It looks like the "front" (view) side has vertical siding. Is that the same as the "back" side? So that the horizontal and little bits of diagonal siding are only on the gabled ends? If so, I'd consider swapping out the siding on the garage end (and the far end, possibly, if it matters) to be vertical siding that matches the long sides. The funny bits of white trim can go, and I would also lose the contrasting corner trim (paint it to match the body of the house). If you don't need the light from the two windows above the garage, consider losing those as well. Maybe replace with a simple vent. If you're wanting to reside completely, I think a vertical board-and-batten looks great on a California ranch. Here's a thread from another board that shows a ranch with original B&B siding. If you scroll down you'll see a photoshop where someone has made the garage door B&B as well, so it all blends together. And way toward the bottom you'll see it painted in a dark gray. I think this type of siding works well with darker colors. Here is a link that might be useful: Board and Batten ranch.

Those are not oak cabinets. As I started reading this thread, I was starting to compose a reply -- "Am I the only one thinking those are not oak?" but then started running into a growing number of folks saying the same thing. They have a tight grain that looks like maple or possibly cherry, but the way they appear to have taken a stain makes me thing maple. Maple has a tendency to not accept stain evenly and you have some lighter and darker areas. I suspect they are not alder because that is a softer wood and I don't see any dings. They do appear to be in good shape. I'd work with them. As said above, if you have money for granite and tile floors, you have money for paint or stain. If you are willing to take the time to learn and DIY on the cabinets, you may be able to do both. You showed us a lot of the kitchen, but not two things I'd like to see -- your lighting and the cooktop. Do you have a vent hood? Does it exhaust or recirculate the air? I'm wondering if the cabinets have years of gunk built up on them. They look not only yellowed, but possibly dirty or dry. I would give them a really good cleaning for starters. You can't paint or stain until you do that anyway. Then I'd look at the lighting -- It looks like it may be adding to the yellow cast to everything. Any chance you have an older florescent fixture in the kitchen? The wood color looks better in the breakfast nook than it does in the kitchen. Changing or improving your lighting and cleaning your cabinets could make things look a lot different and neither of those should be budget busters. I would paint the walls with some color and then step back and take a look. If you want darker hardware, I'd buy new. It doesn't have to be expensive, but painting hardware is likely to be very temporary. So far, with DIY, we're looking at a few hundred dollars. I would like to remove the soffit in the kitchen itself if possible. If not, I'd paint it or give it a deep crown treatment to carry the cabinet line to the ceiling. You could also paint the ceiling crown to match the ceiling if it will not bother you that is will then be different that the rest of the house. I would not paint the window trim -- the window itself is stained wood and matches all your other windows. Once you get to that point, I would make a decision on painting, gel staining or stipping the cabinets and refinishing. Those are all things you can DIY, but paint and stripping will be time intensive -- which is why there is a lot of cost to them, especially if they need a lot of cleaning and prep work. You don't want any painter who isn't looking at good prep work because the job will not be good or last unless they do it right.

I like the sofa but it needs space.....consider emptying the room of anything on wall, table, or mantle so it is basiccally empty, and place items removed on dining room table for future reference. Put the sofa on any wall where it has room for end tables. Put the chair where it can have a conversation with the sofa. At this point I would redo the curtains to coordinate with the wall and do them in a linen type weave. Remove the crystal chandelier and replace with something simple and maybe oil rubbed bronze. Go shopping for a large piece picture in a simple or frameless style that blends with the plaid pillow; take the pillow with you if necessary. So far so good. If you have end tables and a cocktail table put them in the room only if you like them. If they are wood that should be fine. Send us a picture of the whole room taken from another room so we can see the size etc of the room. I am showing this inspiration room because it is very simple with very trad furniture, but the mantle is very low key and would work nicely in your living room style I think. Also note the colorful throw on the arm chair. This is same room, but wood tables and metal cocktail table, simple window treatments in tones found in living room, and antique armoire that is similar to your Moms tallish piece by fireplace. TV opposite sofa and easy chair for great viewing This looks great; metal table, magazine rack in oil rubbed bronze, brass Pharmacy lamp for reading. Would work next to Mom's chair......these items can be found on line at Ballard Design and other places too; overstock.com, wayfair.com with great prices and great selection. Plaid pillows, one bright color pillow and another item in room (the end table, but could be lamp, vase, picture) done in a bright color to match pillow in intensity. And the upholstered ottoman adds a fun touch, but sized to match the sofa. Again a rustic trad feel with a pair of large photos over sofa. Great ottoman, lamps, footstool. Pillows match colors in photos of family members.... These are just inspiration but it might help you select the items that the room needs to frame and support the sofa style and colors. Nothing set in stone but a place to begin.

I would clean the door well, and apply a scratch cover touch up in the color of the doors. The scratches are not that bad, and wont even be noticable. The black hardware should look good, if it matches in with other black hardware in your home.