This is a lot of white! How do you think you would feel about it if the appliances (and maybe the sink) were all stainless?

Could you post some regular pictures not the distorted realtor ones.I would get a really great light fixture with LEDs in 4000K range bulbs maybe a funky track light to get more light into the space, Change the knobs to something else and right now that ceiling looks more than 10ft. You could add a row of cabinets above but honestly I think it would be a waste of money .I think once you are in that space will make you crazy it is just blah but better than some of the ones Ive seen. I would just add some color with some small appliances and wait until you can redo to what you love.

What don't you like about it ?? The gray color to my eye is to dark ...a lighter gray would be better ...I would change the knobs and handles on all doors with a pewter type metal or gray color ...then put your espresso machine , toaster and flowers ...I.e. Decorate the surface ..and enjoy ! Live with it for a while ..put some good looking barstools in front and enjoy ...a chandelier ??? Don't spend money where it's not needed ...no reason to redo unless you have money to burn ..it looks like a nice , clean perfectly functional kitchen ...it only needs a few touches ...to change ..the entire look ...

I was thinking a row of glass front cabinets above, new hardware, maybe a hood instead of the microwave. I’m just not sure about adding to it when the cabinets are not great to start. Would it be preferable to remove the upper cabinet to the left of the sink?

Chandelier, great idea!

Paint the walls anything else besides gray. I’m into yellow these days, but what’s your favorite color?

Favorite color: orange- maybe go with blue to be safe

I love blue in the kitchen, but consider this, it’s only paint. Have fun with orange!

White appliances often have a slight blue undertone which clashes with white paint.
If the cabinets are good, I would replace all the white appliances with stainless ones. Replace the microwave with a vent hood which vents to the outside of the house through the roof or an exterior wall. Of course, all of that may be beyond your budget during moving time, but you could plan it as the next project.)
Then I would paint the walls something lighter than that dark gray. Because of your backsplash colors, you may select a lighter gray or silver-gray, or a light-to-medium pastel color you love. Repeat the wall color in some simple curtains for the window (a solid color or patterned) and a few accessories (potholders, kitchen towels, canisters). For a final touch I would add runner rugs in front of the sink and your main prep area.

You could also consider either replacing the white fridge and range with an orange one (several of the European lines make them) or having them powder coated orange - with a few other orange and white decor items it could be a very fun kitchen.

afterkids - I love your idea of adding glass doors. I would also suggest considering molding on the tops of your cabinets to add height.

If the cabinets aren't that great, I wouldn't spend too much money on additional cabinets right now.

Do you have an IKEA near you? Their cabinets are less expensive than most other cabinet makers so it might not cost too much to add short cabinets above like in your inspiration photo.

I wouldn't spend the money to add glass cabinets to what appear to be the melamine cabinets that are currently in the kitchen. I would, however, spend a bit to change out for some great hardware. Spending 3-4k on countertops and backsplash now will seem like a waste of money should you decide you want to remodel 3 or 4 years down the road. Perhaps just change out the faucet to stainless and add some colorful countertop appliances and accessories and a pretty roman shade in a great pattern to add some color to the window area. You could even add a runner in front of the sink and dishwasher to add more color and interest.

I think I would leave it. In some time...look at the space in regards a renovation. However...I might have someone come and quote removal of the white sink and faucet....and place a stainless drop in with stylish metal faucet. shouldn't cost that much...the white sink and faucet is just beyond the white quotient that I could tolerate I think. Maybe one of those resin /silgranit sinks....they come in colors like truffle/etc.

The best thing in the kitchen is the backsplash. I would not mess with that, but coordinate with it.

I see three pics where the wall color looks different. Are they all the same paint color? Lighting can make colors photograph differently. I think the second one with the blue gray looks very nice, refreshing.

I vote stainless appliance and new hardware to match. I would not add to the top of the cabs.

If the cabinets are not that great then I wouldn’t spend much on countertops. You won’t feel guilty about throwing out laminate countertops as you would granite or quartz in five years when you replace these marginal cabinets.

I'd live with it for a while. lots of poor use of space in corners, and way too much white, but I think maybe I'd just change to nickel arched pulls and a nickel faucet and live with it for a while as you see what you do or don't like in working there. all the other partial solutions will look like a bandaid.

Good advice. Thanks!

I love glass, so I would be tempted to replace all the pulls with glass versions in a beautiful color (teal, aqua, tangerine ... anything with color). I might hit up shops to find some really awesome art glass to put on top of the uppers and lighting underneath it. Yes, it is a dusting annoyance but it would add some color and life to the kitchen. And I would paint the walls a happy color - a light tiffany blue or similar "fresh airy blue".

That would be my temporary fix to live with it for a few years. Check Marshalls, Home Goods, or similar stores for inexpensive art glass items if you don't have a local place to buy art glass from. And I agree with others who say to change the light color in the room to add in some warmth. It isn't awful but I can understand that it isn't YOU at all. That is such a tough thing to justify making big changes to (for me and my budget).