Right, I’m really not thinking about resale value. We’ll be here another 10 yrs or so and I’m pretty sure by then the new inhabitants will want to put their own stamp on the kitchen depending on their personal taste and what’s trending in a decade. I’d like to enjoy my space now while I’m there- life’s too short not to. Do you think my floor to top cabinets should be white or maple? I’m leaning toward maple as it’ll be more economical not to reface them to white and I think it’ll be a cozier space.

Harbor gray is a beautiful color. In a kitchen that doesn’t have a lot of light it is going to appear more saturated (darker) than you might think. Why not do a white island? It’ll certainly brighten up your space and provide contrast to the gray. The gray in this kitchen is a little more saturated than yours, but this image might give you an idea of the look you can achieve.

I’d level it off to make it more open.

depends on what you will actually pick. the above piece is very nice . I see navy blue as a color option which works with everything you have the gray splash could be replaced with a lighter look and make the space altogether a bit nicer. and then enter a navy island. maybe. this first pic has some of your tones but a little more volume of light surfaces......you have the lighter wall cabs try a tile splash that is more of that shade.....I think it would help. and I dont think youre going to rip out your cabs so a lighter and simpler splash is easiest and then on to your new things.