click on the website beside the picture, it tells you the designer who did the project

Thank you, I've reached out to them and haven't had any luck with design help. Even offered to pay for their design services....

I don't think your kitchen is 'dated', the cabinets looks great and I actually love your floor.

I would inquire about a painter in your area that specializes in cabinet re-finishing if you want to change the paint color. Keep in mind it is not an easy or inexpensive undertaking.

It is possible that swapping out your dark counters on the island and bar area may brighten up the space for you - you may want to start with one smaller element like that. You used the words 'spruce up' which to me mean you don't want to do a whole kitchen remodel - the inspiration project is from a San Francisco company - I would go to some Boston kitchen design centers if you want to get serious design help.

We have done two projects similar to this project you are referencing!

https://www.houzz.com/projects/3564053/east-coast-shingle-style-home

https://www.houzz.com/projects/2431228/modern-european-open-concept-kitchen

We are a one stop shop kitchen and bath design showroom and we work all around the US and would gladly work with you. We get all of our products through our hundreds of vendors readily, such as Tile by Design, Dura Supreme Cabinetry and Decor Cabinets and quartz countertops like the one in the photo you like from places like Cambria and Caesarstone. We would recommend a hardwood floor! We use a variety of flooring flooring vendors but use Kentwood Floors a lot.

Feel free to reach out to us through our website www.mingleteam.com or info@mingleteam.com.

Thanks!

MacKenzie @ Mingle

Would you do both backsplashes?

I really like your cabinets, they look nice and expensive. Painting them will probably require a big budget. I think the island style is too farmhouse for the rest of the kitchen. The backsplash is probably the most "dated" element but also the easiest to change. I don't love the flooring and the dark bar countertop, I feel like they're sucking the light out of the room.

Actually , your cabinets are similar to what I’ve been seeing in higher end new builds in my area. I think some of the other things suggested might be your answer.

I don't think it's dated. If you feel like you want to shake things up, I'd change the decor, like lighting, the window treatment ,paint the island cabinet a pop of color, maybe new barstools, etc. If you have a hard time seeing it fresh (can be hard when it's your own place) invite over your friend who has the best home design sense and ask her to toss out ideas. Also, I used to have some stuff on the counters like yours and when I put stuff away, it made things feel more open (though your kitchen is huge as it is, but this could give a different feel). So I vote to "redecorate" or restyle the kitchen. And...I'd use the $ saved for a nice vacation or three.

What's your budget? Because your inspiration kitchen is very expensive. Those are Ann Sacks tiles. Countertop could be marble, and is from TrueStone San Francisco. Here are some of the sources,

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bef8qZaAhzj/?taken-by=tineketriggs

and here are the chairs at the island,

https://www.serenaandlily.com/riviera-counter-stool/m10328.html?color=Fog#start=7

That kitchen also gets a lot of light, which helps determine what the cabinetry colors look like. Even if you knew the exact colors in the San Francisco kitchen, they'd likely look very different in your Boston kitchen.

You can also stay at the house on vacation to check it out better : ) ,

https://web.onefinestay.com/home-listing/KET224

Hopping in to second those suggesting they love your existing cabinets! Work with a kitchen designer to keep the cabinets and lighten up other elements. Perhaps updates to flooring, countertops, backsplash, and lighting

Like your kitchen and its dark cabinets.

Agree that tile would be better for the flooring than wood.

Would not (at least not initially) make the drastic change of painting the cabinet exteriors unless they're actually damaged -- they don't appear to be.

Would (at least temporarily) remove the island from the kitchen until you get the flooring you want. Then when you add back your island and any seating, make them have a more upbeat vibe so they become the focal point of your kitchen.

You might consider a wheeled table for your island. Since it is so very near your dining table, you might seek to match or at least coordinate the two sitting/dining areas. If your dining table has a straight end, it might be practical to find a rolling island or table the same height so you could put the two dining surfaces end to end when you need to seat more at your table but keep them separated when you want to use your island for prep space.

If you actually use the seating at the island, you could reuse seating you have and repaint the painted surfaces in your favorite bright cheerful color.

Rethink your neutral kitchen window valance and have your window treatment create the lighter vibe you seek.

Perhaps add a stained glass sun catcher hanging or a few individual small individual sun catchers that attach to the glass via suction cups.

Repaint any painted wall surfaces a light shade of the same color. You could even paper (w/same color in the pattern) or paint the INTERIOR of any overhead cabinets w/glass doors with some of the same wall color.

I love the perimeter of your kitchen - lovely cabinets - but it looks like the island and stools came from someone else's house. I will echo what others have said. Get a lighter floor, a backsplash with some reflective quality and update your island to better tie into the other cabinets. You really have a great space. Don't remuddle it!

Thank you for all the suggestions. It's interesting to hear everyone's perspective. I'm surprised how many would keep the dark cabinets. I suppose I should re-think my design choices. The kitchen was done approx 20 years ago so I was thinking it was looking dated. This may be easier than I was thinking..

Thanks again!

Becky - The island color looks COMPLETELY different in those listing photos than in the OP's link. Just goes to show what a difference lighting makes.

What color would you paint the island if I kept the cabinets dark? Any back splash ideas that would go with the darker cabinets?

It's the style of the island and chairs more than the color that's problematic. Maybe if you're replacing the floors, you should remove that island and rebuild with new cabinets that are more functional, fit the design better and have a nice factory finish, in whatever color you like!

Can you tell us what the aisle widths are between the island and all the surrounding counters?

Do you have doors or drawer storage in the island?

Do you like having people sitting there while you're trying to prep, get things out of fridge, etc? It seems to be a bit of a barrier so maybe the best change is rethinking it altogether!

Becky - The island color looks COMPLETELY different in those listing photos than in the OP's link. Just goes to show what a difference lighting makes.

Yup : )

Mary, I would pick a similar shade of blue for the island. And backsplash tiles with some more white than blue to lighten up the area.

Also, don't forget to update the pendant lighting over the island.

Mary, I can see a corner of one of your dining room chairs, so you're likely going to have to do some updates there as well, so that the dining area has some elements that work with the new elements in the kitchen.