What's your budget?

not really sure. I think i was mostly thinking of paint, maybe new backsplash/tile, knobs/pulls, removing some of the decorative design like corbels, extra trim detail, etc Possibly a different range hood? - - to simplify. I would love suggestions

this is the new light above the island - - if that helps with knowing what direction I'm trying to go.

Really need some photos. Sounds like a great kitchen. Maybe changing the granite is best update for your dollar? Need to see before I can give you any ideas.

baltic black/brown granite countertop. Might show a little more yellow than it actually is due to lighting

hmm...are my photos not showing up?

Could you post island photo fron far enough back that I can see the whole picture.

From what I see of your kitchen, it is really beautiful! Fresh paint and possibly a new back splash will be all that you need.

With the limited pictures, here are my suggestions:

Paint cabinets white (Not an inexpensive endeavor.)

Rectangular black iron pulls

Remove corbels and scrolls

New hood

Replace cabinets on either side of hood with open shelving

My concern is that if you tastes have changed that drastically from what you installed 9 years ago, chances are they could change again. I would be aware of that in the decisions you make. Try to create a neutral base from which decorative touches and colors can be added or subtracted as your aesthetic changes.

I like your kitchen but I understand this may not be your style. What about checking out the kitchens you like in Houzz and then thinking about what you want to change, a budget and style.

What does the rest of your house look like? Would making major change take away from the style.

Keep in mind the brick, the arched cabinet doors and the details on the cabinet are all big statements of French Country. To change to a different style you might need to consider a big change. Just changing out the counters, corbels backsplash, and removing the ornamentation on the hood may not be enough to make a black and white streamlined farmhouse kitchen. How much do you love the brick? Can you take photos further back? What wall are you thinking of painting black?

Have you thought about embracing the french country and painting it all black? Keep the brick, maybe paint it a bright white..

Just a thought since you mentioned a black wall...

Amy, the biggest problem you have is once you start making fairly significant changes they snowball, because one will force another. If you paint the cabinets black, the granite will stick out even worse. That granite has pinkish undertones. So black might not work even with one wall. Everything is warm colors right now. Black is the ultimate cool color. Perhaps a navy blue might work better. And add dark blues to the room. The light fixture you posted is nice but warm toned metal finish. I will look for some photos to help a bit. Bbl

If you paint cabinets, here are some blue ideas.

Maybe change some cabinets to glass door and add pops of color in the kitchen. A backsplash change would be an easy fix and make the biggest change i think.

Amy, what color is the base cabinet of your island ? Could you take a picture that shows more of your room as a whole ?

The stone wall is a beautiful element which could lend itself to tying in with several other styles/changes . Don’t ever change that !

I apologize - I missed that you had described your island color already .

I love the arched brick around range. You can take off the decorative, scroll thing on hood and paint it a black to tie in with counters

Paint the hood dark I meant

Since your room is dark to begin with , if you really wanted to add more black in , you could have your floors professionally stained so that it would be a black and existing wood checkerboard pattern ( instead of a whole room darkening wall ) . You could have just a section (ie. where the plate rack is- or somewhere else ( hard to know wo. seeing the whole room ) with a milk paint in a lighter blue like in Flo’s last pic. in the series of four . Painting just a section of upper and lowers would give the feel of a cupboard like a true french farmhouse .These would be some painting options that perhaps wouldn’t be as costly as doing all of the cabinetry .I would then use a bright white tile or quartz just for the backsplash and replace your stove hood with one that is metal. Some of this is kind of gutsy ,I know , but I think doing any of these parts would take down the feel you seem to be wanting to get away from and lighten up the feel of your kitchen .

Here is one to show the floor .

Y’all are so kind and amazing. Thank you. I will try to get a broader view photo posted today. I appreciate all the comments. I do see that one change could easily snowball into many changes so I’m taking that into consideration. Thank you all!

I appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions. In trying to get to the bottom of my urge to change things, I think it's a couple of things: the yellowing of the glazed finish on the cabinets makes it feel dingy to me, not loving my granite anymore and trying to find a way to spruce it up, also I'm soooo over my glazed or faux finish walls (whatever the term) and wanted to brighten up my space, and I'm not a fan of the froo froo-ness of the scrolls, corbels, hardware, and trim work (even though I designed it and chose all of it - -my tastes have changed, I guess). I'm probably not doing a good job of putting it into words. And it could also just be my desire to create something new. Thanks again. Appreciate y'all.

As an alternative for your walls, you might want to consider
something unique and easy to paint, personalize and install such as 3D wall
panels, textured wall paper or adhesive wall tiles (glass, gel or stone). Check
out some ideas here: https://www.houzz.com/projects/1258135/wall-decor

You have a really nice kitchen! If you want to simplify, start by simplifying...there's a lot of things in this room. Take down the decor above the cabinets. Clear the counters and take the papers off the fridge. Do simple mantel decor. Remove the signs from the walls. Remove the corbels.

Can you do an indoor outdoor natural looking rug under the table? Maybe not, I see a baby seat. I'd lighten up the dining chairs and bar stools. Add back light colored ceramic accessories on the counters, island and table. Nothing dark or heavy looking. Lighter paint would be nice but you should start with the simplest changes and see how you like it.

I think your kitchen is incredible and no changes are needed.

Now that I see more photos, I say do nothing. Instead use the money and go on a Viking Cruise return to your home after you miss it and enjoy your little piece of heaven.

: )

Amy, wow ,I think these rooms are beautiful . You could probably choose a lighter color and paint right over the faux finished walls . Do have a carpenter remove all the frillies from you cabinetry - then a painter could prob. sand down and apply a semi-transparent white glaze to them . That would take down the yellowing there , short of painting them all white which would prob. be pretty costly . Then think about still replacing the hood and backsplash. All this might give your granite a diff. look . Or go the route Flo suggested and just replace the granite ... These were just some suggestions to mitigate the look you are not liking , short of redoing the entire kitchen - but if you don’t like any existing elements, then it seems that is pointing to a complete redo. ( not the stone wall, PLEASE :) . #1 Small tweaks , cabinets +backsplash , #2 Small tweaks ,granite + backsplash , or #3 might as well do everything , - that’s pretty much what it boils down to , Amy . Obviously , it is your preference, budget and what you really want . Wishing you the best - can’t wait to see what you decide ! Please share your progress and outcome with all of us . Exciting !

boxerpal, hahaha, that’s funny ! I want to go on a Viking Cruise , but I am not contemplating redoing anything in my K , - sooo , can’t even use that as a trade-off !!! Sadness.

That’s Tropic Brown granite, not Baltic Brown. Baltic looks like amoebas. So you’re already a step ahead. It’s not black, so again you’re starting off a step ahead. Replacing granite with quartz averages 6-9K got the average sized kitchen. Yours is at least 1.5x the average sized kitchen. Maybe even 2x.

If you remove all of the decorative frou frou, you will be forced into painting the cabinets. That is far from cheap to do it correctly. 7-9K for the average sized kitchen to be sprayed with a professional conversion varnish. Same 1.5-2x multiplier here.

You’ll need a lot more lighting. Especially if you go to the dark side with your colors. 3-5K for adding all of that.

1-2K for the walls and trim to be painted. 2-3K for a backsplash.

All 1.5-2x multiplied from average.

So, in 6 years when farmhouse is dead as a door nail, (already dying) and the hot look is color blocked modern slab doors in orange and we get, with stainless counters, and that absolutely can not be adapted to those cabinets, even if you were to attempt to throw another 40K at it., would you be up for the then 75K average (1.5-2x) gut redo for the room, just to keep up with the style trends?

Chasing pop trends only benefits those who merchant those trends. It certainly doesn’t benefit your retirement account, or benefit your life in any meaningful way. If you can afford the 125K expense over the next 10 years time just for your own pleasure in adapting to current fads, then sure, hire a designer and have at it. Or redo it entirely. Most people don’t have that earmarked for discretionary spending though.

Wow Sophie that was a little harsh. And I don’t know where you live but your prices are way off from where I live. How about we give positive suggestions or keep our mouths shut. Thank you.

Just getting rid of the curly bits and the corbels will make a big difference.

Thank you all so much. I appreciate the time you've taken to think through my question and offer suggestions. So very kind. Sophie, I think my post offended you, I'm sorry about that. Thank you for your input. I wish you well.

Amy, in a way, I was making a similar point to Sophie, although, more tactfully for sure. Just removing a corbel won't get your much of a change. How about adding more colorful canisters and other "accessories" to meet your need for a bit of change. You might change the stone on your island too. Give things a lift without spending a fortune! Just be careful you don't start a snowball rolling down hill you can't control. The good news, you have a beautiful kitchen right now! Try a few small accessory changes and see how you feel.

Amy, know that Sophie comes of a bit harsh sounding in all her posts. You did not offend her most likely. Despite her affect, she has some of the best insights and know-how on Houzz. Try to mentally scrub her comments of the parts that sound abrasive and personal and really take to heart the root of what she is saying.

I think you have plenty of good, personal reasons why what you have is not working for you. And there is nothing wrong with you liking farmhouse, whether it is trendy or not. Again, I would be interested in learning what you could do to change the space in ways that could be more easily adaptable as your tastes change.