what is your budget?

Not much! A few thousand... but was really wanting to put that into the backyard.

any inexpensive options you can think of???

The cabinets look nice, if you are not ready to gut and change lay out. Can you afford to change appliance (counter depth fridge and matching SS appliances)? I'd start there. Then next would be counter/splash if in the budget.

If you have a much bigger budget and can gut renovate, then there are more options of course.

What is your budget? What do you like and what don't you like? The kitchen has nice looking cabinets, however, the space is very one note. Cabinet, flooring, etc - there is little contrast. Busy granite adds to the brown tones. The appliances are a bit outdated. I would definitely get a counter depth fridge. Post some pictures of kitchens you like and the budget you have to work with as this will help us with the scope of work that can be done.

You could start with changing the undercabinet lights to a true white LED, the look rather yellow. I can’t tell how the can lights are.

Then a different wall color, in the pictures the gray looks very cool next to the warm maple.

Its not a bad looking kitchen, a few tweaks could help it out a lot so you can spend your Reno budget elsewhere for now.

For a couple of thousand dollars you could change out the countertops that you hate. Select a plain white quartz. In doing this you'll have to select a different cooktop as you need to get that done before you cut a hole in the counters. The other appliances can be changed out later as they won't effect the counter. Add an inexpensive white subway tile backsplash and change out the cabinet knobs to black. Last select new paint. I think you'd really notice a difference with those changes. Below is a picture using the tone of your cabinets with black hardware and a white counter and backsplash. It really changes the look.

You have a good layout and I like your cabinets. I would probably change the wall paint - I'm just not a gray paint person, but that is just me:) I am also not fond of the granite, but I could live with it while saving up for new. Lots of pretty counters work with maple cabinets. This is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older, refreshed kitchens - maybe give you some ideas.

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

You may want to work on your backyard now and spend time thinking about how the kitchen is working for you and what you really want and can afford. This is a new to you kitchen and what you think about it might change a lot over the next few months. I would also thin about how much storage you need. I would feel incline to consider removing some upper cabinets close to the window to open up and simplify that area - bigger window if possible. I am not standing in the space, so that might not be practical or on budget.

Paint the walls and work on the lighting. Before you do, look at some inspiration images with natural maple cabinets so you have an idea in which direction you want to go.

Paint your beautiful cabinets white, put glass in few upper cabinlet’s, update hardware, and lighting. Subway tile for backsplash. You’ll love it!

I love the maple cabinets! I think changing your appliances would be a good place to start. I agree stainless probably the best.

Stark white ceiling, just barely there yellow walls, and an interesting well-underpadded rug on the floor

Rug on the floor, decorative junk on the counters. I'd paint the walls green and pretend it was a spa on a Pacific island.

It's not bad!

look into selling that fridge (or move it out and see if you can push it further back into the wall) and see if you can get a counter depth fridge. Don't know why they put in a full size fridge in that small space. you need a fridge with a depth no greater than 31'

Agreed. Counter depth fridge!
Since budget is low, paint walls for now and add accessories in a favorite color.

Can you tell us what seems 'busy' ?

Thank you everyone so much! In terms of busy.... when I’m standing in the kitchen the counter just seems so overwhelming and overpowering....as if it’s the only thing I see in the kitchen and not in a good way! I’ll definitely start with changing out the fridge and appliances and change the paint! Thank you all again!

First of all , your cabinets look really nice!
You just need to play a bit around them without massive investment.

I would start with changing a wall color

Then I will definitely change the appliances

After that you can either change the countertops or just add a nice backsplash

1. Don't paint the cabinets.

2. Get new lightbulbs--4000 lumens is daylight, I believe.

3. Definitely new appliances, and a counter-depth fridge as mentioned above.

4. Once you have your own things on the counter, it won't feel so overwhelming.

5. Remove that valance if it blocks a lot of light. However, you may find it's there for a reason, especially if that faces east.

6. Repaint the walls.

7. I call them "nipple lights"!

Your cabinets are lovely and really in good shape. Do the counters have green in them? Is that why the PO put in that color valance?

i would use the counter color as a cue and I agree that a light sage green would be a good choice even if it’s not in the counter.

If you change the paint, you might leave the valance and circle back to it later.

Start looking at inspiration kitchens for ideas on window treatments.

Haven't read all the comments. I'm in the camp of save, save, save. Live in your space for a while because as you use it there are sure to be other aspects of your kitchen that you do not like. Could be the flow, the storage, whatever. Replacing your countertops may mean you have to replace your cooktop and from there everything could snowball. I have lived in quite a few kitchens I hated but by living in them for a year or two before updating always revealed where I should put my money. Good luck!

Having all stainless steal appliance would make a world of difference. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing. I also assume you are going to start adding color and accessories to the room. Its really a blank slate.

Down the road you can change the countertops but in the meantime if you incorporate them into a design, you may like them better. Also if keeping your white appliances and hood for now, consider going with two toned white cabinets so they fit into the overall scheme. Think long term and white quartz counters would work well with the choices - In the meantime, paint walls white, add subway tile in a shade in the granite, add a blind and modern semi flush light and a colourful rug. Enjoy your new home.

100% agree with making small changes and saving up- but if I was painting I would definitely paint that shiny ceiling as well :)

I don’t see the green you see in the counters, but I do see that your lighting is not white light. Changing your bulbs to white white will change the appearance of the whole space.

Glacier White Corian, cheaper than quartz, looks fabulous.

Stainless steel appliances help a lot. Shop around and do some review reading to get all the features you need. What about a tile backsplash? A pretty backsplash could bring the eyes up away from the countertop. I would chose a larger tile

If you’d rather put that money in the back yard, do that. You’ve got more than a dozen “2K projects” here. You could do 2K a month for a year and still not be happy. Especially if you don’t develop a cohesive master design first. Spend $0 on changes. Spend it on a designer. Develop a whole home master design plan.

Live with it as it exists currently, and decide what bugs you the most. Use the Design Master Plan to guide you as to which order to tackle projects.

Stainless appliances and a counter-depth refrigerator would make a huge difference. Start there.

I like your shaker light wood tone cabinets. They are classic. And the granite: I think you should really try hard to like them. I rather like the piece behind the range. Granite and other natural stone products will slowly disappear. They are a resource that is not replenishable. When it is gone, it’s gone. Your countertops will be a rarity. Think twice about pulling them out. Look into matching the lightest color in the stone with a glass or porcelain tile. Maybe one that looks handmade. A light tile will help camouflage the electrical outlets too. Live with your kitchen a while

LOVE Maureen’s ideas and fabulous pictures posted about 8 hrs. earlier. I’m still an “updated“ white kitchen cabinet proponent and think the idea of different upper and lower cabinet colors works nicely. Well done Maureen! So unique.

I like the cabinets too! clean, simple lines. timeless. I agree the countertops are bad but really overall this is a nice kitchen. I've seen way, way worse! once the room is painted and you're all moved in, you might be able to live with it for a while until you have the chance to think about what you want to do.

our home has the same cabinets as yours, and 90s looking tile countertops. I figured we'd reno the kitchen asap, but life got in the way. let's just say that I got used to the tile and don't hate it as much as when I moved in. the kitchen will be redone some day, but I don't feel like I'm in as big of a hurry.

the point of my story is that I'm really glad we didn't reno right away. over the past two years, I've changed my mind about the redesign many times. I'm so glad I lived with it and got to know it first.

also, consider yourself lucky that your appliances are only white. ours are gloss black, including the fridge. ugh.

If I see correctly, that camel- bronze- nature color.. can be good with rich colors. Do you like deep berry/ raisin/ burgundy type? adding might lessen the ultra-focus on what's not so ok to you: valance/curtain? etc... nearby.

As close as I can show - this treatment on your window could show 6 of the circles - it could blend or another fabric with modern LED you installed [not valance necessarily but roman shade hung at top of wall] ---

LoDo Loft · More Info

Velvet sheen might be dressy for kitchen, but it is modern texture ?https://www.houzz.com/products/kentish-burnout-velvet-upholstery-fabric-henna-prvw-vr~66483644

Kentish Burnout Velvet Upholstery Fabric, Henna · More Info

For a very inexpensive change I'd switch out the handles to black ones. That will tie in the cabinets to the countertops and break up the all one color look for almost no money. I do think your space would really benefit from a counter depth fridge and that could be used down the road. You're lucky that your cabinets have classic shaker doors and go to the ceiling. As long as the layout works for you, when you have more budget to work with you can replace the other appliances with stainless and get a white quartz countertop and white backsplash. I think you'd be amazed at how that would lighten and brighten your space.

So much good advice! I agree that living with a kitchen before spending much money on it is a really good idea. It's not bad, and the footprint seems functional. If it were my kitchen, I think I would buy a couple of big cutting boards to leave in the prep area, and put a large tray on the peninsula. I don't love the granite, either, so covering it up temporarily improve my mood.

I do not mind the kitchen cabinets and countertops. I would definately have someone like Ethan Ann come out and put beautiful custom curtains over the kitchen window. Have a color that compliments other colors in the kitchen or in other areas of the house. Susan from Buffalo