I love the lighting for the area, you have an opportunity to choose either to draw in the eye to this wall or have it blend in. I would choose floating shelves to have it stand out, you can have fun deciding the shelf placement too. whatever you decide, best of luck (:

What are you doing with the tables you are removing?…can they be cut lengthwise to make two long shelves?..you can use the legs for center support on top of the new desk,..the two sets of drawers could be re-used easily as well..to create a smaller desk area? For other jobs or end or side tables elsewhere?

if you are redoing counters I would replace the lowers w sets of stacked drawers..looks like a 36 inch/ a 21 inch / and an 18 inch are about your sizes. storage obtained would allow reducing one of the uppers and that is a possibility. Kitchen this size would handle ikea easily .....no corners// improved and efficient storage/ good looking options/ low cost. I absolutely would not put new counters on this small kitchen while leaving hinged lowers.

I would make the bottom of that lower shelf the same height as the bottom of your upper cabinet, then tile up to that height.