natesgram, thanks, I've actually seen that link before, and it's what really pushed me towards painting. It really has a lot of helpful info too. As much as I would love to get new doors (shaker is my favorite!), I'm going with paint for now. The wallpaper...yes, I don't see what's wrong with it either. I took a really close up shot just to show the blue specks, but it really just looks like textured cream colored walls. I would like to know if the suggestions to remove it are because it's ugly/dated or more for resale purposes where painted walls are the preference for most buyers??? alabamanicole, now that I look at it some more, I agree the track lighting needs to go. It should be easy and inexpensive ($100-150?) to change it out. I love the look of bronze, but would it work with my ss appliances and ss cabinet pulls? Or should I get bronze pulls and faucet...CAN you have a bronze faucet and a stainless steel sink? Confusing! Also, thanks for your kitchen idea. The rest of my house is decorated with warm creams, reds, greens. I love organic stuff like wicker, stone, metal, and I love shaker style, country style, and arts-n-crafts style. I really like cream cabinets, but I already have enough cream with the counter, the tile, and the wall. The breakfast bar opens into the dining room, which is has cream furniture and red and green as the accent colors. The kitchen doesn't have to be matchy-matchy with the adjoining rooms, but it should flow colorwise. I'm going for a sleek, simple, yet casual and warm look with bluish/green cabinets. Below are kitchen looks that I love. Some won't work with my sleek cabinets, but it's just to everyone an idea of the look and feel that I hope to achieve... I love the color on this wall...if I ever take down my wallpaper! lol I love the warmth and casualness of cream cabinets. My dream kitchen...if I could start from scratch! :) Here, I love how the bottom cabinets are darker than the top cabs. Cute chandelier, and the island color is gorgeous! Ok, since I also LOVE the idea of two cabinet colors, what if I paint my top cabs cream and my bottom cabs blue/green? I really can't decide between my two colors below, and painting all the cabs either color will be too much cream in the room, or too much blue/green in the the room...no? I'm also open to sage green. If I go with using two colors, what if I paint the storage wall like the storage wall below (where the top and sides would be the blue/green color)?

I can't see the link you posted. Could you repost? I don't think all white will be too white, but I think it depends on the white you choose. I have found Maria Killam's blog very helpful in figuring out white cabinets. (Can you tell that's what I am in the process of choosing?) Here is a link that might be useful: Colour Me Happy White Kitchens

A white counter topped back splash will brighten and modernize your kitchen but here are a few other suggestions. ~replace wine rack with wood shelves that match the cabinets. ~Add a faux wall next to the refrigerator. It will create a hallway. Instead of feeling as though you are immediately stepping into the kitchen the hallway will guide you slowly. ~As far as the cabinets, I would refinish them first and then decide if you even want hardware. No hardware will keep your kitchen clean and simple. If you do decide to add hardware don't get cheap. I understand you are on a budget but hardware can make or break your improvements. Think it like this--putting cheap buttons on a nice coat only make your coat look cheap. ~Keeping the natural color of the oak is nice but think about going with a cherry stain instead might give it a richer look. ~Replace all overhead lights including the one above your sink. If recessed lighting is not an option there are some good fixtures to choose from that won't break the bank. Consider white globe lighting. It will keep with the rounded cabinet door theme. Hope that helps.

Thanks everyone I really appreciate all of your feedback. I like the backsplash but don't love it for the look I'm trying to achieve but my husband picked it and I was trying to see if I could make it work. I think at this point I'm leaning toward running the countertops all the way up for backsplash. As for the question @jck910 to the right is a doorway into the dining room. I have a budget of around $15 - 18K and the vast majority is going to custom cabinets. So The island will be flipped the long part will face the stove and fridge so I will have seating along the two sides (side facing family room and the outside wall). I really wanted to take down the wall into the dining room but its load bearing and I would lose upper cabinets. So the only way to make it work is to flip the kitchen and make the L from the wall that looks into the family room which you don't see in the picture posted. There is a round table and a closet on that side of the wall (I have an 80's quad) and the wall the leads to the outside of the house. Which would mean moving pluming, gas electric and moving the stairs and sliding doors leading to the outside and relocating to the dining room which would be a $50K + project. So the compromise was to keep the current footprint. I know not everyone would agree with the decision and I wish I had the extra cash to do the way I have always envisioned it but it is what it is. I am going to wait on the light fixtures until I decide what I'm doing with the backsplash. But will likely be something simple and a Champaign gold. But yes all lighting will change. The current lights won't go with the new look. I am leaning towards a decretive hood which is why I was keeping the microwave in the same place. If anyone has pictures you think would work for counters I would love to see. I would love to do some light blue glass tile for the backsplash (I know doesn't fit with inspiration) but I don't think I'm brave enough for that. I also cook a lot so I need something that is easy to clean which is another reason to run the countertop all the way up. So thanks again everyone and if you have pictures that you think will help in my quest please share!