as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Congrats on your new home!

The room needs texture and color. Here's what I would do - and then I'd live with it for awhile to see if it grows on you...

1) get rid of stenciling

2) new window treatments

3) updated stools - colorful fabric if possible, with complimentary backless stool under the desk

4) remove carpet on the stairs and add a colorful runner, coming all the way down to the kitchen level; take off or paint moulding running up the stairway wall

5) rugs in the kitchen and dining areas that complement the stair runner

6) new cabinet hardware

7) get rid of appliance garage

8) a FEW updated, colorful accents on counter top (not above cabinets) and maybe a large vase of flowers (or big bowl of fruit) on the island

Where is the fridge?

I like the floors!! Especially if you are going with a darker cabinet. I would love to see this done with a dark base cabinet, light uppers with dark trim that goes to the ceiling- then a dramatic counter. You are so lucky to have this much space to work with!!

kootenaycapable: the fridge didn't make the picture. If you look at the picture that shows the dining room - it's to the right. Not the best placement in my opinion, I would've liked it closer to the stove and sink, but, I am afraid, it's staying in its current spot.

If I decide to go with a darker color for the cabinets - what do you suggest I do for all the window trim and spindles? As you can see from this pic - the "wooden" theme

carries over to the adjacent family room.

Also, if you take a close look at the kitchen cabinets - they have a moulding below the top cabinets. I've never seen anything like that. Do you think I could remove it? I think I visually like the straight line better.

Regardless of what you do for the cabinet color, extending the cabinet height to the ceiling would be a more current look. That space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling is dead space which exists only to collect dust! I did this in my own kitchen where I was able to take that gap and add extra display and storage. It wasn't an expensive project and updated my kitchen.

The moulding at the bottom edge of the top cabinets may be to help hide the undercabinet lighting fixtures. The older fluorescent fixtures are somewhat bulky, but the new led fixtures are much thinner and more easily hidden from view.

risastacy, do you mind showing a picture of your finished cabinet?

Thats a very nice kitchen. I wouldn't get sucked into that paint everything white that everyone is saying now. Realize this - once you paint it white, you can't get that wood back very easily.

Those cabinets look like maple though they could be oak.

Are they high quality cabinets?

You can tell quite easily - are the drawers dove tailed? If you look under the cabinets on the wall - look at the edges - are they particle board, plywood or solid wood.

I think the kitchen is fine. Some decluttering, paint the walls, change the window treatments and leave it alone. There is nothing wrong with it. Traditional never goes out of style.

Save your money.

We updated our all oak kitchen by refinishing the island in a dark espresso stain and replacing hardware with oil rubbed bronze. We have similar granite, but added subway tile under the cabinets.

Another vote for kitchen looking very nice as is, with a few minor changes. Like most houzzers, I'm not a fan of the cathedral arch in cabinet doors, but these upper cabinet doors are quite tall, and the arch doesn't bother me in the least. (Actually, the ones above the range do bother me -- but you could replace with exhaust hood.)Since you are planning to remove frou frou items, I am guessing that your taste leans modern. I think you might get more bang for your buck by changing the stair railing and the railing separating living and dining to something more streamlined and modern.

..also. these are listing pictures, right? the previous owners really capitalized on wood, everywhere, including furniture. thus the feeling of overload

I believe that if you take a bit more varied approach-wood, yes, but also other materials in furniture etc..seagrass, glass, soft upholstery, you name it..your perception might change, because the wood will turn to be a beautiful background rather than main element. It'd become a part of the whole.