SFGate

A Kitchen That Works LLC Based on the photos provided, there does not appear to be a natural breaking point for paint, therefore, the recommendation is to paint both rooms the same color. as for the color, bring the outdoors in with a soft green or golden wheat color.
I would recommend you remove the recessed can box and ceiling mounted globe light over the island. You could replace it with a multi-light pendant/chandelier or with a wrought iron pot rack with integrated lights (and moose cut outs if you really want to go for a lodge look). Google Enclume or simple pot racks.

oojeanie If I close up the opening where the globe light was, remove the soffit over the island, and replace with pendants, how many would I use--2 or 3?

A Kitchen That Works LLC Not to make things complicated but it depends on the allowable wattage of the fixture. You probably want a total of 150 incandescent watts (or the equivalent in LED or Fluorescent). If you go with LED over the island you will probably want to change out the bulbs in the recessed cans in the soffit to LED - Cree makes a good retrofit bulb It would be great if you could add under cabinet lighting too.

Gantt's Decorating I can't see and don't know enough abiout the rest of the house to recommend a color, but your kitchen's problem in my opinion is too much contrast which makes a space up with cabinets seem more disjointed. I always tell my clients if they want a light kitchen don't go out and buy cherry or oak cabinets. I would pick a color that looks good with the tile back splash(by looking good I mean coordinates but does not sharply contrast} I would paint the cabinets one shade and the walls a shade or two lighter. While your at it you might consider painting the table and chairs. You could have a lot of fun doing something splashy on the detail of the chairs. Hope this is useful. Bill

Lifetime Furnishings & Cabinets Some inexpensive makeover tips for the kitchen might be:
·Change the cabinet door handles to something like the attached stainless steel pulls (http://www.richelieu.com/en/contemporary-stainless-steel-handle-pull-2102-2102128170?fr=pgr). ·Also change the location of the handles on the doors, they should be located near the bottom right (and/or left) hand corner of each door, not the middle.
·Remove the tile back splash, you would be better off with a simple white painted wall there, which will also improve the lighting in the room.

Some additional, more costly suggestions would include:
·Remove the recessed can box lighting (as Molly suggested) over the cabinet wall units also, and, you would then have space to add a nice traditional crown molding which will really enhance the kitchen (
)
·You can also use the crown molding to implement a concealed lighting scheme and also add lighting plinths below the wall units.

eagledzines How about a birch tree mural?

Thom Torvend I agree with "a kitchen that works" and Gantt's comments. Just a few other observations: I would remove the soffit in front of all the upper cabinets, the lighting in it will shade your work areas when you are standing there. A better idea is to use MR-11 or Led undercounter mounted fixtures which will light your work surface plane. Line up the soffit with the face of the cabinets. Remove the big box over the island and use 2or 3 4" low voltage or led recessed lights , or if the framing doesn't allow it. think about pendant lighting over the island. I would consider refacing the cabinets with a more simple paneled facing. Get new cabinet hardware and place it anywhere except in the middle of the doors. If you don't have a second floor above and it isn't too pricey, I have cut out ceilings and sheet rocked around the trusses or framing to create a skylight well. You could conceal lighting fixtures up in the well for when natural light isn't enough.

oojeanie Thank you for all your suggestions! Yes, I have a second floor. So, if I have the soffits removed, the wall would be replaced to go from the ceiling down to the top edge of the cabinets?

oojeanie Are you also suggesting that the wall color actually be slightly darker to make it more cohesive? I'm not so sure about painting the cabinets. My house trim is stained oak throughout.