I would leave the cabinets. They work well with the house. Would you consider changing the counters to marble? Carrara on a budget, Calacatta gold for a splurge. Get matching marble subway tiles. Those two changes would give you a lighter look, while preserving the wood, which is coming back into style bigl and works well with your lovely house.

I like the teal wall covering; paint a slightly darker shade on your kitchen walls for cohesiveness

I would prefer the kitchen painted the teal color as well.

PS the more I look at your house the ore I like it. That banquette and elephant picture - gorgeous.

Just for fun and to see what it would look like, can you take paper or foam board that you can get in the dollar store for a dollar a big sheet and cover the back of each dark compartment in the kitchen so it looks as though it was painted white?

Then you can paint the back of that in the teal color and reverse that and live with that for a while.

Adding to what loobab said - I would not paint he backs of the cabinets, but you can certainly buy thin plywood, cut into pieces that fit in the back of the cabinets and cover with fabric/paint/wallpaper, either stapled or glued to the back of the plywood pieces. This way you still get a different look without permanently altering the cabinets.

You have done a great job with the colors around the banquette. I would probably replace the mosaic tile with a lighter look, perhaps marble or a glass (in a pale blue similar to the wall, or white). Glass tile reflects light and is a great contemporary look. The darker tan paint is sharp, but adds to the dark feeling on that side, maybe repaint somewhat paler? If changing the tile isn't enough.

Your floor is perfect (I wouldn't call it dark). Leave it as is.

Can you please sit in the corner of the banquette and post a picture from that viewpoint?

We think the cabinets work and the colors with the banquette work. However, what isn't working are the two different paint color and the backsplash. Perhaps paint the entire area one color, the one in the dining area. Then get a lighter colored backsplash. Perhaps just a white subway?

Leeward Renovation - Kitchen · More Info

Leeward Renovation - Kitchen · More Info