I don't have any suggestions, I just want to say again that I really like your house :)

Well, right off the bat, I know from personal experience that Silestone/Quartz is more forgiving that granite. I was most concerned with stains and having to reseal granite every so many months. I didn't want that worry or that bother. I love my quartz counters, although I truly wish that I'd gone with them honed instead of shiny. This because my kitchen faces south and west, with many large windows. Because of that, every crumb, every water spot, etc. shows up starkly and drives me crazy.

If this were my kitchen, I'd have all the cabs painted a nice, warm cream to brighten it and open the room up more visually. With darker (honed) quartz counters that looks like a mix of brown, black stone. Walls would be anything but stark white. perhaps a soft, light green. Just my take on it, although I do have to say that you have a pretty kitchen, Jo!

How I love your house. I think the green trim and wallpaper are particularly beautiful. Would you consider a ming green backsplash with black honed (Absolute Black) granite counters? I tend to favor white cabinets as a rule.

Lovely kitchen! Can you get rid of the soffits on the kitchen sides?

I only have a minute...we have never resealed our granite. Although I know sales people told us we should. (Ours is heavily used over 8 years old).

Seems like travertine in a country sort of kitchen is often paired w wood, but that won't give you the right functionality. The other options are counters that closely match the travertine (that'd be my vote) or solid black or solid white (in both cases id go honed or close to it).

I can’t see the whole kitchen so don’t know if there is a place you can add some cabinetry to hold a microwave and trash can. If so, you just need some moderate bling or focal if you are keeping the wood and colors as is.

Also, a not loud new countertop.

Black cabinets with the “Kimble Mist” Silestone. I second Lynn’s Silestone suggestion. I had it in a previous kitchen, and loved it! This was back when they had about 6 colors....

You have a lovely kitchen, Jo. I think the counters are where you should start. We have a similar layout and have verde labrador granite, which has been a real workhorse and never needs sealing. We have a light silestone at our Cape house (white cabinets) and I prefer the dark granite.

I like justerrilyn's and mtn's suggestions about moving the microwave. I just made the same suggestion in a similar thread. There are attractive under cabinet hoods that won't even require cabinet removal. And you probably don't need a big microwave. I'll bet there is a spot for a smaller micro in the pantry or the peninsula.

I think hoods help give a kitchen a custom look.

I think a big reason why you think your kitchen looks choppy is because of the two tone colors. If you are going to paint, you should make them all the same color.

Mmmmm. Since you replaced the floor with travertine, I think this should be your jumping off place. You will need to find a granite that complements the beige tones in your floor. I agree with you that this might not be easy.

The other option would be a solid surface in a tone that complements the floor. You might then be able to do a multi toned BS.

If you do find a granite that complements your floor than i would go with a simple solid subway tile for the BS.

I too prefer white cabinets. But.....yours really look like good quality and in good condition from what I can see.

It's hard to see, but the counters that are there now seem to blend with the floors.

ETA: I just came back to rethink. You know, this really is a lovely kitchen as is. For me, the deal breaker is that it appears dark. Is there any way to get different or better lighting in there? Maybe just paint the walls?

Honestly, I would live with this kitchen until I could do a major reno.

Continue painting the cabinets. The doors should be the same color as the cabinet boxes. Find a place for all the stuff on the counters. It looks cluttered.

You have two choices here - a total gut with new cabinets or just trying to make the kitchen look a bit more updated. I'm assuming you want to do the later or you would not have installed new flooring without first removing the cabinets.

Painting cabinets is expensive if professionally done, and very time consuming to do oneself if it is done correctly. So, leave them as they are. Nothing is going to change those soffits anyway.

First, declutter your countertops. Today, people are maniacal about having as little as possible out on the counters (in most houses, the kitchen is at the end of the living room, so that's probably why). Even in a separate room, it will make your kitchen look larger.

I would replace the countertops with Glacier White Corian. It will go with your floor and will make the space seem lighter. They're also bullet-proof for family use. I would carry the green from the DR into the kitchen with a simple tile backsplash using that color.

Then add undercabinet lighting. It makes a HUGE difference. Remove the big ceiling fixture - all it does it cause glare. Add more pot lights if needed.

Replace the refrigerator with a counter depth one. It will make a huge difference.

This will get you several more years until you're ready to totally gut the kitchen. By several, I mean a decade or two.

I really like your floor:)

I did a kitchen refresh, and my most functional change is the under cabinet lighting, so that is something to definitely put on your list even if just between the sink and range. I agree to consider a hood rater than the over the range microwave. Hoods look prettier and vent better - plus I am short and don't like lifting food over my head.

If you like the two tone cabinets - that is fine. I would probably strip the cabinet box frames and return them to wood - I've done that before, but it might not be something you want to mess with, but I do like wood. Otherwise, I would paint the cabinets and frames the same color. My favorite color is blue, but I love some of the gray / green cabinets I've seen - though I don't like plain gray especially with a warm floor.

This is my wood kitchens idea book if you go back to wood. It might also help with chosing surfaces that work with warm tones:

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75202366/list/wood-kitchens

I would not use the countertop material as the backsplash too if the countertop has much movement. That would be too busy with the two toned cabinets. It might work if all cabinets were painted, but not if they are all wood as grain can add movement to cabinets. Wood cabinets look best with simple backsplash.

If you like apron front sinks, there are a few available that can be mounted on standard sink base cabinets - they are called "short apron" sinks. Here is mine:

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

I changed the cabinet next to my range into a plate rail cabinet. If you like that style, you could do similar to the open cabinet. There are some kits available to add a plate rail:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854029

Wow, you guys have given me a lot to think about. Thank you.

For starters, there won’t be a major renovation. We plan on being in this house for about 10 years and it’s only the two of us so we can work in the kitchen. Things we will do; paint the walls, probably a warm cream and replace the countertops. I will look into the white mentioned earlier. We are also going to do under cabinet lighting and look for a new central fixture—Great ideas, thank you. Will keep the fixture over the table. We have to replace the stove. There really doesn’t seem to be another place for the microwave so it will probably stay, but I’m researching other possibilities. If it can be moved, we will put a vent in its place with the new stove. Once I see how the painted walls look, I will think about the cabinets. First things first. I think we will do a backsplash, but something simple like subway tiles. Still not sure though.

Oh and lastly… The clutter. I can clean off half of the stuff, but a good chunk is coffee paraphernalia that has to stay. My husband‘s sanity depends on it, lol.

I really appreciate everyone’s input. Thank you!

Edited to add: I also want to add a custom cushion for this window.