We don't get many storms in SA that causes trees to fall down. And our area is well know for the trees, a big reason we chose this area. We also "share " the trees with our neighbors and use it as some sort of wall between the houses.

I think the floor is dragging the kitchen down! I love the cabinets! How about installing inexpensive linoleum tiles- checkerboard- white / grey and painting walls white? Will give the room a whole new look!

Before you go to all the trouble of painting your cabinets [which I think are beautiful BTW!], change the hardware to oil rubbed bronze. It will tone down the orange in the wood, and bring out the more amber colors. We did that when we renovated our kitchen, and it was absolutely amazing the change in the color of the cabinets!

Thanks. Yes,I think we should try everything before painting the cabinets.

I like the ides of painting the walls white and changing the floor. I'm not sure though what you mean by hardware? Handles etc? Could you show me a picture? If not that's also ok. I'm very excited for the change. Will post when it's all done but we first renovating the outside bathroom.

Quick question: will light grey walls work?

I like your cabinets. They're very rustic looking and go well with everything else in your kitchen. I think lighting above the top shelf would be really nice. You could line up some decorative objects on the top shelf too. Maybe vases and bowls all the same color, e.g. white and/or blue which would pick up the colors on your floor.

Paint the cabinets and trim white, lighten up the wall color and replace the dark back-splash with a neutral tone tile or natural stone that will add some contrast to the cabinets. This will lighten up the space and make the most of the natural light that you have.

What a great kitchen! Light gray will definitely blend nicely. Your cabinets are lovely. Here is an example of the hardware that has been mentioned. Also, before you go to the expense of changing the floor, consider putting in a lovely area rug. That and adding some lighting would really bring in more light. Can you do recessed lights? If not, consider something along these lines. And your chandelier could be replaced with something that gives off more light. Right now the only direction for that light is down. There are many that give off light in all directions. Also, can you move the refrigerator down that wall any? It seems to block the light coming in from he door. Also put some LED strip lights under the cabinets.

Painting the walls a very soft pale green would look nice with yr cabinets.

Also, note the hardware on the cabinets and drawers.

They are oil rubbed bronze as suggested by hayleydaniels

the cabinets are great. It seems like light is getting in there to me?

The light only comes through that door from 2pm till 2:10pm.

Love every bodies ideas! We have lights in the bottom cabinet but my husband keeps switching it off so I needed something that will bring in light without only switching on lights. He like the three chandelier idea on one of the pictures given. We will use the hardware on cabinets as suggested and thinking of spray painting our lovely old gas stove a light green/ light blue as shown by the green kitchen island.

We will definitely paint the walls and change those black tiles..... If all else falls, painting the cabinets will be our last resort.

Thank you to everyone who has given us suggestions. Wish I could show you next month how it looks but it will take some time.