Could you not remove the stone above the door.

The stone could pass, but the bulkhead above is more of an issue for me. Any other way to light the space?

Exactly what I was going to suggest--remove the arch. You're right, it overwhelms the room and since the room is narrow it's not appropriate. Is it stone or tile? If you can't remove it could you paint it the same color as the walls?

I still think what overwhelms the room is the bulkhead with the associated dark beam. I'd be trying to remove that before I'd remove the stone arch.

If the cabinet color is close to the color of the stone arch, paint the wall the same as the arch/cabinets. Also paint the ?dark brown? Bulkhead the same as the ceiling. I think that would brighten the breakfast area and cause the arch to disappear. Instead of drapes, you could hang Roman shades to just cover the glass of each door panel.

It's not a bulkhead, although I can see how you may think it is from the photo.

The ceiling is the same height throughout. You are seeing 2 of the 4 speakers in the room not lights and a Pecky Cypress beam- there are more in the kitchen that you are unable to see in the photo.

From what i can surmise you have a beautiful home with lots of designer touches in it. It appears the arch tile co-ordinates with the tiling to the left. I'm sure there are lots of people who would love your dilemma.

I would hang a pair of drapes, but the rod should be very high...between the top of the arch and the ceiling. Have them almost touch the floor. This will minimize the arch. Also try a pair of drapes that have a pattern ( a medium size geometric pattern) this will also help minimize the arch and the room has no pattern at this time so it is need.

Here was my thought process:

I first thought about removing the stone but felt something would still be needed to draw the eye upward because the door feels so short for the room. There are also two other arches in the room that it is suppose to work with - one in a range area and the window over the sink. (not that it really works, but I get what the idea was)

Then I thought about painting that one wall the color of the stone so that it's not screaming "look at me". But if I paint the whole room the same cabinet/stone color, I risk a "beige out" and loose all contrast - there is so much stone and so many cabinets all that come across the same color.

That's why I decided to try the curtain because I felt stone or no stone or even if I paint, something needs to draw your eye upward. Plus there is nothing soft in the room- all hard surfaces except for the chairs and my cookbook collections.

The room is very hard to photograph - because it's long and narrow, 23' x 8' - 9' floor space between cabinets (it bumps out here and there so there is dimension instead of one long run). Three rooms were renovated into a large kitchen - the house is a Med Revival built in the 1920s. In other words, lots of compromises when you renovate/update.

The iPhone camera is making things distorted/leaning/out of proportion because of the angle I need to shoot it from in order to give you a better idea of the space and show the other elements of the kitchen. Again, there are no bulkheads or dropped ceiling height in any area, just smooth 9.6' ceilings throughout with Pecky cypress beams.

The cabinets and limestone tiles are similar in color. The wall color is Ben Moore Alexandria beige, not dark brown. Here is a section around the door with the cabinets door close by.

I hope this clarifies things a bit. Thanks for your comments.

You could hang the curtain rod (heavy) high near the ceiling, and draw the drapes back to the sides next to the side walls. That would add flair and height.

Yes, that was already suggested.

If you cover the arch with drapes then how will that tie in with the other arches? Too bad there's not an open space with a windows above like the other arches.

This area of the kitchen looks quite informal aside from the tiled arch. It doesn't seem to call for anything too grand. It's beautiful and very nice but there are built-ins and a desk and a TV.

It's such a lovely kitchen, impo (my personal opinion) you are fretting over nothing - sorry but your kitchen is georgous.

that third photo explains it all to me. the tiled arch is meant to be a 'blind transom' to mimic the glass ones elsewhere, painting the arch to match the wall will make the door look very squat and there would be no going back. i'd do just as you have it now.

a better choice when the arch was being installed was to have it not all be flat, to have the center part recessed compared to the border. oh well, life is rarely perfect.

I too think it's a beautiful space. I like the height of the current curtains, and think they help pull the eye down. what about a curtain with a bit more drama like the picture OR a pattern (in your colors)

Your kitchen is lovely. The beams compliment the medieval revival style. Either one of the following window treatments would work.

The parsons chairs do look more contemporary for the room, yet the upholstered chairs help to soften the room. I might suggest a different fabric though, such as the one by Wayfair below.