They are 100% upside down. This is a pet peeve of mine. I would say half of houses I go in they are upside down (tips up). Even “high end” remodels, it drives me nuts that the designer or contractor doesn’t know this. If you look at the instructions for lever handles it even says the correct orientation. The reason it’s designed this way is so you push down on the lever and your hand rolls off it as the door opens. Otherwise your hand hits the end with tip up. If it were my house I could never look at all those handles upside down. But each to their own

Yes! the angle for grating cheese is better sitting down, unless it's just a sprinkle with a microplane. So, thinking on it more, standing, it's easy to reach things, wash things, etc. sitting, one needs a scrap bowl, a raw bowl, a finished bowl, a water bowl... And then, if one needs something, or needs to make room, one still needs to get up. I have GelPro mats, Crocs, and other aids to standing. When I'm super-tired and prepping for dozens (pre-pandemic) bare feet is better than such ”active” standing...but usually still less tiring than sitting...

That blue is too strong and the white trim stands out too starkly against it. It would also be difficult to figure out what color to paint the shutters. Someone suggested navy shutters. I think navy could be a good choice -- it is classic color to go with white and more interesting than black shutters. I would do a muted navy, not a bright one because your roof is medium gray and not black. And a somewhat muted yellowey-gold front door would look great with the navy shutters. You can also get ideas from the paint stores with their paint brochures; they often have ideas for color combos for exteriors. For exteriors, muted colors often work better than colors that are too bright and in your face. A sunny yellow front door can work but it has to be in the right color context. Put your chosen color chips up on a piece of white paper, actually cut them into shutter shapes and a door shape on a background the same color as your house if possible. Look at them outside. Take your time making up your mind because painting shutters is a lot of work. All in my opinion only.

There is something to be said for having options...which you have! Getting rid of them, as some have suggested, takes away your ability to ever control the light/heat/privacy (is that a public waterway behind you?). And I agree that blank, uncovered windows at night can make you feel very exposed, but it sounds like you never close them, so you must be used to that. As for what is most aesthetically pleasing, your view is nice, so enjoy it...it is your HOME, not an Architectural Digest photo shoot. We have shades on kitchen/BR windows and a lovely view of our flower-filled garden; I raise them when I want to look at it, but keep them closed when we are gone. We have uncovered French doors leading to the patio/pool area, so that is always visible, but at night it is a black hole and in the early morning, it gets blinding, direct sun for about an hour...wish I could minimize that a bit, but overall, I don't want to cover the doors, so I live with it.