Maybe teal would work. I love teal, and it's a bold color without being too dark. I think one accent wall or support beam splashed with such a bright hue would look nice with all the white. Good luck! :)

You have a lovely space. If you would paint the walls, I'd paint a soft shade of green, close in shade to the pot you have on your stove.
If you want something less permanant, why not replace the white lanterns with two in red? To cover the wall, perhaps a tapestry or african tribal print.

Good luck!

First, I'd lose the curtains or keep them pulled back. I'd leave the walls white. On the wall next to the door, I'd put a large mirror above the radiator to reflect as much light from the next room. You could do the same on the opposite wall by getting a lower bookshelf. Then on the big white expanse I'd put a series of posters or photos related by color or theme framed with glass. These would add color and more reflective surfaces to bounce more light around the room.

I have 11 foot tall ceilings and it is very hard to find anything big enough.

In the end, I bought a huge suzani on eBay with a very unusal design - about 13 feet long - and hung it over a rod. Total cost, including shipping, $150, because it is from 1960. And the really big ones are cheap, because no one has walls big enough. Look for the words "large" "huge" and search on Uzbek.

There are suzanis that look best run across a wall, and ones that look good vertical - but make sure that you buy something large enough or it will look silly on the wall. Here's one that is huge (144 x 90 inches), cheep and cheery from 1979 - the panels aren't perfectly matched but who cares, for this price? http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-UNUSUAL-UZBEK-HANDMADE-SILK-EMBROIDERY-SUZANI_W0QQitemZ260481795023QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca5ecc3cf&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

There are some ikat textiles from Sumba, Indonesia that are long enough, but they are too narrow to be interesting on a wall the size of yours.

Why not art? Howabout abstract pieces like here: www.pamreynolds.com

Your kitchen is cozy, indeed. However, I agree with onexnwyrkr about losing the curtains in the doorway and adding a few mirrored/reflective surfaces. So much room for big, bright artwork, too.

I must confess that I wish I had your problem. I also have a kitchen with little to no light, but it's in a basement with a low, low, loooow ceiling. It also has pipes. Lots of 'em, taking up much of the wall space. My kitchen = not cozy.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/good-questions/advice-for-huge-white-wall-good-question-096870

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...

I think mirrors too - try a full row of Ikea mirror bathroom cabinets and store all your spices and small stuff in there to free up bench space. Repetition is the key and mirrors will bring in lots of light - hell put them all round the blank walls and enjoy the reflections.

Or pin a series of similar coloured photographs or postcards pref B & W nothing too busy or clip them on a line around the room

http://www.blockposters.com/

As rosenatti said, I wish I had your problem! You have a really nice kitchen!

However, I know what you mean about the big, blank wall. I would paint it a bright, cheery ochre yellow and use all that height by installing some bookshelves up high and running the whole length of the wall (maybe three shelves in total). You could even get one of those rolling library ladders--you might have to push some chairs around when you need a book but if you keep all the rarely-read ones to one side it shouldn't be too inconvenient. Or you could use the shelves to dispaly a collection.

The shelves would bring down the height of the ceiling and then you wouldn't have so much blank wall to deal with.

I also don't see the need for the curtains.

What an amazing palette for something INCREDIBLE!!
Everything above is great one option that I noticed missing-
frame the space with curtains or put in a high shelf 60cm wide and put everything on the wall- pictures, maps of places to go /been, art, mirrors, skis, vines (willow, grape, philidendron), posters, dried flowers, many shelves on different levels, go nuts bring the outside in bring anything "IN" with the size of the wall you have the room for it. Then you will have a place of inspiration, memory, and conversation.

I think that you should just leave the wall white and then use the space as a gallery. Hang family photos and your kids art as they get older. Throw in some paintings you find or posters. Make it personal. You may even install some shelves so you can rearrange everything easier.

I think orange would work really well with your furniture and accents.

You have a very lovely kitchen! I'd say: Definitely a piece of art in yellow, red, orange and wooden tones. Or something black and white to contrast the warm kitchen.

To figure out colors and/or sizes until you find something you love, you can try the rasterbator (homokaasu.org/rasterbator) for cheap mock-ups.

(AT, why is this post in AT Chicago and in AT Boston?)

Clicked submit too early... AT, what about "AT Europe"? :o)

What about a simple monotone wall mural. Like tree branches or some birds. Or maybe a giant pegboard so that you can move around art pieces and objects easily. I've also always liked the gallery-style picture hangers that drop down from the ceiling. The wires draw the eye up the wall and add some interest.

Good luck with everything. And don't forget to post "after" pics!

-JwB @ the prettygoods