Your house does appear a bit dark inside but I'm not sure it's the wall color alone. There just doesn't seem to be enough ambient light. Do most of the rooms have enough fixtures? I see downlights and maybe a ceiling mounted fixture. If you have enough fixtures perhaps you need to experiment with different types of lamps (bulbs). And as far as lamps maybe you could introduce some of those into your rooms as well.

I am sorry to hear about your husband - warm white paint sounds like a nice change. I'd start there and get that right - I'd do the same color through the whole space

I would think more about making the island bigger/more dramatic - it could make the kitchen feel cramped - If it were me, I'd clear the all countertops and then get a wood top for the island, they sell them on Etsy

I am sorry for your loss. Please be kind to yourself! Make the changes to paint and furniture that have settled on (they sound good to me). Then take time to adjust to those changes. If you set the kitchen aside for now, you may feel less overwhelmed. You really don't have to make all the decisions right now.

Thank you Amy. I appreciate it. I think I'm feeling the need to make the changes because I was hoping to do things before I return to work ....but you're right I don't have to rush my decisions. I'm starting with my powder room today and then later this week the painting will begin on the house. I think I'm leaning towards swiss coffee or cloud cover for the kitchen and white dove or cloud cover for the rest of the home.

Thanks @la_la Girl I will clear off some of the clutter frm the countertops to see if that makes the space feel better. I hope once the pantry is built I can have the open portion that will act as my coffee/tea station. The island I was only planning to make a touch bigger and wider because it feels useless otherwise but I do feel like having that space all open would be weird too. The kitchen wants an island.

You have lots of various white colors that all must play nice together. IMO Cloud Cover may have some green undertones. You can't really put up 12" samples on top of your existing paint color and expect to make an informed decision.

I'd install a larger TV and minimize the accessories wall clutter

My condolences.

I would choose the BM White Dove for a fresher look. Cloud Cover would put you right back into the gray you already have. All the gray is just bringing down the whole space.

as for the BM Silouette, how about Urbane Bronze for a similar look, but warmer. Kind of an espresso feel, I get it.

The BM Silouette has a purple undertone...

It would look better with your rich flooring too. Paint the wall AND the bench base so it all goes together. Raise the curtain rod to just under the ceiling since you are drawing attention to that corner with the accent wall of color.

I'd think about the waterfall countertop, read up on the crumb cleanup aspect. Paint the island base dark too.

I'm sorry for your loss. Take your time.

Do not waste money on a waterfall counter in your kitchen. Those really look best in a large contemporary clean lined kitchen. In most other kitchens people are just following a trend that does not complement their particular house style.

I think your choice of Revere Pewter is one of the best paint colors for the floor; suggest you stay with it and continue it through out the rooms. It will work with the black counter tops and the tile floor in the kitchen. The "island" do you need one? The Banquette, how about table and chairs?

For a change?

Paint the fireplace surround Revere Pewter in a satin finish and have it blend into the wall.

Then starting with a rug, different wall art, fabrics you can give the rooms a new feel.

I'm so sorry for your loss. To keep from having too many whites in the kitchen, perhaps you could take a door to the paint store and have it color matched in an eggshell finish. That way you won't have different undertones in the whites fighting each other.

As far as the island, it looks as though you have the minimal clearances now if the tiles are 12". You have 48" from the stove to the island and it looks as though you only have about 30" from the dishwasher to the island. You could make it slightly deeper by doing 24" bases on one side and 12" on the other if you bring the depth toward the eating area. But if you leave it as is, just making it into drawers facing the stove will give you great storage for pots and pans. Then trim it out like Beth showed above to mimic your shaker cabinets.

How much room do you have for a pantry next to your slider?

@Beth H. : Yes I definitely want to get rid of the current island all together. It's out of there. I like your suggestion I would like the island to be a statement piece that stands out. And doing an Island with that kind of framing could look nice. The Black wall is going and so is the grey banquette. I'm moving towards more of an espresso tone on the wall and a light beige toned banquette that doesn't come as high. I'll likely put a big round mirror on that wall where I have decorative stuff in the kitchen area. I would like to change my countertop right now it is a dark brown quartz that we installed in 2010. The backsplash I want to keep because my late husband installed it. I think he'd haunt me if I were to get rid of it. He put his heart into it.

For the lighting I do plan to change the light above the table and also add some wall sconces on the dark wall. I would like to change my kitchen floor but I'm not sure if wood in there makes sense like the rest of the house. I'm thinking maybe still a light coloured tile but just bigger tiles that show less grout.

@katinparadise that's a great suggestion. I will bring a cabinet with me when I go to pick up my paints. I'll see when the fabricator comes over what we can realistically do with the island that makes sense. I will also consider painting out the base of the banquette.

Does everyone think that the wall colour should match the cabinet colour? Will that be too much white? I was thinking the white paint tone could warm up the space if I went creamier but light but I'm realizing people tend to paint their cabinets and then a wall colour. I can't change these cabinets. I wanted paint colours to compliment and enhance the space.

I tried out a few ideas in chatgpt and gemini. Which one do you all like best?

No waterfall counter in that space or your style. I think right now you just want change for the sake of change . My suggestion wait for a bit . I lost my hubby in Oct. and we had just moved to a new house all overwhelming and honestly just take time to slow down and greive then see what you really need to change . Please chatgpt is not in any way a designer it only goes to the internet and finds pics just like you can do, IMO your house looks better than any of those pics.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting thanks for your feedback. I'm also so sorry for your loss as well. I'm not looking for change for the sake of change. I'm actually someone who fears change. And it's why I can and have always been indecisive over the smallest decisions. It drove my husband nuts and he'd just make the decision for me when I took too long to decide on things. I have been wanting to upgrade the paint in our home for some time now. Thewhole house have been in BM Revere Pewter since 2010. I'm over the gray and dull feeling when I look at the walls. I want something lighter and airy. And at night a bit softer and warmer. I will add more sources of light in the main space.

For the kitchen I hear your points on the chat gpt. I'm just a visual person and I would like to visually see what the space could look like before I paint and before I make any adjustments or changes. I've never liked the brown quartz countertop but I can keep it and reduce the amount of things on the counter and window sill. My husband and I did have plans to add a slim pantry for additional items that we have not as wide as the one in chatgpt. I will be changing the colour of the banquette seating because I don't like the height of it anymore, the tufting or the colour. I'll give some more thought to the island. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your feedback. I truly appreciate it.

While I understand your desire to brighten things up, I am wondering if White Dove is going to look good next to the kitchen cabinets and white furniture. It's very difficult to put non-matching whites next to each other and have it work. I suggest looking at something lighter than Revere Pewter, but not white that won't fight with the other whites. Edgecomb Gray isn't a whole lot lighter than RP, but is somewhat lighter. Pale Oak is more noticeably lighter. Soft Chamois is lighter still. They're all greiges that will probably go with everything else you have.

You should be painting boards with samples so you can move them around and look at them next to the kitchen cabinets, the existing trim color, the tile floor, the furniture, etc. Painting a little swatch on one wall isn't going to give you enough information to decide. Another option is Samplize samples. You don't want to expend a lot of effort (or pay someone else) and end up with something you're not happy with. Maybe enlist a friend or relative who can be helpful but not dictatorial to help you choose.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can see myself launching into projects like this under the same circumstances.

Ripping up tile and replacing it is a messy, expensive job. Are you okay with the tiles you have currently? If you really want to get rid of them, I suggest using the same flooring you have throughout the house for consistency. I would make a decision on the floors and countertops first, then let that drive your decision for a paint color.

Thanks so much. My whole house is hardwood floors. I can extend it into my kitchen but I would have to try and find the same flooring. The original flooring went in back in 2010.

I'm so sorry about the loss of your husband. I completely understand wanting a refresh -- when my husband died many years ago I started making changes right away, I think to feel like I wasn't stuck. Some things were fine and others (like the small red car that my then-teenagers quickly got too tall to fit in) were things that in retrospect I should have taken more time to think about. Other things, like deciding to have my front porch enlarged, kind of snow balled into bigger and pricier projects. So I'd caution you not to rush the big things. I'd also recommend painting your samples on large poster boards so that you can move them around and view in different rooms and different lights.

You have a lovely home and I hope any refresh helps to bring you a smile!

@chicagoans thanks so much for your message. I truly appreciate it. I will give some more careful thought to some of the bigger decisions I want to make.