Attempting to raise home value...

HGTV is basically always on in the background when my husband and I are at home, and it has inspired me to take on some projects to improve our 1600 square foot (plus finished basement) Williamsburg colonial house, which we bought in April '07.

What we've done so far is have dark hardwood floors installed throughout the entire first floor and paint almost every room...we've actually put in so much color we fear we might turn off a potential homebuyer. We're hoping to move back home to Maine in the next year or so and want to find ways to make the house stand out from the others in the neighborhood.

So we began a "laundry list" of home improvement projects we'd like to take on, ranging from simple upkeep things to more ambitious large-scale projects. I'd love your advice on tools, techniques, vendors, etc.

Here's the in-progress list:
1) Upgrade current white kitchen appliances to stainless. This is probably the one thing that stands out most on the HGTV shows aimed at resale or increasing property values as being a highly recommended improvement.

2) Replace our Corian countertop with granite. For a house of this size, and having seen a few others in the neighborhood that were for sale soon before we bought this one, this may not be the best improvement to make. It is very expensive and may not be a sought-after feature for home buyers in our price range.

3) Replace kitchen sink faucet fixtures and cupboard hardware. The hardware throughout the house is somewhat mismatched, with doorknobs and cupboard knobs all in brass and the light fixtures, towel rods, and dining room chandelier in a brushed nickel. I consider nickel to be a little more modern and subdued, and would like to replace everything that is currently brass.

4) Stain or paint the deck. We have a small deck at the back of the house that is really nice for a little patio set and grill, but it needs to be updated with a woodstain or paint. Right now it seems a little neglected, even though it is not in disrepair or dirty. This will have to wait until spring.

5) Mosaic tile backsplash in the kitchen. As I mentioned, my goal is to make our home stand out against other "comps" in the area, and of course it would be ideal to not break the bank. On yet another HGTV show, I saw what appeared to be a pretty easy DIY backsplash project. I like the idea of choosing a mosaic tile that brings in the colors from the walls, cabinets, and floor. My husband is less confident that this will look "cool" enough.

6) Redecorate/rearrange master bedroom to better use the "suite" layout. Right now our bed is situated under a beautiful paladian window, but I'm starting to learn that a master suite should have a layout that allows for both a sitting area and the sleeping area, and the current layout doesn't fully utilize the size and space that the room provides. Otherwise, the room qualifies as a suite with an adjoining walk-in closet and bathroom. BUT supposedly your home improvement projects should be aimed at bathrooms and kitchens - is this albeit small project even worth taking on?