White is he way to go! Can you do white or stainless steel appliances also? Would help tremendously

Eventually yes, we will replace the black. We’ve had to remodel the entire house and the kitchen is the last holdout.

white color will be my first choice in kitchen, clean feeling

White counters here would look good.

I actually like black appliances, and they will look good in your remodel.

Go with white

White will create the domino effect and will make your black appliances shout out. Also your black cook top and hardware....right now the best option is a charcoal or black. You can definitely do white but be prepared for new appliances (white or stainless) and new hardware and lighting (nickel/chrome family will look better with the white).

What is your plan for windows and trim throughout? I see some wood, white and black all in this shot....the white counter makes sense if you are streamlining to white trim and windows. If you are keeping the dark window and you want to keep costs down then you will be best served with dark counters. The only domino effect that might happen with going with dark is wanting under cabinet lighting if you don't already have it.

I think white will be harsh, even with a switch to stainless apps. A pale warm gray perhaps. But BEFORE you do this, make certain you like all else enough to justify a change. Meaning the micro over the cook..........the double ovens, etc.

Best money spent right now is lighting : ) To something less bulky overhead.

Lastly, check thickness of whatever material you go with compared to your Formica. Assuming you plan to reuse the backsplash. Get lots of samples of whites because you will want to exactly match the backsplash (again, assuming it stays).

I think I would do a mini makeover by replacing the ceiling fixtures, adding under cabinet lighting if needed, removing the upper cabinet between the kitchen and the casual dining space, removing that shelf over the sink and painting the trim.

Then I would look for a nearly white quartz to tie the backsplash and the cabinets, getting a new sink at that time. The final stage would be appliances. Assuming you have to keep that floor...

Then add some color with a rug or some window treatments.

What Jan says ...

I would try to find a white which is close to the color of the backsplash to avoid the white vs white conflict. If you want granite there are many choices which include several whites along with some rust, black, gold and/or gray colors.
If there is any leftover kitchen tile in the garage, take a floor tile and a backsplash tile when you shop, or get a color fan deck or a white chart from your paint store.

What's behind the stove requiring the corner stove situation? While I had the countertops off, I would be very tempted to rearrange the cabinet boxes.

• Swap the DW and the 4 drawer.
• Move the cooktop to the right of the new 4 drawer location.
• Move the appliance garage corner to where the stove currently is(or get rid of it)

Don't commit yourself to quartz. I thought I was going to get quartz, but then I found slabs of Piracema WhiteGranite that I loved, and which cost thousands less. (below is not my kitchen, but is my stone. my slabs are still at the fabircators)

Definitely white. It’ll open up your kitchen more than a dark color would

I think the floors are a big problem here. There needs to be contrast. Lighten up the floors & the countertop.

following

I might be tempted to also try canned lights with a higher (whiter) temperature to de-yellow everything a bit. 3000K retrofit LED lights are dirt cheap and take literally seconds to change out.

We are definitely changing out the can lights to cooler color.
I also already replaced the cabinet hardware with black pulls- the pic is not accurate in that sense.
I don’t have the funds to move cabinets or get new appliances at this time. The overhead lights that hang down are actually fans. There were ugly white fans before - this area of the house is in full sun all day and gets much hotter- the dining room to the left of the stove has no vents at all. So I’m inclined to keep the fans. They wouldn’t be my first choice but in summer they make it bearable in this part of the house.
We do have under cabinet lighting, it’s just not turned on in the photos.
The tile wouldn’t have been my first choice either but until I’m able to do the rest of the kitchen, it’s in good condition and I don’t hate it, so will keep for now.
Thanks for all the responses, it really helps me plan for the future as well as the short term. It seems like a light gray (and maybe I can change the backsplash- I can do this myself) countertop might be best to avoid super high contrast now and still give me something to build on in the future.

Honestly grey counters are not that far off from where you are now so I wonder if the investment is worth it? Personally, I’d save for a future more meaningful renovation as it all coordinates now as is. Either way, good luck!

Want my thought? Wait on the whole darn thing. Address the cooling, as that fan situation is horrible, blowing dust around food on top of it! Just delay. It's good money after bad. There are worse things than Formica, and pecking at a kitchen re do is to peck at disaster/disjointed results, many times.

After you address temperature and comfort? Start the piggy bank : ) Call a good HVAC source in your area.

I would suggest checking out the quartz called Cream Marfil, from Quartzmaster. It's white, but more of a cream/warmer version. Also, can you paint the cabinets now? That'd be cheaper than renovating but still freshen up the space.

I like the layout of the space- don’t love the cabinet garage and might get rid of it and the hanging cabinet with glass doors at some point, but the cabinets are actually really nice custom built and solid wood. I posted a design dilemma back when we bought the house because I was considering painting cabinets. Sooo many people felt I should keep the wood as-is. My last house had white cabs which I loved but I do think that these look nice- it’s just too monochrome in there. I’ll have to give it more thought. I’ve poured tons of money into the rest of the house but kitchen remodel just wasn’t in the budget this time around.

If you plan to change the cabinetry, floor, or appliances in the future, I'd just wait on the countertops and start saving for a full reno. Your kitchen looks good! It might not be the most "updated" according to HGTV standards, but you can liven it up with some textiles and pottery. If there is a reason you must change countertops, search for less expensive options....a white close to the color of the backspash might look best.

OT to Jen Wilton. Due to a very odd kitchen layout we are looking at adding a mini-peninsula kind of like the ones you have at either end. Do you like them? I'm looking for a way to have child/spouse talking to me in the kitchen without being in the way, but I'm not sure if it will work how I hope.

Trina, I do love those little peninsulas. Part of why I don’t want to change the layout. I actually wouldn’t have much counter space without them. It’s where I do most prep.

I refreshed my kitchen with new counters, "short apron" apron front sink, backsplash and under cabinet lighting.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

This is my wood kitchens idea book which has both newer and older, refreshed wood kitchens. It might give you some ideas.

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

My short apron Whitehaven sink fits on a standard sink base cabinet and it is one of my favorite changes. As a short person I have difficulty with over the range microwaves and if this was my space I would change that out for a hood. I did stain an unfinished wood hood to match my cabinets, but that is a more expensive way to go.

for sure update your lighting to 4000K temp bulbs if you can.

I was at the tile store the other day and saw some beautiful slabs out back.

this one is a porcelain that looks like Calacatta marble. price was 1700 for this slab

this light gray is a quartz

quartzite

and lastly, this leathered black granite would look beautiful w/your wood, fans, flooring, etc. as long as you up your lighting, it will be fine

If it's not too late: Have you considered re-laminating your countertops with another color formica as a "temporary" fix? About 20 years ago, I had my very BLUE formica countertops resurfaced with a creamy white, just to refresh my kitchen and tide me over until I could afford a full makeover. It turned out so well, I've been living with those countertops ever since.