I agree with your thought that everything blends a bit too much here. Your light-colored hickory has very strong grain presence (...and is very tough, strong wood, by the way). I think it will be "happier" against a wall color in the mild green-blue-grey range. Something contrasting and complementing all the yellow-golds in the cabinetry.

If you have enough light, your wall color could be even a bit deeper color than in these photos of one of our projects.

If you really want to emphasize a cozy country feel, you could even consider adding a wood ceiling. Moderate cost knotty pine "car-siding" is widely available. ...can't see from your photos, though, whether there is a good place to stop a new ceiling treatment at this end of the kitchen.

Have fun! Mark