If you recently bought the house, I would live with it for a year. By the end of the year, you will know which of the features you mentioned should be changed.

Nice kitchen! Be prepared, I think you are going to get tons of suggestions. I agree with graywings that if you are unsure about what to do, don't make any major changes right away.

I'd cover the floor with runners rather than staining the floors. The stain actually looks nice to me, it doesn't seem to be the orangey oak.

Definitely get a new light fixture and also try new bulbs. Some are cooler, which make the white look more harsh. Warmer bulbs might help tone down the white. With the right wall paint and bulbs, you may not need to paint the cabinets.

I would consider doing something with that line of uppers, perhaps even taking them down if you don't need the space.

There are some good photoshoppers here, hopefully they will help. Sherwin Williams has an online painting tool you can play with.

Color visualizer

I'd probably paint the walls. Either green or blue depending on what you like and the setting of the house.

I wouldn't touch the cabinets. They look fine.

Excellent advice from d_gw and graywings. Don't rush into this - it's not as if you have an unworkable or ugly kitchen at the moment. Changing out the light bulbs is a brilliant idea (ha! like that lighting reference?) and might make enough of a difference that you are more comfortable right away. It also appears you have a gray or very grayed white color on the wall above the cabinets and on the ceiling. Painting walls/ceiling would be my first line of attack after changing out the bulbs - I'd NEVER consider painting cabinets until I'd exhausted every other possibility. Don't do anything as permanent as a backspash at the moment either. Getting that to work with your cabinet color and countertops before you address lighting hue and paint is just asking for another color crisis down the road. Yes to runners on the floor for a hit of color but truly the floors are lovely - don't stain them dark - you'll hate how they'll show every bit of dust and dirt.

oh my - just noticed you have no exhaust fan. that's not good.

Everyone above me made great ideas. Adding color to the walls and changing out the island light were my first thought too

It's a very pretty kitchen, but haha,, the color scheme is what realtors advise everybody in my area (DC), [think Restoration Hardware].

I would not touch these floors. They are gorgeous and the color is easy to care for!

So, first, to changing out light bulbs. If you have a Costco nearby, I'd stock up on LED bulbs fo rthe whole house (right now, they have a sale going on in addition to their already low prices):

"To get the warm, yellow hue of incandescent bulbs in an LED bulb, look
for "warm white" or "soft white” on the label. Light color (also known
as “color temperature”) is measured in kelvins, and the lower the
number, the warmer (more yellow) the light, while a higher number equals
a cooler, white light. Bulbs measuring 3,000K and below will give off
that warm light you get from incandescent bulbs."

Then, I'd change out the light fixture for something more interesting and less curly/traditional. Presumably, there's also a light over that breakfast area.

Add some runner. I like www.rugsusa.com or www.esalerugs.com, for starters.

Below from rugsusa, about 50.00

Add some colorful accessories. Already those apples add some life to the kitchen.

Only then would I think about painting the walls --- and certainly not the cabinets --- unless the paint is in terrible shape.

Another option would be to add some new hardware, maybe brass.

I think your counters may limit how warm you can go with cabinet paint, but you should definitely paint the walls to give a bit more contrast, whether you go gray or blue or some other shade... I'd do that and the light and nothing else for now...

I agree with all the above and the changing of light fixture.

I like the floor but I would take the glass doors off, replace the light fixture, paint the walls, add rugs and accessories for color. I agree with acm, don't go too creamy if you do paint the cabinets.

I saw the listing online, and the floor runs through other rooms, so I would not stain it a different color. It looks great as is.

Here is a better pic of the counter top and wall colors, so folks can offer more opinions on paint colors. Since the entire house is shades of gray and beige, I think I'd add color through accessories and window treatments. Maybe lighten up the kitchen wall color, but since it's open to other rooms, I'd make it a very subtle light color.

Well I like the floors too. This is a very nice kitchen with a great layout and tons of storage. It does look a little stark at this point, but once you add some decor and rugs to personalize and break up the space it will look much better. I agree with waiting to make any major changes. The easiest and least costly thing to do at this point is to paint the walls a warmer color that will work with the cabs and floor. Not cold clinical gray for sure. Just about any pale wall color you like will work. I could see a soft buttery yellow or warm sage green or a warmer neutral. It would depend on your preferences and the adjacent areas in your home.

Paint is on sale this holiday weekend at Home Depot.

I would paint and replace the lighting immediately and save to replace the countertops and undo the other contemporary "updating." I love the upper cabinets- best part of the kitchen!

Grover, has your dog consented to allow you to continually use his likeness? I hope his royalties are extra treats and attention :)

All of you have made some great suggestions and it helped a lot. Thanks! :)

@d_gw: That line of uppers: what can I do with that?

@dlm_2000 : brilliant ;)

@nosoccermom: Thank you for the pictures and light bulb info..

@Grover: Thank you for lending us your dog! hahaha its too funny

@Veda: Thank you for your suggestion

"That line of uppers: what can I do with that?"

Honestly, I really like it. I'd add my (nicer) dishes and glasses.

Also, maybe remove one door and see what open shelves would look like, just to break up the row of glass front uppers, like pic below.

Some suggestions for pendants.

If you really want to after all the other suggestions, maybe paint island, also pic below.

First thing I would do is change that light fixture! I would not touch the floors or the white cabinet color (except the island like you suggested --great idea!). I would also repaint the walls to a warmer color (Not sure if it's the way the photo was edited or if the kitchen truly reads that cold of tone??).

Eventually, I would remove the 4" backsplash and add in a subtle touch of color with a full-height backsplash. Then, accessorize the room with bar stools with wood legs to help warm up the space, similar in finish to the floor. Also, love nosoccermom suggestion on rugs. I would eventually change out the glass doors to a more modern style, for me that glass design is hard to handle and needs to go (budget permitting).

Hope this helps!

ACK!! DO NOT REMOVE your Uppers!!! That is one of those "fad" items to be avoided AT ALL COSTS!! I would guess swapping out the wood trim on the upper doors, with more square or even putting solid fronts in many of them would be fairly inexpensive. Light fixtures are a personal choice but I would definitely suggest one that is lower hanging. The best advise is GO SLOW. Live with a while, peruse the pictures here and elsewhere. There is no hurry. I too love the floors and white cabinets are a classic. Why mess with that?

No uppers is a fad if you don't have cabinet space. And she will have uppers in other parts of the kitchen. To me, that looong row of cabinets looks out of place. And the glass and the scallops, while probably expensive, imo don't really work. To each his own.

And as I mentioned in my original post, it's not something I would do immediately. But, it is something to consider. I think the clean wall with some nice art and a few tall vases on the counter would work well with the flow of the rest of the space.

Hi Kate --

Lovely house!

Lots of great ideas above, other than changing light bulbs I'd just suggest you do the "wait a bit" [a few weeks, at least] suggestion while considering the other ones!

1) Are you in the house now with things unpacked, or just looking at the listing pics? It makes a difference. See how you feel about the kitchen colors at different times of the day/night.

2) Did the black appliances convey or do you have another color?

The black definitely makes a strong statement, so if you're working around that color and don't want to sell and buy stainless or white then I'd look at how you can incorporate more touches of black.

Pendants are a great place to do it even if it's not as much as the pretty black- (navy-?) topped one nosoccermom showed. You could also consider incorporating at least some black into stools or chairs, frames/art/photos, canisters etc.

I think you will regret changing the color of the floor. What you have now is classic and wears well. Dark stained floors come and go as a trend and are a horrid mess to keep clean looking. The cabinets will look better to you with new paint on the walls and I really like the idea of new pendants and the addition of a rug or two for color's sake. The backsplash is fine as it is too (honestly, I am not a thrifty person who says, make do, reflexively :-) Once you put your stuff on the counters, who cares about the backsplash? Spend your money on getting some nice furniture or new trees or just enjoy a little extra cushion in the bank for when you want to do something special for the house.

I agree with the advice to live there awhile before making any changes. The current floor color is very "in" where I live (coastal So California) ( anything darker than medium is considered dated ) but that is not a concern for me. I love the color of your floors.

I'm still stuck on the 1st sentence, "old house" ... LOL! Wish my kitchen looked like that in my 1950's house!

Beautiful kitchen. Agreed with new pendant lights and backsplash if you have to, although I like it the way it is.

The picture you posted does not go with this description

"I recently bought an old house. I want to change a few things and make it pretty. "

Is this your inspiration picture?

Agree with changing light fixtures, adding decorative items to kitchen like runner or a pretty bowl or window treatment (can't see the sink but I assume that's a window over it). I think the white of the cabinets is really pretty, and so is the floor. Painting the walls is easy and can warm it up if you're thinking it looks too cold for you. I would save money and not stain the floors. Better off putting it towards stainless steel refrigerator. It's a beautiful kitchen even without anything redone!

1. Floor- I think your floor looks very nice. I would consider keeping it.

2. Cabinets - It looks like the paint relates well to the granite. I would paint the walls first and see if that makes a difference. Just remember whatever you pick for the cabinet (and splash) should be colors from the granite to relate.

3. I'd keep the island the same color as cabinets. I think it looks best to paint it a contrasting color when the island is build to look like a piece of furniture and not a standard island. (Nothing wrong with a more standard island btw! I have one!)

4. Again, I'd pick something that relates to the stone. I'd personally go with someone simple and not busy.

5. I would paint the walls. What is it you don't like about the new kitchen? It's very nice, btw. Is it too cold for you?

6. Changing the lights will also make a big impact. I don't know what bulbs are in but I like GE Reveal. I'd try changing light bulbs first even before painting the walls and see if that helps.

I think what's missing from the kitchen right now is color. Once you get some area rugs in there, art, a few things on the counter so it appears someone lives there will all make a big difference I think.

What is your granite? Can you post a close up so we can see the colors?

ETA - I also really like your glass front row of uppers. I wish I had some. I use some special pretty dishes in there as well as ones your use on a regular basis.

I think you'll be happier once you move in. A bowl of fresh fruit, some pretty dishes in the glass-fronted cabinet, and new dishtowels will instantly warm the space. Treat yourself to a throw rug and a new light fixture and it will be wonderful. Congrats on your beautiful new home.

Nosoccermom, who makes those pendants in the second picture? The brass ones.

Edited: I said CB2 but that was for a version of the 1st one not the 2nd.

I like your kitchen and the wall color as is. Try just adding rugs and other accessories and see how you feel about it then. If the cabinets are factory finished, I wouldn't touch them. You can't get that good a finish painting yourself - or I couldn't..

In my opinion I think it looks great as it is. If it was mine I would only change those glass upper doors, in my opinion that would make the biggest difference and bring it up to date. Really lovely kitchen.

@Bumblebee: Supposedly, "Visual Comfort Lighting Garey Pendant Lights in Antique Brass".

Can't find them on Visual Comfort's site, though.

However, see here: http://www.lightingcommerce.com/Visual-Comfort-Thomas-OBrien-Garey-Small-Pendant-Light-in-Hand-Rubbed-Antique-Brass-with-Industrial-Prismatic-Glass-TOB5138HAB-CG_p_1988.html

and here for more info: https://marketplace.apartmenttherapy.com/posts/52735-thomas-o-brien-garey-pendant-light-fixture

I can only find the smaller one in brass, but see here: http://suffolkdesignerlighting.com/Lighting_Fixtures?itemNumVal=Garey

Wow, I think that kitchen is entirely gorgeous! Just add some colorful rugs, some funky artwork and enjoy :)

Guys, we finally moved and I did make a few changes..here's a before and after pic..ofcourse the 1st one is taken at daytime and other is at night..its still the same bright look in the day as well..thank you all for your wonderful advice once again..

Perfect choices, Kate...the darker backsplash really make the uppers fit in much better than they did before.

Congrats and many happy future years in your new home!

Looks great! Amazing what new hardware, backsplash and pendants can do.

Hi Kate -- thanks for returning to show us your choices. Looks great -- very "vintage glam!"