I agree all one color for sure and a brighter onefor a lake house. I would start by making the lighting all LED 4000K is my preference but even 3500K then choose wall color.With all the wood I might be tempted to do this cut 25% for a nice neutral BM I use it a lot for clients who have lots of wood tones

The BM Healing Aloe that Patricia recommended is a gorgeous color and works really well in beach and lake houses. It's a lovely light shade reminiscent of water, with just enough gray to make it neutral. If you want to go even more neutral, off-whites and beiges (but keep it light!) are very on-trend right now. I wouldn't go darker than BM Ballet White, which would give you a blank slate for decorating.

As for updating elsewhere, a new backsplash in a light-colored tile pulled from one of the countertop colors would be a great place to start. If you're not willing to paint the kitchen cabinets, consider painting at least the island, the hood vent, and the dark beadboard wainscoting in the adjoining space. A neutral white (BM White Dove goes with pretty much everything) would brighten the space a lot. And one of the quickest updates would be to change out your rugs, and replace those very traditional ones with light rugs, either a natural fiber like sisal or jute or something with a bright summery pattern like a cabana stripe. Dash & Albert has some good ones, like this example: https://annieselke.com/p/RDA342

I know there are purists on this site who hate painting wood, but I would paint not just the wainscoting, but also the stairs, minus the treads and handrail. This image from Annie Selke's website shows what a difference it makes:

In general, concentrate on light cream and off-white. Accessorize with splashes of color, beachy stripes, grassy natural fibers (baskets, rugs, etc.), and fabrics like canvas, cotton, and linen.

I had a light green shade in the kitchen at one time but it didn't play well with the oak. I am leaning to an off white that ties in with the granite but want one that doesnt look like "builder's white" . Especially in a dining room and foyer.

The kitchen has so little wall space and not much of a problem. Whites are so confusing. The outside of our house is SW nebulous white (It looks pure white outside and blue gray wlhen I look at the swatch inside the house).

As far as the furnishings, lots of these pieces are "family treatsure" with sentimental value from the "old cabin" and I guess we need to work around that! This is out part-time house so not too fussy about being perfect.

Can anyone help me with and good Sherwin-Williams color because it is more acessible to my location here? Thanks!

SW Alabaster

SW Steamed Milk goes really well with oak. It is a really pretty soft off-white color that would look great in your house.

Here is a link with info and coordinating colors.

https://www.blacksburgbelle.com/sherwin-williams-steamed-milk/

This color palate may look nice in your house:

Sea salt is another really nice color that works well with Steamed milk.

Painting wood at the lake would be a SUPER HUGE bad mistake!! Painted cabinets will not stand up to the water/dirt/wear and tear of a lake home! People who think only of the latest aesthetic really need to consider longevity and FUNCTION! I did wonder about the hood. Seems like over kill for a glass cook top. I always think of them over GAS ranges.... One color through out will certainly make the rooms all see connected and larger as the flow won't be cut off.

Snow Bird, I hear you on the family treasures with sentimental value--and they're probably good quality furniture pieces too, just a bit older. But that's how cottage style (a style that lends itself perfectly to summer places like a lake house) got its start. It grew from re-purposing furniture that was handed down from a big house to a smaller one as styles changed, and that's why it typically features furniture that's been painted, usually in a light, airy color.

In a typical cottage-style room, the beds, dressers and woodwork once may have been a mish-mash of pieces made from oak, cherry, pine, maple or what have you, but they've been freshened up and made to harmonize thanks to a coat of paint. Mixing pieces like a Windsor armchair with a Chippendale armoire and a Shaker coffee table isn't a problem, because the paint unifies them. If you're open to the idea of painting your furniture, that would be one way to brighten the space without abandoning those sentimental family treasures, just giving them a lighter, more updated look.

arcy_gw, we had a lake house in the Lake Erie region for twenty years and the painted finishes stood up just fine. The kitchen cabinets were painted white, the woodwork including built-ins was painted white, and the furniture was mostly white and slip-covered. Pic of our house (keep in mind it was taken when we sold it several years ago, so I'm not holding it up as an example of decorating in 2023, just as an example of painted finishes after two decades of use):

A northern lake doesn't have nearly the humidity of a coastal beach house, and most lake houses only get occasional (summer vacation and long weekend) use. Plus, a lake house is supposed to look invitingly lived-in and relaxed. The patina is part of the charm.

Nice comments to consider. Right now I am going to focus on painting. I want to minimize yellow undertones.

Here is Healing Aloe along with two others with a green undertone. The second photo are three more colors shown against a close-up shot of your countertop that appears less green.

Ffpalms, the counter in real life has gray and grayish blue tones.

SW snowbound is a possible consideration. It is a soft white that is neither yellow nor blue. A nice neutral that is neither warn nor cool.

Here are some coordinating colors:

I have sw snowbound on the walls throughout my house, paired with off-white trim. SW peppercorn on my doors and coffered ceiling.

Snowbound is a neutral soft white. I love it.

In my kitchen, it is paired with walnut cabinets, soapstone, and white marble.

Elsewhere, it is paired with navy, black, and oatmeal. And some dashes of green.

If I go with Alabaster, what color should the ceilings be?

Be careful what white you pair Alabaster with since you want to minimize yellow undertones.

https://modandmood.com/snowbound-vs-alabaster/

I painted my south and west facing kitchen with very similarly toned oak cabinets with SW Copen Blue... its a great greenish greyish blue that plays well with wood tones and it would certainly cool things down but not look cold.

ETA link for Copen Blue.

I am so confused. I ordered the "warm samplesize packet" that had colors suggested on this forum. They are shown here with two different shots in the kitchen . South facing room, cloudy day, lights are off.

1.. SW Snowbound

2. SW Alabaster

3. SW Greek Villa

4 . SW Steamed Milk

5. BM White Dove

I would appreciated your thoughts!

#3 greek villa

Are you painting the cabinets or the walls? If it is the walls, can you move the samples to the wall?

The sticky back of the samples can be moved around. They will re-stick.

Wall to be painted.

I like #4.

Are you using the same wall color in every room?

Yes

Remove tile backsplash. It is dated and you already have a backsplash. It is the 4" piece of granite. You don't do both. That and one paint color from above would go a long way to updating the space.

I have warm wood floors and chose Alabaster. It tends to be a bit creamier and pairs well with warm woods and blues and grays. I found snowbound to pick up pinks which I personally dislike and probably would go well more grays and a very neutral gray/white pallet.

I agree with #3 (Greek Villa). #4 (Steamed Milk) looks good in that array because it’s closest to what’s already on your walks and woodwork, but that also means that using that color will give you more of the same feeling you have now. #3 is actually quite neutral, but will bring a freshness and a lightness to the space.

Here is one option from Ben Moore and three from Sherwin Williams that I think would work well with your countertops and wood tones.

What color is your ceiling in the living room?

SW Alabaster. It will work with the countertops. I think you will like it.

Have you thought of bm grey owl? we bought a house with a lot of warm wood trim and i think it looks great as the walls were a beige before and everything looked brown.

Thanks to all who helped select paint for our lake home. This is Snowbound. We are loving the change!

That looks amazing! Crisp and fresh!

I have snowbound throughout my house and I love it too.

It looks great, good choice!