simple, add some trim work around the panels, and paint any coordinating color.

Bonus, doing this to the island really makes it's look finished.

Diff ways to do it. Search, "how to trim out kitchen island"

Here's a how to link w/this one

https://www.loveremodeled.com/how-to-add-moulding-to-kitchen-island/

I really like this look too

https://stagg-design.com/all/add-moulding-kitchen-island/

this has a good tutorial too

http://www.thriftyandchic.com/2018/08/board-and-batten-kitchen-island-makeover.html

a few other diff styles.

most of these are board and batten, but you could do a shiplap, a beadboard, or even a tile.

When you paint, make sure you sand off that wood finish (the top coat) prime well with an oil based primer (I used the spray can), fine sand again, clean well, and use a good wood / cabint paint. BM ADvance is good, Cabinet Coat is also good.

Thank you!! Those are the styles I had in my brain but couldn't explain to my husband. Would you paint the island? My husband is having a hard time matching the color of the cabinets.

You can paint the island a glossy black or a glossy green like the glossy green they paint front doors in England if it goes with the adjoining room, and you continue the color in your dishtowels, etc.

i Reread your post again and you said when you paint. With the pictures do you feel that white would be the best color? I'm not creative so I have a really hard time unless I see it. My husband asked about a dark gray?

yes, absolutely paint. he will never be able to match the wood species exactly w/that trim, or that finish. (there is a clear coat that has probably yellowed over time) .

I don't know that I'd do a plain old white. I don't see any white in the room.

A soft gray? What's the color of the granite?

can you shoot a pic of that?

is it this?

Turn on the lights and take a shot showing the entire space

have you thought about adding some hardware? it would really add so much to your cabinets

this style is nice

we have new wood floors now. The kitchen is a bit of a mess as it's dinner making time....

I have not thought about hardware I'm really bad with design and creativity. Once I see it then I can vision it if that makes sense.

yes, you really need hardware! like any of these? ^

you also need a runner in front of your sink.

soft sage, charcoals would be nice

Wow that is AWESOME!!!! Thank you so much I really appreciate the help.

Oh, a glossy black island would look marvelous.

But green is good too, green is a very good color around food.

You could have a (glass) shelf at the upper third of the window with some nice plants, either some herbs that you cook with or something that is bushy or trailing and easy to grow and propagate, like mint. That just smells so good it makes me happy and it technically is a weed I think, it certainly grows like one!

A lighter green is nice too, like a sage.

p.s. Please- no need to apologize for have a real-life home!

a textured runner in a jute or sisal would also look nice

i gave you roman shade on your window in the other pic, did you notice that?

and I think a diff wall color would help.

here's what I got w/your granite

I love the grayish/sage colors for the wall, or the island. I like iron ore on your island w/this hardware

maybe #5. If you go w/a light color, try one of the darker handles

some other sage colors for either the island, and/or the wall.

(same pic as above, but I added the gold lights) see below regarding the gold issue

you could do downing stone on island, and try the spare white on the walls, or vice versa.

or go w/a more sage color on the walls, and the lighter island.

And you may want to try out a brushed gold for the hardware. Gold and the sage tones w/wood look great. (it's fine to mix metal finishes w/your pendants)

for instance, I believe this color is Coventry Gray. looks beautiful w/your granite and the gold

In fact, if you don't mind switching out your pendants to soft gold to match the hardware, it would look very pretty (and lower the pendants a bit) photoshopped all diff hardware for you

Similar color wood cabs w/hardware

here are the gold handles, and a diff gold pendants. so pretty w/the sage and wood tones!

I love this one.

(or maybe you could spray the ones you have w/metallic paint??)

gave you a sage runner too.

target has both of these

https://www.target.com/s/sage+runner+rug?Nao=0

here's a choice w/the gold, or the darker elements.

either works. I'd suggest bringing home some paint samples of what you like, and testing the colors in your space

does this help?

(get the puppy lots of chew toys until he can be trained to leave your cabinets alone!)

The dog won't chew anymore he is older and we keep him in a circle gate when we leave. He was abused by the previous owner so he tends to have anxiety when we leave.

I did notice the roman shade. I meant to say something but dinner was ready so we had to do the whole dinner thing. I never thought about that it looked really good. My husband saw it to when I showed him the picture. Yes that helped soooo much!!!! I can't thank you enough!!! Changing out the pendant lights would take some work on my part he really likes those. But I do see what you are saying. It's funny you both said something about sage color my daughter was just saying that last night. I will get some samples of those colors. Thank you so much!!!