In terms of googling for inspiration pics, I'd use "stained oak" or "oak cabinets" in your seach.

This is probably most relevant to your kitchen (keeping oak and granite)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/growitbuildit.com/update-a-kitchen-w-out-painting-oak-cabinets/amp/

your floors aren’t that offensive if they’re in good shape

Also, changing just the island counter and painting the island would help a lot; in addition to the backsplash and flooring.

Thanks so much Katie! I’m loving all those

All my searches populate with how to paint cabinets which I don’t want. But I’ll keep lookin!

I like the cabinets but they seem dark. BUT you want to keep them so do the other steps first :)
White subway tile, get a couple samples to see which length you like. Grout I would do light, white or a light gray might pick up the gray in the wall, I believe they even have a gold or something grout that might tie in with the countertops but not positive. Research that!

Once those cream or white backsplashes are in the space will brighten up. I would remove both big light fixtures. Recessed can lighting around the main kitchen, and maybe three individual drop down pendants over the big table. (So many great ideas out there, glass ones with black wire) something that doesn’t take over the space. And paint the table white? Throw an area rug under the table and I bet it will look like a new kitchen.

Now, if you wanted it lighter I would sand the cabinets and restrain a lighter shade. Also, HARDWARE! Makes or breaks a space! Have it match whatever the lights are.

I would also remove the art over the window and put a sconce light there. Maybe under cabinet lighting too !

If you don't change the cabinets, I would go with a very simple subway tile backsplash. Look at the lightest color in the granite (the cream you mentioned?). You have pattern in the granite and grain in the cabinets, so adding more pattern would be too busy. Also, maybe edit some of the items on the counter. "Less is more" is often an update by itself.

Yes most people will either change the counter or paint the cabinets, so pictures of a good update that keeps the oak and granite counters are scarce. That’s not to say that doing a simple, light backsplash, adding cabinet hardware, and making changes to your lighting with pendants, etc. wont make a huge difference. As another person said, changing the island top or painting only the island would make an impact as well, if you’re open to that.

This is my wood kitchens idea book with both new and older, refreshed wood kitchens:

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

Many of the elements in your kitchen are "warm" - that is OK as many newer kitchens are moving back to a more warm feeling. A mistake frequently made is attempting to go "cool" to be modern - but modern does not have to be cool. In your pictures the Repose Gray is reading a bit cool - fine with the neutral cabinets but not working so great with the warm backsplash and counter. Keep in mind computers don't see true color, so maybe it is not a problem in reality - but trying to mix warm and cool has gotten many a person with a kitchen that is just not blending well. Many of the warmer new kitchens are using white, cream or warmer grays - which often read a little green.

Because of the movement of the grain with some oak cabinets, they tend to look best with a simple backsplash. A complex backsplash will be too busy. One good way to choose a backsplash is to take a light color from the countertop and use that in something simple - subway tile or other simple tile. You might find getting a tile that works with both the countertop and the wall color to be a little difficult - if so, changing the wall color is easier than the counters.

Consider starting with lighting since the lighting may change how you feel about the color of
other elements you are thinking about.

Thanks everyone! I know lighting is important but don’t even know how to start. Any tips?

Also, if I go with a cream subway backsplash, what do I do about the white trim on the door and window? Blinds are also white as well.

Under cabinet LEDs would be a start. If you can't afford to install can lights, you could remove the center fixture and have a track light system wired into that box. Direct the individual lights to wash the cabinet fronts and specific work areas like stove top and sink.

You can use cream tile with white trim since the trim is consistent throughout the room. But I would address your floors first. The floors affect a much larger area. Are you continuing the hardwoods into the space? Using a different light colored tile? Figure that out, and it will help you with the rest of it. Personally, I don't think you'll ever get your gray walls to work with the cabinets and countertop, regardless of what you do with the backsplash. I would choose floor tiles, change your light to recessed lighting, and then save for new light colored countertops.

recessed canned lighting and under cabinet lighting would help; also you have a lot of dark items on your counters that snuff out the light; maybe build an appliance garage in the corner to corral them, otherwise the back splash is hidden.

Another option would be replacing dish cabinet doors with inserts with distortion glass as shown to camouflage dishes.

Also a new vent hood and removing the cabinet over the MW and tiling up that wall.

Another option is open shelving on either side of sink for dishware and glasses that can look neat displayed since those items are washed every day and are in and out of the DW.

Thanks calidesign! We’re going to reach out to an electrician soon. The wood floors aren’t laminate, so don’t think they’d hold up in the kitchen. What color tile would you recommend with the current set up? Replacing the laminate to match the tile is also an option down the road. Recommendations for that scenario?

Painting the kitchen would also be an option down the line. I really don’t want to replace the counters solely because they’re in perfectly good shape.

Thanks for your help!

If the floors nearby are real hardwood, you can absolutely continue that into the kitchen. The only issue is that the floors are fairly dark, and combined with the cabinets will be a lot of dark wood, unless you're open to resanding and staining everywhere. But you could get a nice flow that way. If you're keeping the counters and cabinets, I would use a very neutral, solid, warm white or cream backsplash tile. You can look for a new floor tile in a larger rectangular format in a taupe color that is warm enough to work with the countertops. It needs to be a stone look and not a wood grain since it is up against your hardwood. If the floor tiles are neutral enough, they will still work if you change the countertop sometime in the future. You might want to get an estimate for new countertops and back splash, and another for new backsplash and tile floors, and another for continuing the hardwood and backsplash, so you can make the best decision about the direction you want to go and what your result will be. I would disregard your wall color when choosing your options since that is an easy and inexpensive thing to change, and focus on the more permanent items.

Hi, everyone! It’s been almost a year since you all gave me input and I wanted to share our updated kitchen and say thanks again for all the help!

We redid the backsplash, framed the window and added recess lighting. I still want to do something with the island to remove some brown. Maybe paint it the same color as the window frame or do white ship lap. Floors will be the last thing we change.

I love how the white tile freshes the space up. Also, the brown cabinets' rich color and pattern really come out when they have something to play off of.

I have older wood cabinets, so I love examples like this. I'm keeping this thread in my notes. :)

What a difference great job! Love the idea of doing something with the island esp the trim color!!

Since you will redo the floors, why not replace the island with something else. Table and chairs, work table, another island but different than what you have. If not replace, rework. Or change the island counter to something different.

Your changes make such a great difference! i like the idea of a charcoal, or iron black island or a counter height table with a butcher block top if storage is not needed.

A lovely “refresh” of your kitchen. Very nice! Before you consider replacing the floor, which looks good with your kitchen cabinets, etc., I would have it professionally steam cleaned. That will clean up the grout and the surface. You might be surprised by how it will brighten up your space! Wonderful job. (You might consider a darker outlet cover on your island outlet. Less visible!). 😉