Thank you all for the comments and great suggestions! Originally I had moved away from the idea of white walls as thought it would be too much white with the cabinets as mtnrdredux said. Having now seen some of the Navy and white combinations (thanks bronwynsmom) I am however changing my mind. Particularly having seen the below picture. I would then like to get a pine farmhouse table, re-waxing the top and painting the legs white to match the units and cottage look. My only issue is working out what shade of white as there is so much choice! I think I need something with some colour in it so not too much white but obviously not too dark. Think I will have to get some pots to test although will be expensive at ã3.99 a tester for Farrow & ball! does anyone know if there is a cheaper place for them?

Remember first and foremost that this is your kitchen, that your Nearest and Dearest don't live there, so you can go with whatever colors you like!! Clearly you like white/cream, so don't rule out doing exactly that. I just watched a Property Brothers this evening where the homeowners did almost the entire house in white including a kitchen with white cabinets, white counters, and a white backsplash. Too much white for me, but they loved it and felt "at home" there. If white is your thing, do it. If you decide to branch out a bit, any color can be found found in a shade or tint that complements cream. Here is a green version that could be toned down to a pale creamy-green:or yellow, although this is awfully buttery:or gray:Brown? In my kitchen, we went with a cream wall tile that tied the "white chocolate" cabinets and grey/off-white counter together, but added a blue accent to go with the walls. We like blue.I'd recommend a trip to the paint store and bring home a whole bunch of color chips and see if anything appeals. Don't forget to include the white/creams you're drawn to. Tile stores also usually have sample tiles you can bring home to preview in your space. The lighting in your space makes a big difference to how any particular color looks on site.

I agree the doors are dated and having these painted properly by a pro will be expensive. I personally would change the backsplash first and the hardware.

The existing hardwoods are doing what they are supposed to do. Wood shrinks as it dries out. If your home doesn't have humidity control, then you will find the wood will 'gap'. A new wood (especially wide plank) won't fix that. A vinyl will probably be OK...but it is a LOWER VALUE product. Scratches on a hardwood are normal. It's what they do. It tells us the FINISH is taking the abuse while leaving the wood intact. A different hardwood won't fix that. A vinyl floor won't allow you to refinish so the same things that cause scratches in hardwood will cause scratches in vinyl. A wood floor like yours can have a full sand/refinish for roughly $5/sf. That should include a high-quality two part finish (will not turn yellow or orange) and your choice of stain. Maple cabinets look VERY good with CRISP white counters. Stay away from the yellows or ivories...stick with the bluish tones of white. Refinishing the hardwoods with a clear coat finish will allow your floors to stay VERY pale. If the hardwood is maple as well, you can have the refinisher add a UV protectant that STOPS maple from turning yellow. Maple is photosensitive = gets yellower/darker when exposed to light. The money you save with the floor REFINISHING instead of removal ($2/sf) and replacement ($10-$12/sf???) and installation ($2.50/sf) you can have NEW LIGHTING and NEW PAINT.