I'd start by painting the soffit a light color and removing the scallops above the sink. New light fixture. Backsplash you can redo or if you are not up for that type of project, you can paint it too.

See where you are after that before you decide to paint the cabs or do more.

I think if you painted a pale color (if you like green, a pale aqua or green would be great).

Get some lighting! We got recessed lights in our kitchen and it makes everything so bright!

Switch to stainless appliances.

Remove greenery on soffit. Change backsplash to a bright white.

In most cases "less is more". Think that would apply here too. Would remove most items from the countertops. Your kitchen is a bit on the dark side. I hate to suggest painting good quality wood cabinets but you could brighten you whole kitchen by painting them a light color. If you can afford to switch out the black appliances with stainless steel that would go a long way toward modernizing. Good luck!

I'd play up the oak, black, white, plus ONE color (red, or copper or turquoise).

Link to the series with the turquoise above: https://www.remodelaholic.com/ideas-to-update-oak-kitchen-cabinets/

Another suggestion: If you can do with less uppers, I'd remove the cabinets above the peninsula and use the glass doors in two of the remaining uppers.

Agree with suggestions above. After painting, addressing ceiling fan light, cleaning cabinets, and clearing off unnecessary stuff on counters consider changing cushions on stools to add a little color. The stool cushions are dark and just blend . Overall I think you have a nice kitchen. One other suggestions is possibly painting only the island. Just make sure you paint a color that complements the oak and counters. I would NOT paint all the cabinets and "No" white

I am LOVING the suggestion of how to build up your cabinets to give them the look of to the ceiling. You can apply trim and wood over soffets. Looks fabulous!! Your cabinets are not true raised panels so painting them would camouflage..another option would be to laminate a veneer over them, DH did mine and I do not miss the MDF center router line!!! .Your island is the most high end wood, that is the last I would paint.

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My vote is to leave your black appliances. (Stainless is on the way out anyway). If you paint the soffit, lighten the cabinets and get better lighting, your black appliances and almost black countertops will look nice together and really pop. I vote for painting the cabinets!

Oh, and please be sure to come back and post pictures of whatever changes you make -- especially in progress, so we can see the effect of each change. We all learn a lot from such before and after posts!

keep the black appliances; stainless is overrated and u see all the marks. i wonder if the cab wood bleached would reduce the yellowness; or otherwise be more in tone w/the dining room wood floors? or else replace kitchen floor w/dining floor. i.e., there's a little too much going on visibly with the two spaces.