I think a green with a hint of yellow will be nice. Plants by the window and some more lighting.

I've been looking at some pale, yet bright greens for my kitchen. I have white cabinets but I think it could work with your brown ones as well. Otherwise, maybe a light blue.

I would paint it white. (then again, I love all white kitchens) I'd recommend Simply White from BJM, I have it in my apartment & it looks great in all light.

You can't go wrong with it against wood, (whereas a green or yellow could make cabinetry look super dated & awful if you get the wrong shade) and I'd accessorize with lots of color in art on the walls & accessories.

Have fun!

I think white, too. It looks clean and bright. I think it would go well with your cabinets, too.

Envious of all that storage and your sweet breakfast nook!!

PS I'd add a small area rug to bring color onto the floor---I know it seems weird to do in a kitchen, but as someone who doesn't spill too much, I think it looks really good & will break up the beige-ness.

I would do a light sage green, without too much blue in it. It's fairly neutral, it's botanical, it would look nice with the wood. But more importantly, can you bring extra lighting into the kitchen somehow? Looking at the pictures, I think that might make more of a difference than a coat of paint.

I think you should make it white too. The space will look spacious and white works well with dark wood.

You need to work with the countertops and floor. If you paint the walls white it will probably make your floor look dingy. Maybe it's just the light over the stove, but the floors look a little yellow. That might be why the owner/previous tenant went with those yellow-ish walls.

If there is a color you can pull out of the countertops or floor - a little speck or swirl - that is a good starting point, because it will coordinate. Otherwise, find a textile (rug, kitchen towel, curtain, curtain fabric, chair cushion, chair cushion fabric, etc) - or even a piece or art - that you LIKE, and that you want to use somehow in your kitchen, which coordinates with the countertops/floor but also has another color in it. Then use THAT OTHER COLOR to paint the walls.

Your cabinets will probably work with most colors, except the coolest blues or grays. Or neon, or something equally as obnoxious.

I second babyfishmouth--- the countertops don't look great.... since you're renting you could see if the tenant would be okay with contact paper---there are some cute options out there and actually a botanical one that I used helping my aunt. It's time consuming, but it made a huge difference in her place.

http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/elizabeths-artist-retreat/item/316921
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/elizabeths-artist-retreat/item/316922

I would go with a soft plum or mauve for the kitchen walls. It will look nice with the cream/beige counters without making them stand out. In the dining nook, you could use a deeper hue below the chair rail with a lighter hue above to keep what seems like a closed off space nice and bright.

On another note, it looks like the bay window goes reaches the floor. I would caution against building anything that obscures the light coming in through that window.

I also have wood cabinets, that for many reasons I thought best not to paint. I went with a light teal color BM Gossamar Blue. The contrast between the colors works in my case. It is the light airy kitchen I wanted. I thought of using orange and really commit to the warm tones of the cabinets. I think it makes cabinets that might not be your taste less noticeable, just like painting them white.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/m/photos/0,,20621287_21200216,00.html

Why not utilize the chair rail ? I would paint the top half white. The lower half grey or khaki...

The floors are a greyish and off white checkered design, there's a spot light on the ceiling but it isn't bright at all, the countertops are a beige color and the stove light does make the floor look yellow but in reality it's not! All great suggestions everyone thank you, soft slate blue is a definite choice!

I'd look at pictures of kitchens with brown cabinets that are dark like yours and see what colors YOU like with the brown cabinets in the pictures - that'll tell you what will work for you.

“Hint of Violet” by Benjamin Moore. Do it! Would look beautiful with that big window you have :)

Dear Eva,

Here's a cupboard door cloth wrapping tutorial that might change your life: http://treschicveronique.blogspot.de/2008/05/kitchen-cabinet-project.html

Can you picture it? Exciting. I would choose oilcloth for easy cleaning, there are so many beautiful colors/patterns.

I love your banquette idea. If the nook had a U-shaped wrap around bench (deep) with pillows, simple cafe curtains on the window, perhaps a mirror to catch the light and a generous frame for Rosie the Riveter -- I bet you would never use your living room! Enjoy your wonderful space.

Here are some banquette pics : http://www.diaryofarenovation.com/make-most-your-eat-in-kitchen-with-cozy-banquette/

at first I thought maybe a soft light green, but then I remembered how much I like light violet against dark wood with creamy accents. I also liked the idea of plum

I normally wouldn't agree with white, but it could work well in here, just make sure to add in colorful accents. If you want a color, I'd go with a pale aqua- the whole kitchen is shades of brown and brown always works with aqua.

I like BM 'Whirlpool,' a very pale ice blue. I think it would look nice with the dark brown cabinets.

Greens and blues will tend to contrast with the cabinet wood, and anything yellowish will look dingy with the counters and the floors. The more contrast you create, the more the details will stand out. Since this kitchen is sort of dull and showing it's age, I would tend to avoid any contrast. There is a reason why greige is so popular -- it coordinates and updates woods and beiges. So a safe bet would be one of the greiges like Abalone or Silver Fox (Benjamin Moore). If you really want to try a slate blue, look at one like Gentle Gray, which is very warm and understated.

The wainscoting in the table area is available for color - although I would tend to want to paint it a soft white to add freshness to the whole space. Also consider installing a good light fixture to give the whole space some personality. You can always hold on to the old fixture and swap it back when you move out.

Im in the merest hint of pale blue camp! Also,have you thought about some of those peel and stick tiles for the floor? They are super easy to do,very sturdy and not expensive at all. Fresh paint and a shiny new floor would totally transform this place.

I know a lot of people here are anti-white kitchen. But honestly, I think it's the perfect backdrop to the color that food brings to a kitchen.

This is a great space to paint white, and that's what I'd do. There are myriad shades of white. Once you start looking you will probably find that there is a warm white you like. I think the contrast with the floor and cabinets will look clean and fresh without being cold and I think greens or yellows will look a bit dated and worn, which is the exact opposite of the goal, right?

A very beautiful more than white colour that is friendly with beige, grey and wood is BM Elmira White. It's reads white but has a hint of griege. Looks great with violets, greens, golds and blue.

Munichmom, that cupboard wrapping thing is genius!

Thanks! There's a photo of another wrapped kitchen in the google universe with white walls and the ikea white background/tiny leaf fabric that may just sum up Eva's 'botanical' vibe. Have you already wrapped your kitchen Jane? (great name btw)

Or (and I'll stop now) taking off the top doors and adding fabric backing would also brighten up the room.

http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/2012/02/fabric-backed-open-kitchen-cabinets-diy-on-a-dime-the-tutorial.html