I think a nice light orange would go well with everything. Also, wouldn't put flowers, maybe metal art in copper or something abstract?

Could try bead board and chair rail to break up wall. Are you keeping border above cabinets? Pick a color from that and then go paler.

No the border will go as well

Since your table has deep wood tones, and your cabinetry is more traditional medium oak, lets see if we can find some art with both of those elements and some color to use on the wall and as inspiration for our wall color and maybe an indoor outdoor rug and some curtain panels. This has some dark and some orange, but is primarily blues - at 24 x 24 on canvas or a trimmed and mounted print - http://www.art.com/products/p12356990375-sa-i6192386/s-brooke-anderson-mediterranean-harvest.htm?ui=B08B6244A6E64CFFBB90C7E42CE9CC13&PODConfigID=0

Display this on the wall over the dining table and use it as your inspiration element - Paint the walls with this calm blue in the aqua family - see how it is a very muted tone of the bright in the art - it works together but isn't too bright a tone for a large backdrop here on the wall. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6492-jetstream/

If you are ready to go for it - you could add this rug under the table http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Ivory-Floral-Rug-710-x-10/5543432/product.html

I'll suggest you change your hardware to something oil rubbed bronze with more modern lines - your cabinets are classic and will be more transitional like your dining set and chairs with new hardware and the darker tone will help tie in the dark wood dining set. Eventually, your room will feel quieter, warmer and softer to replace the vertical blinds and consider curtains on an oil rubbed bronze rod. I'd consider buying one set too long, so I could hem them and use the old hem / extra length for a valance over the kitchen sink. You just cut open the side and use the old hem - use some iron on tape to hem them both.

I like these in caramel - just a little of the wood tone we want to repeat. http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/for-the-home/departments/window-treatments/categories/curtains-drapes-/sonoma-leaf-print-grommet-top-curtain-panel/prod.jump?ppId=1d036f8&catId=cat100260226&Ns=PLH&Nao=288&pageSize=96&pN=4&dimCombo=null&dimComboVal=null It is a simple print that still adds interest. Put a bowl of oranges on the table.

If you buy anything else blue for the kitchen, be sure it is on the side of a blue-green shade of blue. Consider aqua / spa blue as your primary color and caramel as your accent color for the space. That ties in your cabinets while the blue-green blue walls help the cabinets feel more rich, but complements the dark table with the neutral upholstery.

Even if these are not your mom's favorite shades, it shows you how to build the room. It begins with what you already have that is fixed in the space (dark espresso brown-black and rust / orange tones) and then looks for that in a piece of art she does love. Then you pull a soft tone from that for your walls and work the textiles.

Please check out our Houzz page for some art ideas and color inspiration. Best of luck and enjoy!... Raisa

I think BM's Quiet Moments would be lovely in your kitchen and dining room. It works well with white but my opinion is it would work well with your wood furniture too. [houzz=]

I would suggest mint green or light avocado green for the walls and white-painted crown molding around the room. The pictures above the dining table are too small for the space, but they might look nice above the buffet, which is shown at the right of the dining set. The large wall above the table needs a large mirror or framed picture, and it could be that a large picture flanked by equal-size mirrors in matching frames would do wonders for the room. I agree that the border on the bulkhead should be removed, and I believe the bulkhead should be painted the same light green as the walls.