You have a nice kitchen. I wouldn't paint the cabinets. Changing the wall color to something besides beige-ish would be a big impact. De-cluttering the countertops and windowsill would go a long way toward opening up and lightening your kitchen. A bunch of small items all over the countertop and window sill gives the impression of 'small and dark'. When you can, replace the OTR microwave with a hood and put a countertop microwave elsewhere in your kitchen. It will open up that range area. Something like this gets it away from the main cook center:

I think a cream or buff paint would really lighten the room. You may eventually want to change to a lighter backsplash too, but even in steps, this will make a big difference. While you're painting is also a good time to think about more modern pulls, if you have any doubts about the current ones.

acm, are you referring to the walls or the cabinets? I agree with you about the pulls.

If this was my kitchen i would change that backsplash to a lighter color and change out the microwave for a stainless hood.

I actually did a wood hood, but since you have stainless appliances, I would go with a stainless.

My similar kitchen:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854040

I agree with spending the time and $ to change the backsplash. You can likely remove the current one yourself (if you are willing), and Lowes has subway tile on sale right now. A plain off-white would look delicious with the cabinets and the counter, both of which look pretty nice to me in your photo.

I second the lighter paint color on the walls. I’d also go for lighter pulls and handles, de-cluttering, and adding colorful accessories like pretty anti-fatigue mats, linens, or Fiesta ware. Is your grout tan? That would make a nice wall color.

I would paint the cabinets and the walls, two different shades of the same sort of cream/buff. Your preference.

We would highly recommend on using a professional to sand and stain your kitchen cabinets. If you want to bright up space, and willing to invest in new backsplash and countertop, try this color scheme:

or something like that if you prefer warmer colors

Good luck!

Why does she need to change out the microwave for a hood, and where would the microwave go?

She does not need to change out the microwave for a hood - no one "needs" to do anything unless something is unsafe. For me, a microwave over the range is too high - I am short - and it crowds the cooking area. Also, a hood can add a bit of "pretty" to a kitchen and a dedicated hood vents better than a microwave hood. She probably has a counter by the fridge that could hold a small microwave. If the backsplash is changed - good time to think about a different hood as that area would be affected by the backsplash.

Agree with jhmarie. Although I am tall, the OTR microwave is in the busiest part of the kitchen and finding a different place for it makes the kitchen function better IMO.

I think the microwave looks better than your wood hood. And her stove is on an inside wall which means she would have to have a vent put in and ran to the outside. That is another added expense.

Perhaps painting the cabinets a cream color and the walls some kind of cream would work well? The backsplash looks a bit dark as well, so maybe at some point try to change that out, but if you don't have that in the budget at the moment then some time down the road. Here are some kitchen designs of ours just to get you started on your journey:

I agree with the suggestion to change the backsplash and just repaint the walls for now. Maybe also remove the wood over the window and add a Roman shade instead.

1st paint walls a lighter color

2nd install lighting under cabinets

3rd backsplash bigger tiles less grout lines

Wait to choose backsplash after lighting install. Pick 3 of fav tiles, put under cabinets see them in day, night, & with lights on.

Your kitchen is to tight to put the microwave anywhere else. I thinking changing backsplash would make a huge impact and it's probably easier then painting cabinets.

Only have them painted IF you have it done professionally by a competent cabinet painter / refinisher, otherwise leave them alone ....it’s not cheap. I know many on here will say you can do them yourself but it’s a huge job & beyond the skill set for most to do it correctly. There are other, less expensive things to do as suggested by others on here.