Thanks! So far the feedback from real estate agents who've seen the house has been positive. We're still not ready to sell though, perhaps in the fall. Meanwhile we've been enjoying the kitchen, except for an issue with the granite seam at the sink, argh! I really didn't want the seam there but I realize it's standard, and better to have a couple of small seams than one long one running front to back on the counter. The seam at the front of the sink is cracked and crumbling. I've posted for advice on the Stone Advice forum and am getting the fabricator to come out & fix it. Otherwise things are great and I'm loving the double oven. The top oven seems to take forever to heat up when it's in "regular" mode, but in convection mode things move a lot faster. I'm still experimenting, but so far it's been useful to have the 2 ovens.

What flooring is in the kitchen now - it works well with the cabinets. If it is not hardwood, a hardwood just like it would be a classic flooring. I refreshed my oak kitchen and went with a vintage / cottage look: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784356 https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784291 Oak cabinets have movement due to the grain. They look best with very simple backsplash. I did cream subway tile as noted above. Here are some more wood kitchens - not all are oak, but still can give inspiration: This was a part inspiration for mine: This one has darker appliances and countertop: I have to say as someone wit oak cabinets, that warm wood tones and cool grays do not bring out the best in each other. The cool grays really were developed with white and the dark wood cabinetry in mind. Your walls are not bad - the blue undertone works with the wood, but they are dark. Those of us with warm wood cabinets are better off looking to creams, light creamy beige or sage greens. Very light grays can sometimes work. These walls in this entry way are BM Maritime White. I have not seen this color in person, but it does lean gray and works with warm wood tones. From This Old House:

Jhmarie; yes, the kitchen is very functional, and a part of this is almost like therapeutic processing for what to do with this house!Thank you for the heads up about the book. I will have a look for that. Aprilneverends; well thank you. I am really trying to not get caught up in fads, but I think the state of the place made me focus on the yellowness of the oak. And the oakiness of the oak everywhere in that part of the house! I always really enjoyed this blue, to be honest. ha!! It contrasted nicely and I got to cackle in my husband's direction every time someone told me they loved it, too. That's the thing I guess, you never can tell. I am a bit leery of how much the kitchen will change with all of the white and off white in regards to the contrast, and had to kind of giggle at the thought of painting the walls white and the wainscoting blue. Like a role reversal. :D Fidlfreek; I appreciate you bringing me back down from the clouds with some of your suggestions. Some of your sentiments I had thought of and was considering - all white miracle method, subway tile, lighting updates. Now is the time to pull that big beast down I think - we are planning to paint the ceilings throughout the home. Curious of your thought process- the lighting fixture you linked from ikea, is that to coordinate with the current colored cabinets? Or the shape in general? Staining the cabinets darker is of course an option, I just don't want this area to feel any more boxed in, I guess. This vantage point is actually the only way in and out of the kitchen - there is also peninsula seating already to the left, FYI. I actually picked the flooring you circled in the event that I wanted to go lighter or darker with the cabinets, now or later, that there would be flexibility in the flooring color to do so. It's also more of the classic wood look than some of the on trend colors I am seeing out there. The more I think about it, the more I would like to NOT spend a lot of time painting everything white, but I definitely think I need some adjustments in here. I find it interesting that none of you have mentioned the appliances or their color - apart from the microwave, which is usually the least of the appliance worries. ;D I so appreciate your feedback and input.

red, yes, I could see a darker one. I posted a slew of color combos on my first comment. any of them would work w/her brick not sure if OP's rick is this color. I love this combo. looks like Urbane Bronze or Iron Ore, or Black Fox I posted (as did others) a lot of examples of colors to go w/this color brick. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5934636/advice-needed-for-choosing-exterior-trim-colors-for-a-yellow-tan-brick