Unless the original finish is damaged, I would leave the cabinets alone. A factory finish is harder and more durable than anything you can do after the fact. Before making any big decisions I would read this and ponder it deeply:

https://www.curbed.com/2018/3/7/17087588/home-renovation-unnecessary-mcmansion-hell-wagner

Thanks for the article! A good reminder :-). Good point about the cabinet finish. There is nothing wrong with the cabinets, and I'm lucky to have them.

I totally understand your feelings--it's not a kitchen to my taste, either, but it does seem relatively functional and in good shape, based on the photo. I would definitely repaint the walls, though.

I think your kitchen’s very nice. Maybe just get a new backsplash and it’ll look great. No rush, though, you could live with it until you find something you really like for a backsplash.

Writersblock, we did repaint before moving in (after this photo was taken). That one was easy. Baileysr I agree, I think changing the backsplash would make all the difference--if I could only change one thing that would be it. But definitely not in a hurry.

New backsplash and new paint, and you are good to go! You could add hardware too, if you were inclined.

you must be toying with new counters. A lot could be accomplished with one level for seating...as well, the end of the peninsula could have a nicer curve or profile of counter end.....you'd like it more......can you extend it some, without impairing the walking through aspect? It could give you highly useful extra counter space in that spot. Get quotes.

Sounds like we have similar taste! Everything you mentioned is what I would do as well. The two tier countertop needs to go and like you said, feels dated and not as functional. I would do whatever you need to to make the space your own. It's great that its in such great condition and that you only need to do a few tweaks to really make it a space you truly love. However, maybe do more research regarding the re-staining based off what writersblock mentioned.

One other thing you could do to really make it feel scandinavian and modern is replace your faucet with a black kitchen faucet, especially since it's in the peninsula and more prominent. It's pricey but it sure is pretty, lol.

Consider a matte white subway tile back splash. This is our kitchen that was updated last year.

Another view. Walls were painted light grey.

I agree that a new, lighter backsplash would go a long way. And paint, which you did. The "neutral" in the photo is an unfortunate choice with the wood finish on those cabinets.

I'd get a commercial grade, dual fuel, stove/oven combo. Then a new commercial grade looking faucet. Then step back and take a look.....the upgrade will really pop!

If you do anything at all, I would get some nice hardware on the cabinets as they need some pulls. The back splash is making it all seem smaller than it probably is and very heavy and outdated. Maybe something for the windows. I feel the wall color isn't working at all with the cabinets I'm seeing green tinge walls and warmish orange finished cabinets on my screen.

I'd just update the backsplash, and say you're good to go! Nice kitchen!

Hardware, definitively hardware. I personally dislike subway tile

Change the backsplash to stainless to co-ordinate with the stove and to give lightness.

I'd change the backsplash and add hardware. Finito. Put the rest of the money towards the kids' schooling or a cruise.

Get a role of butcher paper and roll it out. Tape it in the backsplash area. Does it lighten the room up enough? Then, lay more down on the counters. How does that look to your eye? I think that mocking things up sometimes can save you time and money! I do it all the time! Good luck!

Change the countertops and backsplash first and then decide on the color of cabinets. The countertops are too dark, as well as the backsplash. Look into light Caesarstone colors, like Frosty Carrina, Organic White, or Statuario Nuvo that is very much marble-like. Choose a light backsplash tile or try using quartz both as a countertop and backsplash. Also, the wall looks a bit yellowish to me. Painting walls in white would help lighting up the space too.

I see you painted already. I agree with the previous comment........it does have a yellowish cast. I think you will have a difficult time
coordinating backsplash with cabinets and
the present paint color.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone! I really appreciate it. The kitchen is certainly perfectly functional and I wouldn't change anything about the layout. And as mentioned before, painting was the first thing I did as soon as we had the keys (the picture is the OLD paint color from the listing photo--regretting using the pic now! Ha!)! The walls are now a cooler grey-ish neutral. It seems like the consensus is that a new back splash and hardware would go a long way to lightening things up and bringing it into 2018. I LOVE the idea of a butcher paper mock-up to see how a lighter color would look on the back splash first, and then the counters. Thanks again! This is a great and supportive community!

Another vote for new hardware! That will help update the room, and there are lots of styles to choose from.

The floor and the backsplash are what bother me the most.

I'm in the chorus of folks who think this is easily updated by paint and backsplash (and hardware, if you want) -- but i see you painted a light grey already. I would caution that it's *really* difficult to do the recent grey trend on a early 2000s yellow/orange based kitchen. We see so many people on this site try and put lipstick on a pig, so to speak, by adding a cool-reading grey paint or cool-undertone countertop to their 15 year old kitchen, and the end result is often worse than what they started with. The issue being the yellow/orange cabinets straight up clash with cool undertones. We haven't seen the grey paint you chose, but i would caution to do a grey with warm undertones (venturing into a griege, rather than a grey). Otherwise, you can end up with a not-so-great look.

Thanks again. Yes, I used Revere Pewter—a “Greige” and it works. I did the butcher paper mock up today, and wow does it lighten things up! I will probably add modern stainless/brushed nickle pulls too. Agree the floor is ridiculous—not sure why that was chosen when in clashes so much with the rest of the hardwood in the house. Here’s a photo with the current paint and butcher paper “back splash.”

Wow, better already!

Wow! That’s a huge difference already

Hey Amy Glasscock,

If a modern look is what you are going for i would suggest checking out Century Hardware's Modern Geo and Stainless collections. Either of those would look awesome in your kitchen! Best wishes!

Agree with a lot of the comments above. Perhaps focus on new hardware/faucets, sink, appliances, rather than cabinets, etc.

Related to nothing more, but I noticed you had a microwave or toaster oven on the counter in the earlier photo. I don't usually go for that, but yours was in the catty corner and I thought it looked fine there.

lulu bella, actually our microwave died a couple of months ago and we are experimenting living without one! So far so good. If anything we might get a small one and just bring it out when necessary.

Funny because we were without one for about 3 months and I finally 2 days ago just went and got a cheapy small one ( I had previously had one over the range) at Costco- it is sitting on the countertop and I am debating about getting an otr one again or not. We really were mostly ok without the microwave but certainly used to reheating and such with it.

Is there no room to add a cabinet under the left window? I am guessing there must be a walkway that prevents a cabinet running under the entire space, but it does stop my eyes.

Honestly, I would leave the wall without a backsplash. I think it looks funny on the range wall. If you eventually get a slide in stove or find that you need some protection on teh wall behind the range, get something just between the range and the hood and skip tiling the rest of the wall.

I nice fancy gas oven would take it up a couple notches. Maybe you could find a used one.

Kate, yes we are thinking the same! Funny how that happens when you start updating things. We want to get a freestanding that has the controls in the front so it looks like a slide-in.

Wow, nice update! Love it!!

It looks beautiful. What quartz did you get? Did you add lights? It looks brighter - even under the cabinets.

@mariagrazia We got Hanstone Montauk. It’s fantastic. We only added a strip of lighting under the cabinets (which is only taped up right now!)

Thanks for updating us you guys than a great job😊

Looks great!

The changes look great!! I love that you kept the beautiful wood and switched to the single height counter. Also, we have the same counter stools.

Looks fantastic! I really love the countertop all being one level. Tile looks great also.

Your cabinets look fresh and nicer with the new counters/backsplash. Very Scandinavian, Ja?

It looks wonderful! Thank you for posting the update.

A new oven would make a huge difference, love the changes!