Replace the louvered doors with solid ones. Can you add some interesting drawer pulls in those recesses? Long ones that almost fill the recess and look contemporary would be a nice contrast. I think you'd have to use specialty paint on the lower cabs, but you might paint them a darker shade of the countertop or if you're daring, there are some blues that would look good with the green. You just have to consider the wood tones when deciding.

yes....love the idea of drawer pulls in the recesses. I love french look & vintage, what would these look like?

i like those! I have found out i can pain the cupboard doors...shall i leave the wood panel there or or paint all one colour?

http://www.wayfair.com/All-Cabinet-and-Drawer-Hardware-l1123-c1798739-O78682~French+Country.html

yeah I wondered if that would look better, I am rethinking painting the counter top & the cupboards. What colours would tie in with the wood?

"Tribbletrouble44152k7 Trek" where did you find these handles?

Replace your benchtop. I agree with painting the cabinets in one colour. Probably white and then having the green benchtop replaced with a light coloured engineered stone. A replacement is stunningly simple.

Having been brought up in a Lockwood home I can appreciate your love of the wood. I notice you have a light green bench and that would blend nicely with some similar colours in the room. I would consider having your cupboard doors replaced or sprayed to compliment the bench or visa versa you can have your bench updated with a new finish to modernise it. Perhaps you could just price out the cost of a new bench and leave the rest of the kitchen as it is. The odd bit around the dishwasher looks weird and that might be able to be fixed by curving a new bench into a small breakfast bar type set up. If there is room I would also reposition the microwave to the right of the cook top and use the existing space for a display or a lovely pot plant.