Hickery can be very busy so I think I would go for something that showed very little grain like a maple. maybe forget the glaze. A dark cherry perhaps would be a good contrast with little grain. Dark maple island with maple cabinets. That sounds a little busy too but I'm just throwing things out there.

Alright, I'll stick my 2cents in. Since she's asking for suggestions for both kitchen and family room, I assume she's got a clean slate to work with other than the hickory...no furniture to coordinate with. Seems to me that there are hundreds of shades that would work and be perfect...all depends on what she likes and how much light the rooms get. But perhaps this will be helpful: Hickory (from my recollection anyway) has a lot of yellow tones in it, so I'd be inclined whatever she does to go for a warm vs. a cool shade. If she chooses a white, it should be a creamy white rather than one with a blue or grey undertone. But she could go with a green, a yellow, a tan, red, organge or pretty much ANY color she likes, as long as she finds the right shade. Have you and she looked through the finished kitchen blog to see other kitchens with hickory cabinets? She might find that helpful. There are at least 7 kitchens that come up when you select under categories "cabinets" and then "hickory". One has a great rusty red paint, which I love. Another has a turquoise island that looks fabulous. I'm less enthusiastic about the one painted light blue. Here is a link that might be useful: finish kitchen blog -hickory cabinets

paint the uppers only, a white or mushroom....[putty]…..I think the bottom cabinet area will work with the floor then. The layer of wood cabinetry on the walls is very "heavy" , visually.....regardless of what floor exists. A change at eye level[walls] will change things in a big way. And the wood cabinets lower down will actually be good, as an "anchor" for your space. And get some runners/mats. You lack base drawers..at some point a replacement will come into your discussions..... so extra trouble of painting them isn't worth it.

I’m sorry I don’t but it’s a clear pallet otherwise (except bold paint on the walls)