When I look up the terms "Pottery Barn Kitchen" I find a lot of different images, including several from Pottery Barn Kids. But really what you should be doing right now is pouring over kitchen images until you find what you love. Do you want an unfitted kitchen? A modern or a traditional one? Almost anything you do right now to break up that sea of wood (and yellow) will be an improvement, but you're looking for art. You have to decide whether you want a Picasso or a Degas. The only way to do that is to come up with inspiration images. Ready, set, go!

Your cabinets look to be in good shape from the photo. You do have a lot of wood and yellow going on. You could paint the cabinets white, keep the black granite, and paint the walls something neutral that will go with the colors in your home. Paint the island either white or a color that will coordinate with your home's color scheme. I think this will make a huge difference, at minimal expense.

You have a great floor plan to work with! If you're looking for a refresh, I'd either consider paining your cabinets white like Lam702 also suggests, which would totally change the whole look and feel of your space, or if you love the natural wood, maybe tone down the yellow which IMO is overpowering the space a bit, and not complementary to your wood tone. Maybe a cream or grey tone on the walls, with a round cream dining table centered in the middle of the open space, in front of the island. Then, use the black of counters as an accent color if you don't want to replace them by adding a pottery barn style black light fixture over the dining table, and swap out the pendants for complementary pendants over the island as well. Then add some black and cream buffalo check or damask print window treatments over the sink and nook area. I think this could be a very low budget refresh all around.

Paint the cab cabinets white - then walls can be any color you like and which works with the rest of the house. Add some trim at the top of the cabinets. Keep your granite but see if you can remove that 4" backsplash without damaging the countertops. If you can, tile the backsplash - I'd use a white subway tile with the dark grout as in a picture above. You could also paint the island a contrast color if you like - easier to keep clean that white with kick marks in front of the stools. You have much with which to work and thank goodness it's simple!

I kept my wood cabinets wood, and refreshed with new countertops, backsplash and Kohler Whitehaven "short apron" style farmhouse sink, which can be installed on a standard sink base.

If this were my kitchen I would eventually replace the over the range microwave with a hood. I have a wood hood, but for a more modern feel you could do a pretty stainless one. I would think about replacing the center panel in some of the cabinets with glass or removing one cabinet and replacing with shelves - that would depend on your storage needs and your feelings about dusting shelves. I retrofitted a cabinet with a plate rail for my cottage style - a thought if that is your style too.

I have no problem with painting these simpler, ordinary wood cabinets - just know it is a lot of work and if they are oak the grain texture will show through the paint - bothers some but not others. I would still consider one or two glass panels or you will just be changing out wall of wood to wall of white.

I used a cream subway tile which I really like with the wood. You would want to remove the 4" splash first. You can change out the black - I know I personally have trouble visually working on a black surface, but be sure your cabinets are in decent shape before you change out and spend $$ on a nice granite or quartz.

My kitchen is here - as I mentioned it is a more vintage / cottage style, but it does show the sink and the lighter countertop:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/57579129/thumbs/my-pics-work-in-progress

If you want to keep the dark counter, cream tile still works - or maybe white depending on the tone of your wood:

An example of dark counters with cream backsplash:

Another vote for painted cabinets. Lucky for you, you have a great space to start with, and painted cabinets would brighten the entire space. I'm not a fan of wood cabinets touching wood floors, especially with little contrast like in your space. There's just too much wood, and then those yellow walls - they need to go too.

I love PB's style and have lots of their smaller decorative items. I painted my cabinets a while back (couldn't afford a complete gut) and I love the outcome.

Emily this will be a great space with some of the suggestions above. You have a lot of potential here. I see so much opportunity and a fun time getting creative. Good luck!

Your kitchen would look better if all the walls were the color the nook used to be--or maybe one shade lighter. The cabinets and floor would show up much better and not be so oppressive against the blue. Try it! you might like it and it would be much easier than painting the cabinets.

You guys were all so helpful and encouraging. Thank you! Do you think I should paint the cabinets white or "antique white"? The doors which are close to the kitchen are white... so I don't know if antique would be forbidden? Also, I definitely want to paint the wall colors a "greige" of some sort... any suggestions of a color for the island to make it pop? Thanks so much for the suggestions about making some cabinets glass/extending above fridge/ adding crown molding etc. Love those ideas. You guys are great. Thank you!

Again, I have no problem with your painting the cabinets - but I did run across this well done kitchen that painted the island only and also has a dark perimeter counter. Even if you paint, I love this blue island and range hood:

Remodel 2017 · More Info

Before & After · More Info

More of this kitchen here:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/83764076/thumbs/remodel-2017