Is your ceiling tin? Haven’t you posted this dilemma before? For some reason I remember your kitchen.

Changing the wall colors can drastically make the space warmer. The tin ceiling is not helping, but if you want to keep it, change the wall color to a deeper green and substitute pillows/curtains in a light sage or blue color.

Overall, I wouldn't bother changing the pony wall. Keep it as is , and focus on keeping the dining area for eating. This nook is already too tiny for comfortable eating.

Previous thread:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6501616/galley-kitchen-opinion

Yes to removing the tin ceiling and replace with paint.

How about taking out the nook benches, and adding a suitable dresser or buffet to add storage and countertop. Either a smaller one with its back to the kitchen, or a wider one under the window.

i'd keep the nook and the pony wall for now. in a galley that tight the wall hides the dining mess and the benches are real seating. warm it up with a deeper wall color, warmer bulbs around 2700k, and wood or brass hardware. if you want more counter, a narrow buffet or bench-height cabinet on the dining side gives you landing space. if you ever pull the pony wall, have a licensed pro check it first, they sometimes hide plumbing or wiring.

I'd keep the nook and pony wall. It's separates the eating area from the kitchen, and it adds a lot of charm. The second rendering with it removed and more countertop lacks the character at 1920s house should have.

if the dining table is nearby, I'd remove the bench and add a built in hutch/sideboard cabinet for storage. I like the silver metal ceiling, but not the shine, I'd paint out the ceiling and walls to match the cabinets. Clean up the pony wall and add a new countertop easily used from the dining side.

I have a tin ceiling and changing my walls to white instead of blue really helped the room feel less cold. I also added lights on top of my cabinets to illuminate the dark shadowed areas above the cabinets. I still contemplate painting them white to look more like plaster which was why they were originally added to mimic but my family loves them tin.

It might not be warmer but I could see how playing up a french bistro theme subtly might improve the room. It looks like a newer room so I might play with decorating before a reno.

Here is no changes other than painting the tin ceiling white which was often how it would have been in the 20s.