cabinets are not bad, its the 90s brown granite that is dragging you back in time. change the counters, if in the budget update the island (maybe jusy]t paint island a color) seating and fix funkt opening. for less than $25 yiu can try out a light counter top with the pretend stuff like contact paper

I don't think the cabinets are bad either. If you entertain a lot, site painted cabinets might not be as durable as what you have now.

I would change the counters and backsplash.

Ideally the hood and dishwasher would also be stainless.

Lots of options for table and chairs, but I wouldn't do a bar height like in the photo. Not that comfortable for the elderly and those with back issues, and not that safe for young kids who have to climb up/down.

Even though I like white kitchens ( have had 3 over the years & still do ) I think I would just replace counters & what chispa suggests. Btw, do you have undercounter lighting?

I dislike bar height tables also, agree with chispa.

Post the outline of the space entirely. looks as though the kitchen walls cant expand and its a smallish kitchen as is . id look at the space where island sits… can you get a larger island ? w seating? then choose a white for that and leave the wall cabs alone. Best to think over the space avail and optimal use… not just finishes.

If you dream of white kitchens painting white! (Well I would do a griege if the granite had to stay). But if I’m spending thousands to paint lower the glass cabinet over the sink so the top aligns, eliminating the arch. Extend a soffit up on all the cabinets to the ceiling with a beefier crown. And then paint.

I agree with chispa's recommendations. I would add an island overhang and a couple stools while you're at it - very handy especially during social gatherings.

I'm another who thinks the cabinets look nice, and professional painting is very pricey. If it were my kitchen, I'd look into new counters and backsplash. Soapstone or another black counter would be stunning, but since you said it doesn't get much light, Costa Esmerelda is beautiful and would look pretty with your cabinets, and it would bring in the colors of the outside. (Sounds like a beautiful location!)

Of course you'll need to see what's available near you, and ideally bring a cabinet door to the stoneyard, but here's a mockup of Costa Esmerelda.

Backsplash would be selected after the counters are in, but here's an idea (if you like green.)

A plain cream or off-white quartz would look good with the cabinets and brighten up the space.

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Replacing the countertops with chispa's cream/off white is actually going to freshen the kitchen more than painting it will (that spotty beige granite is just an older look). I'd do a patterned runner in the aisle as well, to visually separate the wood floors and the similar colored cabinets a bit. Your counter area isn't huge so it may well be a reasonable cost compared to professionally painting all the cabinetry!

A really good professional paint job is quite expensive. If your heart is set on white because you really hate this wood tone, then go for it. But, if your goal is merely to brighten up the space, you will be better off replacing the countertops with white counters. The cost of a quality, durable professional paint job will likely be as costly as getting new counters.

Live in here for a while and see how often you sit at the table, how many at a time. Then decide if you'd rather expand the island with seating and have a small table for two at the window, or have a larger table at the window. I would not do bar height seating in here.

Yes to a better fixture over the table area, and no to the artwork placed on either side of the windows.

" The kitchen cabinets and granite countertop in the house we recently purchased is in very good condition, albeit dated. "

Define "recently"?

Thank you all for providing your feedback. The comments and ideas have been extremely helpful in providing us with a path forward. I wanted to go white to lighten up the space. Changing out the countertops and backsplash would be a great alternative to accomplish the same goal. Would you suggest going with the same material for both countertop and backsplash or should I use a tile for the backsplash? If the latter- plain or with some texture? The space is not large 13ftx9 ft and it is enclosed- door leads to the dinning area on the right and entrance way to the TV room on the right and entrance to deck on the right.

We love the idea of extending the island top to allow more counter seating, but will not have a lot of room as to not block the entry way to the dinning room. Does anyone know the minimum that I would need to extend the countertop to allow for seating?
I totally agree on changing out the bar table; and agree that if we can get a countertop with chairs, I can go with a two seater dinning table and chairs. I had not thought of the picture or the runner- great suggestions. Thank you all!

Also any experience with quartz countertops? Will they hold up to daily use. I love to cook and bake, so the kitchen is a hard working one! Thank you.

Sorry- the kitchen is 13ft x 9 ft and the breakfast area is also 13 ft x 9 ft.

We need a dimensional graph, the feet from island to table are the sq footage impacted by enlarging the counter on the island. As is we see no reason not to extend the counter on the island toward the current table. 13" is plenty of room for knees and stools at a counter. Metal L brackets under the counter are easily concealed leaving you clean unobstructed knee space. You would be enlarging your work area as well as creating a great buffet opportunity when entertaining. It's really a no brainer. ABSOLUTELY use the same material for the counter and back splash, as long as it's not overly patterned like what is there now. All the squares and grout lines visually fill the space and make the counters seem crowded. Wood is back baby, and paint will not give you the shaker profile that is the current 'not dated' look. It appears your range 'hood' is vented out so popping the cupboard out and putting a modern hood is up date money better spent. Popping the arch trim board over your coffee bar would be an easy update. The cupboard over the sink can't be lowered if you want headroom when washing dishes, but it's arch might also be worth the effort to be rid of.

On light and lighting.

You say the kitchen doesn’t get much natural light, despite all the large windows and sliding glass doors off the dining area.

The photos do show many shadowed areas in the kitchen, a generally dim appearance, and some ceiling lights are oddly close to the upper cabinets so you have hot spots on the uppers and gloomy unlit lower cabinet faces.

I think you should spend some time and budget on improving the lighting.

Under-cabinet and over-cabinet lighting would do a lot to brighten up the kitchen. LED tape is easy to mount, low voltage lines easy to run behind and above the upper cabinets. You can probably take power from the wall switch at the left end of the cabinet run, maybe even use a duplex switch there.

Put bright LED bulbs in the ceiling fixtures, or replace the ceiling fixtures with larger ones to use brighter bulbs that are more flood and less spot. Consider adding a few more fixtures. You can run those all of the existing ceiling light circuit.

Use dimmer switches and dimmable bulbs whereever possible.

If the photos were taken without all the lights on, then retake and post with all lights on, in daylight and at nighttime.

If you are going to post a dimensioned plan, which you really should - otherwise people are forced to waste so much time guessing at the space - include the light locations.

Oh, be intentional about lighting color too. Don’t end up with a mishmash of warm and daylight and cold light.

While the taller upper cabinet crown above the sink does date the kitchen to those who follow kitchen fashion trends, it is very restrained and don’t bother me at all. It certainly looks like you could lower the above sink cabinet, recut the crown molding, remove the arch, but I personally would not bother.

Yes on light colored countertops with an island overhang. While you have the island countertop off, add some receptacles to the island. Gotta run the cocktail blender.

The white range hood gives off “cheap apartment” vibes. That is easy to replace. Note hood lights - intensity, color.

Thank you all. Extremely helpful and will definitely follow guidance provided.