First thing, get your inspiration from the images on Houzz and pick your color palette. Everything else should come from that.


1. Lighting. Kill that fluorescent fixture go for dimmable halogen spotlights around the perimeter of the room. Add under cabinet lighting for ambience and additional task lighting. That looks like a breakfast bar under the window. Consider dropping a couple of pendants over that area. Something clean but with a vintage style like: http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod691005&categoryId=cat1701013. Also change out those lantern fixtures to something a little more current. Antique brass is not your friend.

2. Cabinets. Paint them in a light color. Be sure to prep/sand and prime properly, or you'll be in a world of hurt. You might consider using a chalk paint which could be lightly sanded and distressed and may not need to be primed. It sticks to pretty much everything and the patina with age can be lovely. You can also add a glaze over the top for further interest and to highlight the details in the cabinet doors and draw fronts. Add pulls to the drawers, again, something like: http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1160290&categoryId=cat1512023. Go for drop-pulls on the cabinet doors in a matching metal.

If you can, replace the upper cabinets, remove those soffits If they are not hiding anything and take the cabinets to the ceiling. It will add immediate elegance. If you can't or don't want to replace the cabinets, but can still remove those soffits, you could create a great area for some storage baskets.

Replace the sink with a white, ceramic, apron front farmhouse sink. They don't have to be expensive. Ikea has a great one that is inexpensive. Either go for oil rubbed bronze or chrome for your knobs, pulls and faucet.

3. Counters. I'd go with soapstone. It does wear wit age, but again, gets a lovely patina and works very well for a modern vintage look. For resale though, so for granite. Boring, but everybody wants it.

4. I agree with the subway tile idea. I'd go for a beveled subway tile to add a clean edge and a little interest. Install it in a brick pattern. The grout can go light or dark.

5. Walls & Window. You can really bring some color into the space with your wall color and continue it to the backsplash with the grout color. (Just remember though, dark grout is cool now, but may not be for long). The window needs to be softened. I'd add a bamboo blind that spans the whole window. It doesn't matter in you never use it, but it will add texture and depth.