"I need to get rid of the shutters in front of my sink."

The kitchen windows face your yard or porch. Why not just remove the shutters and not replace them with anything?

I like to be able to close them for added privacy and we also play and dance with disco lights and colored lights with our kids and like it to be dark haha :)

Nobody can see what you have. Pictures are clustered, none can be blown up.

More importantly, before you embark on refacing doors and drawers we can't see, or flooring that butts to carpet, or changing tops or lighting?

You make certain you have the layout that warrants the changes.

First thing? Post the photos as Jpegs, individually ,one at a time, please? Below in a comment box.

So the tile is new floor tile, right? What are your current countertops? If they are staying, the cabinets and floors need to work with them. Can you take a photo of the sample on top of the counters, not against the doors? (They aren't staying, they don't get an opinion.)

If you are sure the counters are going, then you could consider modifying the island if you don't like the 45 degree angle on it.

Is your recessed lighting over the island not giving off adequate light? Have you looked at what bulbs you have there? I would expect your kitchen to feel very bright with that many cans. I wonder how much the dark cabinets are influencing your feeling about the lighting. To simulate the new cabinets, consider taping butcher paper over your current doors.

Educate yourself about quartzite. I think much of it is stunning. However this is a buyer beware situation, some "quartzite" is marble - like and some quartzite is much like granite. If you search for a while you will find extensive discussions how to test for yourself that you are getting what you want, as not all fabricators know or will be frank about it.

For pendants for the island, I will be interested to hear what the designers say, but here are some I thought might work:

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/kichler-lacey-collection-mini-pendant-light__n3026.html

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/kichler-riviera-5-and-three-quarter-inch-wide-oiled-bronze-mini-pendant__42w97.html

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/george-kovacs-alecia-s-necklace-mini-pendant-chandelier__t0029.html

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/tyson-s-gate-10-inch-wide-brushed-nickel-mini-pendant__58g32.html

"I think quartzite would be best given durability and low maintenance."

Quartzite is a natural stone and different types will have different characteristics. Many of the quartzites that are white or light gray tend to be porous and can stain. Do some searches on this forum and you will find plenty of threads with titles similar to "help, my new quartzite is staining".

If you were asking about Quartz, that is a man made product and it usually is durable and low maintenance. Again, make sure you search for more information on the brand/color you are interested in, because some people have had issues with honed quartz showing fingerprints and stains.

I used Taj Mahal quartzite, a natural stone, in 2 houses and all the slabs have been close to bullet proof. Most people on the forums have had similar experiences with Taj Mahal quartzite.

Buyer beware! Do your research.

Thank you so so much for your comment. I truly appreciate it. We currently have a white speckled Quartz and the yellowing issue is real, esp around the sink. We are definitely only looking at Quartzite, but I had no idea that white quartzite would be inherently an issue with porosity even after sealing. We were leaning towards Taj Mahal though so that’s comforting :) We are going to head to the place to look at slabs today. I’d love any additional tips or thoughts you might have. We are looking at The Yard, MSI, and Arizona Tile. We also don’t have a fabricator lined up yet but thinking before you buy anything we should have the fabricator come (re)measure and approve the slab, that it looks good, right? I’m also thinking 3mm is good for countertop and then 2mm for backsplash, if we use it also for backsplash…

Pics @janmoyer here is the tile we are using all throughout the house, except in master bath

Stock photos

Here is the cabinet color - it is a bit more tan than the camera portrays in the closeup

Here’s the light we’ve chosen for above the dining table, part of the great room

Also, I’m hoping to put the kitchen lighting on 2 separate dimmers. One for the pendants and one for the can lights - I think we are swapping out cans for those one-piece 50k hour LEDs.

Here are a few of the pendants I was looking at

Another

I went back to the house and realize I was wrong about the windowsill. I can’t level it, just removing the shutters frame and then placing some sort of window covering up against the window.

Re: countertops. They won’t match the floor tile and cabinets very well. We are looking at Taj Mahal Quartzite later today…

No to Taj Mahal with that floor tile!! Nope!

Have you considered an engineered or LVP for floors?

Also regarding the island, I considered straightening out the island, but I like the angles. I think it frames the kitchen nicely

@jan oh shoot. It won’t match? We haven’t seen it in person :/ Do you have another quartzite color suggestion? I know there is quite a bit of variance, but a starting point?