If you want the accent color on the left, I cant' see a way to do it without looking very odd. I'd find a color that's dark enough to tive a little contrast from your cabinets, but light enough to use on that whole wall, right into the family room. Or paint all the walls the same color.

Either all one color for both rooms, or, draw a horizontal line from the top of the cabinet, around all 4walls, paint the bottom a slightly darker color than the top, or make that wall, and only that wall, as it spans both rooms, a single accent color. A molding piece going vertical would not look right. (Guess how I know!

This is another shot of that wall. The china cabinet is in a hallway alcove, family room is on the right. Switching colors must be a common problem with so many kitchens open to the family room these days

You can have other color in that alcove, but on the wall from kitchen to family room, there is no way I can see to make a transition from one color to another

teamaltese, how did you solve your long wall problem? That horizontal divide idea might work. I won't give up, I really want a dark color behind the cabinets, but not in the living area. There must be a solution.

I don't think the color switch would be off putting if you keep it aligned with the edge of the wall, just take it all the way up. ( a few inches to the left of where it is now. Can you paint the wall where the hutch is the dark color of your kitchen? It would give it some intentional depth and help integrate it better.

Don't do it. I'm not a fan of accent walls but you could have another color behind the hutch/desk.

You will be making a mistake if you try to divide the wall into two colors.

Thanks for the opinions and ideas! If I come up with a solution, I'll post

The only thing I can think of is doing an ombre so that you have the transition you need. Another option would be to do vertical stripes (not all the same width) and then just continue with a single color. I also this design that looked interesting http://mainehardware.com/blog/entry-14-transition-wall-treatment-jeff-woodbury-portland-me/

I also found this link that might help

http://mycolortopia.com/blog/color/how-to-paint-an-open-concept-space-more-than-one-color#7LK4jO454GRSH8fi.97

Thanks for those links, both had some good ideas.

No. pick ONE

If I can't have two colors, what one color would both contrast the cabinets and be light and fresh for the family room. Cabinets are Benjamin Moore Ashen Tan, it's kind of a grayish/ taupe. I can go any color in the family room, since furniture is mostly neutral. For the last few years I've been using blues in pillows, etc. Time for a change, maybe greens?

My accent colors now.

Twocab1

have you made any paint selections or painted yet? Here if you need some direction and suggestions?