Get a lighter counter that has some reflective characteristics, repaint the walls with a lighter colored paint, and live with it for a while before doing the backsplash. We have medium dark cherry perimeter cabinets in our kitchen that faces SE, but there is a 10' deep front porch with an 11' roof including overhang that darkens the kitchen. It has a triple window over 7' wide and 4' high, and two 10" SunTunnels. The counters are a medium green granite. The center square island has creme painted cabinets and a medium light limestone/marble top. My walls look like they are about the same color as yours appear in your picture, and the floor is cream colored cork. The kitchen feels too dark to me. Our lower level galley kitchen has similar medium dark cherry cabinets with a light semi-shiny patterned laminate, and the paint is a lighter shade of the paint that is upstairs. The triple window 7' wide by 4' high is 24' across the room from it. This kitchen should feel darker than the one upstairs, but doesn't, no matter what time of day or night it is. Both kitchens are well lit. I am going to paint the upstairs kitchen a lighter better color that makes both the cabinets and counter top have a little more umph. If I could change to a lighter counter top in the upstairs kitchen, I would. There is no doubt in my mind that these 2 changes would make my upstairs kitchen feel lighter, based on how much lighter the lower level kitchen feels. Anne

I would make the fireplace room the living room. Remove everything…bookcases…everything. Two sofas, legs showing and neat arms, positioned perpindicular to the fireplace with a small rug under a glass and iron rectangular coffee table. Left of the fireplace in the inspiration photo, is art work. I would do one on each side of your fireplace and a mirror over mantel. Shop for a pair…that way size and frames and mats will be the same, but art will be different, but same subject. Make a dining room out of the space with the big rug, which looks like an 8 x 10, which is perfect size for a table and chairs.

We used to have a rug in the living room but we have three dogs and there was one where she would like to take her afternoon break on it somehow. We removed it and then she stopped her afternoon pee breaks. Perhaps i can try it again and see if she will do it again. and since I have three dogs, the other dogs follow suit.. :( I don't have a dining room; only a eat in with the kitchen. I do however, have a small area in the kitchen for a changing table. and we are planning on using cloth diaper so it'll be interesting lol. Unfortunately, I don't think I have option to create a pass through wall. The only wall I was thinking of being able to knocking down or creating an opening is the one that leads into the kitchen but there's an air vent at the bottom and light switch on the other side of the wall :( Preferably I'd like to keep the bench as it has four big deep draws. I can probably put baby stuff in there without having them lie in open areas of the house. My original thought was using the corner space with the window for the baby area as it does have some light. I bought Ikea frames kind of matching to the bench and was going to hang two above and I also have a 2x4 foam core picture that I'd like to hang but if it doesn't match then I probably shouldn't use it...(see picture below) I was also looking at Montessori Toy Storage based on other Houzz member suggestions and placing foam mattress for the baby. The wall paint in the Foyer and living room is Benjamin Moore Cloud White. The paint in the kitchen is Benjamin Moore Lemon Sorbet. I don't think we will be repainting the walls. I'm hoping to keep the budget within a minimum of course now that we have a baby coming :). Sofa is really the big furniture I was thinking of replacing and may be the hanging lights. Wall that I was thinking of putting an opening through but there's a vent at the very bottom behind the recliner and there's light switch on the other side of the wall in the kitchen. I was thinking I can put the changing station in this area with a change pad over the existing ikea cart. the hanging light with reflection The bench area where I bought the Ikea frames to hang around. The hanging light with reflection in the ceiling May be I can reuse this wall tapestry for the sofa but not sure if it's too light and need a darker version.

No paint color will lighten the room, but it can brighten a room. But, before you start, you need better artificial light, especially the ceiling fixture. Laving the walls as is and after you get better ceiling lighting, why not paint the tray ceiling blue? Sofa is dark….so more white, bright throw pillows. Lastly, paint the fireplace the white trim color in a semi-gloss finish. Keep those blinds up!