I think it’s cute. You need to add in colour and accessories. On the shelves it’s also very black/white and same with counter. There needs to be life somewhere with colour.

What other colors do you have in nearby areas?

it's a cute kitchen but if you could sell the range and put in something with more character that would definitely make it a wow. green goes great with black and white or yellow. Here is an example. Then maybe a cute lil hood above and move/ditch the microwave. Otherwise definitely choose one or two accent colors and put in a few kitchen items that are functional but also work..like glasses, dishes, bowls etc..

some colorful mosaics on the backsplash

Cute kitchen, I agree with adding a "fun" color range.

Your range looks pretty new, so I don't think you should replace it. You can add color elsewhere. Consider getting some fiestaware for your shelves, which will add a lot (try to find a cabinet for the glass/white)! Also consider rope lighting under your shelves. I wouldn't go through the hassle or expense of repainting cabinets. You could also add a colorful window treatment.

Agree with the above suggestions - don't paint the cabinets at all. Work with what you have.

Painting the walls or changing the range to a fun color along with fun color accessories.

Also, consider decluttering the countertops and refrigerator. Find a home for at least 2/3'rds of the stuff on the countertops so you can see those lovely tops. Put up a display board somewhere in your kitchen for the refrigerator items. You can have warm and comfy without a lot of excess clutter IMO.

you know its not the best when you have to add a clip on light to see what you are doing, and I think that is part of the larger problem with the gloom in here. black is sucking up the light, and the lights dont seem to be the right color possibly lacking in general.

try adding some battery puck lights under the lowest shelf to brighten up the surface.

Also, I don't see a can light right over the sink, go back and add a remodel can to that area, or even a pendant light.

what type of recessed lights did you put in, are you able to change the light bulbs? they are pretty yellow in tone, try changing those to a more bright white, 35k - 4k that will help resolve the "yellow" color you are seeing in your cabinets.

notice how the colorful utensils pop off the background? the black tile can serve to be a great background for some color here.

Take the shelves down and spray paint the brackets stainless or add new brass ones, give some depth. Glass shelves might be a nice option as well, less heavy.

Get a longer runner like 6-8 feet in some bold colors instead of the little one by the sink.

Get rid of the clear glasses and the overstuffed shelves, especially on the higher level, put less things with more color or white. A live plant to add some texture...

Can we see the other side of the room? and a more full scope picture that includes the ceiling.

I think brass looks stunning with black so it might be a nice "bling" for you here.

I think de-cluttering and actually styling the open shelving would make a huge difference. Tuck away anything not really decorative (like travel coffee mugs) and put a few decorative items on the shelves like a plant or colorful / decorative pitcher. Can you put the stuff around the coffee maker and next to the range into a cabinet? And maybe add a colorful runner instead of the small rug by the sink. If you have the money to splurge on a colorful range that would probably have a big impact too.

also do you have maybe space for a buffet or dresser or portable island that could act as your coffee, bread, misc holding area?

I would change out the back splash

I would look at Spicher and Company for a vinyl runner....and since it is just a rug, go bold....pick whatever pattern speaks to you! mine is under our breakfast room table....the go from there.

I agree to take out the black back splash.

I would change your wall color - including the black up and around the window. Go for something fun - a pretty yellow or turquoise... that may be all you need and it is not costly.

I would not paint your cabinets - they look great and create a neutral backdrop for more fun colors.

I do like the idea, if you want to invest some money, of changing the backsplash to something fun and colorful or at least a pattern that is more interesting - a herringbone, an arabesque etc.

I think paint is the easiest -so I would try that first

you have an adorable kitchen and IMO before you change any of the permanent stuff, I think you just need to tweak some things. first, the shelving needs styled. a couple pics below show how it can still be functional but styled. also agree that because it's a small area, it would be helpful to hide some of the stuff on the counter if possible. a colorful runner vs the current small rug that looks a bit worn and tired. additional lighting like mentioned above can help too. even if you change up the backsplash to something busier i think it will only make your space look busier. the current backsplash helps minimize the busy.

It's a cute kitchen but imo the black backsplash was a mistake. It sucks all the light from the space. I would change it.

Maybe add some interest with cabinet pulls. Simple, inexpensive fix. If you don't like it, no big deal. Adds color and is much cheaper than a new stove

You must be very tall people considering the height of the micro and the open shelves. I couldn't deal with those. Start with a runner from ruggable.com. They are colorful and washable. Then pick up the colors in your accessories. Here's a link to just one of their colorful, happy rugs.

https://ruggable.com/products/watercolor-floral-multicolor?size=2.5x10

De clutter the countertops and take all the stuff off the fridge. You have limited space, you need to be ruthless about what you keep. Get a can of spray paint and spray the shelving brackets (remove them from the wall first). If you get new knobs and pulls, match the brackets to them. When you have open shelving, you have to be ruthless about what you put on them. Everything up there needs to look just right on open shelves.

just change the backsplash lol.........."any suggestions? Looking for something simple ...painting, artwork, etc. but open to anything"

I think it's cute. I like the black but agree about your lighting. Spend the money and get some proper lights in there. Sconce over the window, under shelf lighting, more canned lights, whatever you need.

The mini blind has to go. do a solar shade or something less 'heavy looking' that lets in the light.

You could also lighten up on the heavy trim work around the window. Looks like a craftsman window trim, but the kitchen is not. Do something a bit thinner and simpler and it will visually look less heavy. Like this trim. (maybe a 1x2 size, simple square molding) like the one in this pic. you can still have your window sill, just do the rest of the trim like this

thinner, simple trim work w/a solar shade

Maybe do a woven wood blind? love the sconce idea over it too

you have the perfect kitchen to showcase a bold color range. (these come in any color you can think of, so pick one)

gave you the shade, the light and a bold range color. looks cute!

Is there any way you could add a little countertop piece to the right side? see how it is on the right side of this stove? could you build a little wall piece to hug the range?

I'd also get a shelf to attach behind the range and get all of those items off the countertop. (off to the left of the range you have a cluttered mess of 'things'. put those on the shelf behind the range

another option is to do gold brackets instead of the black. (they are easily sprayed w/metallic paint)

remove magnets from fridge in a small kitchen clutter is so overdone that it's magnified. Get a magnetic chalk board and attach it to the wall w/your magnets on the wall.

anymore tile? remove the trim and do tile around the window. paint the inside trim black

I can't add much to what has been said so what I would do, in order:

Change the backsplash

Cleaner window trim

Upper cabinets or 3 floating shelves each side of sink. (I'm supposing that those long shelf brackets are the reason the shelves are so high up the wall & odd numbers are more aesthetically pleasing.)

New cabinet pulls in silver. (Black hdwe on white cabinets generally comes off as too harsh a contrast, IMO.)

Turquoise would be a great accent color. I would not change the range. Rather spend the money on other changes. Once you get some color in the room, the stainless will liven up because it will reflect some of that color.

The wood floors & counter top give you the needed warmth; you just need to get rid of that massive amount of black that is draining the life out of the room.

Is that tile on the plenum in the corner? You could use that tile on the backsplash--will help push the room to the contemporary look you want. It won't add the color you need--but you can do that with accessories, window dressing, floor runner. Bonus of a white splash is neutrality; you can change the look on a whim with accessories, accent pieces in different color, style.

I think your kitchen would be exactly what you want if you change the dark back splash to a lighter color.

Try removable wallpaper on the two areas of black splash near the sink. Many colorful choices available. Here's one site I picked at random from a google search: https://tempaper.com/

Without reading all the comments, my first thought was to change the cabinet handles, they look thick and dark and not quite correctly proportioned.

And is that a black painted wall? I would paint that first and then see if the black tile behind the stove needs to change. I would hate to rip out newly installed tile...ugh.

Remove the items from the front of the fridge. We remodeled 7 years ago and the fridge has remained magnet and picture-free ever since, I love it.

Better lighting!!!

Add a bowl of lemons, limes or oranges....it’ll be fine with some tweaking.

Post updates.

ETA: Oh dear, just realized the wall is tiled and not painted...

The range is somewhat awkwardly placed unfortunately. It mostly appears shoved next to the adjacent countertop and isn't incorporated with the cabinetry. Unfortunately, there isn't much room on either side to add some counter but whatever you can add would help (maybe?). The refrigerator also suffers from not being intergrated. Could the refrigerator and cabinetry be rotated 90 degrees from its present position and placed on the black spot of wall. You would have to infill the resulting hole with cabinetry to match. I know kitchens are functional but I would remove everything possible from the counterops and store withing cabinetry. It just makes a kitchen look so much better when there aren't a lot of items out. Good luck!

@Beth H. :is on point ...per usual!

FWIW, I like your kitchen. Your finishes might not have been my choices but I think the space is lovely. Agreed with others that less clutter on the cabinets and the open shelves (and maybe removing the fridge magnets) might change the vibe for the better. However, don't be hard on yourself because I think your kitchen is quite nice.

No cost changes: simplify countertops and shelves.

I know you are looking for a simple change, but I don’t think I would be happy with it as my own kitchen until I changed the backsplash or covered it/broke up the black somehow.

Check out Dash and Albert indoor/outdoor rugs/runners for your kitchens to add some color. I also think a canister set in a bold color like yellow or green or cobalt blue would be a way of adding color to your shelves. If you change out your glass shelves for wooden ones (that match your counters), you will add that organic feel to the wall and break up the expanse of black. Ivy or a vining plant from a pot on the top shelf near your window will bring a sense of life to that dark area. I like your black backsplash and paint. But your kitchen lacks the life that color can bring. Start small...de clutter. And then add color one step at a time. Finish with ART!

Maybe a Pro can advise if this is possible, but I think a big problem with the black backsplash is also the black grout. So I wonder if you could use a white or light gray grout paint to change that up. Several of the examples provided have white grout with black tiles.

To me, changing the grout and adding a cute light over the sink, along with simplifying the decor would go a long ways. Colored ranges are cute but also come with a big $$$ price tag. Maybe you can just hang a colorful kitchen towel on the handle for now :)

I think all your kitchen needs is some really good lighting. I just remodeled my kitchen but this photo is the "before". I put up ikea Omlopp lights on my floating shelves and hid the cords with their cord hiders and simply plugged it into my kitchen outlets. I had to get creative but was able to conceal the cords very well. In you're case, they can be concealed even better seeing as how they're paintable and can be matched to your black. It's something to consider. When I was getting electrical estimates, the electricians were all surprised the lighting wasn't hard wired and the cords were concealed well. The black really does absorb all your current light so if you add some in, that backsplash will look beautiful and coincide with the look you're going for.

As an aside, although not really needed, perhaps consider adding in a panel to the right of the stove to give it an integrated look. Easy peasy!

What does the other side of the kitchen look like?