This is the rest of the kitchen (listing photo). If I could spare the storage space (I don't think I can), I would do all open shelving and have a glorious high backsplash. We also have vaulted ceilings which feels like it complicates things. I think the cabinetry is relatively new, so to demo everything sort of feels like a waste. But I hate it. I really do.

Symmetry is not always my thing so keep the open shelves to the left of the window and paint the cabinetry white! Semi-gloss - BM White with great, modern hardware. Would you use a solid slab/ceasarstone as the backsplash rather than tile? I think that would marry the cabinetry.

I was thinking of a white or light grey geometric tile, either subway with a soft grey grout for contrast or a hexagonal white tile. (We're also trying to keep in mind resale value in five years, so while I would prefer something a bit more bold we're trying to stick to neutrals.) I don't know how difficult it would be to get a solid slab backsplash to match with both the marble floor and granite countertops. The floors are a beige-ish marble, which is why I think the old owners opted for the black granite.

Those staggered cabinets scream dated and how really off balance wise will open shelves be.A counter depth fridge is a must IMO and a new backsplash and what excactly are you doing in the massive kitchenredo maybe then we can answer the question.

I will fight for a counter depth fridge (and think I will win, since we will keep the old fridge and stick it in the garage) for certain. My *dream* is to get new countertops (but husband says current granite is 'fine', keeping in mind resale value), repainting all cabinetry white (but I would like darker lowers, but husband may neg). I would like to replace all upper cabinetry with more modern, larger cabinets but husband says they are fine (and I worry about them matching the lowers, since a full gut is not in our budget). There is a partial wall (does not reach ceiling) where the oven is which we plan to knock down to extend the bar area and open up the kitchen to more natural light. All new appliances slowly over time, as budget allows.

If we kept the upper cabinets I considered adding extra cabinetry above them to level out the tops of the cabinets and add storage, utilizing some negative space from the vaulted ceiling.

This might be an option, or an idea to work from: we ended our main backsplash even with the uppers, then dropped down to one row of time tipped be a pencil trim for the remaining length of the countertop. Obviously, ours had a longer run of single tile backsplash, so not sure how it would look shorter.