Not sure hardwood floors would be the right choice. Those cabinets are a lot of wood already. I would start with new counters first. Perhaps a white quartz with little or no pattern. You shouldn’t choose a backsplash until after the new counters are installed. Then new barstools that are more bright and cheerful than what you have. New hardware that is a polished metallic like chrome would add gleam as well as a new material to your monochrome kitchen.

I would start by adding stainless steel hardware to your cabinetry. Then pick your counters. If you are going with granite or quartz pick your slab first. I often have clients that have something in their head of what they want and then we go to our supplier and they find a slab that they absolutely love but doesn't work with what was in their head and it frustrates them. Pick your granite and then choose your flooring and backsplash to make the counters work well within your space.

If you are not confident in how to make everything work together consider hiring a designer to help you bring it all together.

You wouldn't consider painting the existing cabinets? If you put in hardwood, I think it will be too heavy on the wood element. But a different color would solve that and add contrast:)

Your cabinets are really nice... I would leave them - get handles/knobs. Change the countertop to something like a fantasy brown or white - change the backsplash to something a little more interesting and then regrout the floor with Vivid hydroment from Bostik ( it does not require sealing and is stain resistant ). I would also look into some lights, especially something hanging over the island. If possible, it would be nice if the crown molding was on all the cabinets...

If you don't want to keep the tile, a simple alternative could be doing a luxury vinyl floor over the top of it. It's a lot of wood so maybe a lighter floor with some darker accents???

Best of luck!

Lovely boy but please be careful of posting pictures of children on open forums. Sad sign of the times.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/photos-shared-on-pedophile-sites-taken-from-parents-social-media-accounts.

Will all your lower cabs/island need to be removed to get the tile floor out and new one put in? It looks like the tile goes under everything. You said you were thinking of 'changing the design' - does that mean a change in the layout while keeping the same cabs, or just new counter/backsplash/floor?

I agree with Debbie!

I also think that some styling could go a very long way. New barstools, a rug or two, grout that matches your floor instead of contrast, new counters and backsplash and wow.

I think your cabinets are gorgeous and I disagree regarding there being too much wood if you use wood floors. It depends on the color. I have a LOT of wood in my condo - cabinets - cabinets in the dining area and large wall unit. I also have a wood table in the dining area.

My wood (except for the table) is quarter sawn white oak in a medium honey tone.

My wood floors are in the kitchen and I think they work beautiful with the wood. I deliberately chose a natural stain oak floor in a fairly innocuous narrow width plank so the floor didn't make a "statement" as I just wanted it for a background.

These aren't the greatest photos as they were just quick snapshots but the wood floor is basically a warm blonde color - i.e. natural.

This is a pretty good representation of the floor color and I actually used this chair to show the cabinet maker what color stain I wanted on my cabinets - he took the chair to duplicate the stain in his workshop.

My table - just to illustrate there is a LOT of wood in my open plan home. This is not taken in my home FWIW.

This is a pretty good representation of my cabinets - floor is probably over-exposed so it's lighter than in real life but I think it shows that wood cabinets play well with wood floors provided there is sufficient contrast - and my floors are fairly light and contrast with the cabinets in real life as well.

Last picture is a bit darker (both floors and cabinets) that in real life but I added just to show how much wood I have in a fairly small space in terms of cabinetry.

The tall cabinet in the first picture is a more accurate representation of the color of my cabinets which is warmer than they appear in the second picture.

I think you're talking about spending a LOT of money and still not having a new kitchen. Start saving and get what you really want in a few years. It's not awful as it is now.

I also have a natural tone hardwood floor in my warm wood kitchen - it works fine for me.

This is a wood kitchens idea book - perhaps you will see something to inspire:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

I also recently updated with new counters, short apron apron front sink and backsplash. I also added under cabinet lighting - that was the most functional change - definitely consider it if you feel like your kitchen is too dark.

Your kitchen has a nice layout, so I think you can lighten it up and make it more your style without new cabinets.

I agree--the cabinets look good. Re: the floors, have you considered changing the color of the grout? (maybe as an experiment or a stop-gap measure until you remodel?) Something darker wouldn't need to be cleaned as often, plus it would create a new look by having less contrast.

Good ideas already (light color countertops, new lighting). I have wood floor in kitchen. It's very hard to keep clean and stains, so would not do that again. You could replace the tile you have with a large format/narrow grout style and a better color. Also I like your barstools but would be improved with new seat covers, maybe in a lively pattern.

You asked if it is possible to have a new lay out with existing cabinetry or did you mean the styling? Someone liked gray--not really loving it. Your cabinetry is beautiful. I am wondering about painting your back splash. Someone posted here just this winter about having painted. A clear white might lift your kitchen enough, get a pretty color on the walls and new grout might be a great start before you start tearing things out? Ceramic is a very permanent element. Tearing it out is no easy task. Its durability is worth trying to preserve.

I want to lose weight without diet or exercise too. Neither is happening. The wood cabinets set the tone for the space, just like my fat little body does. You’re not putting on new clothes and looking like a model without radical change.

I would go with natural oak floors, no stain, like Helen suggested.

You can always use some runners if you feel like you need to get out of the woods. And you can change up the runners, too, like seasonally.

I would want rid of that tile floor, too. Hard, cold, grout--wide grout lines. And the color is dark, cold--reminds me of bad weather--and is succeeding in sucking almost all of the life out of the lovely wood cabinets.

So, new floors for sure, shiny pulls for the cabinets. And new counters and backsplash, later, if you need a financial breather.

Replace the laminate countertops and ceramic tile backsplash with light grey soapstone.

Keep the cabinets and the wood top on the upper part of the island. They are fine. Maybe add some beautiful black iron hard ware to the cabinets and drawers.