I think Houzz is a good place to get ideas on a particular subject, Color selection, etc. but designing a kitchen on Houzz is problematic. I look at your design and would have a lot of questions for you, that would cause you to think through the pros and cons of these layouts and thus creating a fourth or fifth design till we had something that would meet your needs specifically. One question I might ask is the function of the room next to the kitchen, I'd want to also verify that you're meeting the minimum standards for clearances, such as between the wall and your island which appears to be far too small, landing spaces, walking distance, Etc. If you did the design yourself I recommend you seek professional help and if these designs are from a kitchen person I recommend paying a little more after researching a proven kitchen designer and pay them to critique your concepts. You're spending a lot of money and the last thing you're going to want to do is end up with the kitchen that doesn't work very good nor look great. Good luck

As a start, I'd paint the back of your built-ins... keeping the shelves white. Maybe a charcoal gray? Then, I'd get one of those barn wood mantels for your fireplace. Big and chunky. (and very Johanna :) As for your chairs, since they're staying, I think I'd change the slipcover to a color, or put a colorful/whimsical pillow on each. and put the chairs on the other side of each table so that they're facing the FP. And if you don't use the FP, then I'd decorate it - I saw a post from someone who filled the open space with stacked wood - stacked so that each piece of wood was the depth of the FP and the raw ends were exposed. You can find a lot of examples on pinterest. Have fun!

Assuming you do not want to move the door! I agree with painting it a fun color that pops and possibly continuing the pop with shutters. I would take out the plants that are there (save for later) and add a wooden porch/deck the entire length of the house. Paint the side door (to the garage?) the same or slightly darker gray as the siding so it disappears. Same for garage door (assuming it's white now). On the wall between the windows and on the wall between the window and the corner of the house, hang large wall-mounted planters. Add a step to the ground no further left than the center between the windows, and then lay large, natural pavers to the street (assuming this isn't on a highway). Also a step off the right side to the side yard. Decorate your new porch with rockers, a side table, a kids picnic table with an umbrella --whatever you like-- to make it look more friendly and lived in (and thus welcoming). Add 2 large containers to the sides of each step (will it be two?) and plant with colorful welcoming and possibly topiaries in arrangement. This is not the place to go with puny plants. Create an entrance at these steps. In front of the deck, plant a deep, wrap-around garden, that continues around the right side of the house. The step down would step through it. The back row by the deck should be some evergreen bushes (yew, boxwood, holly, pieris, rhododendron etc), in front of that flowering bushes that are easy to cut down (spirea, bridal veil, hydrangea, dwarf azalea-- not sure your zone but something like that). And a small flowering tree on the corner (dogwood, redbud, crepe myrtle, or japanese maple would work), and then flowers and grasses tucked into the front. Plant a large tree island to the right of the house, maybe 20 feet away on the diagonal toward the street. Not sure what zone you are in to suggest trees, but choose something that is going to get taller than the house. A large christmas tree type tree would work here as well. (Not sure if they grow where you are) If you want you can put the trash cans on the side of the garage on the concrete in a small enclosed area that matches the deck. If you do this make sure it's pretty enough and goes with the deck rather than detract from everything. This brings your entrance forward and hopefully some balance. These are ideas--don't do any of them without talking to a landscape professional who knows your area. Also keep in mind what else is going on in your neighborhood-- how have others dealt with this situation in your area?

Congrats! The house is fabulous!!! Love that type of design. Honestly, the lighting above the dining table is boring and a bit too high. I think you can really make a significant change to the room of you replace with two more interesting lights there and a bit lower toward the table. Something more earthy or industrial would work with that table even two Moroccan brass lanterns/ pendant lights. Just don't get them too small that they look piddly. Make a statement! A map is not a bad idea...THAT map, however, is not the one you should keep there. How about cool maps of places you have traveled to or street map if your home town? Look on Etsy... very wonderful items and artisans. An amazing one of a kind large scale painting or fine art photographic print would do the trick as well. Maybe something you have photographed. I'm not feeling the blue because it seems like you threw it up there to make wall more interesting. I would keep it a neutral tone depending on ur lighting. Because you have the space a tall/ narrow console table underneath filled with plants would give it life or a tall indoor tree like a ficus or fiddle leaf to one side if you have good light.