The drywall backing to the island is a big wrong. Islands should be finished off on all 4 sides with cabinets or cabinet panels so that it looks like a piece of furniture. A quick fix would be to paint it and the island cabinets all the same color.

That won’t help with the rest of the issues. Not crazy about the less than functional layout, the staggered cabinets, raised bar, or the black. You may want to not do anything until you can do a pretty big project here.

I agree, but I think adding some island chairs and perhaps 3 pendants over the island will help warm up the space. If you love the space, then perhaps painting the cabinets would be a welcome fix. Good luck!

I think the kitchen looks nice. What don't you like about it? If you add bar stools that you like, the island will look more put together and less bare.

I agree with raee-- remove the MW and cabinets above the cooktop, and use a nice stainless steel chimney hood to echo the SS fridge and freezer.

It's not a bad looking kitchen. The drywall island is a bit unfortunate but painting it will help. Adding barstools will also help. You could consider installing a foot rail near the bottom to help keep feet off the gypsum board. You may have to live with the staggered cabinets but, if there's any way possible, remove the tallest center cabinet. You might also consider painting them unless you like the wood finish. I would suggest pendants over the island but not sure the tray ceiling above would allow them.

Agree with barstools. I think I'd paint the top cabinet (that's enclosing the chimney, I think) to match the wall, so it doesn't jump out like it does now. I'd wait on pendants, because it might just add to the visual busy feeling.

I think this is what people are suggesting--a proper range hood:

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Most of the time Commentors are advising to declutter everything! You already did, but now it's time to warm up the kitchen a bit by adding some life to it with just a few useful pieces: big handmade wooden tray to keep on the island with wine glasses or handmade pottery mugs; wooden stools like these, but add some sparkly pendants overhead.

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Assuming you cook, put a round wooden small tray next to the stove and put an earthen olive oil jug on it, large wooden pepper grinder, etc. wooden knife rack. Install undercabinet lighting and maybe even some above the cabinet to add a glow to the kitchen. Kitchen should convey a hearth, sharing meals, a drink, conversation while cooking. Your kitchen is lovely, but right now it looks like a set on a cooking show.

Most of the above are not quick fixes. What are you doing; putting it on the market, moving in, etc?

Here's a little PHotoshopp....

I’m in agreement with removing that very tall cabinet, and then for me it just needs a nice neutral paint color- all just seems too light. Will be nice!

Your kitchen isnt terrible. It actually looks pretty nice. It just needs a couple things to make it look nicer. Have wood paneling to match your cabinets put around the island. Remove that little piece of cabinet above the stove hood. It isnt useful, and looks bad. It should remove with a few screws. I like the countertops, but, I think on the island, the ends are way too long, and block too much of the walkway. I would have them trimmed back a bit so you dont have that long overhang on the ends. Once all that is done, add some color in accessories. Most say to put nothing on top of the cabinets. I disagree completely with that. I dont mean fake plants and a lot of folk artsy stuff, but, maybe a large colored bottle, and other appropriate similar things. Right now, it looks too white, and just a bit blah and boring. Simple fixes will make it attractive.

Great suggestions so far. And although it wouldn't be exactly practical because they would be difficult to reach without a stepstool or ladder, I'd add cabinets above the refer or have that niche drywalled to disappear. It's just going to be a dust collector, hard to decorate and odd to leave bare. Difficult to reach cabinets are ok for seldom used items and you can never have too much storage.

Paint the wall above the staggered cabinets a brown to match the cabinet wood. Don't remove the wooden box on top - that no doubt conceals a cheap metal vent flue.

I would paint the walls behind the cabinets and the island a warm medium gray.

First, you have a kitchen that many would envy.

The cabinet in the center covering the vent pipe is a problem. I would probably remove that cabinet and make a simple drywall box around it painted the same color as your walls. Make it blend until you can afford the time and money to have a nice range hood installed.

I would make the box the same size as the cabinet below. It should be back a few inches from the front of the cabinets below and on that ledge I would place a beautiful platter with a couple of other vases or platters or bowls on the other tops.

I know everyone hates "Clutter:" on top of cabinets, but when tastefully done, with a few items, decor above cabinets can be beautiful.

The look that you have is very clean and uncluttered and I think that adding paneling or changing the island would detract from the aesthetic.

I would get 3 very nice stools for the island seating and a few nice things for on the counters to add color and interest.

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The one other thing that you may consider doing is changing the back splash to something lighter. It is very dark with the dark counters and back splash.

Something that is very odd to me is the shape and location of the tray ceiling. It doesn’t mirror anything below. I have a feeling this is a remodel that added the island without considering the total flow of the kitchen. Are you living there now?

I don't like the wall color so I changed it.

The silly cabinet hiding the exhaust should have been made of drywall and painted to match the walls.

I think crown molding is over used but especially in cases where one side of the room has it and the other does not.

I am not sure the overhang is deep enough for bar stools on the island.

The kitchen looks like it’s giving the rest of the house the finger.

Z, what does that mean?

s1eph, is this your own current kitchen?

OP seems to have been overwhelmed with all the projects suggested when they actually just wanted quick fixes; I'm guessing they're selling it.

Depends on your version of "quick fix"

Quickest and cheapest:

- Get some colorful barstools

- Add some simple decorations (like baskets or vases) above wall cabinets to fill that space.

- Remove the cabinet covering above the microwave/cabinet stack and replace with drywall. Paint same color as your walls

Getting less quick and more expensive:

- Remove microwave and cabinet and replace with a proper vent hood. Find a cheap countertop microwave and hide it in the pantry if seldom used

- replace dark black backsplash with something lighter.

Most expensive (other than a completely new kitchen):

- Remove and replace upper wall cabinets with ones that are the all the same height.

- Get rid of OTR microwave and get real vent hood

- Replace dark countertops and backsplash with something lighter and warmer

- Replace sheetrock around island with matching wood panels of cabinets.

- Install two pendant lights over island

A few relatively quick fixes

a/ colorfool barstools,

b/ Put some decors on the walls/countertop

A little less quick and more expensive : get rid of the microwave/hood above the range and put a new hood (this should be relatively straightforward but may need a contractor).

I would not do anything else except if you want more than a quick fix.

My husband paid a bit too much for this winter golf retreat, so gutting the eleven-year-old rarely used kitchen seems nuts in this particular neighborhood. The former owners also lived in it only part of the year.
Regardless, the (lighted) backsplashes are solid slabs of uba tuba and are also in an adjoining desk area and on partitions between the eating area and living room.
I do appreciate ALL the advice! Having read all comments, I can easily say you are a clever and creative group. The best and most sensible I’ve received to date was my daughter’s response to my stated loathing of the uba tuba everywhere: “never replace countertops unless you love the cabinets.”
I guess I’ll visit a kitchen designer and see how much this is going to hurt before I rule out a gut job. :)

the extractor flue should be white, if you had modern doors not wooden it would quickly look smart. can they be painted a pastel colour. The black splashback is sucking the energy out of everything. add some objects up high to take the attention away from the rest. The white looks more of a blue white whch clashes with the wood.

I liked comment about a blend-in paint with uppers, and probably above refrigerator.... almost charcoal paint on island? as backsplash is??

tray above-- thinking that all wall surfaces painted would clean up, simplify the lines the nearby tray creates. vertical surfaces same basic color, tray detail same paint as rest of celing..

The black countertop with the black backsplash is creating a black hole. If you are keeping the countertops then I would change the backsplash asap! If you change the countertops i would make the island one level & square it off.