Do you have a budget in mind? What do you like least about this today? And do you have any “inspiration” photos of kitchens you love?

Since your kitchen seems kind of dark, it would look good to brighten things up with lighter colored countertops and cabinets. I would need other pictures of your house so your kitchen can fit in with the other rooms.

I love a clean white kitchen, more of a farmhouse look. I thought about painting the cabinets but the more I am in the house (purchased in July) the more I feel like they AR a little low.

christie, are the cabs solid wood or a wood veneer over a laminate? if real, solid wood, you can paint them, and even add boxes or a tall fill-in crown above them (a local carpenter could do this)

(if they aren't solid wood cabs, I wouldn't bother with paint. just save up and get some nicer ones in white if that's what you want. If the boxes are solid wood, then you could have a carpenter make, or order some new doors and drawer fronts that are white)

also looks like you have room for an island.

Countertops could be granite or quartz. you could look in some of the pre-fab countertops of granite to save a bit of money, otherwise it's going to run you about 3-5K

these are Ikea w/a butcher block. then you could do a little white island w/a marble top if you like

I think we need to have a lot more info and before much else get lighting taken care of. Pot lights 4” with LEDs in 4000K then at least when you choose colors they will be true. IMO painting the cabinets that you don’t like will not be smart money spent. Make a list of what you don’t like and post it here. Please do not do espresso cabniets no matter what. I am tall and hate cabinets hung at 18’ above the counter I much prefer 22” . Many things to decide and the the budget definately comes into play. So make the list and post it with a to scale floor plan with all measurements clearly marked all windows and doorways marked and if the plumbing needs to stay where it is mark that. I suggest you use graph paper it is easier to draw scale drawings on it.

if those base cabinets have some sort of rollout system and you don't feel a need for stacks of drawers then I see the layout and cabinetry itself as holding its own well into the future. So contemplate an upgrade of a hood. Definitely add a backsplash. You can edit by removing the cabinets left or right or both sides flanking the sink and place some shelving on the wall there...…molding across top of cabinets...get appropriate toe kicks. then appliance selection and floor change at your discretion . Lighting ? what do you have? It comes down to your timetable for occupancy ...the value of doing things in relation to your equity and your overall budget.

Do you like the microwave above the range? I hated mine! Noisy and not enough room for big stock pots. I would remove it and get a vented normal range hood. I think if all you did was to change the appliances to stainless would be a big change and “lightening up” that you are looking for. The stainless is reflective. In the photo your cabinets look like they are in good shape. Are they solid/ part solid wood, alder or maple??