Being in the remodeling industry, and doing this kind of work all the time,
You might want to look at Corian, we use it all the time for clients that can't afford Granite.
You might also want to consider leaving the cabinet "boxes" and just replace with more updated doors and hardware.

Good Luck !

Marky,

It sounds like you have given this some significant thought. If you are not planning on selling for another 3-4 years it would be best to consider your basic needs while making this decision since you will be living with it for several years.

Consider having a company look at your kitchen and make recommendations for improving it. They see this on a daily basis and may be able to make recommendations that you are overlooking.

Doing a coat analysis for the options you have may also shed some light on the direction best for you.

Good luck

On the countertop issue... There are too many qualifer questions I would need to ask you if you came in for a kitchen consultation. But here is a quick run down of pros/cons
--Natural Slab Granite Pros... added value and obvious wait consumers have for granite, the Cons... does require a sealer and some maintenance. Cost and sealer requirements are coming down with this option tho.
--Quartz(Silestone/Zodiaq) Pros.. no maintenance at all, wipe and go! Cons.. generally at or more expensive than granite. But a huge factor at resell to a family that wants maintence free kitchen.
--Acrylic(Corian, Hi-Macs) Pros... seamless and intergrated sink are options. Cons... material can be gouged and simple slides of a pot ot pan can cause surface scratches. All can be repaired, but does require a professional on the deeper/bigger scratches.
--Laminate(Formica/WilsonArt) Pros... its cheap, can be a DIY project Cons... its thin, can be scratched, scorched, or chipped. People often view laminate as a quick fix and an old product even if it was installed last week.

In regards to the cabinets themself. I've seen plenty of people spend(waste) money on refacing a cabinet box. The door or drawer is replaced and a skin that is suppose to color match the wood is glued on. New cabinets are a little more when compared apples to apples, but the overall its a better value.

In my opinion, and what I would put in my house, as a Kitchen Designer would be a Quartz countertop or a long lasting granite. There are in certain markets arounf the country with a 10,15, 20 year sealed granite product.

Hi Mark
SO much of that answer really depend son the neighborhood you are living in and the market. I am a contractor in Greenville, SC specializing in renovating homes for resale and optimizing owners returns..I was also a real estate agent for 10 years so I know how to balalnce the answer.
No. 1. If MOST of the home sin your neighborhood are within a dollar range, then stick to what is smart and don't overprice yourself.
No. 2 - Dark cabinets are okay if you have a well lite and great sunlit kitchen. If not, I would definately prime them and paint them before considering countertop selections. If the wood is good, paint or resurface. I kept what was int he house and used trim and beaded board plus purchased more cabinets and made an 8 ft island which will pay off much higher return than doing anything else. I stained and painted the cabinets so they all seem to be pretty new and match as best as possible. I used all the same new hardware on old and new so as to make them look uniformed. Having 2 different tones inthe kitchen is perfectly acceptable. I used an Espresso for the back panel on my island/breakfast bar, stained bead board the same color of the cabinet doors and painted the doors the cabinet box....they came out toltally tailored look for a fraction of what it would have cost me to do anything else to them.
No. 3 - (Just because I just did all this)....I used a laminate with a granite look that is smooth. I live in a family type neighborhood and cleaning up and not stressing has to be easy and desireable to homemaker more than how it looks to the friends and neighbors.

Word of advise...BRIGHT WHITE IS OUT..

If your house is going to sell for $500,000 or above then go for the granite. Under that replace with corian. Without seeing the cabinets its dificult to comment. If the make the room very dark or they are dated (which it sounds they are) then consider replacing. Dark cabinets by themselves are not a bad thing if they are modern.
In a state where most houses are old 2 rooms do more than anything else to sell a house. The kitchen and the bathroom (s)
But don't go crazy as you won't get your money back.

Photo-shop different countertops and leave a credit to the buyer. I understand your concern. We all have different tastes. It would be a shame to invest that kind of money and then rip the countertops out again. Good question.