so the prefabs are pre cut in 9' (some are 6' or 8') lengths and kitchen counter depth...24" or so, I believe. they also have island sizes at 3x5 or 4x6' sizes, and the edges are simply finished. here's a close up of some,,, this is Python (click on the pick and you'll get to see the finished edge) they also have quartz (a little bit more. maybe 500 or so this was at a different stone yard and these are rounded edges. more quartz the fabricator brings them to the residence and cuts the holes for sinks or stove tops. some fabricators my come out and template your kitchen before hand if they have to cut for an L shape. Once at the home, they install them just like they would any other granite. just as an example, this was a kitchen we did for a rental about 7 years ago. the L shaped perimeter countertop and the island were all pre-fab granite. for the granite alone, I paid 700 or so? maybe less? i can't remember. and then had the guy come out and cut it to fit was another 1000 or so. so the granite for that entire kitchen came less than 1800 or so. it was very nice granite, nothing wrong w/it and the fabricator did a great job w/the cuts and the seaming. these are cheaper than slabs because they come pre-fabbed and are limited in types and colors. They still have plenty to choose from though. I live in SoCal so there are hundreds of stone yards and tile places around here. Depending on where you live, you may have this, or you may not.

If the rest is oak, I'd paint the walls to get a change. The other option is black. Black shows every spec though! Had a black cabinet in a bathroom, never again....

Thank you all for the input! @hallettco, I appreciate the run down on what is involved with the trim, I had no idea it was that much work. Since we are at the end of the renovation that started in October, and they've already finished repairing the siding on the back, I don't think it is wise for us to start cutting up the siding! At least I know now to rule that out. It sounds like re: shutters that we should remove them from the horizontal windows and bay window (assuming that the brick looks ok underneath, we shall see). @Patricia Colwell and @houssaon, I'm curious what you mean about the size of the shutters? They are taller than the glass part of the windows, so I'm not sure how much bigger they could get?

More background about the remodeling project. The living room is a sunken living room and we are raising it to level with the dining room etc. We need to raise it about 8 inches. This fireplace is in the sunken living room. Since the fireplace has a layer of brick that is raised right now and we are going to make the fireplace flush with the new hardwood flooring, we will be raising the fireplace up for about 5.5 inches (8inches - thickness of the one layer brick + thickness of hardwood flooring that will be installed). It is about the thickness of 2 layers of normal red brick and a little more than one layer of the brick that is inside of the fireplace. After raising the fireplace, the opening of the fireplace dimension will be about 24 inch tall * 36 inches wide. Will it look OK? If it is still a “normal” size opening for the fireplace, I tend to want to keep the wood burning fireplace as I can paint it white and it is still functional.