Replaced stove with a black stove and dishwasher since this picture was taken.

How do you feel about painting the paneling? Quick fixes -- replacing curtains with blinds and removing tablecloth would update the space. And a colourful rug in front of the sink.

Painting would be the most logical option to 'lighting up' the space.

Paint it ... Here's what I did in my bathroom.

Unusually interesting kitchen. Please post new photos taken in daylight without the window and door curtains. Prop the camera or phone on a chair if you need to steady it.

What color would be good to paint the cabinets? The problem with the paneling is that it is not smooth at all and my husband wants to keep. :-(

I was thinking a green? ?????

I will take pictures tomorrow after my husband is done making a mess cooking in there and I can take the window coverings off and declutter.

Wow! Original beaded board from 1900! We had that in our first home in the kitchen and pantry. In your picture the walls show a lovely patina. What if you paint the cabinets and all the trim white and see how you like it? Is the ceiling the same or is it sheetrock? You could paint the ceiling a blue…maybe Bm bali.

Sage green or antique ivory might go with the panelling. While you are getting the photos tomorrow, you might want to look at this page: http://tuanfloors.com/types-of-woods/ and tell us what photo your wood panelling is closest to in color (or species, if you know).

If your camera colors have drifted somehow, you might want to include a red apple, some yellow lemons and some green vegetable or other in the photos for us to fiddle with our monitors.

These I hope will give a better look at what I am talking about! Thank you for your ideas!

Not good lighting!

Great big ol' kitchen. I was hoping you put a rug in front of the sink! Would love to see the table pulled more out on to the floor to use all sides of it, especially since there appears to be room. And guessing that is the only place in the home for the chest freezer?

New hardware, new curtains, new appliances, and painting. Painting will help brighten the place up and make the space feel larger. Let us know what you decide! Good luck:)

I think I like I idea of Sage green or antique ivory painting the cabinets & trim. Thinking about using whatever color to go threw the house using it for all the trim. Also going toward window blinds!

I had the same type and color of paneling. We painted it a beautiful ivory and it brightened up the whole room. We were thrilled with the look as it was easy to decorate since it was a neutral shade and we never tired of it.

We have the same type too seven years ago when we moved in. We painted it a soft pale blue green and have been very happy with it. The surrounding trim wood was painted white.

Thanks for new photos. If you are keeping the flooring, that's the room feature that determines the shades of paint that look best, whether sage green, a blue or an antique ivory.Any of those would be fine, of course. Foamcore boards make good paint sample things you can move around. If you have scraps of the flooring, take it with you to the paint store. Also take a drawer front with you so you can talk to the paint store staff about primer and best paint choice for cabinets.

I have thought about what was said about color of flooring, So now the thought is a blue/gray? Any idea about that? I have been so impressed with the ideas so far on this site and looking forward to getting started soon.

If I paint the trim, do I paint the door the same color?

Trim and doors are often finished differently when redoing old houses. It's up to you.

How are your color ideas evolving?

Actually we have come up with an idea's going to be taking things apart this week to clean up the cabinets getting ready for paint. We have thought to use 3 colors, light gray, a little darker gray, & white. The inside of the cabinet face the light gray, darker gray on the rim like a frame, and the cabinets wood that holds them to the wall white, all the trim white throughout the kitchen, kitchen door lighter gray, and thinking about getting shutters for the pantry doors and maybe painting them the light gray, keeping the trim white around the doors?