Anonymous wrote:More lighting, with dimmers and combo of recessed lights and hanging fixtures.

I'm 21:44 above. Would you prefer a hanging light over the table or the island? I don't know if the kitchen is big enough to do both. We are adding recessed for the rest...

Maybe add some under cabinet lighting, too. The lights will reflect off of the granite and help brighten it up. That, in addition to changing the paint on the walls to something a bit warmer (maybe a seafoam or sage green?) should help.

More lighting, with dimmers and combo of recessed lights and hanging fixtures.

We're thinking of adding a skylight to our kitchen--but it's situated in the right way so it wouldn't be intense light all day long.

Anonymous wrote:Try a warm color on the walls before you resort to adding windows... paint is the magic elixir for so many ills!

Plus adding windows is extremely expensive.

PP also had a good idea about possibly putting on glass front cabinets. They will reflect the light.

Replace the counters with something light- a marble or quart. I had dark granite counters for years. Now we have marble and I'll never go back!

NP here. In a similar situation. We are painting for sure. For those mentioning lighting, a few questions. We are having some recessed lights put in but we can't decide if the table area and/or the small island should also have recessed lights or if one or both of them should have a pendant or chandelier. I would say the kitchen (which is open to the family room across the back of the house) is neither large nor small. So which one should get the hanging light? Or neither and do all recessed?

Agree on lighting and art. Don't do a multi-colored backsplash.

Lighting. With good lighting even a basement can look cheerful.

I think you could do a lot with paint, a multi-colored backsplash and maybe some art.

My kitchen has glossy white cabinets, a matte-ish black/grey granite, and black appliances, and it's VERY light - but we have a huge (nearly floor-to-ceiling, 6' wide) window on one wall. Our wall paint is a very pale grey and our floors are light blue. I will say it's a cool palette, but it does not feel "cold" at all. I think the blue floors help a lot, and eventually the backsplash is going to be a similar blue color (right now just painted the same as the other walls).

Anonymous wrote:Try paint, a pretty valance and kitchen mat before you resort to big changes.

This (or look at a grass shade for the window) plus glass doors on a couple of the cabinets should do the trick. Look at pictures on houzz or pinterest and go from there.

More lighting.