Originally we had planned on keeping these cabinets, putting on updated doors, possibly painting, and adding some upper shelves like these:

our contractor had to remove the cabinets to install our tile floor so it would be level with the floor in the kitchen. Upon removal we discovered that the cabinets on the side closest to the french doors were covered in mildew. Now we need to figure out what to put in these two huge gaps on either side of the fireplace. We were originally planning on using the cabinets for extra storage since our kitchen our kitchen isn't that big. Should we just have our kitchen cabinet guy make us some built ins and add upper shelves like we were going to originally? If so should we have them match our cabinets or do something different? Or is there an even better use for this space you can think of?

Some additional info:

One side of the space measures 105" x 27" and the other measures 103" x 27. We're going with a modern farmhouse look. As of now we were thinking leave the fireplace color as it is, but we're not set on that if need be. I would also like to do a fireplace surround rather than just a mantle so any suggestions on that are would too. The kitchen will have shaker cabinets:

The island will be a deep green and the back cabinets and two uppers with be a greige color. The walls, trim, and doors will be white, with the exception of the front door which we might paint black.

Before:

Currently:

Panoramic front view:

Panoramic view fireplace behind you: