Nothing wrong with the granite counters. While strongly patterned, they’re quite pretty, and will be a thousand times better than any quartz product the folks here are bound to suggest.

It’s the busy mosaic backsplash that needs changing. The room needs a lighting plan, to include properly placed, modern recessed lights. The cabinet hardware could use updating, too. The cooktop with no ventilation above, is a real problem. Also, the teenie horizontal cabinets on top of the upper cabs are useless, and look like an afterthought.

@darbuka would you say I could go with cream cabinets for the kitchen and a new backsplash?

I’m not the person to ask. I’m a wood lover, and would never have painted cabs in my home. I also strongly dislike the white on white kitchen, with fake marble quartz counters. I prefer a warm, welcoming kitchen with very little shine. Which is why I have medium stained wood cabinets, soapstone counters, and white oak stained floors.

Are you planning to replace the cabinets, or just have them painted?

The cabinets are fine, its the countertop and backsplash that need to go (and would be cheaper to change out)

The olive wall color back in the dining area, also needs to go.

The ceiling lights need proper recessed lighting w/a cooler LED bulb (what were they thinking putting in those ceiling lights???)

The flooring appears to be acacia. It's possible it could be refinished and toned down a bit.

Similar darker cabs w/lighter counters and up to date backsplash tile. (and proper lighting)

What you could do is paint these built ins and redo the fireplace design. (and again, get a proper light fixture in that room.)

look at this photoshop w/painted cabs (can be any color) and a diff style FP

Very easy to copy this with what you have.

You've got tons of cabinet space, I'd consider taking off those uppers around the sink and put up a couple of shelves in the space. It will really open up the kitchen.
I'd also consider replacing the handles on the glass uppers with a matching cherry version that blends better. The current ones make the upper space look too busy.
And a new backsplash and ceiling lighting as other have mentioned.

The cabinet by the cook top is oddly placed. And the slanted walls leading to the living area are funky. New backsplash would be nice. It's a lovely home though.

Asked AI to remove the cabinets around the window and add a cream backsplash.

Yes you can go with cream cabinets and a light splash. No problem

mixing and matching. Certainly don’t let the cabinet color stop you from this purchase. It looks like a nice home.

It really doesn't matter that most here think the high end, exactly on trend style and color cabinetry is beautiful. The OP isn't a fan. It's their kitchen. The answer to the questions is YES one can have a white kitchen AND other trim out be differen't. Cream--just be caraeful it doesn't read beige. There have been a few posters with examples of lighter cabinetry that in the end was very washed out and bland looking. I agree the back splash is dated and the counters are a bit dark, but matching paint the lightest in the counter might be all that's needed. The grount lines of tile are a distraction, IMPO. Why bother at all? The two places a back splash is functionally needed is behind the cook top and behind the sink. The cook top is spewing grease into the dining area here and the window is so low a builders grade 2" back splash the same as the counter would suffice. None of the rest of it is needed. To complete the ontrend look of this kitchen, counters and back splash a matching lighter solid surface would give this kitchen as is a huge lift, but DIY demo with a hammer to the tile, and paint would as well.

The first item I would address is the backsplash. The tred of small mosaic tile backsplashes ended years and years ago. Would have that removed first and replaced with another tile that is less conspicious and provides a background for what else is going on in the room.

I grew with @Norwood Architects. The backsplash is the main offender. You can easily remove it and paint the repaired wall with a light color from the countertop.
New homeowners need to wit before attacking their inherited kitchen. In a year, you will really know if the layout works for you, if the countertop cleans easily, the sink is large enough, etc. collect photos of what you think you want and then see what they look like after a year. Your taste will be obvious - I did the same thing with my current house. The photos were variations of the kitchen I clearly wanted.

@Norwood Architects and @arcy_gw, I don't actually mind the dark cabinets. I just was under the impression that they are not on trend anymore as I constantly see light kitchens everywhere. Has this changed??

As soon as you see light cabinets everywhere, rest assured the latest trend will be dark. :-)

This looks like a really nice house with quality finishes. It wasn't cheap to put all those cabinets to the ceiling, etc.

I would change out the backsplash to something soothing and MAYBE the granite to some luxurious quartzite. Update the lighting and the hardware to something warmer. And then - if you still don't like the cabinets / kitchen look, paint the cabs an offwhite or olive-y green something CREAMY and elegant. DO NOT paint these white. I saw someone refer to a flipper paintjob to the "cool dentist office aesthetic" and I can only use that when I see the 'paint everything white or grey' sales pics.

The trend in my area is medium toned or white/cream but I'm sure dark stain cabinets are right around the corner! The door style is nice and there are other things you can do in the kitchen to freshen it up without going through the hassle and expense of painting cabinets. The backsplash is the finish in the kitchen that looks the most dated.

@Artemis … yes, you ”constantly see light cabinets everywhere”, therein lies the issue. While I’ve always had white kitchen cabinets, still do in a creamier look, I must say I’m a little tired of seeing them EVERYWHERE this past decade,, every remodel, cheap flip has them. I like your cabinets, just would address the backsplash & lighting. I even like your granite ….. even though there’s a lot of quartz lovers on this site :)

FYI, I live in a fairly trendy area ( beach, So Cal ), yes, wood toned cabinets have been making a big comeback the past few years, in various shades, some light, medium and dark .

Natural stained wood is on trend. Dark/lighter is a personal choice. White will always will be popular regionally, but is no longer as popular as they were five years ago. Kitchens are not a cheap switch so there will be white in kitchens for some time. Painting will actuallly decrease your home's value. Painted cupboards are often done with lesser grade wood so are percieved as less expensive cabinetry. I would focus on removing the tile backsplash. It will elevate your kitchen with little investment. I see some pretty light flecks in your counters and lightening up the backsplash might be enough.

Artemis, when we bought our house in 2016 and gutted the kitchen, all white kitchens with fake marble quartz counters were all you saw here, and on HGTV. I’m not one to follow trends, and therefor, went looking for wood stained cabinets. There are quite a few of us for whom wood cabinets never went out of favor.

Many of us eschew the mania of plastic resin filled quartz, (badly imitating marble) for our kitchen counters. Some gravitated to granite, others quartzite. For me, it was soapstone…which I learned about years ago, on the old GardenWeb.

The point is, get what YOU like, and will make you happy. Don’t concern yourself with what’s on trend. Trends come and go.

10 years later, I still love walking into my warm wood and soapstone kitchen.

Stain holds up, paint not as well. Tuscan with all it's filigree is a PITB to keep clean., but is beautiful to look at. Tile is busy but can add a WOW to walls of cupboard doors. "Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes." It's curious that on Houzz many kitchens critiqued, torn apart, debated about are new to the owner or under consideration to be purchased. So the kitchen is not the feature most loved in a home. With the advent of HGTV our consumer rich culture discovered what was once a permanat feature of a home is now changeable. You start by saying you don't care for the cupboards then later say oh well if they are 'on trend' then you don't dislike them. The real issue for you will be deciding what you love--outside of trends or whatHGTV says. Function in a kitchen is paramount. Does this kitchen give you the features you need for how you cook? More square footage can be impossible to add after the fact. Is this kitchen sized well for you? Once you decide and buy, live in it for awhile before you begin spending $$$$. Know what you love--for most it will be the only time you throw more money at the kitchen.

Just like always if the rest of the house is perfect then live with the kitchen for at least 6 months then see what works and what doesn't that will drive the changes much more than just color.

If the house is in the right neighborhood, is the right size and price, then buy it. Everything inside can be renovated, restored or replaced. Location can’t.
Living in a house for a year lets you know what really needs updating. The cabinets can be refaced, replaced or painted. You need to cook in it and see if the layout works for you. The color of the cabinets shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for a house you can love in a neighborhood you want to be.