Thanks so much everyone; I appreciate your time and feedback. If I did a darker island base, it would be a similar finish to the wood floors. One one hand, I thought that it might provide better transition to the adjacent family/hearth room, but I do worry about either a dark island or dark island countertop looking like a "black hole" in the middle of the room, if that makes sense. Lightness is a good thing, as both front and back porches will result is not a lot of direct sunlight. Plus, like I said, I'm going with a quartz and while I like the furniture look of a wood topped island, I don't know if the espresso brown quartz countertop would give me the same effect. Again, thanks so much! I look forward to sharing progress in the coming months.

Thank you so much for all the replies and inspirational pictures. I have included links to show the other side of the kitchen. It gives a little more perspective on my backsplash as well as the other accent color I have in my kitchen. My thoughts now after reading the suggestions are Take down the wallpaper border-dated I know, but then what paint-change to sage green, paint rest of kitchen in terra cotta color or ?? The kitchen currently is painted plantation beige (on the same paint strip as tobacco road by duron. My dining room which joins my kitchen has an accent wall in the same terra cotta color (other side of the refrigerator/ stove wall if that makes sense)so I would like to keep that color in my kitchen if possible. I am still torn between the light and dark counter tops.I love the look of marble but it is too delicate for my family. I will look at the colonial cream and ivory suggested-I do worry about staining with the light granites but I like the clean crisp look of a light counter. I had researched soapstone-I think there is one called Julia that has a green undertone? I love soapstone and was wondering how that would look in my kitchen. I also looked at Tan Brown granite which I thought might be a nice contrast with my cabinets and flooring. Since I have to keep my current back splash for now, would the 4 inch counter splash that I will have to use look OK? Thanks again for the input. Many things I would like to change but have to work pretty much with what I have!! PS. Still working on the wire mess behind the little flat screen TV! Sorry for the links, I am having trouble imbedding my pictures tonight. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u381/ladybug1100/Kitchen1.jpg http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u381/ladybug1100/Kitchen.jpg

Here are some pictures of my bi-level island. Please forgive the mess on lower part - just got 2 new drawers added and trying to organize stuff, I have things out waiting to buy trays. The top doesn't collect stuff now that DD has a drawer for her art supplies. Though I do need a better place for tomatoes and bananas (empty hanger for now). And wish I could think of a better spot for coffeemaker. Breakfast bar (though I eat dinner there with kids when DH is away - as soon as I finish 4th stool maybe we'll all eat there) From FR (had to shut door to mudroom b/c the bench there collects our things - ignore junk on counter by fridge - more organizing to do, put her art stuff in our old "junk" drawer) Lower level (blue tape marking studs so we can nail in trim under plugmold - I'm finishing side pieces now)

IMO the first thing you need to do is install some storage for that kitchen it could be a TV wall with Ikea Besta for storage but all that clutter has to go. Where you have the bookshelves would be a perfect spot for closed storage , the TV can also be part of that. Light and airy is also decluttered . Hang a great piece of art on that empty wall in the kitchen and add a touch of black to the LR. Post pictures of your stuff please.