I think you have a nice kitchen. Removing the molding over the window might make that area seem less heavy. Open shelves and messy don't go very well together IMO. One of the reasons I've avoided them myself.

Thank you Sandk. I would love to remove that oddball molding above the sink. It’s definitely a downer. Looking for something to bright it up and create more space.

@Marybeth, I too think removing the top molding would help, and go to the ceiling with crown with the other cabinets. Since you have the fan balanced on each side with cabinets, possibly remove the larger cabs on right (in photo) and do floating shelves there?

I think it's a pretty nice kitchen overall.

I agree that the molding over the window is a bit off. It's hard to see what's going on in the picture, but something seems odd about the uppers flanking the range hood. Like how the molding and cabinets sit next to the hood, though maybe it's just the camera angle. So I'd lean more towards removing those.

In terms of adding short cabinets on top--if you're able to match the cabinets, I wonder how the cost would compare to just replacing the uppers with taller ones that go to the ceiling.

What's the flooring like?

I would put glass doors on the cabinets, put a filler strip between the cabinet and ceiling, and run crown molding .

At risk of horrifying everyone here, you COULD put in a soffit.

Overall I find it quite pleasant, even though it has that little bit of oddness. A kitchen without something weird is a kitchen with no soul. :P

I think it is the molding that is throwing the look off. It seems to project at such an odd angle. If you remove it and replace it with some the softer, I think it will work.

I would keep the upper cabinets and lose the molding above the window. It looks like a nice kitchen to me.

I think open shelving is great and lovely, when it is in addition to closed cabinets that fulfill your storage needs not as a replacement to. I think your kitchen is very nice and would just try repainting the walls first before I started ripping things out...unless you have a really clear idea of what you want. But if you’re iffy, save the demo until the last option.

Remove the connecting crown over window would help. Use the existing crown to return the crown above cabinets back to wall.

Consider adding lights on a dimmer above cabinets to add ambience.

An economical way to try it is to put battery timer string lights across the back side of the crown.

https://www.amazon.com/YIHONG-Battery-Operated-Waterproof-Decor-Daylight/dp/B074M2QBCT/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1530961982&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=battery+timer+white+lights&dpPl=1&dpID=51J42OE%2BweL&ref=plSrch

If you like it, then an electrician can install permanent ones on a dimmer swith later.

If you start removing cabinets you are going to end up with a tile issue around the hood. I think adding cabinets or molding to the ceiling is going to make wall look heavier. Just remove the piece over the window as suggested by artistsharonva and then paint. Find a designer for a consultation on wall color. An hour or 2 should do it. It will be more productive than all of us giving color ideas based on what we see on our monitors.

I've seen similar situations where they removed the molding, pushed the cabinets up to the ceiling and installed a floating shelf below, and it modernized the look of the kitchen.

Nice kitchen. I know you said you can’t replace the tiles but I’m thinking you mean floor tiles.

Could you replace the backsplash? There may be something that goes better with your counter - which I think are fine. Or even just a painted backsplash.

And yes to new wall paint

Thank you all for your time and insight. The floor is travertine and very similar in color to the backsplash. I love the idea of new paint color and elevating the cabinets to the ceiling and adding a floating shelf below - provided I can find the backsplash tiles the previous owner installed(!).

Can anyone recommend a good app that allows you to see this virtually?

Also any hardware recommendations? I’d love to update the pulls.

Remove the trim (valance) over window. IMHO that would be the least expensive fix. Considering adding soffits on cabinets on that wall to give the illusion of adding height.

A nice look would be to remove the uppers, open shelving on the right side where the double cabinets are, and tile up to the ceiling.

There's some pros & cons to raising cabinets to put shelving below.

Pros it can get short cabinets to ceilings, but by raising the top shelf in cabinets will be harder to reach.

Know your reach height. Reach height is also less due to having to stand further back due to base cabinets.

Pros more storage below, but open shelving gets dusty. Open shelving can look cluttered, so keeping it straight will be another chore.

Cabinets with doors are functional for hiding items & keeping dust out, so dishes are ready to use with no dust.

if you’re on the fence or not sure swapping your cabinets for shelves will be compatible with your lifestyle, there’s an easy way to test it out: Remove the doors from a couple of your upper cabinets for a few weeks and see if you like the feel and look of it. You may even decide that look on its own is a good fit for you. You may be thankful you kept the doors.

Also, depending on how high the cabinets go & shelf placement, watch out for the height of space between the countertop & the bottom shelf. Standard height is 18" high. If lower will loose tall storage under for the tall items, like a blender.

Is it worth it, depends on the situation. If more storage needed & the only cabinets available are short & dusting & straigtening regularly is not an issue to the user then, sure.

For some extra costs, getting taller cabinets or stacking cabinets may be a better option to get more shelves inside.

I rather have cabinets in a kitchen. Maybe a few open shelves, but selectively. I rather be cooking than cleaning.

It's a gorgeous kitchen. Repaint a very light tone, almost or even white, that works with the backsplash. The paint is job 1 in my opinion.

Paint the window a dark blackish green. Remove the blind and if you need it, replace with a fabric roman shade. Otherwise, leave the window bare. If you replace the knobs on the cabinets with pulls, you're going to have to patch and fill your cabinet faces. It can be done. I'd use polished nickel.

Ok! So I photoshopped raising the cabinets and adding a floating shelf under each set and it didn’t look right - also it made the cabinets look too small and out of reach... so they will stay where they are but I’ll remove the crown molding from above the sink.

New design dilemmas -

Do I paint the window trim dark and then also the interior window trim to the dining room as well?

Will painting the walls lighter make the backsplash look more gray? The tiles have a lot of gray but look more white in contrast to the taupe walls.

With the crown molding removed above the sink, will I need an overhead light? If yes, recommendations?

Last photos!!

Before choosing paint color, change the under light bulbs under cabinets. They are giving yellow glow on backsplash.

Thank you @artistsharonva. Great tip!

I think your cabs would look so much better in the white, like your door. What color white is that door? I'd do the cabinets in that. No yellow! try a soft sage for the walls

If you can't afford a pro cab painter, can you DIY? it's a lot of work, but I do have a step by step instruction site that will guide you. prob take you a month.

you could leave the island natural wood color.

as for the boxes above, you can do any of these, and paint. matching your wood will be impossible since those are factory finished.

on yours you would take this all the way to the ceiling. you could also do open boxes or put a glass door on it.

similar wood color cabs and after painting.

I would avoid the yellow tone paints in photo below window.

I also suggest keeping trim same color through out. White preferred.

A lighter tone of what is already there or A very light creme or light warm gray. Choose a light color from countertop. I got these 1 color off your countertop & 1 off backsplash tile. Maybe you can find a better.

The above colors in even lighter shade would compliment.

For a wall color, I would try samples of the green / grey colors in the coutertop. You have lots of windows, so I assume the kitchen is bright. I think a medium green / grey would offer a nice complement to the cabinets, and would accentuate the backsplash and windows.