Hmmm, well, your cabs are pretty wood and warm. To me, it needs more interesting lighting, different paint color, and crown molding. It looks unfinished at the ceiling without crown, the thicker the better. The paint color doesn't go with the cabs to my eye. And actually, if it were my kitchen, I'd lose the tile and get white oak in a clear finish so it is substantially lighter than the cabs. I am just not a fan of that kind of tile. Happily, except for changing out the tile, all if these fixes are fairly easy.

Paint the walls a bold color and get some polypropylene rugs in a Persian design.

Example

You have a beautiful kitchen with a terrible color on the walls.....someone jumped on the gray bandwagon. Choose a warmer wall color and ,as suggested , get some pretty rugs. Your own accessories will warm it up. Add some pendants over the island. The rug posted by Tibbrix is a beauty!

New paint color and new backsplash of your choosing will make a huge difference.

To me, you just described the perfect kitchen for a new homeowner. All of the expensive stuff is done! Now you get to turn "a" kitchen into "your" kitchen. And that's the fun part!!!

We have very dark granite too and while I like light also, I've been really happy with the dark. The great thing about it is it makes all the other colors you add to the room pop and it will enhance (as opposed to compete with) anything you choose to do. Travertine is nice, but it's very subdued and (sorry) boring. There are soooo many gorgeous options available now that you can really have some fun with and let the backsplash be the star of the room. Planning a researching projects like this is one of my favorite things to do. I'm really jealous!. LOL

I think it's mainly the blah, dead looking wall paint color. Even a warmer white would bring some life to it. The current cool dingy off white clashes with the floor and drains the warmth from the cabinets. The cabinets and counters are beautiful, though I prefer cabinets to go to the ceiling. A backsplash would help bring some additional visual interest but I wouldn't go too crazy with the color or pattern either, with the floor tile I wouldn't do travertine or travertine look because it will be too "matchy" wth the floor. Maybe a neutral mosaic - what do you like?

It's a beautiful kitchen that is just waiting for your touch. I agree about changing the wall color and that rug that Tibbrix posted is a great example of how little you can do to change the feel.

Yes, this is a very easy fix with color on the wall. Yes to a backsplash and yes to paint. Think about painting the ceiling too.

Pull the colors from the granite to design the backsplash and then go deep with the wall color to blend in the cabinets rather than have them stick out so starkly. The floor tile already looks good with the cabinetry so that's in your favor.

Here is a before of my kitchen ... clearly it wasn't finished in this photo, but what I want you to notice is the paint color. The cabinets look flat even though there's color on the wall.

Shortly after we moved in, I repainted to the deep rust color and suddenly the graining and the richness in the wood appeared.

I think you definitely need a backsplash, I agree nothing too patterned, or bold and then add some pops of color which you can bring in with rugs and decor, otherwise it is a beautiful kitchen. I would also add pendants above the island.

What color is the paint on the walls? It doesn't look gray to me. On my monitor, it reads as a neutral off-white with perhaps a slight greige leaning. You do have a wonderful blank canvas here! I would definitely add a tile backsplash - and if you like more color on your walls, then that's an easy fix. Bring in your own items to personalize the space and make it yours. I have a feeling that your friends will soon be complimenting you on this new kitchen!

It is a lovely kitchen! On my monitor the walls read a cold light blue gray white. Not sure what the color really is. I would paint them a warmer neutral color.

You can always live with it and if you still dislike the dark cabs maybe you could just paint the uppers white or off white. I love two tone kitchens. However, the wood is lovely.

BTW, do you have more pics of the entire kitchen?

Congrats on your new home!

Congrats on your new home. The kitchen looks very nice and huge. On my monitor it reads as aktillery describes, a cool pale blue-grey. If you are inclined to leave the major items as-is (floors, cabs), I'd start with a backsplash that coordinates with the black granite and the floor and pick a warmer paint that coordinates. Then shop from your items you have at home to get an idea what works for accents, and add a color you love and go from there.

I think that you should start small, and not do anything drastic (like paint the cabinets). Find a color that you like, and paint the walls, I am assuming that you have not put any of your favorite things out yet, so try that, and buy a few colorful rugs, runners that you like. Live with those things for awhile....then, I think that you will start to like the new kitchen more and more. It takes time to adjust to a new home, and remove yourself emotionally from the old one, even if moving is what you wanted. Maybe, you are still attached to the old house...memories...babies, etc.

I would change out the knobs for beautiful pulls. The doors are large and make the knobs look puny. You need some jewelry on them. Lighting that makes a big statement would help too.

You have a great start. Like other posters, to me it looks like the floor and cabinets are warm and the wall color is cool. Since the granite is horizontal, I don't think undertone matters as much, If you warm up the walls and add some rugs it will make a big difference. Warm walls don't have to be dark, you just need a color with a little tan or brown in it.

Since I get bored very easily...I would just add decorative colored things, like rugs, canisters , place mats...things like that. Very beautiful home!