Paint the walls the color you want first. Your perspective on everything else will change after that and you'll make better decisions.

Do you think you would have money for a full kitchen renovation in 2 to 5 years? If yes, I would paint the walls myself, use some touch up paint/stain on the cabinets and save my money for the full renovation.

@chispa That's good advice. There's a chance I'd have money for a full reno around that time, but we really only will likely be living here for around 5 years or so, and I want to be sure I'm making the most of what I've got! (I also need to stop letting it bother me so much whenever people see it and go 'ew... that counter is so weird') :)

It isn’t ugly. I wouldn’t have chosen it either, but it is salvageable. There are so many colors in that stone, you just have to emphasize the ones you like. For paint, I think you want to choose that malted milk color that is so prevalent in your stone.

Then for backsplash tile, consider a lighter, coordinating beige in a beautiful shape. The lighter hue will brighten things up, and the beautiful shape will draw your eye to the bs, away from the granite, without looking busy. This is Fireclay Tile in Milky Way (top) and Ivory.

I’ve always loved this kitchen update. Try to figure out your granite name and google “whatever update” or look up “busy granite updates.”

I think it’s sienna bordeaux granite It’s actually very pretty. The wall paint and cabs are worse.

Thank you all so much- this is very helpful!!! I really appreciate everyone who took the time to respond, I've got some great ideas now and I'm feeling more excited about the project. Thanks again!

I agree with chispa. A good paint job for the cabinets could run you several thousand dollars. The backsplash can also run a couple of thousand depending on the square footage. Try wall paint first, then polish up the cabinets and see what you think.

The granite has orange in it. The lighter colours of paint that you have on the island appear to have pink/mauve in them and for me that would be a no.

If you can find a lighter grey that is in both the floor and the granite and that doesn't have a pinkish undertone maybe look at that.

And I agree that the backsplash needs to go. You already have a pattern in the floor and a very strong pattern in the granite so I would look at a really simple subway tile in a light cream or.....mmmm...actually maybe a white one with a hint of grey.

Just some thoughts

I found this link which talks about updating a kitchen when you have "bossy" granite which is what you happen have :)

https://bella-tucker.com/2017/06/work-existing-granite-updating-kitchen/

"And I agree that the backsplash needs to go. You already have a pattern in the floor and a very strong pattern in the granite so I would look at a really simple subway tile in a light cream or.....mmmm...actually maybe a white one with a hint of grey."

Yes...keep the backsplash very simple...no pattern. Pick a shade that works with the lightest one in the granite.

Are those cabinets painted cabinets? I at first look, thought stained, but, then noticed the chipping around the doors, and looks very much like they are painted. If so, the prep work for the previous paint job was not done properly, and thats why so much chipping. If you are going to do yourself, or if you are hiring someone to do, make sure the prep work of thorough cleaning, a very good sanding, any nicks filled in, and then resanded, and then finally coat of very good quality sealing bonding type primer, get s done before you put on any coats of paint. Also, make sure paint that is used, is meant for cabinets. Painting cabinets, isnt something you can do in a few days, it is very time consuming, and the prep is the most important thing you can do before you paint.

@cat_ky This is so helpful!! I really appreciate you taking the time to write this out for me- I will absolutely be following this advice.

Look into refacing your cabs too

some photos

I think you could also get away with a greenish paint color for your cabinets, if you want to have fun with it (Or wall paint too)

This isn’t your granite but the colors are similar.

@Katie B. This is so helpful- thank you! It's so funny you mentioned a greenish color, here's what I tested out tonight just for fun..... (I don't think this is the shade we'd go with, but I love the idea of an accent island!) Thanks for your feedback!

Your granite looks a lot darker there. Might not be sienna Bordeaux. It doesn’t change what I’ve said though. I like the idea of accent island too! I’d go a lighter green/blue/grey that picks up that grey stripe through the middle of the island.

given that a reno is not happening any time soon, I suggest:

1. new paint like already planned

2. new bulbs / fixtures / hardware / accessories. easy to DIY touches that will add up to a big difference!

3. paint or cover up the backsplash. here's a non-damaging way this can be done -- it involves cutting thin plywood to fit the area, and painting the wood itself. bonus: if you do move out in 5 years and don't reno, then the wood can be taken down.

idea to see, online... paint called Swiss coffee, or Pale oak.

Old English makes a dark scratch cover. Rather than risking boogering up the cabinets with an amateur paint job, first scrub them and then use the scratch cover where needed. Try it on a more "hidden" part first to see how it works for you. There are other products/brands that might work better.

If you hate the backsplash, instead of investing heavily in replacing it now (while you must keep your counter tops), just rip out the backsplash and smooth and paint the walls. You might consider applying a single 4" row of black peel and stick tiles with rounded top -- immediately above the countertop.

With a 4" black tile backsplash, you could paint the wall any light color from within the countertop, such as the bit of light gray in your counter top.

saw this article tonight and thought of you

https://mariakillam.com/how-to-update-90s-granite-and-make-it-disappear/

@Katie B. I was actually going to post that article too!

I think it might be worth it to hire a color pro to give you some ideas on the backsplash or cabinet paint color. Getting it almost right will not make you happy! Are the cabinets painted or stained, currently?

@Kristin Castaneda If you are painting the cabinetry yourselves, you will find the advice in this forum, particularly on Milesi brand paints, to be invaluable: https://www.facebook.com/groups/diycabinetrefinishing

You will need to request to join the group, but you'll find many other Houzz forum users there once you are in with more specific advice regarding cabinetry painting.

That said, I would beg you to reconsider putting all that work into the kitchen if you will only be there 5 years. I am in a new-to-me home almost 5 years now and have been underway with kitchen renovation planning and DIY-execution for over a year now. It's been wearying, all the delays and the unexpected level of work involved, not to mention extra expenses that inevitably crop up. I wouldn't want to leave a house so soon that I'd put a lot of work and money into. Many of the archived threads here at Houzz regarding kitchen renovations would advise someone only planning 5 years in a home to save every penny you have for your next home and a full renovation. 5 years will fly by, and the next buyer could very well rip out any improvements you make to suit their own style.

Another word on the granite, you're wise to not replace it if this is a temporary home, as you wouldn't get a return on that large investment at resale.

Can the white grids in the arched window be removed? Some grid styles can be easily popped out. Removing all those lines would help calm down the kitchen.

I agree with the other posters who said the granite isn't ugly. It wouldn't be my first choice either but I think it can work with the other changes suggested for cabinets, walls and backsplash.

@hemina

So much inspiration in that article.

this one:

I would never think this wasn’t a deliberate, current granite choice 👌

(I also need to stop letting it bother me so much whenever people see it and go 'ew... that counter is so weird') :)

How rude! Absolutely let this go. People who would say such a thing are not worth fretting over or going over budget for. A friend would help you like the granite and live with it.

I would not pick that granite either, but it's there, it works and it's not forever. Paint the walls, change the backsplash and get some nice big cutting boards to work on because one thing that drives me bonkers with granite like that is how hard it is to tell when there is a spill or crumbs.

You've all been so incredibly helpful- I'm taking notes like crazy over here! I've ordered swatches and samples based on comments received here, I appreciate everyone's time and assistance with this!

For some additional context from questions y'all have been asking:

-Yes, the cabinets are currently painted. We intend to refinish and repaint the cabinets ourselves, we've done it once before and liked the result, and we will take the excellent advice received here into consideration!

-I have some space in the budget to work with (this was an off-market wholesale deal through an investor friend, so we do have quite a bit of budget room to play with), but we prefer to prioritize building a back deck/porch and replacing the roof, rather than replacing the granite in the kitchen. Can't do it ALL, right? We do have the space in the budget to hire a professional painter for the entire home (so I've been looking at a lot of the color suggestions y'all have posted here, THANK YOU!!!), but we'd prefer to do the cabinets ourselves because we know we can put the attention into the finer details.

-The granite color changes SIGNIFICANTLY depending on the time of day and lighting in the room, so that's part of why selecting cabinet and paint colors have been so difficult.

Again, thank you all so much for the comments, articles, and suggestions!

This was my first post on Houzz... and I sure wish I'd gotten started on here sooner back when my husband and I were flipping houses! That would have been so helpful....

Years ago, we we needed a quick facelift for our kitchen, we bought cabinet doors (white) from Home Depot and painted the boxes the same shade of white. I recall that they had wood finish doors as well and you could buy trim pieces for the sides of the doors. We stayed in the house for 5 years and it was a worthwhile use of money for the positive changes it made.

dotsandstripes 123 that's a good idea. buying new doors might be really worthwhile since it's so time consuming to paint them the correct way! the cost would outweigh the time spent, and increase the value of the kitchen (given that these old cabinet doors are so damaged looking).

Since the granite color appears different depending upon the natural light changes, you might consider trying different color bulbs and see if you can push a change you like.

The cabinets in your pic don't look painted. Is that an inspiration pic?

@suezbell Great point! All of the posts I've made so far that contain pictures are actual picture of my kitchen. (the original post, and my comment higher up, showing the kitchen in different lighting). After one of the comments suggested a greenish grayish color, I painted a sample on one side of the island, which is why you'll see green partially in the photo above. The cabinets are painted, not stained, and as another commented accurately predicted... the former paint job isn't very good. Wasn't well sealed or sanded, lots of nicks and scratches.

There are supposedly wood look paints but, in all candor, I've not actually seen anything painted with any of them and don't think I'd want them.

How many colors or shades of colors are you wanting in your kitchen?

I like this kitchen with medium gray base cabinets and a true decorator's white for both overhead cabinets and walls with gray window trim added:

https://www.thespruce.com/grey-is-the-new-beige-2109392

Like it. Well done.

Well balanced so far with light white and paint, counters medium, and dark hood and stools... oh well, I like to say that yours is as nice as the other photos posted above.

wow, so much better!

It looks very nice. So much nicer than it did back when I first read and posted on it Congratulations on a job well done.