Congratulations on your new home. Sorry, but I cannot open your picture. Can you upload it to photobucket and the copy the html code into this thread?

That's odd! It worked in the preview!

here's a link http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/akgirl85/kitchen_zps674abe1b.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful:

I think I fixed it :)

Ordinarily I would suggest green walls, but maybe not with the blue counters. I know you said that you are keeping all the elements, but if you were to make a change, then the counter would be my first choice. It would make a dramatic difference and then could be a jumping off point for the walls.
I would consider Gel Staining the cabinets. But again I am not sure how darker wood would look with your blue counter.
Many here have successfully painted oak cabinets white or cream. it takes a lot of work, but the result is amazing. Some here have replaced doors. (Check out Linelle's kitchen- Hi Linellle!)
Congratulations on your new home. This kitchen, although dated is actually quite nice. For the short term, members here who are good with color aan make suggestions for the walls. That would be a good place go start.

The layout has a serious safety hazard with the range right next to the opening and I wouldn't put any more money into it other than painting because there really should be a much more extensive remodel in your future when you've recovered from buying the house. A fresh green for the walls and a white for the cabinets. Cooltiles has a really pretty multi blue and green with white glass tile on sale for only $3.91 that you could use as color inspiration and maybe some inexpensive white subway tile from a box store. You could do a band of the glass tile in the middle of the white subway and the paint and tile would give you a lift for a few years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Light Blue Ice Green Blend

I agree with you 100% on the safety issue there.....though you seem to be the first person to agree with me on that. Unfortunately, since we bought a house at the top of our price range, we don't have the money to rearrange the kitchen until DH is out of school. :( In the spirit of making the best of my situation...I have basically put those two burners out of commission. (See attached picture) I tend to cook pretty simple meals so this works most of the time.

Gel staining is an excellent idea. I will have to look into that!

Green designs: That tile is really pretty. I had thought of tile as well....I really like the look of the penny tile that the petersiks used on Younghouselove (http://images.younghouselove.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/03/kitchen-shelves-detail.jpg) and was thinking about putting that in behind the stove.

It's interesting that both of you suggested green! That is a color I actually hadn't considered except for maybe a lime to contrast with the cherry red I've got going. I shall have to explore this :P

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

OK, the paranoid in me comes out - you might want to remove the dials for the two burners on the left. The cutting board looks like a fire hazard to me, if someone accidentally turns on the wrong burners...