I love Houzz and have received soMe amazing advice on here, but it’s disheartening to hear how quickly houzzers suggest throwing away perfectly fine granite. Your granite is light, there is no need to replace it as it does not look dated! It seems the trends change every 5-8 years... it’s hard to keep an updated look. You have to pick things you’ll love no matter what’s in style. What you have is neutral and timeless. Your cabinets are dark, but in the past 6 years I have seen the trends go from white (timeless), gray, back to natural wood. Give it a few years and everyone will be getting dark stained kitchens.
I recommend adding color to your space by adding a fun runner with colors you love! If you add a backsplash, keep it simple... white subway tiles (timeless).

Have you considered just painting the uppers a lighter color? I think if you went with a white or warm white it would work well with the existing backsplash and counter. A smaller investment and if you just loved it you could eventually do the lowers. But I think it would look like you chose wood and white on purpose and would lighten the kitchen up just enough for you. Just a thought.

Oops, and maybe change out the cabinet hardware. Forgot to say that.

Don’t spend money trying to “update” for a buyer! They will tear out, repaint, scrap, and trash all your hard work. Is that real estate agent giving you $50000 for a new kitchen, giving you a place to live for three months while your life is turned upside down, and making the hundreds of decisions needed for an update? No! Did he tell you the return on investment is questionable? All those Property Brother and Love I or List It shows spend the owners’ money and disrupt the families’ lives for a very small increased house value. They never show you the rental cost, the cost of moving out (UHaul or moving companies)...for what? Your kitchen is beautiful. Only do what makes you happy and what is useful for you.

@Julia Meyer houzz. Link below photo

as for remodel and updates - really depends on your timeline for moving /selling and your market. Where we are right now houses are sold at premium without even any renovations but who knows in 3-5years. Open Redfin and monitor for a few weeks what’s and how fast is selling. On the other hand if you want lighter kitchen for yourself - go for it

csn you take a picture in daylight? Would like to see true walls and ceiling colors

What people look for, depends on the market. Right now they just look to buy anything that is under 800K (talking about LA and OC) in some area with good schools, and they loose in all these bidding wars, and are desperate. and I can see by the magnets on the fridges the sellers even stopped staging)) It's crazy here.I dont know were you live..

Nobody knows what future brings, but even if things change-this kitchen works perfectly fine.

Unlike many others that were hastily "updated" without regard to other existing elements.

If future buyers want to tweak it -they'll decide how and where. Maybe they'll even enjoy deciding))

What would you like though, given you live in the house-is another question.

If you do something-do it for your own enjoyment only,

If you really want to sell-and change the lights(and I agree with the suggestion to find different ones)-save these, don't throw them out. You might want to take the new ones with you.

I'd switch out the hardware probably, bring a kettle in color/finish I love, swich the runner for a lighter/pattrned/colorful one, and in general would go for more color and texture, to warm the kitchen up a bit.

It's a perfectly normal kitchen..and as for the table you can find another-or you can put an interesting basket with fruits on it, and a vase with flowers-and you'll see how fast it'll be "a happy spot to gather" or what they call them in magazines.

If anything I'd switch out the chairs/reupholster existing ones, but I love mixing and matching.

And I agree with remodeling1840 about all HGTV thing, it's fun to look at sometimes, but it's entertainment and all these numbers are big fat lie. And our project manager worked with them at some point, told me some stories, the gist of it was "don't beleve a word" lol

I’m in NC. Davidson area. My ceiling is white. Maybe not bright white. I can see now where painting above cabinets would help. But it would have to include Family room. I’ll send pics when I get home of whole area. Meanwhile here are some that may help

You do have a sparkly backsplash! Well, not super sparkly but sparkly enough. That it looked like white drywall at night means you do need better lighting. Or a better camera. :)

Like the others say, don't fix it up for a future buyer because it does look clean, well-maintained, and inoffensive which is what you want for that.. If you want to fix it up for YOU, though....well, we can help you spend your money.

I agree with the others that are advising against making changes for resale. If and when you do sell, you will be staging the kitchen: taking down magnets, clearing off counters, etc.

Here’s an example of beautiful staging. Maybe you can incorporate some of these ideas now, getting rid of clutter, etc.

I love the addition of blue with your dark wood....

You could also swap out your backsplash for glass tiles that truly sparkle as in the above examples. That would be a relatlively low-cost fix.

This is view from kitchen so any painting would have to be done in whole area. Gloomy day today. I would like to replace or change table. Have never loved it. Would like to paint kitchen and fr different color. Not as concrete looking. Figuring out how to get correct under cab lights. Will change out fixtures and unify lighting. Obviously I have no shame and didn’t stage for these pics lol. I like the blue island idea but have no blue in house. Does that matter? Keep the ideas and tips coming!! This is the best forum EVER! Y’all are fantastic! Thanks so much

One more

So to the person that knows lighting. What type of under cab lighting should I buy? No idea. Would I have to install outlets under them also? And I know there are different types of light. Daylight warm and led. What bulbs do I get for ceiling and fixtures when replacing? Color suggestions for paint ? Suggestions for new table or what color to change chairs. I live the runner sent that had the yellow and gray in it.

I just have to comment. I have those same cabinets in a house that is less than a year old and I love them. They are not "dated" I love dark wood. I put large bar pulls on mine and I think that would make yours look better. I can't tell if your granite is grey or more of a tan because it's showing up as both on my monitor. I too have neutral granite and I love it. I just think you need some color somewhere. I have a lot of orange in my kitchen including an orange wall and everyone who comes in comments that they like it. Its sort of a pumpkin orange. It seems to make the dark wood feel rich. I also have under cabinet lighting so I do agree with that suggestion. We have LED that is bright white. and uses a rechargable battery so no electrician needed and no big plug that is an eyesore. They attach to the bottom of the cabinets with a magnetic strip. They can be set to come on with a sensor and cut off when you leave so you only recharge the battery about once a month. Or you can turn them on and off manually.

I love the dark cabinets also but def want to give the space a face lift. Be it paint lights etc. but everyone mentions pulls for cabinets. Can you send me a pic of yours or what you’re thinking? That’s an easy quick fix to start with IMO

And your orange kitchen?

https://www.houzz.com/products/san-bruno-3-light-island-light-satin-nickel-silver-mercury-prvw-vr~156458747. Can I put this over island? Connection wise?

maybe a couple of glass upper accent cabinets to lighten up...

Likely not as wiring will be in the center and this will put it off center if you install where pendants are. Check if light society make pendants in this style. I could not find in Houzz but they may sell on other retailers https://www.houzz.com/products/miller-pendant-lamp-modern-bronze-clear-prvw-vr~136371422

Belahn where did you find your under cab lights?

Are you selling soon? The lights need to be LED 4000K that is where I would start Get a different table in maybe glass a counter depth fridge make the eating space light one that actually lights the table . Get an electrician to give you a price on the undercabinet lighting install . Take all those shelves off the wall in the next room and yes to apinting the whole area.All those light fixtures really need to be changed and then add some color. A nice robins egg blue would be great.

Not selling soon. To downsize would be more expensive. Now just doing it for me!

Blue and dark brown can work very nicely together. I think you need to add color to both your kitchen and living room.

I would install blue backsplash tiles, paint the island blue and recover kitchen chairs with a blue and white contemporary fabric. Blue pillows in the living room. Wouldn’t cost much and would give you a great new look.

Paint and paint colors are fads. Good wood cabinets are classic and will always be in demand.

You could add battery powered stick on LED lights for when you have guests on a cloudy day or after dusk and want/need a lighter/brighter kitchen. If you don't need them during the day, don't turn them on.

I just installed dark cherry cabinets, similar to yours. My floors will be light hardwood as well. Backsplash will be Chloe in grey, I do not see your kitchen nor my newly installed kitchen as dated. I do have 4000k lighting however, but my black fridge is staying, lol!

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/list/backsplashes/

I don't think your kitchen is dated. It's not the current super trendy look, but I think that's a good thing. The cabinets are dark but the countertops give some balance. I actually like the overall look. If you ignore what other people say, do you like your kitchen?

I'm with the leave it mostly alone crowd. I'd lighten up the paint and change the lights but other than that, it's a really nice kitchen (and I don't usually like dark cabinets but the light backsplash and counter tops make it look really great).

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maybe just update the island by painting, adding end detail and changing countertop (you can get a marble looking quarts leftover piece in local stone yard)

Don’t pick your undercab light colors until you decide if you’re keeping that backsplash. Colors will alter. Ask me how I know. LOL. I am very familiar with your market area and it makes me double down on my advice above. All this space needs is some decor updates. It’s a lovely kitchen. (And I’d look elsewhere, perhaps, for a realtor when the time does come.) Personally, I would not enjoy blue with cabinets that red-brown. Everything in your kitchen leans classic and calm. You just need a little bling.

I do mostly like it. I’ve always had design dilemmas here with layout. I would like to wow it up a bit. Hardware and lights. I’m not going to tear out existing subway tile although I liked where the other post was going with continuity. Using blue backsplash etc. but I was looking at these cabinets and I really like the rich feel frankly. But it still needs contrast such as new paint color to brighten up I am having an electrician come out to quote me on under cabinet lighting. I’m not against using the blacks and gold either. Just want it to flow. I would like to replace kitchen table or at the very least reupholster chairs. But hearing from you all I can now see where it adds to darkness. A decorator actually suggested this type of pub table. I’ve never loved it but paid a lot for it. One post suggested a glass table but I have that in my dining area. But yes I like cabinets and this discussion helped me firm that up. But again it needs something!

This is revere pewter which to me falls flat in here and family room. Reminds me of concrete in this light. If I had a color to jump off with I could take off. But it has to be in other room as well. Beginning of other room right off kitchen. Other pics taken above in thread albeit dark.

I would change the lighting, pulls and add some live plants and it will look refreshed instantly. I love your kitchen !

Let’s start posting pictures of some lighting and pulls for cabinets. I liked the mercurial look and the black (( which may lead to more darkness)

Ideas?

https://www.houzz.com/products/milano-mini-pendant-satin-nickel-marble-swirl-glass-prvw-vr~157005534. What I currently have over island.

Your kitchen looks perfectly lovely! There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, although I would miss under the cabinet lighting. What makes you think that you need to change anything?

I’m having the under cabinet lighting quoted now. To answer your question it’s dark in the kitchen. Thanks for your compliment! But I would love to update light fixtures to a more modern looks. Any idea? I was wondering if this would look good over island. I like it. And then perhaps a pendant over small dining area. Anything that coordinates. https://www.houzz.com/products/san-bruno-3-light-island-light-satin-nickel-silver-mercury-prvw-vr~156458747. Thought?

Wednesdaymorning?

Or anyone can weigh in.

I like the above choice of island lighting. Your kitchen really is beautiful. I think additional lighting and accessories are all you need.

@amanda smith. I’m looking for a coordinated light fixture to go above the table. I was thinking even a single pendant? It will be right in the line of sight of Island lighting

Current setting. Substitute island light with picture of three pendant. So whatever goes above table should be similar-ish.

While I have white cabinets, always have, I don’t think yours are “dated” .... a word that’s overused , often inappropriately. I see a trend back to wood toned cabinets, yes, even darker tones, in the higher end homes in my area. ( So California). What I see in the lower priced “flip” homes are cheap quality white cabinets coupled with gray & crystal light fixtures.

we were house hunting a few years ago, looked at a house in a spectacular coast neighborhood, the place had been redone in a cheap, trendy manner. Our realtor commented “LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE HAS BEEN WATCHING TOO MUCH HGTV!”

His company deals in multi-million $ coastal properties exclusively.

I’d actually put recessed lights above island to open kitchen up. If you absolutely want pendants there I’d look fo something “light and airy ”

Check out pottery barn Flynn pendant lighting. I have the smaller version over my small peninsula and I love it !