Is your backsplash tiled? If not, that's where I'd add color...
...and I'd get rid of the awful flesh-toned walls - just paint that area the same taupe as the rest of the overall space.

BTW - You also need to get out your screwdriver and change the hinges/handles on your fridge door so it will open the other way.

I'm guessing a lot of people will suggest painting the cabinets. If you're not up for painting all of them you might want to consider painting the island - perhaps a gray? Also it might be nice to add some colorful artwork and consider throw rugs on the floor (if you are OK with rugs in the kitchen). We have a similarly nice, new, functional kitchen that could use some sprucing up so I'm eager to see what others have to say.

It's all the wood, with no breaks in between that seems to "flattening out" your kitchen. Can you paint the soffit and the hinge wall (next to the fridge) a contrasting colour? Perhaps in some sort of green? A Roman shade on the window, maybe with some green in it, and a couple of plants or ceramic containers too help tease the colour through out might work as well.

I agree about the backsplash -- we tiled our big kitchen backsplash with mexican talavero tiles for just a couple hundred dollars, and it made a huge impact. You could also trade out your drawer pulls and cabinet knobs for somethign colorful/funky, like glass, painted ceramic, or some antique/primitive metal ones.

First, change the paint color from that partial wall and the wall running along the top of the cabinets. It's too close to the color of the cabinets, and also very bland. Paint the other walls the same color (not a fan of the accent wall, especially in a small space like a kitchen). Change the cabinet hardware. Add color and texture through window treatments (curtains). A few colorful accessories. Is there enough room under the window for a plant stand? Get some life in there. I assume there is a breakfast area adjacent to what we see in the picture. Continue adding color through textiles (rug, window treatments, chair cushions and artwork in that room.

I don't know about painting all the cabinets, but I agree that painting the island could make a huge difference. I'd go with black to make a strong contrast against what's an already fairly color-saturated stain on the existing cabinets and the light countertops and backsplash.

I agree about that wall color. It just blends into the cabinet color into a sea of tan. A "cool" color, like aqua, would balance out some of the warmth from all that wood.

It needs texture. I'd put reeded glass inserts in some of the upper cabinets. Or fill the recessed area with something like ribbed aluminum or grasscloth. Install a bamboo Roman shade. Paint walls a single color and the ceiling a warmer white. Swap can lights for more interesting flush fixtures. Hang a big, interesting object over the island instead of a pot rack.

The cabinets are lovely and seemingly pretty new. I personally wouldn't paint them. I think you need more wall color. I don't love the ruddy color - maybe repaint to a nice sage green? Backsplash tiles can make a huge impact, as others have indicated. I find the hanging pots visually distracting - maybe store those elsewhere and bring in some nice colorful pendant lights instead?

I agree with bepsf, the flesh/terracotta paint makes everything blend together. I think if you paint them ANY other color it would be enough to brighten things up. I also agree about the backsplash, it would be a good space for something funky and colorful.

Ditto on changing the direction of the fridge door. In addition to repainting the flesh tone, you can try taking the doors off a couple of those upper cabinets and place your plates/glassware as contrast.

Aqua paint on the wall sections, clear glass tile (those small square ones, tinted light aqua) for a backdrop.

I'm also in the camp of keeping the wood cabinets as-is - they're gorgeous! Perhaps to contrast the warm tone of the wood, paint the walls a cool tone, with a cool-toned tile backsplash to match. Cabinet/drawer handles can be changed to a less sombre material (brushed nickle perhaps?), and don't forget drapes on the window - maybe a nice informal roman shade to add a little softness and a bit of color? You have a wonderful kitchen!

I'm not sure what anderlank was thinking, but the cabinets look almost new and I don't think painting them is in the cards. I like them as is.
As others have suggested, change the wall color. I'd put in a backsplash in a nice matchstick tile. I'd also remove the hanging pot rack.

Good gravy please don't paint those cabinets. They're beautiful!

I'd repaint the wall above the cabs and the wall next to the fridge. Shades of green always look great in a kitchen to me.

If you can change the backsplash, I'd go with a white subway tile ( or something that coordinates with the island top) with a couple accent strips of color. Something to bring color but not take over the focus of the room.

I'd put one large art piece over the cabinets if it could fit. A long narrow print or a saying of some sort that's meaningful to you.

Go with less bold hardware - maybe steel? And get a brightly colored happy-looking fruit bowl for the island to replace the clear glass one.

Yeah this is one instance where you do NOT paint cabinets. Agree will all who suggested changing the dead salmon color, and maybe adding a backsplash and a roman shade. How attached are you to the pot rack, and can you remove the rectangular thing that holds it?

I agree with everyone who said to paint the walls right away. I cool light blue would work nicely with the orange wood of the cabinets. I also feel that the pot rack is not a great look. It can look a bit messy...i would store the pots in your cabinets (luckily you have tons of storage space!) and put either three small or 1 large pendant lights over the island. A glass tiled (in the same shade of aqua or light blue) or a stainless steel mosaic tile backsplash would look great as well.

I agree with keeping the wood cabinets as is. They are a nice shape and color. Also I think it is really wasteful to modify or take out brand new stuff. It's something that really drives me nuts on some of the home shows on TV.

I also agree with painting out the rust colored walls to a color with more contrast.

There was just an article in the Apartment Therapy feed about using wallpaper in the kitchen. Wallpaper might be good for that accent wall or the backsplash. I would make sure it is very washable if you do it on the backsplash.

Can you place a collection of objects above the cabinets? I had a friend growing up whose mother had a collection of Mexican glassware on the top of her cabinets. Added some texture to the room.

I agree with not painting the cabinets (or the island), putting in a colorful backsplash, and painting the walls a contrasting color.

But I have to say, don't change the direction of the refrigerator door. That way if someone needs a drink while you're cooking supper, they don't need to get in your way.

I agree that painting the walls is necessary. From the thumbnail you see before clicking to see the post I couldn't even tell that the cabinets didn't go all the way to the ceiling. The terra cotta just blends right in and you've got a lot of wood color already.

I also agree that a colorful backsplash is necessary. Tile that sucker in bright colors!

Start by changing the paint color on the walls. It's too close to the tone of the stained wood cabinets. Look for a new color that will get you excited and happy! From there try new dish towels and accessories that use this newly introduced color to its best advantage (look for some patterns). I personally would be feeling some bright citrus colors or maybe intense azure blue.

I saw a house tour where the dude had a runner rug from Anthropologie in his kitchen - I am TOTALLY stealing that idea and you should too.

I disagree. I think the paint above the cabinets should match the cabinet colors as close as possible or the room will feel shorter. Personal experience with soffets and dark cabinets. Room felt "wrong" until I painted the soffets the same color as the cabinets; then it felt like the cabinets weren't just hanging in the air.

I think the issue is a problem with contrasts. You have the same quantity of light (counters), medium (cabinets) and darks (floors) so there's nothing leading your eye around the room. The only contrasts are the tiny dark knobs on medium wood so my eye was first drawn to the knobs. Then it was drawn to the hanging pots (light clump against medium). And then the it went to the coffee pot. So, where exactly do you want the eye to go? What do you want it to see?

I think you should change the knobs to stainless so your eye doesn't register them. And then pick an accent color (maybe complementary color like turquoise?). Find some vases, cannisters in the color and even some small pictures with your accent color in them and use command adhesive picture tape to tape them to the backsplash. I'd use a white frame so your eye just registers the picture.

Also hang a larger picture on the refrigerator wall and paint the window wall the same color as cabinets to widen the room. It looks like the kitchen is a small corner and not a full room.

So if you add a utensil canister by the stove in your color, your eye would go first there. Then add a colorful picture by the knives and then add some of the color by your cannisters - a plant in a pot of that color? Move the coffee pot so it's near something else that your eye wants to rest on first.....

That's my humble opinion.

The pictures would also add some texture. Everything now is solids. It needs some pattern as well.

@lordor01 - how can you say that the problem is a lack of contrast and say she should keep the terra cotta color because it blends with her cabinets? To me, that's a contradiction. If she were to make the wall color a contrasting color, she would delineate the cabinets from the wall and they wouldn't blend in so much.

I completely disagree with painting the window wall a terra cotta. I don't like the terra cotta to begin with, but so much brown would stifle the room and drag it down. And I think the cabinet knobs and pulls are just fine.

Dont knoow your budget so Im just going to toss ideas out:
Keep wood cabinets natural, paint walls, add glass tile backsplash and kitchen accessories in shades of grey-green. If clearance permits, add a 1/2 wall at 42" AFF to the right of the island facing the window, and top it with a 12-18" deep bar, with barstools. Use a contrasting counter like concrete.

I can't stop looking at the ceiling. Cover the top of the pic with your hand and the room looks instantly better. The ultra white color makes the beige walls look dirty. It looks like there is a hole in the ceiling. I agree to get rid of the pot rack and put in a fixture beautiful enough to be a bit of a focal point. Get rid of the spots also. If you need to keep your pots hung out what about wall pot racks on that accent wall? I ditto that the accent color is too close to the cabinet color. The grey floor looks good with the cabinets. S000 if it were mine, I would redo the whole dang ceiling, get some great lights from Barnhouse Electric, put down the beautiful Tauna Kilim Indoor/outdoor runner from pottery barn (looks like fabric, great color and can be hosed clean), red utensel holder and necessary accessories, and consider tile for the backsplash. I would not have accent paint. Paint color--Oops I am running out of ideas.

Paint the island black or charcoal, tile the backsplash with bright tile.

Whatever you do, get rid of the terracotta wall color. It's way to close to the color of your cabinets to make any sort of impact.The cabinets are great as is, but I would change the handles to a brushed nickel finish to play up your industrial pot rack. It would also be great if you could find a backsplash that you love (perhaps a glass mosaic tile that complements the flooring and countertops) then take a cue from the colors in the tile to incorporate onto your walls. Good luck! :)

For god's sakes please don't paint the cabinets white :D

Paint the window wall and the wall beside the fridge - I'd do a bright apple green, but any shade of blue, green, or gray would work, I think. Then get accents in the same color family (dish towels, bowls, etc.).

If you're concerned about the room looking short, paint the area above the cabinets less-contrast-y color.

And DON'T change the hardware! I love the black handles!

Try looking for more colorful, well designed pots and pans if you want to hang them. That could add the punch you're looking for, like a Le Creuset dutch oven.

And as everyone and their mother has said before, get rid of the terra cotta above the cabinets; even white would be better.

In addition to the great stuff above.... Have you thought about getting colorful pots and pans? There seem to be a lot of really cool cookware these days with brightly colored/patterned handles and bases.

While I think glass tile looks nice, it will quickly date a kitchen from the 00's. Glass tile is falling into the vessel sink category IMO.

Personally I'd stick with subway, matchstick, or maybe a classic carrera tile.

Do not paint your cabinets. THe color is great and that's a lot of work. DO paint the walls in the kitchen a different color- they blend in with the wood. The tile backsplash is a great idea, but I wouldn't go too out there with the color. I would also add easy accents that others suggested (plants, rungs, window treatment). I would consider getting another pot rack that is not stainless, it blends in with your appliances. Or you could consider painting it to coordinate with your new accessories (think apple red). Also, if it the occassion allows -an inexpensive but temporary solution is a nice glass bowl of fruit- either limes, lemons, oranges, red or green apples. There are lots of options there. Nice kitchen, but you're right it needs some color

tile the backsplash. Exchange some of your wooden cabinet doors for glass doors. What makes it boring is the uninterrupted expanse of wood.

Christine Here! Thanks everyone for all your awesome suggestions. We have already switched over the handle on the fridge! Did that the day we moved in. Now I am so inspired to get going on some of the changes you guys thought of. Hate that terracotta (like all of you) and am thinking a gray colour would be nice for the walls. I'll post an after pic for sure. Thanks again!!

Paint all the walls white, including the orange walls. do not paint the cabinets, and keep your hardware it all looks good maybe incorporate some art. How about blackboard paint on the end strip of wall next to the frig. keep it simple.

please please please DO NOT PAINT those cabinets or switch hardware... all you need is some color on the walls and accents stuff as other posters already said so i wont be redundant but please leave those cabinets as they are beautiful!!!

Hey Christine! I hope you see this. If you're thinking about doing more colorful pots and pans like some people say, but you can't stock a cupboard of Le Creuset (because I know I definitely can't!) Lodge now makes amazing enamel cast iron pots and pans for much, much less. The pans are usually $25 or $30 and the pots are really inexpensive too, like $50 for a medium size. Good luck and keep us updated!

I don't know whether you like purple colour, but at the moment I saw the photo, I thought this kitchen would look nice with purple accents and hanging flowers above the kitchen island.

If you like this idea, you might colour the walls above the cabinets and the wall next to the fridge in light purple colour.
Would look something like this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2492251784_35dfff1a90.jpg
(use lighter purple than this in the photo).

Put roman shades on the window :
http://needspark.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/purple-kitchen4.jpg?w=500&h=400

... and 2 or 3 hanging flower baskets with beautiful flowers above the kitchen island :
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/14527606/2/istockphoto_14527606-hanging-flower-baskets.jpg
http://img1.topfreebiz.com/o2010-5/cache/Hanging-Flower-Basket-2112248674.jpg

You may also try this DIY project for the hanging flowers baskets:
http://www.hangingbasketbrackets.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/2950910378_a0943759b61.jpg

... and put a nice painting on the wall next to the fridge.

- paint over the rust color, either white or a bright color (someone mentioned purple, I agree that might look nice)
-stop hanging the pots over the island, your kitchen will look much more open. Could also be a good spot from some interest lighting.
-artwork on the exterior wall, something with bright colors
-hardware with a more modern line/finish, I would like stainless bar pulls with those cabinets
-window treatments, I have west elm's tortoise print in my kitchen, I think it would be lovely in here if you went with stainless modern hardware
-accessories with bright colors

Nice kitchen. Just colored pots and pans and a colored Kitchenaid mixer and fun colored pot holders.