I’d go white. Simple white.
If diy hands dirty type. Not going to a stone yard type diy then I guess cement would also be fine.
I see that you started with the hardware. Love that. Maybe go bigger. Bar style pulls? And knobs? Love the black tho. Good luck

galley kitchen....a long narrow footprint. not super small but it is narrow. I would modernize this with floor and counter to align...add backsplash and change the lighting. Slate look vinyl planks or something like that..maybe vinyl slate look square tiles...I'd do a darker counter. as well....maybe something like soapstone or a dark leathered granite. Can you spend and get a microwave to match the stainless [worth it]. and hardware more interesting shape maybe black or dark nickel. everything is on view from side angle so the floor, counter, and backsplash tile ,all coordinated will really push the overall look. Whether it be dark or light, matters not ..... but the lighter maple w black, or gunmetal ,or charcoal tones, can be great. These things totaled up, are more than just counter...but if you get a design palette, you can execute over time.

Buy new laminate sheets and relaminate the existing laminate, with new edging. That’s as cheap and durable as you can get.

Yes kitchen is good size for this small house but it is narrow footprint. I’m glad to hear black hardware is approved. Rest of the house is kinda mid century modern style so I was thinking gold hardware also, but with those cabinets it may not update the look.

If I decided to go with white laminate, do you think light blue subway tiles work??
Or should I keep the white??

white laminate? be sure and also get a price on one of the whites in corian...it would be a bit nicer for just a tad more money. I would not do a pastel blue backsplash