Nothing needed. Start working on your new layout with all drawers for your base and a single bowl sink. Real ventilation with no otr micro. I'd spend my money on a slide-in induction range. Bossch industrial version 30" has knobs. That will be a major functional upgrade. It'll go in the new kitchen. Maybe look for a BF sale.

I think your kitchen looks quite nice. I would take down the grease/dust collectors on top of the cabinets, perhaps some new kitchen cabinet knobs. Honestly though, it is nice as is.

It's a nice kitchen, but it does look a little bland. An easy update would be to remove all the decorative items on the top of the cabinets.

I would look at the crown on the top of the cabinets to see if it would be difficult to remove. It's a little fussy and a cleaner look would be more up-to-date.

A creamy white wall color would be a good choice to freshen up the space.

What is the lighting? Would you be able to update it?

I agree your ktichen doesn't need updating, but would take down the decor items above the cabinets. Some of your decor would look quite nice on the countertop. Anything copper you'd like to add to the countertop decor would probably look great.

I personally don't like subway tile, so if I felt like going through the hassle of having a small amount of work done, that would be my target -- although I don't know what I would prefer. (I kind of like plain plaster). However, yours looks fine and no real reason to change it other than whim.

Pick a color you love and incorporate it into various decorative and functional counter accessories. I agree with removing the greenery and other items on top of the cabinets. Draw attention to the counters and what’s on them. A runner too if kitchen rugs appeal to you.

Thank you all taking time to reply . I love the suggestion to get rid of the items above the cabinets ! I was seriously thinking I needed to find a new backsplash. Maybe it’s not a gotta do at this point after all

deegw. The lighting is one thing I would love to update. I have can lights in the immediate kitchen area In the adjoining dining area the light is brushed nickel . I was thinking maybe a new light with some black accents that would tie in my black granite countertop.

Work on the lighting for sure . I like LED 4000K for kitchens and they instantly brighten the space . Take all the stuff off the top of the cabinets that is a very dated look . I like the wall color , my advice always throw out any fake plants, flowers etc get frest at the supermarket very affordable and so nice to have .

I wonder if you could surgically remove the microwave cabinet and have a hood put in? Clearly not a pro but that one cabinet with its Tuscan emphasis could make a big difference.

There are some great lighting sales right now. Here are some ideas for inspiration:

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/janie-15-and-one-half-inch-wide-black-and-gold-dome-pendant-light__162r0.html

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/20-inch-wide-warm-gold-pendant-light-with-black-shade__42e61.html

LED 4000 lights can be really unpleasant to a lot of people's eyes. Look before you leap.

Under cabinet lighting & some new cabinet hardware would really brighten things up.

1. Remove all the items off the top of the cabinets.

2. Remove the microwave and cabinet over the stove and replace with hood to ceiling.

3. Paint all the cabinets to compliment the existing tile backsplash in a deeper tone. You have beautiful wood floors. Go for a medium tone color. A blue or blue green paint would be charming. If you are afraid of color, Paint the cabinets cream or medium grey with blue tones.

4. Change the hardware on all the cabinets.

5. Add under counter lighting.

I like the color of the cabinets, and painting would be a ton of work (with potentially disastrous results). The other suggestions (now hardware, undercab lighting) are relatively inexpensive, DIY projects that could make a big difference.

Another blue:

I wonder if this would help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjQxCW4HIq0

I've never done it so I don't know. You might want to test it somewhere that can't be seen.

Agree with remodeling1840. i would either fund my retrement ( as suggested) or i ( personally ) would go to Kauai (Poipu ) for a few weeks or book a luxury cruise to the Mediterranean. Don’t even think about painting the cabinets, expensive to do right & I don’t think it would add much. BTW , 4000k LED’s blind me, my eyes are sensitive to bright light, I wear sunglasses in sunny weather , which is almost everyday where I live, or cloudy weather.

Get rid of the STUFFand the gray walls. Add color and lighting. Dark counters require under cabinet lighting.

If you haven't already, make a list of everything you would like to change in your house. Every little thing. Then group together the things that should be done at the same time and put everything in order of priority. That's your priority, no one else's. You may find the kitchen falling to the bottom of the list. I moved about three years ago. My kitchen isn't much different than yours (yours is better, actually). It's at the bottom of my list. We have been working through the other items on the list. We're not done yet. DH keeps telling me he's retired. :-) I find having a plan helps, and keeping a list helps too because sometimes you feel like you haven't gotten anywhere. Then you can look back at the list and see how much you have accomplished. You did what you had to by spending $11K on the HVAC. This happened to us at our previous house. You'll get to where you want to be eventually.

Gosh that’s a nice kitchen - agree that removing the top accessories will help - I would work a bit on accessorizing and see if I could up the charm factor a bit - right now you have lots of little things sprinkled across the counter so I think it looks a little more cluttered than it is - see if you can group some items together, maybe add some French cutting boards in one spot or a small charming lamp. Some black accessories might punch up the drama a bit -

agree that a trip sounds lovely!

https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/kitchen-countertop-lamp/

I haven't read all the comments.. I would update the backsplash. The travertine look hadn't been popular for a while.

What is the granite?

I have no idea as to whether or not travertine hasn't been popular for a while or not but what I do know is that it looks nice with the cabinets.

@blfenton … true for me also, actually, if it’s “popular” I try to avoid it.

What a nice kitchen! yes it’s dated but it was well done and looks lovely. agree there is no way i’d rip it out! i find the paint color rather drab so thats where i would start, assuming you don’t love it! painting is an easy/cheap diy project and you can save your money for other priorities. if that is electric radiant stove i’d personally put slide in induction range at the top!

Just a note: I have painted kitchen cabinets and all kinds of furniture with great success. It is not expensive and looks brand new and holds up. It especially updates kitchens.

Also never use travertine in a kitchen. It's porous, stains and holds odors.

Consider adding glass fronts to a few of the cabinets. You can take the doors to a place that does this and it will give a nice lift to the kitchen - however, the kitchen already looks nice.

I like the backsplash. While your kitchen isn't my style not fair to call it dated either. Everything seems to come back around. There should be bat operated under cab lights. As for lighting kelvin, you can buy ceiling surface mount lights that have adjustable kelvin lights (I've learned how to install myself to ave money) and then you can see what color temp works for you. But I would go for brighter lumens. Decluttering is the cheapest change you could make.

Painting the cabinets would go a long way untill you can replace them if that's your plan... If your cabinets are in good shape, for a long-term solution, look into professionals for painting the cabinets.

Love the suggestion of adding some glass fronts. Ours have interior lighting that can be nice.

Have you priced out what pro painting would cost?

(lots of pics below!***)

what about new countertops? Some parts of the country (west coast for example) have pre-fab countertops for a fraction of the cost.

All they are is a pre fab countertop already cut and finished. Druing install, they will cut your sink/stove cut-outs on site. For a 9'X24" prefab, in any material, can cost between $500 and if you like this first exotic TajMajal, $1800. (a slab of taj could be $3k-4K, plus another 2K or so for fabricating. )

Your kitchen layout is perfect for a pre fab. you could get a simple white quartz for 500 bucks. even two if it's more than 9' total.

If you can't do prefab, shop around at stone yards for some remnants, 1/2 slabs, or some inexpensive full slabs. you can find some granite slabs for as little as 1K.

Painting the cabs is a bit more costly. I had similar cabs like yours w/the outdated rope trim, corbels, trim, etc.

The cabs were solid birch and custom made, so they were in good shape.

I just couldn't deal w/the dark, tuscan style any longer. I did a complete makeover including flooring, window, and modifications of the island and stove area. (I had a hood vent made and moved the micro) . The cabs were custom painted off-site by a very good company.

Wasn't super cheap, but it's been 4 yrs now and the paint is still perfectly fine. I got all new doors/drawer fronts because I wanted them all to match. they used plain maple solid wood rails/stiles, w/MDF center panel. MDF panels hold up better to paint.

if you do paint, you need a company that knows how to prep properly or else the paint job will fail. for your kitchen, i'm guessing 5K minimum.

mine was more than that, but I also had the double pantries, the vent hood, the island and desk area modification, (I had 2 large drawers made for the island) and some other things.

The OTR micro and all that dated trim work, were removed.

I had this lower portion modified and installed a built in micro, above my stove top, a vent hood. (which is so much better!!)

So, while your kitchen is liveable, it could be 10X better w/some updating, just like I did.

I think you could easily do something like this:

all white if you prefer

You could modify this spot. lose the small middle cab, do some wood floating shelves like above, maybe put in some glass in the other two.

They did it w/this Before and AFter photos

btw, that lower color is Gaunlet Gray)

New hardware (if using the same cabs, make sure they fill up the holes prior to priming) , tile, countertop and if you like, move the micro to a built in spot and do a nice vent hood

doesn't have to be overly expensive IF you can DIY things (backsplash tile for one)

Know where to shop for lighting and hardware (AliExpress)

Here's the bare minimum. painting and countertop/tile changeout.

To save money, you could do a few things yourself. removal of that granite top, for example. workers would charge you 500-1000 for demo of that and the backsplash tile.

You and a friend could do it yourself in a few hours. cover up all the cabs/floor w/tarps, bring in a large hammer, and break up the counter.

same for tile but go easy. if you can preserve the wall under it, no big deal. you can replace w/greenboard

Can’t than you all enough for taking the time to share your Design ideas. There’s so many good ideas I especially like the suggestion of saving money or taking a trip to France (France is a bucket list trip for me ). I’ll comment more as I read through the posts just wanted to pause to say THANK YOU !

Here is a mock up with your kitchen cabinets painted white.

I am debating of whether to paint mine white or not too. I also have the dark counters.

I’d go to France for inspiration