Since you don't want to spend a lot of money, and leathering that granite...in place...is probably expensive and very messy...I would paint the uppers white, paint over that busy tile (yes, paint over it...can be done), and add a teal window treatment. It would feel fresh, and different and let your floors stand out.

I don't think It's that common looking. Love the way the floor mixes it up a bit. I would definitely change the hardware to a softer C or D curve shape. I do find the hardware currently that you have is quite common. Just for fun take a couple top drawers and get some local stones w some detail/pattern/whatever you have down there and have a craft person affix them to a mounting screw for a different drawer knob. I see these things at shows all the time....something against the dark would be really nice. Get a colored pendant light instead of colored shade...maybe both.....but the pendant is a good opportunity. the space just needs details fixed up.

I believe the cabinets were painted a couple of times but they did a sloppy job on the black. The hinges look new. The house is from the 70's and had original dark wood. If I painted the upper cabinets white should I leave the bottoms black?

I just meant the hinge placement/style...not that the hinges are not new. Yes, I would leave the lowers and your granite alone. Painting is a huge job (I've done it more than twice...), you can always paint the lowers later if you want. Getting the uppers to "disappear" will open the space up and change the feel.

Floors are beautiful!! I guess try painting the backsplash as suggested by lucky...
I love the idea to do lighter uppers.
I’d possibly redo the hardware to something more unique. Maybe gold. But then u may face the challenge of the rest of the finishes being stainless.

Could lighter upper cabinets be the light grey on the walls or whiter like trim?