I would do a dark color on the walls and the backsplash to let the cabinets shine.

They shouldn't have put up a tile backsplash. When you have 4" of the counter material as a backsplash there isn't a need for anything else. It looks like the tile, floor and ceiling colors aren't complementing the cabinets. Get a couple rugs to cover part of the floor, paint the ceiling and soffits a warmer white like SW Alabaster and remove the tile backsplash. Then paint the backsplash area the same color as the ceiling. That will brighten everything up. I don't think you need the valance in the window either.

As with any painting project, sampling is very important. Colors don't look the same in every room and the direction the natural light is coming from changes the way they look also. So sample before going all out. Painting a ceiling is a pain so you only want to do it once. If your kitchen is open to another room you will have to consider how a new color will look with whatever is in that room as well.

I've seen a few friends hickory kitchens. Gunmetal or near black works well....or light as in nearly white. Your floor and counters are in red/brown family...not good w hickory..... a new floor and counter therefore in slate or those darker shades.....or pick dark floor and light counter/backsplash. depends on funds you have available. but none of the 3 : floor/counter splash are working well ..... keep the hickory and redo the adjacent surfaces and get a good result. you need better lighting maybe before other things, in truth. here's slate/dark surfaces working w hickory [ but mosaic splash is a yesterday look they say] .... light counters and tiles now offer a lot more choices w slight veins or speckles etc so dont rule out light counter either.

Log Cabin Bath | Hickory · More Info

natural stone custom backsplash · More Info

I agree with Sabrina above. The floor is the offender in this scenario and will make a massive difference once updated.

Step one: change out the ceiling light fixture. You don't need to start with an electrician and adding a bunch of recessed lights. Just swap it out for a flexible track light system for now so you can get a better read on flooring/counter/backsplash and any samples you try out. The light you have looks way too cool - I like bulbs in the 3000-3500K range. A creamy paint color on the soffit and ceiling like sherwin williams navajo white might look pretty with the cabinets.

Those cabinets are awesome. Agree with the others who suggest addressing the floor first. The pattern and color really detract from lovely wood. What is the floor in the connecting areas of the house? Depending on the answer, you might consider running the same. Also think a dark paint would be very nice.

Here's an illustration of my suggestions:

If your plan is to change the countertops to a light coulour,, that would be quite nice as well.

You could paint the faucets around the kitchen above the cabinet top the color of the cabinet more to blend to the ceiling and have the ceiling the same color or a white but a soft white like an off-white I like the Appliance color you have it's stainless or black stainless that gives it some shine if your kitchen feels dark you can paint the ceiling a satin that shines and if you can remove your curtain topper if it would help you have more light and you can put up a shade that you can open the shade can be either the gray color of the appliances or the wall color

My other thought was paint the ceiling to match the appliances but that might make it quite dark? Then it might look like a tiled ceiling do you have reset lights? Have your kitchen lighting at 35k or 40K

A shiny ceiling will show all defects, I wouldn't recomment that unless the ceiling is "perfect".

Some like dark I would do counters and backsplash  white  or light then fix floors wood always makes a room smaller and darker

IMO first address the lighting and I agree if budget is tight a nice LED track light as shown is agreat idea I like all LED 4000K bulbs to keep colors true. The floor to me is the big issue if you love the cabinets . No shiny ceiling ever, I do not like hickory but the fact is you do so now every other choice you make is driven by that wood. So IMO remove the backspash and do something to change the floors, that along with the new lighting will make a huge difference.

I also think the backsplash and floors can be changed to make that kitchen look its best. It’s a beautiful wood but it’s surrounded by too much that competes, and doesn’t complement.

Is there money for new floors? That would be my first decision. To help visualize a lighter backsplash, cover the tiles with white or ivory construction paper and see how it looks. You may choose to do that first.

And definitely change the lighting ! Bulbs are cheap. Nice lighting isn’t expensive either. Look for end of year clearance sales, they’re everywhere.

Depends upon budget. Looks like Formica counter with built in splash. If $ isn’t an issue I would definitely do new countertops, whether quartz or stone. Light or dark would both work. If you could remove the curvy wood piece and valance over the sink that would be great. Agree that new lighting and flooring would also help. This kitchen could be very nice with those updates.

Lighting seems to be the biggest shortcoming here…i would sacrifice the upper cabinets on window wall ….and add as many windows as possible…add more ceiling lighting…. once you have more light, decide the rest…(mis-matched appliances adds to the confusion as well)

Updating flooring, counter and backsplash will make a big difference. Easy adjustments are good lighting and removing valance.