You'll have to be careful that the white goes well with the flooring - and you'll have to test lots of samples to find the right one (it's impossible to recommend as computer screens "read" color differently. As you are "struggling to find a vision", I'd live with the kitchen awhile longer before you do anything. It seems to me that the real culprits that need to be updated are your countertops and flooring. Wait till you have the funds and vision to update everything, or you may regret earlier decisions.

Your cabinets are very pretty. I agree..do not paint now. Get rid of fan...new hardware on cabinets, maybe champagne or brushed brass,
New..lighter counter tops and backsplash.

That looks like a nice kitchen to work in!

You might consider lightening the grout lines for a quick floor update.

It's impossible to be sure just from a picture, but it looks to me like your cabinets, counter, etc. are well-made and were probably expensive when they were installed. Doing a quick patch job of redecorating by painting and putting peel and stick tiles over the backsplash is going to give you a lighter kitchen, but it will turn it into a cheap-looking kitchen in the process.

Of course it's up to you what you can tolerate. If this were my kitchen, my choice would be to stick with a high-quality look that's out of style (especially since it's fairly neutral) until I could get a firm vision of what I wanted to do AND make sure I had the budget to do it right.

I agree with what others have said. And if you don’t address the floor you will regret painting now and then having to repaint again after floor replacement. So either learn to live with it and embrace it (keep lowers and paint uppers or paint cabinets a tone not a white) Your floor and counters together do not support white cabinets.

Peel and stick would be an insult to that kitchen ;0) Please don't look for inexpensive quick fixes and wait until you have a real plan in mind with the budget to do justice to your space. Including painting those cabinets which look to be a well made investment.

Thank you everyone- I’m adding some more photos- it’s an open concept family room, kitchen, and dining area and I’m probably thinking I should think things through before I paint the cabinets. I actually like the countertops and I can live with the wood floors (they’re in excellent shape). I need to focus and decide on the floor in the kitchen, the backsplash, and the general color scheme of the entire space- very overwhelming! Any suggestions for designing this space (keeping the countertops and wood floors as they are) would be appreciated!

I wouldn’t paint the cabinets. I’m not a fan of dark stains, but the cabinets look custom and $$$$. Wait until you are ready to do the entire kitchen, remove the cabinets and sell them. Meanwhile, paint the wall and replace the fan.

Minka has some good looking brushed stainless fans.

Colors you could try:

B.M. November Skies

B.M. Vale Mist:

Both would work with the red mahogany (?) cabinets.

Thank you- great advice. Love the fan.

I agree. The kitchen is very high quality and I don’t want to replace the cabinets because there’s nothing wrong with them-except for the darkness- so that’s why I thought getting them professionally painted would be more cost efficient. But once we get a plan for the entire space then I would be more confident in my decision right?

I meant to tell you, a friend bought a lovely home with custom cabinets and granite counters which were not to her taste. She had her contractor carefully remove both and sold as a package for $4,700.00.

I agree with several above comments. May not be your current taste but expensive looking kitchen. Replace fan, bleach grout, paint bricks neutral and enjoy your new home!