If you painted the uppers a cream from the backsplash then that would brighten & lighten the entire kitchen.

If you're not changing the granite, it will be tough to give your kitchen a more up to date look. That style of granite screams 1990's builder grade.

Personally, I'd leave everything alone and get new light fixtures and maybe new counter stools/breakfast nook furniture. Go in a more industrial direction.

Ideas:

Black Metal Pendant Light With Wood Neck · More Info

GDF Studio Industrial Design Adjustable Seat Height Bar/Counter Stool · More Info

Consider clear glass pendants and update your cabinet hardware to stainless/brushed nickel.

You might consider changing the hood to stainless/brushed nickel as well.

Add another color - orange, lime - accessories.

Maybe add brass fixtures, lights and hardware

In order to brighten you need to change what's DARK and that's the cabinets and floors. White walls would help some as would white backsplash but there's still just a lot of DARK sucking in any rays of light.....

Sometimes pictures will look a little dark when there is adequate lighting in real life.

I do not see undercabinet lighting, do you have this?

It may also be helpful to add more recessed lighting: I only see one recessed light per each run of cabinetry. The long run with the cooktop could use two more at least, one on each side of the one in front of the range hood.

Shiny, lighter hardware and fixtures would add a bit of contrast, too.

During the day, pull up the blinds instead of just opening them.

Change out light fixtures for something in a brass finish. Replace dark espresso furniture - rattan stools at counter, lighter wood table and chairs, maybe something in a cerused finish. Light colored rug under the table and chairs. Light colored runner in front of stove. In both cases, maybe a simulated natural fiber indoor/outdoor rug. New brass pulls on the cabinets.

You might want to explore the possibility of modifying some of your upper cabinets to add glass inserts. The glass would reflect the light from the window on the right.

needs sheen w new lighting fixtures....and more statement/bigger fixtures.....maybe remove cabinet around window. lighter splash/ counters if you could. Nice cabinets but being

rich and dark , you need interesting lighter surfaces [splash and counters ] ..do what you can w budget or save for now... the cabinets will continue to look good as you upgrade things but get a palette of changes that are planned together.... note the metal finishes in unison with white splash does a lot

Hollywood Hills Hideaway · More Info

and pendant change [sheen] and better lighting...a bit lighter counters are helping the dark cabinets here:

Lake Point Kitchen Renovation · More Info

Keeping in mind your plan is to keep the cabinets and granite here are my suggestions:

- paint the walls a warm white colour

- replace the lighting fixtures for an updated look

- replace the horizontal blinds with solar blinds

- replace the counter stools

- replace the table stools for a lighter colour (or can be done with slipcovers)

Paint the upper cabinets.

Better lighting, and a bit of color would go a long way towards making your kitchen much more appealing. Right now, it looks drab.

Long linear light bar hanging over island instead of pendants.

Mirrored backsplash and task lighting to reflect off of it.

Light colored area rug/ runner

Light colored stools

Check light reflective value and sheen on paint; increase / add sheen

I notice that you asked for a "brighter" look, not necessarily "lighter". As @cat_ky said above, some colour would be nice. You haven't shown us the other 2 walls of the kitchen, so there may be some opportunity to give it a lift with wall art, wall paint or maybe even a cheerful wallpaper. I can see bright green as a lively addition to your colour palette. Stretch slipcovers over your gray chairs could start a brighter colour scheme.

Thank you for your inputs. I will send a picture of the other walls (egg shell) and loving space tomorrow.

Yeah, the granite is not a current color preference. Would I send it to the landfill, and replace it with something manmade; badly imitating marble, just because it’s popular (ubiquitous) now? No.

Quite frankly, it’s the builder grade lighting fixtures and dark counter height dining set, that down grade the kitchen.

Your cabinets and backsplash are quite nice, and current in style (even with the cabs being partial overlay). The floors are a bit dark for me, and probably would be better in a lighter stain, for more contrast with the espresso cabs. But, I suspect that’s what runs through the rest of the house. Stripping and refinishing in a lighter stain, would be a big and expensive job.

As others have said, you need more recessed lighting…and, under cab lighting, if you don’t already have it. And, ditch the horizontal blinds.

Paint the island, new fixtures, chairs, backsplash tile

Everything is so dark. dark flooring, dark cabs, dark table, dark lighting.

painting that island a lighter color and getting a lighter table and chairs (and bar stools) will be a HUGE improvement.

Here, my quick photoshop. you need a runner somewhere in that space, i gave you two diff colors. gave you gold hardware since it works nicely w/the granite/wood. also gave you some gold / glass pendants and a diff gold table light.

lighter stools and chairs (if you paint the island, bring in some trim molding on the side and back panel for more of a finished look. lots of DIY tutorials online on how to do this

then you could choose a lighter ceramic subway tile

or this sand color frosted glass tile would be nice w/the granite:

Lose the knobs and do some pulls, something like this, but in soft gold/brass

I like these too,,cup pulls for the drawer, handles for the doors (ignore those knobs)

Alnmost the same flooring/granite colors like you have. The lighter island and lighter backsplash tile is a big improvement

if you don't want white, plenty of other lighter colors you could pick

Thank you so much! I have thought about painting the island… would gold or silver fixtures be better? The appliances are silver. Also my living room had goldish tones

Some living room pics

An option to increase the apparent level of light you have is to increase the sheen level of the ceiling. Even going from flat to eggshell will make a big difference in the amount of light reflected back. And definitely increase the number and layers of lights that you have.

SS appliances go w/everything. I picked gold because it looks nice w/the wood and your granite which has those gold tones to it. is it santa cecelia granite ?

Or Giallo Ornamental?

Any of these colors would work for you island or even the walls with that type of granite

Hi Beth, I’m not 100% sure no what type of granite it is… I’m thinking it’s more Giallo Ornamental.. here are a few closer ups of the granite

no, that's santa cecelia Light (theres also a gold)

Oooh ok… thank you

White isn't the only answer, sometimes adding bright colors is the answer. New leaf green is one of my favorites with dark wood and brown granites. Throw in some sky blues.

I can see this on the chairs by the table with bar stools in a matching green.