New counters, stainless appliances, bringing your island down to 1 level and adding a backsplash will change your kitchen so much. Good luck!

My new cabinets are pretty much that color, so I hope it's not *too* outdated. Stainless steel might look more modern. A hood instead of a microwave might be nice. But I think the biggest difference would be to replace your island with one that is all one level. Since you don't have seating there, you may be able to add extra cabinets and make it a considerably bigger workspace too, but it's hard to tell from just one photo.

This is what I did when I moved in to quickly update it.

Love the light maple, and wouldn't change it. New hardware and a roman shade at the window will help ... as will stainless appliances, a new backsplash, leveling your island, and new countertops. I'd live with the kitchen for a year and see what you love and don't love about it before starting renovations.

Thanks, that’s a good point about leveling the island. There’s an outlet in the center, I guess that would need to be moved to the side if we did make it 1 level?

An updated light fixture over the dining table, in addition to the changes @lucky998877 suggested, would help modernize the area. I would not paint the cabinets.

Why do you want to spend a whole lot of money on something that is entirely serviceable for many years? If you don't like the kitchen, then why buy the house? The appliances look brand new, or at the least, only a few years old, so they will last a long time. And black appliances are a modern touch. Live with the cabinets for at least a year before you make any changes to them. Same goes for the counter. Spend your money on decorating the rest of your house to your liking, then decide what you want to do in the kitchen last and save toward that goal. I think you will be glad in the long run.

When you do the backsplash, take off the four inch one that is there.

It's actually lovely and won't take much to improve it to your liking.

I think the cabinets and appliances are fine but I don't care for the wall color.. Paint is cheaper than remodeling so I'd start with a fresh color, add a roman shade with some colors along with the black and a couple of rugs. It will freshen things up and you can live with the big ticket items for a year to find out what works.

A new paint color, new chandelier, LED's under the cabinets and a new backsplash (remove the 4" one,) a new one-level island and some new hardware is all I would do. You have the chance to bring things up to date by making the island all drawer storage.

Oh light maple I'd love 'em. Dark isn't awful, the color of soapstone.... and appliances are black too.

What I'd do is concentrate on island - I wouldn't touch the structure cause it's not awful, and who wants to see the counter 'mess' if it is.

There are interesting neutral paints: urban bronze, tricorn, etc... spend on great stools, and DR etc.. ?

Or how about a medium-cool frig tone - if buying? it is at the side and not in center of the look. Cool-tone for frames of a few uppers you see at Ikea, etc....above frig especially, to fill in above...

This has lots of variation, but the idea stands: to vary finishes.

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Don't paint the cabinets, they are lovely.

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Another cool tone to a bit tie in with dark color there- frosted material in the door

Cool tone of hardware. Their makeover kept the high counter.

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If black frig - could try balance it on other "window wall" only - remove the uppers and place shelves with unifying design.

Omega National Floating Shelf 10in deep paint grade finish - Transitional - Display And Wall Shelves - by Woodworker's Hardware (houzz.com)

If you install new counters - could try vertical waterfall / more likely: have it hanging over stools like here.

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We haven't seen the whole room. If sliders are there, and possibly you'd like other than dining set there -- what about considering banquette/ table/chairs set-up like here? brainstorm, cause tear off isn't the only.

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"This kitchen pairs the bold Naval finish [with black glaze] with a bright rim of Polar White uppers. All is balanced with the warmth of Maple Gunstock finish on the wine/beverage bar and the subtle texture of Shiplap walls."

in my opinion, easiest way to update would be to paint the cabinets and change the pulls/knobs to more modern ones. Secondly, add backsplash. Thirdly, if you’re able to change the island, it will be huge. The even more expensive things to change would be the countertops and appliances.

Another vote for not painting the cabinets -- I think they are quite nice and are not outdated. What I really don't like is the wall paint color and the island -- IMO the island looks cheap the way it's painted. You might consider doing something there -- maybe removing it entirely and buying a moveable piece or at least re-facing it in wood. And change the paint color, it's giving the room a sad vibe.

Your maple cabinets look great but countertops and current wall color bring the whole thing down. You don't have a ton of countertops or backsplash to replace, so that would instantly lighten everything fairly affordably. Add undercabinet lighting. Get rippled subway tile to bounce light. Go for a creamy light look. As budget allows, if you make the island one level, then extend the top so you can tuck a couple backless stools there as below. Down the road, consider adding deep molding to the top of the cabinets as in this kitchen.

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