Thank you for your ideas!

I hate more than just the blue. There's too much cream/white and it's not the same tone, which is confusing to the eye. The counters and the countertop is too creamy/yellow, the floor is more of a white/grey undertone. If you plan on keeping the floor, I would look at painting the cabinets a charcoal grey, and I think the countertops won't look so bad. then paint the walls a lighter grey, and bring in color through accents.

Hmm. Aside from the blue, I see a lack of texture and dimension. Maybe consider doing a neutral patterned wallpaper on the wall through to the dining area. If the cabinets are finished on the inside take the doors off and just have shelves up top so you can see your dishes or paint the insides to bring in another warm neutral like a honey brown. Or alternatively keep the doors and look for mix matched/ color full knobs. Bold curtains for the window, new stools/ making colorful cushions for the set you have and bringing in some flowers/plants and herbs or bowls of fruit. And then.. Artwork on the walls. I am also pro rugs in the kitchen. Could you paint the base of the island?

http://houzz.com/photos/619268

Depends on what type of look you feel comfortable with. You could do a taupe, camel or stone color on the walls. Paint the island a darker contrasting color that will warm up the room for a more traditional look. An idea that's budget friendly is painting the countertops with counter transformations by Rustoleum or painting the cabinets as a previous poster mentioned. Keep the room a modern monochromatic style and use a cream on the walls but keep the backsplash, crown molding, island and trim a bright white to give it some definition. So many choices you have but it should begin with what style you find more pleasing and colors that make you happy. If you have art work or fabrics you plan to use in the space then pull colors from those to help guide you.

I suggest adding stick on backsplash tiles of your taste (very easy and affordable DIY). If you wish to dress up the cabinets on a tight budget you can apply beadboard wall paper and even frame the cabinet doors for a more modern look. Also something as simple as replacing the cabinet door knobs with updated knobs and pulls would make a big difference. Faux stone paint would give and updated look to the countertops. Personally I think you should stick to white, neutral or sandy yellow for the walls.

I think you should paint the walls and backsplash your very favorite color. all the colors mentioned so far are mostly neutrals. think of sherbet-lemon or lime or orange or raspberry!

Chocolate. Or aubergine with orange bar stools.

hi
the design provided by bonnie is good
go with any of this but You will need to do changes for some of countertops
once contact http://www.eskandaristone.com as they offer custom design and cut to size stone which will not effect your budget extra than your necessary requirement.
Regards.

More than anything else, I would be most concerned that there is an air return, in the kitchen. Do you have another return in the house? If so, I would look into closing it up or putting it in the opposite room.


Other than that, if this was my kitchen, I wouldn't put any money into it, other than paint. The refrigerator should be at the end of the island, where the fire extinguisher is and there has to be a better location for your attic access.

Upgrade the knobs on the cabinets as well.

I think you can change the whole look of the space in here for a very small budget and plenty of paint. I'd consider painting the cabinets in a soft dove gray, and add a shelving unit (painted to match the cabinets) to set beside the fridge, which will help it fit in better and will give you some decorative storage....pretty canisters, cook books, etc. right now that area looks like an afterthought. then I'd paint the island in complimentary color, a crisp white, or a soft black. as for the walls...this blue is a bit overwhelming. if you like blue, look for a much more muted shade with plenty of gray in the base which will tone it down considerably. also, look to upgrade the lighting over the DR table beyond and consider replacing the countertop on just the island to a butcher block...it's a budget friendly option (check ikea!).

Wow, grover, love the aubergine with orange bar stools! The wall color really opens and brightens the room! Cheerful!

mcot, the bright blue tone is not doing any good in this room. It even makes the cabinets look cheap.
Take a look at the cabinets in the photo that groveraxle posted and see how the aubergine color makes the cabinets pop out and look more modern and extravagant! I have learned that not only color but tone is very important.

Not sure if you have a window sill. These little vases with orange flowers would tie in with your orange chairs. They would go nice on the countertop as well.
Maybe a bowl with some different colors you can use year-round with almost any wall color.