Can you post a photo feom further back? might be more helpful to commenters.

Shoji is a good choice, just used it in our living room. Your cabinets look like birch, not oak, and more likely from the 70s.

Lighting, Can you update bulbs to the brightest light imaginable? And even light fixtures. Lighting can make a space look bigger it is amazing once you try new bulbs you will love it. I love your idea of removing the rust orange paint. It will really be a transformation.

A creamy white would like nice with those counters and brighten up the space.

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Look how great the trim looks below with the dark wood floors it's Swiss Coffee on trim. Elephant Tusk BM on the walls. Thats a nice color too.

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Maybe take the blinds down until you need them for privacy. It is amazing how removing window treatments can really open the space. Wash the window too and youll discover light trickling in from that north facing window. I wonder if the wood shade could be removed or would it effect the cabinets?

Update your lighting and bulbs for the best "light". 4000LED bulbs are very good and look like daylight.

Thanks everyone...clt3 the house was built in 1999...I also plan to change the hinges and cabinet pulls to silver since I have silver appliances. I will definitely prime the walls with Kilz and I'm thinking about adding track lighting and a brighter ceiling fan in the eating area since it's a galley kitchen so that I can spread the light around.

ideas...

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Those cabinets might be from the 90's, but they give an awesome 70's vibe and I'm personally INTO IT. Love the idea to paint the walls a creamy shade - I'd also suggest leaning into the 1970's feel by replacing the blinds with a woven window shade. I'd also potentially look at removing the texture/pattern from your ceilings, as it's probably adding to the "enclosed" feeling in the room.

Personally I wouldn't change the hinges or pulls - I think the ones you have add character (and there's definitely no rule to coordinate appliances and hardware). But it's your kitchen so do you.

The dark hingesyou have blend better with the wood than silver, and you don't want to highlight them. You could leave the hinges and update the handles with a simple style in the same finish.

Please show photos of each wall and the ceiling, including light fixture. The cabinets look like red birch, not oak, and should take paint well.

The cabinets are birch, not oak, and are very much like pre 1999 built cabinets. They look to be in good condition. I would not change out the hinges, and pulls either. The kitchen actually has a very late 60's early 70's look to it. I would try to keep that look. To brighten it up, change all the light bulbs, to daylight type 4000k led. It will make a lot of difference. Then pick the new paint for the walls.

Cat_ky, i thought about putting shaker style strips over the carved design and then having them painted white but the rest of the house trim matches the cabinets.

I like your cabinets! I wouldn’t use chrome or nickel hinges with your warm toned cabinets. if you replace the pulls and/or knobs I’d use a brass or metal that is as close to the hinges as possible, though I like what is already there.

A warm white for your walls will definitely brighten your kitchen. I love SW Pearly White.

Changing the wall colour is strongly recomended if you really want to improve things up.