Sorry, although, I do like your pot rack, I really do not like it in front of your windows. It sucks the light out of your kitchen. It a very nice kitchen, it just looks like its lacking any type of color except the color above the stove, and seems a bit dark, I would add better lighting,move the pot rack, and maybe put a light shade of the same aqua color that is above the stove on the walls.

I agree you need more light, such as lighter cabinets. It could look nice to have them match the island, even if it means changing the Alabaster. I'm also thinking your cabinet hardware needs rethinking. Brushed nickel would look nice with your appliances. If you can't move the pot rack I would take it down.

I was having the hardest time with your last photo. At first I thought there was a few rows of gray tiles in the backsplash below the white ones. Finally figured it out!

Thanks! I can’t easily change the alabaster as it is the color throughout the house including ceilings. Painting the walls is tricky because it is one large open 30 x30 space. I have blue paint in the dining area and lots of color in the living area. So I think minimal color here is ok, just need to be brighter. I should have explained that we don’t have hardware, it’s left-over child safety latches i still need to pull off. We were talking about adding brushed nickel hardware though. We like the pot rack so that will stay. I think the plants in the window sill steal more light. The island is whitewashed so we would need to do something with it if we do white cabinets.

I have added photos with lights on , a couple under cabinet lights are out and photos of the remainder of the room as well as the ceiling transition which makes adding color to the kitchen somewhat difficult. I agree in the photos the pot rack doesn't photo well but actually shines and reflects light in person. We tried other spots but were only able to anchor it in a reasonable spot there. All of our rugs are pretty basic with little kids and will eventually upgrade. Hopefully this is helpful!

@groveraxle Thanks! that looks amazing and something I can show my husband.

Can that window be enlarged? Perhaps take out those little shelves between present window and upper cabinets? And you need more lights - lots more lights as those cabinets are dark. I would not, however, paint them.

I love pot racks that that one belongs over the island, not over the sink. I would feel as if I should be ducking all the time. Too bad you put in such a dark floor as well, but so be it...

@Anglophilia Those cabinets could potentially come out but my husband is a chef. We have every cabinet in use plus a pantry and converted a hall closet to a second storage area for his gear. I'm curious why would you not paint them? I agree we do need more lights, but it's dark to me in the daytime and I like to use natural light. That is why I wanted to go lighter in color. We felt somewhat pushed into them by our contractor so are not at all in love with the color. We've been in our house 7+ years so I feel like we've tried to give it a go.

No good stud placement over the island for the pot rack and it is full of heavy pots. We tried several spots. We have tall ceilings so only my 6' 10" brother in law has to duck. everyone else is fine.

i wouldn't alter things until I upgraded the lighting situation. Bigger , more functional pendants over island.....better undercabinet task lighting. You can upgrade the bulbs probably on the hood. Maybe more canister fittings in the ceiling. This all would do quite a bit. Lighting options are so tremendous and with some dark surfaces that you have , this is maybe all that's needed. You could get some glass doors on uppers if you can source the cabinet brand and stain. Might be nice.

Kim B, I really like what you've done with your space. It looks comfy and well organized; the TV and play areas are nicely done. You've broken some design rules to great effect, particularly with the height you've hung your artwork, but it totally works in here.

I think your kitchen would look great painted. It would give the whole space a fresh new vibe. And Hubby being a chef explains the considerable investment in copper pots. ;-)

Paint trim around window white. Paint upper cabinets to match subway.

I'm surprised that a chef would even consider a 2-walled kitchen! I used to cook a lot and still have a LOT of stuff, thus my desire for an enclosed kitchen with all four walls! I need the storage space and counter space!

Thanks All! I'm going to look into painting. Although we do need more lights my husband actually likes to work with low light / mood lighting most of the time, probably after working in super bright work kitchens. We definitely need a couple extra cans with one directly over the sink.

It looks like every light in your house is orange tinted, 2700 degree warm white. The first move I'd make is switching every single bulb to 5000 degrees, then adding a couple more can lights to the kitchen. You may find you like your kitchen as is after you make that simple change. Orange light is the worst.

Steve Thanks! Actually only the lights over the island, table and fan are that orange /warm white. Everything else is a blue white tone. 100% agree we need more can lights but 99.99% sure that won't be enough for us. :)

Thank @Katie! Solar tubes might help. That is an idea I hadn't thought of yet! We've had bright rugs over the years. Definitely better than our current brown but not a lot of great colors in the cushy supported ones at least locally.

What about white/lime washing your cabinets?

You might try ruggable.com. I think you could add a softer pad under their "velcro" type pad that holds the rug in place. They are washable and come in many styles and colors. Agree that you should upgrade the temp of your light fixtures, adding some inside the glass front cabs if you can. Don't forget that the tops of the cabinets can use some light too.

To get them painted professionally will cost around $5000.

I happen to like the cabinet color they are. So much more interesting than white although I agree you need to lighten up. Personally if it were me, I'd keep the cabinets and switch out the counters for a lighter color, add more and better lighting and as mentioned move the pot rack

As for removing the uppers, it's going to look funny since there are no uppers under the cabinets.

What are the little square things affixed to the front of the cabs?

Our Island is white-washed already. I’m not sure if someone could white-wash the mushroom color after the fact? If we pulled the cabinets we could put up subway tiles.?! While I do like a lighter counter this granite shows nothing and that is worth quite a lot! The squares are leftover child proofing latches that need to come off. I will look at ruggable that’s a great idea for the kitchen. I had thought ruggable would make a great dining room rug. I hear everyone saying we need more/better lights but it bothers me the most during the day when I’m not likely to turn on lights and doesn’t as much at night/evening. Thanks!

https://ruggable.com/collections/blue-green/products/naila-multicolor-rug?variant=14067894517815

I found this rug on ruggable would having 3 work? I think the green in it might clash a little with the mushroom.

Here are a few more that I like:

https://ruggable.com/collections/blue-green/products/imbali-turquoise-rug?variant=13147003387959

https://ruggable.com/collections/blue-green/products/nani-teal-rug?variant=13147072069687

https://ruggable.com/collections/blue-green/products/prisma-slate-blue?variant=12979963232311

https://ruggable.com/collections/warm-neutrals/products/imbali-abalone-rug?variant=13147008368695

https://ruggable.com/collections/multicolored/products/watercolor-paintwork-multicolor?variant=5271793008671

I like the last one you linked to. It’s not usually something I would pick, but it’s bright, brings in the blue from your backsplash, and I like that it brings in a few more colors.

I liked it a lot too and think they will work with white as well. Ordered this am so will start there and quotes! I looked at solar tubes for light but we get bitter cold and snow in the winter and are thinking of adding solar so I'm still pondering.

"...it's left-over child safety latches..."

Ah...got it!

I'm not quite as good at editing but what about white upper cabinets and keep white island. The surround of the fridge would stay?

I would paint them all. Grover's example just looks so nice.

I think the biggest thing you are fighting is the dark floor. You have over come this in the dinning area with large white area rugs. I don't know how practical it is to do the same in the kitchen. I love the look of long kitchen runners, but would hate to clean them.

I think the most important thing to ask is budget. If you have the budget for painting all of the cabinets, I'd go for it.

Lastly, I am swooning over your copper pot collection. Gorgeous. Do you use them on a daily basis? I think it is a tragedy the way they are hung. There is not enough room to see them all jammed together and in front of the window. My brother is a chef and has phenomenal French copper pots. He keeps them hanging in his dining room and they look great. He doesn't use them often.

I would also get white stool that match the dining room chairs. It will tie the spaces together and add more bright color to the kitchen area.

I'd paint the back door the same color as the wall too, including the frame.

You say you don't want a light counter because it will show everything. Hate to tell you but white painted cabinets are even worse!

As to painting only the uppers? If you can match the island, yes I think that would work. Uppers won't get as beat up or as much wear and tear as lowers and don't get as dirty either.

@Kendrah Thanks! Yes painting all is in the budget. The rugs are made to be washable so worth a try and the bright design might hide a lot day to day, maybe. Yes probably more pots than need to be up there but some of it is to protect them from little hands as well. They get regular use but not daily. Stools are on the upgrade list but will be waiting a little longer so the current ones can be used by little kids. For the back door frame would you paint the frame all the way to the floor and then the floorboard would stay the same? I'm having trouble picturing the transition at the base but can see how the white door would clean up the space.

@cpartist Thanks! To clarify I'm not so worried about day to day dirt showing but staining that we've had with lighter counters in the past.