Thank you for all of your comments and compliments... You have reminded me not to rush into changing things. The house has alot of trim work throughout, including on the dining room ceiling, dining room walls, living room, windows, entry/foyer, doorways, etc...In those areas, all the trim has been painted white, but it appears to be the same style and type as what's in the kitchen/family room. I guess I was thinking that the rest of the trim work should be white too. But, I see now that it doesn't have to match and will leave a bit of character to the family room! The wood for the built-ins do appear to be an upgrade over the kitchen cabinets. As much as I love the look of all white trim, the family room has such a warm feeling, as is, so I will probably just keep any furniture in the room light for contrast and accent with color. I will definitely not rush to change to quickly! Some of our main reasons for choosing the new home is because it was custom built, is loaded with trim work and moldings and is in an older neighborhood with lots of large trees and yards. Of course, there is also plenty of shiny brass in all of the bathrooms, door handles and foyer lighting that we will be busy replacing. And, the landscaping needs some updating from the overly manicured large bushes surrounding the front entryway of the home. I may have trouble with interior design/decor, but I am in my element with landscaping and yard work! I appreciate all the comments about the kitchen...My husband and I have done a lot of work ourselves in our current home. He does most of our home repairs too; he hates hiring out! Life has gotten extremely hectic these days, so we have less time for DIY work like the time it would take to do paint the cabinets. But, I think we can easily handle the backsplash and modifying the cabinets with beadboard on the sides, but will find someone for counters/sink and help with whatever we do to the cabinets. It sounds like if we have to hire someone to paint the cabinets, it might put us way over our current budget. While I still love my inspiration kitchen photo, I may entertain the idea of darkening the stain/refacing the existing cabinets, possibly painting the center island as one of you mentioned and updating the counters, sink and adding backsplash and other details. This would buy us time (and save us money), until we can afford to get the wood floors we want and the painting of the cabinets the way GreenDay detailed. I appreciate all the advice.

There are many charming aspects to your kitchen - but the function - oh my:) I think the answer depends on how long you see yourself in this home and how far out you are on being able to save up for some changes to the layout. I did new counters (quartz) backsplash and sink and the cost was $5000 and my kitchen is much smaller - I did no construction work. So, I see your possible renovations being around $10,000. I know you are thinking formica - but you have a lot of counter space. Butcher block is not as expensive - but that is adding a lot of wood unless you are also painting the cabinets. I probably would continue to save with the exception of removing the island - if it can be done without damaging the floor. I see an outlet - which means it has electrical - so who knows what the floor looks like underneath. I might also look into adding a small dishwasher next to the sink. To be honest - as long as you are keeping the cabinets, keep the soffits - no reason to add dust collecting shelves. I have vintage china on mine - just a thought. (My kitchen is in my idea book.)

I would paint the walls ivory, replace the backsplash with ivory subway tile, and touch up the cabinets. That granite will look fine and far more neutral. You might switch out your lighting for a cooler color and knock down the yellow a bit that way. I also think maybe the reddish bar stools are making the yellow more noticeable, at least in that first picture. I might actually paint them cream, too. Or it might just be the light. Please post your updates! Good luck.

I had a similar kitchen in our previous townhouse, only the doors weren't arched, but they were pink oak..pickled I guess it's called. The granite was more brown, the tiles on the floor a bit more golden. Backsplash was same granite, except for some dark travertine over the stove with some faux Tuscan motive painted over it. Appliances and sink were high quality only black..I don't like black appliances. In short-if to pick it apart, I didn't like one element of that kitchen ( I had no idea it's called Tuscan style back then. Was living in rentals before, and was in kinda of a temporary situation) But, returning to that kitchen-if to see it as a whole, it worked together-elements of it,and with the house..also it was inside the house, semi open to dining and family rooms, but not visible from entry or living. So it didn't bug me..I was all in a "wow I have a house" mood. It didn't even occur to me that I can change it. I changed some other things around the house-flooring (some on the first floor, then second)..painted some rooms..had to start from scrath with furnishings because we didn't have any..so I for sure got busy with that house, it just never got to be the kitchen. But of course I made sure to have tea towels I love, teapots I love, untensils holder I love, and stuff like that, and I remember it as a very happy kitchen-which is of course was more about years spent in the house, not so much about the kitchen itself. I like yours better, in terms of cabinets' stain, and that one of your cabinets is a glass one. I know though that when I want to improve cabinets(or can be bookcases etc) I look for hardware. Interesting hardware can make a big difference in how one feels. I love vintage, and am leaning eclectic, so I usually check sites like Anthropologie for new hardware, and Etsy for vintage..huge choice. I'm not saying yours should be changed, but you can look at different hardware, and decide whether you'd like someting else, whether more streamlined, or, on the opposite, more quirky. I don't know the bigger picture-how the rest of the house looks, does the kitchen work with it or against it, what's your style, what you would prefer..that all influences things. For example if that previous kitchen of mine would make zero sense with other rooms or would impede me in how I decorate, I might think "oh maybe I can change it somehow so it works better" I don't know whether counter chairs are yours. And if not-what yours will be? Maybe shouldn't be wood, but rather upholstery in color you love. To break things up a bit. But if you decide to embrace it..My friend painted similar stools, each one a bit differently, with a very charming result. I'm not as handy as she is, just another suggestion. Painted can be fun. Do you like rugs in the kitchen, or you'd rather steer clear? Rug can partially cover the tiles you don't like, tie in colors you prefer, and make the place more happy for you. I agree with Boxer-it's not a bad kitchen, just very "everybody was doing it in years such and such". That what happens when everybody's doing the same, pretty much. That will be the fate of many kitchen we see right now too-just a bit down the road. I do believe that with small touches, you'd notice whatever irritates you right now, when kitchen is empty, less. Congratulations on your new house!