SFGate

calikym It's a blank slate and definitely nothing to hate. It's nice! You can do so much... Add backsplash, colorful art and bright stools. I can really imagine some hip, bright geometric print in there.

LizaJane I would add color...easiest thing to do. Paint the walls a sunny yellow (that has grey in it) and add some fun colorful stools and accessories.

NancyJInteriors What I can see of the living room, it looks like warm earth tones, it makes the kitchen feel very cold.
I think warm colored runner rugs on each side of the island, make the accent color work with the living room colors, bar chair, maybe add a chair pad, flat graphic seaming pattern, make the walls in the kitchen the same accent color, only use a different value of the color. Good Luck

Barbara Griffith Designs I like a great geometric pattern, with bright yellow, black, & white wallpaper on all the walls in there. And I would choose black rather than gray in it because even black is a pop in a gray room. Don't be afraid..be bold..be brave. Add a coordinating fabric on your bar stools, use the colors in accessories in the room as well.

NancyJInteriors Think about how often you change colors in your home???? Paint will change your space, easy on budget, and have the option to think a new color in 5 years. Anyone who has removed wallpaper,
prep the walls to receive paint will think again before adding wallpaper. I think of kitchens as high
maintenace for cleaning, even with vinyl coated wallcovering, we are talking high maintenace and removal cost.

Dytecture Here is an ideabook of using different colors for kitchen cabinetry.

carolins You could put a runner between the island and sink and perhaps on the other side of the island too, backsplash, different bar chairs and accessories, for instance:
6×13 Persian Hamadan Rug Runner
Form Bar Stool
Contemporary Kitchen Tile
Traditional Kitchen Tile
Flat Cut Bowl With Handles
Round Acacia Bowls

Colour-wise you can add yellow (as suggested above) or go warmer with orange. Also lime green will look good with the grey. Adding curtain pannels (floor to ceiling) will add warmth.

carolins If you place a large wooden tray (I believe the photo enclosed is a small one, but something like that), on your island and fill it with your cooking utensils and a nice bottle of olive oil for instance, it will look beautiful. Your kitchen is sort of a blank canvas. I like it :-)

Barbara Griffith Designs Accessories alone will not solve this gray issue.

Amplio Would paint in this color and add wood accessories like the bowl a bow and the bars stools.

Barbara Griffith Designs The paint color could help a little..but you really need pattern..it really is the only element that will break up the all gray look. Completely upholstered bar stools (parson looking) in a bright patterned fabric with a window treatment to match..as there is no place to stack drapery, mount a faux Roman shade at the ceiling, over the doors...It's about pattern.

judyg I see an Oriental in the adjoining room. Work with that. Not sure about the colors, because I can't see much of it, but how about this fabric on the slider and painting the cabinets BM Nantucket Grey.

artvsart iYes, color with paint is the way to go. The gray here is not neutral. It is clashing with itself and this is why you are intuiting the bad feelings of the space. On a budget, don't think wood has to be expensive.. Think about focal areas and concentrate your money on those points providing your are providing a new paint scheme. That said the 'light' greay as your field color might work if you get rid of the darker gray throughout...

sam0705 I am not an expert, but adding yellow and black would not be my preference for warming up the room, though I do agree about adding pattern and texture. I love the accessory choices by carolins, and for pattern I like an ikat or ikat chevron with some warmer tones, brown, red, etc.

4isablessing Gray is such a neutral color. Just like the other comments, you can do green, yellow, orange, and blue. Glass tile will be a great addition to your backsplash as well.

rinqreation First of all change the floor (wood/vinyl), not the kitchen itself.

If you like modern with a bit of pop-art or glamour, add fluorescent stools and a similar (glass!) backsplash. Paint the walls (color/black). Hang some lights in a bold color over the isle.

If you like somewhat traditional/neutral, replace the countertop with wood. Or white. Paint the walls dark chocolate, tan or cream. Add colors like gold, white marble, wood.

Either way add some color and contrast.