Please post some photos so that we can see what you have in the kitchen.

The granite is currently dark green. The floor which is staying is a travertine with beige and cream tones.

Wood is coming back. I would keep those cabs because they are a great quality. You are even blessed with a square shape. If you paint them you may struggle with keeping them looking nice prior to selling. DIY paint will never have the look of a painted baked on finish and the upkeep is tough. Instead change the counters to a marble like quartz with lots of white like one of these. It will give you some white and look gorgeous. And maybe change the back splash. I would also take down the items above the cabs. Here is an article that talks about that.

https://kellybernierdesigns.com/ideas-for-that-space-above-kitchen-cabinets/

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Thank you Boxerpal. Thank you for your input about my cabinets.

I don't think we could find a crown trim to match. These cabinets are in great shape, but they are 15 years old.

I agree too pricey to remove. Maybe paint could help the space to disappear. Removing a soffit can be expensive and since this is a space you may sell one day don't waste your money. Here is a link to ideas on hiding the soffit if you feel like you need too.

And scroll down there are some ideas of what to do with the space...

https://www.thekitchn.com/15-ways-to-disguise-a-soffit-reader-request-week-204890

A great link for how to decorate the space above. Notice in the photos below there are no green plants. Instead it is a simple look.

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/5-things-to-do-with-that-awkward-space-above-the-cabinets-212216

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What are the motivations behind wanting a change at this point? The kitchen already looks quite nice. Natural wood cabinets are the new trend.

We have been here for 15 years and I'm kind of tired of it and it seems that the new trend is lighter colors. So at the very least I feel like I want to paint a lighter color and replace the granite with something lighter. The difficult part is working with the travertine floor which has beige and creme. I'm trying to go for more of the grays.

New light fixture. Knobs and Pulls on the cabinets. Possibly remove the double cabinet over the dishwasher and replace with open shelves. Remove overhead dustables and countertop bottles of layered pastas? and oils. Also, unless you Need to block the sun, change out your wood shutters for something lighter--maybe roman shades. And for the real splurge, a Counter-Depth Fridge. Done.

I am concerned that if you paint the cabinets now, they will show signs of chipping and wear in 5 years. Painted over previously finished cabinets are just not usually as durable as factory painted cabinets, especially if there are kids or exuberant cooks.

Consider removing the 4" splash and doing a cream subway tile backsplash:

Here is one with lighter counters:

My kitchen has light counters - but I don't think my particular countertop will go with your floors - but there are so many to choose from - but I do have older cabinets:

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042)

If your home is warm toned, a gray and white kitchen, which reads cool, will look out of place.

Also, at 15 years old your kitchen may not have under cabinet lighting - consider getting it - even if just between the sink and stovetop. I love it! It's the most functional change I made - and it makes the kitchen look better - and it would be appreciated by buyers.

Leave the counters and cabinets, just not worth it. Doing the cabinets right will be several thousand. I'd remove the 4" counter backsplash and put in a full backsplash.

Add lighting.

By keeping the travertine floor you are limiting the colors that will work. If as you say you are "going for the greys" it's not going to blend with the beigy/pinky travertine.

Doing a partial reno (replacing counter tops/backsplash, etc.) can open up a can of worms and have you spending more money than you wanted. I'd leave it alone, just clear out some of the clutter, repaint the walls, add new window treatments, some area rugs, and a new chandelier over the dining table. You'll feel like you refreshed the room without spending a fortune on items that a new owner will most likely want to change anyway.

You are getting a lot of conflicting advice, and I hate to add one more view to the mix, but I do have a different point of view. You say you will be moving in about five years and do not want to spend a lot. I understand that. However in five years your kitchen will be 20 years old! I council clients with your dilemma frequently and I have to say, I think you SHOULD make some changes. Frankly, if you completely redid the whole kitchen, unless you have some major problems else where in your home, it most likely will be the reason why your house sells! In the next five years you can enjoy your new kitchen yourself. Having soffits is a very outdated look. The cabinets look tired and are partial overlay which is an outdated look and the countertops are too dark. The travertine floors look in good shape. At the very least I would put in lighter countertops, a cool backsplash and add hardware to the cabinets. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

No matter how much you spend, you won’t get it back at resale. And grays are dying. In favor of wood, and warm colors and jewel tones tones. Basically what you have. Add lighting and call it good. Then be ahead of the game in 5 years.

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2018/

You would be chasing a trend that is on its way out. You have a great kitchen with lovely counters. For me what is making it look a little dated is all the decor on top of the cabinets. I would remove it all and paint over the accent color which is very dark and have it match the rest of your walls. You also have some decor on the countertops- bottled oils that are for display that will never be opened. A gorgous bowl with fruit - things you will actually use would look great. I think Sophie has nailed it - add lighting. The changes you are contemplating making don't make sense for resale as they are not needed. Instead put the $ into a fantastic vacation.

These aren't standard dated soffits. They are a design feature that gives your home a contemporary vibe. Unfortunately the cabinetry is traditional. Does the rest of the home have contemporary elements?

Cabinets have changed so much in the last 15 years. The partial overlay doors, lack of drawers, shallow over-the-fridge cabinet, and the plain boxy island date the kitchen. Paint won't fix that.

Shelves would look nice in place of the cabinet over the DW as chocolatesnap suggested, but you probably store your dishes and glasses there so you'd have to be willing to have open storage. If that cabinet could replace the diagonal cabinet and the one adjacent, it would be a stroke of luck.

If you want to make a big change, I'd replace the island with one that has some design elements that will make it a keeper when the kitchen is remodeled by the next owners. I'd paint the new island a light, neutral color that works with the floor and install a counter with movement. I'd turn it so the long side is parallel with the sink and make it shorter and deeper. You could add two seats facing the window. I'd add a trash pull-out.

You might consider painting the walls a lighter color so they don't
exactly match the floor and make you feel like you're in a sandstone cave. I
see that sand color extends into the living room too.

Unless you have money to burn , I would just leave everything alone other than maybe painting the walls & other cosmetic changes.

If you're selling in five years you already know that you aren't making these changes for yourself. So to get you past your "I want to remodel my kitchen but shouldn't " doldrums you could spend the next little while collecting ideas of rooms you love so when you move into your new house you can turn it into a place you feel great in. If you haven't done much in the way of redecorating in the past 15 years you might be surprised at what appeals to you now.

Chances are the buyer of your home is going to be doing the same thing!

If you live in a hot market your house will sell no problem. In my area your house would go above asking in a matter of days. And the kitchen would be gutted within a week of closing so the new owners could execute their vision of perfection. Even if it was two years old. Because sadly that's just what people do now.

Gosh I so disagree. Five years is a fairly long time to live with a kitchen you do not like, especially if there is no reason not to change it! I say make it into the kitchen you love, enjoy it immensely for five or so years -then when you go to sell someone else will fall in love with your home because of your kitchen and it will sell much more easily than it would if you had a 20 year old outdated kitchen. I don't see why you should not go for it unless the budget just isn't there. The kitchen is the heart of the home and the room that gives us the most pleasure when it is a space that looks great and functions well. I had a client who refused to update her kitchen- her house sat on the market for 3 years, vacant. She finally did her kitchen and the house sold immediately!

M&M, Do you think maple cabinets are making their way back in? How much life do you think white cabinets have? If its about another 5 years, then I probably would be best not to use that color right now I assume.

i'd say a new backsplash and lighting will give your morale the biggest boost, as thats what you look at. leave the rest be. honestly, you could do a simple subway tile now, if you like the look, and still redo it in 5 years if styles have drastically changed.

Yes, it definitely depends on the market where you live. Like I said, where I live it won't be a selling point; it will be ripped out immediately. Or at best it won't be a factor.

The OP said "I need these changes to still be in style when we sale our house and move in 5 years. So I'm trying to find the very latest in kitchen cabinet and counter colors?" No one can predict what will be in style in five years, that's too far out. It would be better to wait four years and do the update just before sale on the advice of a realtor, if the market will bear that cost.

Later we found out that s/he is a bit bored of the look. That's fair, but considering how much a kitchen reno costs in money, time, and hassle I don't know that it will be worth it for a few years' enjoyment. Of course that's for the OP to decide. Personally I'd rather plan and look forward to (and save for) the changes I'll make in my upcoming new home. Different tolerance levels I guess :)

Boredom costs plenty sometimes :)

If I were in your shoes...I would leave the cabinets and get new counters and backsplash...It will feel like enough of a change for you without feeling as if you're wasting money.

You will not get one dime e fra st resale for s new kitchen vs that kitchen. It’s not these.

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http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2018/

Find easite spending money on something else that you can take with you when you move.

ntehero, I think there are some regional considerations. I am from northern Ohio, and I expect white cabinets to be popular for some time as we are not ahead of the curve as far as design goes, and most homeowners here are quite traditional. I do think stained cabinets will make a come back, as everything eventually does. However, I still see the lighter painted cabinets - including white, that are done in a clean, non-fussy door style staying relevant for some time. You cannot go wrong with a white inset cabinet in my opinion. I think we will be seeing more mid century modern trends in the future also. In my area, if your kitchen is outdated your house sits on the market, so I am a bit shocked by those who say an awful outdated kitchen will not bring you anything back in return- where I am it most certainly makes a difference. If that is your main concern, I suggest you speak with a good realtor, one who sells homes in your neighborhood.

I don't think your refrigerator cabinet would be that difficult to move forward. It's probably screwed into the cabinet to the left and into the wall on the right. If so, it's a matter of unscrewing it, pulling it forward, and re-screwing back into its new position. I would look into adding hardware to the cabinets.

Interesting - I live in Iowa and homes with kitchens like the OP sell just fine as long as priced accordingly. People who paint cabinets and try to ask $20,000 more - those sit on the market - like my neighbor - way overpriced because she was trying to get $ spent on "updates" back. Her kitchen had the original 40 year old cabinet boxes refaced with newer doors that were showing wear. It was on the market about 10 months despite dropping the price $75,000 - this in a neighborhood that usually turns over quickly because of the location.

A new kitchen may help sell a home faster, but not for much more $ and it doesn't help at all if it doesn't match the rest of the home or has a poor layout. Just saw a kitchen in a home on Zillow today - pretty new white cabinets - terrible layout - one of those with the big stovetop on the tiny island.

New homes in my area have about 50 / 50 stained to white cabinets.

I live in Arizona. White has been in for about 5 years and from what I've been told it will have about another 5 years and then be out. That's about the time I would be selling. That's why I was wondering if there was something on the edge of coming out that was newer than white. Houses here don't sit on the market. If they are updated they sale for a little more, but definitely not to cover your cost of remodel.

if any of us new what was going to be "In Style" 5 years from now, we'd be very wealthy!

just keep it classic. that never goes out of style.

Beth, so does that mean keep the maple cabinets because that's classic, or white is classic so use those?

either. both have stood the test of time. I'm actually trying to decide whether to keep mine wood or paint. I'll prob keep the wood and change out everything else. But really, get what you like because you have to live there. if the home is good enough to sell, it will sell regardless of what the kitchen looks like. That's evident by some of the dilemmas we see on here!

Kitchen is beautiful. How about if you're going to paint don't do white. It will make the green come out. What about a soft warm gray? If you are absolutely set on white I would do a black counter...absolute black in honed or leathered finish.