This is a beautiful kitchen! Paint for the walls and maybe a few colorful accessories?

Well....that would be easy for me...because I don't think that "neat and easy to clean" is necessarily interesting and attractive.
I have a few old stoneware pitchers and some baskets which I would group on the cupboards....you may have a collection of different things you prefer. One friend has old biscuit tins on top of her cabinets and another a collection of old white stoneware....very clean looking but she also has more color in her kitchen, so the white is a relief.
I would put a small runner on the island and "something" on it a bouquet, a bowl of fruit a ceramic chicken...something.
And you need something on that counter in what I assume is a bar area....perhaps a small lamp, maybe a pretty pitcher.
Your kitchen is all brown and tan utility...nothing with any other color and no decorative items.
Add some things you like to soften it up.
Linda C

honestly? I see a raspberry color on the walls. The contrast would be pretty and maybe prop a few bright prints against the backsplash...IMHO

A different paint color and a few, large, colored accessories on top of the cabinetry on the range wall and on the bar/pantry unit would go a long way.

I'd concentrate on finding a fabulous fabric with pops of your favorite color for window treatments and then go from there.

What a nice kitchen!
it would help if you'd give us a hint about what "bright" means to you. Do you like lots of color, or would you prefer something warm but not too zippy?

I would start with those wonderful tiles, which I think call for a version of color that is sophisticated and tends to neutral. I might choose a warm wall color to show off your cabinets, like Farrow & Ball "Dorset Cream," which is more colorful than the name implies. Or if you want to cool the palette a little, and also emphasize the wood of your cabinets, you could choose a good soft aquamarine, like F&B's "Teresa's Green." If you really want jazz, a rich brick red like BMoore Audubon Russet might be just the ticket. The limiting factor is what you see from the other rooms, and whether you have a stopping point or an open plan, so that whatever you used would have to continue into another space.

In any case, I would add an indoor-outdoor runner, with a lattice or Moorish medallion pattern, along each of the floor areas, in colors that work with your tiles.

With a rich wall color, I'd paint the chairs a nice warm medium gray like BMoore Rockport Gray in a glossy enamel finish, which refers to your stainless appliances. Otherwise I'd choose a strong sophisticated blue like BMoore "Stratton Blue" or "Buxton Blue" (less green than the Stratton). With either color, I'd put bright print or striped cushions on them. I'd find a great big pottery bowl with a colorful pattern or a strong single color, and put it on the island to hold fruit or veg or flowers. And I'd consider a bolder pair of pendants.

And then I'd take a nap!

If you like the wall color, (I would have a warm color) then how about a much larger item over the windows, an extremely tall arrangement in an oversized vase of dried flowers on the island, and some wall quotes on the walls over the cabinets. I agree that a lamp and maybe a small stack of cookbooks laying on their sides in the "bar area" and a rooster or a photo...something personal that you enjoy lookig at. I love your kitchen, it is beautiful, just dosen't look lived in... yet. Please show us a picture when you add your personal touches.

Your kitchen is beautiful. I think some color on the wall and a few complementary decorations on the countertop will liven it up. Hopefully someone with Photoshop skills will come along and throw some color idea pictures on this thread for you.

I would love to see aqua or fuscia...JMHO :-)

The only disadvantage of a color in the rose/pink/purple family is that it will bring out orange tones in your wood, which may not be your intention. Golds, greens, terra cottas, and blues bring out the brown tones, and make it look more like fine furniture.

Yes I would prefer not to bring out the orange tones. I am a neutral color person and never really buy anything except brown, black, cream, tan, etc.

I am getting some great ideas already, I wish I was able to do Photoshop to "see" it. Thank you for your replies and I'm still interested if there's anything else you think of :)

You could jazz it up, even with a totally neutral palette. Large white platters could hang above cabinets, or hide electrical outlets on the pantry unit. There's also black and white or sepia photography. A couple of useful and decorative white serving dishes could remain on the counter, or you could have white flowers in a vase. Possibly the biggest impact could be white bar stools - maybe even white and stainless.

I agree with the rest - a little color and some pleasant decorations. You could even try something in a concrete picture frame to match/compliment the colors you paint the walls. They are very unique and can range from rugged to refined.

Here is a link that might be useful: Concrete Picture

*Bright* doesn't necessarily mean color. A collection of pristine creamware(more white than cream)can add tons of brightness as well as interest. Hang a variety of plates/platters and display other items. I started collecting before it was a trendy thing to do, and picked up items from thrift stores for next to nothing. I also carried it into the Greatroom using cream urns on the mantle.

Don't display just plates~~add sugar bowls/creamers/tureens/and anything else that appeals to *you*.

My kitchen looks very similar to yours w/dark perimeter cabs, as well as similar tile and I never think of it as boring. I also display old copper pots etc. above the 42" cabs. ;o)

For a simple zip of color -- buy a large very black serving bowl for the island -- and fill with seasonal fruit or veggies! Or get several sizes of dark wood bowls -- and spread out the fruit and veggies!

Get some simple glass containers/canisters for the counters -- and fill with rice, beans, coffee etc.

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

I'm not sure what your budget is, but definitely a warm brownish tan or olivey green paint color would change the look completely, and be easy on the pocketbook. Add some big platters or plates for display--picking up the color of whatever paint you choose. You might also consider more substantial pendant lights and perhaps changing your hardware. Go on the finished kitchen blog and type in cherry cabs to see what others have done. It's a beautiful kitchen:)the way it is now!

I love your cabinets and am thinking of doing a similar tone in our new kitchen. However, maybe taking off a couple doors would give the kitchen more character? I think if you took off the corner doors and maybe placed decorative colorful items in them that would really liven up the space.

I love your kitchen. However, I do think a stronger color would really show off your cabinets and backsplash. By the way, could you please tell me the name of your granite and the name of your backsplash. The granite looks like mine (New Venitian Gold) and I am still looking for backsplash tile to go with it! Thanks.

Red walls:

Brown:

Tan:

Sage:

Taupe:

Well, I think your "drab, boring" kitchen is elegant & sophisticated. Instead of overwhelming it with wall color or clutter, how about just swapping out the lampshades for cobalt blue ones --

and adding some oriental runners?

Here is a link that might be useful: light shade source

Life is short, so why is it out of the question to paint the cabinets? You can add or subtract things but it isn't going to make much of a difference. Add a chicken here or duck it up and you will just f--k it up. I vote for painting the cabinets and you will LOVE it to death.

Incidentally, your kitchen is lovely and you have great taste.

....Jane

I actually like your existing paint better than any of the mockups I did.

I agree that putting in a nice runner in front of your sink, add a window treatment, put something on top of a couple cabinets and maybe something on your island would really make a difference. I wouldn't paint those beautiful cabinets.

I really like the sage paint.

I think I would be on the side of painting at least a portion of the cabinets. At this point it's just beige, beige, beige.

What about maybe losing some of the doors and having open storage or putting glass in some of the cabinet doors?

I think your kitchen is beautiful. I can't even begin to contemplate painting the cabinets.

I think a bright valance, a colourful kettle on the stove, and a few pieces of talavera/Portuguese pottery would add some splashes of colour to your kitchen. I like the cobalt blue shades posted above as well.

Carrie

You have a beautiful kitchen, now it needs a little bit of YOU!

Is there something that you love? Do you collect blue
willow china? Maybe you have a collection of pigs, dogs,
roosters? Or maybe you love candles, cook books, dogs,
plants, Coffee Mugs, flowers, ladybugs, Sea Shells....
Do you have a favorite hobby? A favorite place? Paris?
Africa? New Zealand?.. put a mini flag and items that
represent your favorite place.

Still not sure what you like? What about a favorite
color? You said you like neutrals but how about one fun
color like cinnamon, raspberry, tangerine, green apple,
teal, ocean blue...
Now find a bunch of things around the house. Old metal
cans, cardboard box, even a wooden tree branch with an
interesting shape. Now collect these items to be painted
your favorite color. Go to your local salvation army.
Peruse the junk and see if there is anything you can
paint. Now find some spray paint at a local craft store,
home depot or wal-mart. And spray paint all those goodies
you collected. Spray them your favorite color. Not liking
the idea of spray paint, then use a regular paint or
children's non toxic paint.

Paint all the jumk you find the fun color you love. And
then place those fun painted items above your cabinets.
Find a little rug and maybe a tea pot or canister in the
color that matches the painted items. Add those to
your counter and floor to bring those colors into the
room. Find a curtain that matches the color or theme.

Some fun ideas that others have done to add a little spice
of themselves to their surroundings.

~boxerpups

Do something like this above your cabinets
from Roomremixblog

Collect some old kitchen tools and hang them above
the cabinets with some fun colors
from Countryliving mag

Allsorts blog

Westelm. You can buy itmes like this

Potterybarn vases or purchase these

Painting the room a dramatic color or even the items a
dramatic color (you would need to do the opposite of your
wall color) you can see the great look you can achieve.

These can be bought at pottery barn too

We are going to have "natural cherry" cabinets in our new house and I am going to paint the kitchen BM-Saybrook Sage! It seems like such a warm and cozy color without being too bright.

BTW, Boxerpups, I love the pictures of ideas!

Good luck and have fun!

I am sorry I haven't checked this in so long :)

My countertops are Santa Cecelia granite and the backsplash is natural stone (from Lowe's).

We are working on making some changes based on the comments received here and I'll post new pics soon!

Thank yoU!

Your drab, boring kitchen isn't drab -- it's just too clean. Put out a bowl of fruit, a colorful cookie jar (even if you keep it empty), a canister with the tools of the trade in a variety of colors, maybe seat cushions on the stools, some colorful pot holders. I've got a basket holding my favorite wine bottles (empty, of course) to remind me of the enjoyment they provided.

I agree with goldie50 that I like your existing paint and I love your kitchen just the way it is and maybe it needs some accessories to enhance it. I agree with her that putting in a nice runner in front of your sink, add a window treatment, put something on top of a couple cabinets and flowers in a pretty vase or a bowl of fruit on your island would add a lot to your already gorgeous kitchen.

I wouldn't paint the cabinets either. Are you wedded to the bar stools? Depending on your style (traditional, contemporary, etc.) you might think about a couple of funky bar stools - maybe in black and chrome. Maybe even paint the ones you have now, black. Adding some larger accessories, as others have suggested, would surely bring the space to life.

Lipton

You have a lovely kitchen - you have admitted your afraid of color ;)

I would suggest adding dashes of "temporary" color until you find what you like & feel comfortable with. I know you stated you wanted to steer clear of orange - I'll suggest go out of your comfort zone -
Put several bowls of oranges in different locations - scour your home for anything orange - even if it is not "kitcheny" place it - leave it.

Once you have left the orange palette in place for awhile, remove it and move on to a blue palette -

The kitchen just needs some softening and color -
re-painting the wall color is a good idea - and appears it would be relatively easy to do.

Once you find the color that suit you - start slowly incorporating them - Fabric shade, some nice runner type rugs, cushions for the seats - Enameled cast iron pot sitting on the stove, a new tea kettle, plants in cache pots, linen dishtowels - Another option is to purchase samples of new hardware for the cabinets - this is a fun and easy way to provide new life to a kitchen - you have many options -

Best of luck -

Start small and continue to move out of your comfort zone you will be surprised!

Jejvtr gave you excellent advice!

You have a beautiful kitchen it just needs touches of color ... something to bring it to life like others have mentioned. A bowl of fresh fruit, fresh flowers on the windowsill and on the hutch, a colorful rug in front of the sink, a small lamp on the hutch. Be brave and have fun.

here is the link to the same question in May

Here is a link that might be useful: liptonjl kitchen post

Your kitchen is beautiful as is and I wouldn't paint the cabinets (and this is from someone who is dying to paint her oak cabinets).

There is a lot of wood in the same tones, so perhaps changing out or painting the barstools, as suggested above?

If you're painting the walls, out of the photoshopped photos my vote is for the tan or sage. I suggest you try SW Camelback if you're interested in warm medium tan. It's a gorgeous color that I think would complement your cabinets.

I used Camelback in my dining and living rooms and the lighter Believable Buff in my kitchen. The BB actually toned down my orange oak cabinets, rather than enhancing it, and I really like how my weathered oak library media cabinet looks against the Camelback walls.

I wouldn't paint the cabinets, since I think they look lovely just the way they are. However, I would definitely paint the island to add a punch of color against all those wood tones. Then, I'd paint the walls, add a few large colorful accessories, a colorful dutch oven on your cooktop, and I think you would have a lovely, casual, colorful kitchen. :)

I like color. :)