I don't have very good light in my kitchen at all. I have a very small window over the sink which faces west but barely gets sun because the house next door is very close to the lot line and shadows mine. That window was that way when I took the house and I really didn't have the extra money to make it larger. It was either that or remove the other small window which faced south, and add a sliding door. I chose the door. However, even with adding the slider, it still doesn't brighten up the room substantially since the sun doesn't hit that side of the house - it hits the detached garage wall instead most of the day. I only get sun early in the morning there, and in the small window, late in the day but it's too small to make an impact. Having said all that - I wanted dark cabinets because my home was built in 1915, and is for the most part Craftsman and has all of it's original woodwork - which had never been painted. All of it is very dark wood. I wanted to make the kitchen feel as much like the rest of the house as possible. Anything other than a dark wood seemed inauthentic to me. So, I went with Quartersawn Oak in an espresso stain (I think that's what it is, I forget already - it's been well over a year plus since it was all installed, going on 2). I added all new overhead lighting to compensate along with undercabinet lights of course. When the overheads first came on I hated them. It felt like the sun exploded in the room lol. Now, I'm used to it and it is fine. I do wish I had not "cheaped out" in some ways on the under cabinet lights, but I had already spent something like $20K on lighting and was so angry at my electrician I just wanted to get it over already. Maybe one day I'll be able to fix what I don't like about that aspect of it - but overall, it certainly is way bright enough and I've never gotten the feeling the room is too dark. BTW, the small window? When we began demolition we discovered it originally had been an enormous almost to the floor window that had been bricked up! And there had been another one on the same wall! These old homes when first built had big windows in them to bring in as much light as possible because electricity stunk back then :) Unfortunately, I couldn't have made it work even if I wanted to bring it back to it's original state. That, would have been one heck of an expensive window and I would have lost precious cabinet and counter space to boot.

I took some photos but don't know if I will ever get them posted. Plus the lighting was bad because I just shot them without any adjustments with off indoor lighting. It was an upscale old folks home where my uncle lives. The whole place appeared to have been designed by a very smart and capable decorator. Everything was color coordinated on all the floors, although each had a unique personality. But the whole thing was designed to give off a warm. cozy and upscale vibe. Problem for me using it would be that none of my things would match those colors. I have that "northwoods" color scheme going with maroon, blueberry, taupe, brown, forest green, tan, plum and sage. It'll be interesting to see how I pull off blending my mom's "spring/fall" color palette with my "winter/summer" one. I can use her colors if the intensity and tone is right. For example, I am fine with dark rust, watermelon or terra cotta but peach is death for me.

I dont like the idea of a wall to wall shelf or any other shelf over a bed. I have visions of something coming down and landing on the occupant or occupants of that bed. I do like the color and sconces etc, in the post above by Laura. It looks great. I also would want draperies on the window. The rods should be moved out a bit, so it looks wider and put the draperies on and pull to the sides, so the window itself is open. Paint one wall white and then view it for a day or two in all lights and see just how it works in your room.

IMO that carpet needs to go and new flooring to match what you already have that would be my first step. Why gray at all ? Why not look at a pale grayed/ green instead . At least as neutral as gray and IMO since gray is not working whu keep beating a dead horse.. I love Gray Wisp BM and have often used it cut 25% if a really light color is a must.