If you needed more storage, I would double stack cabinets. Updating the lighting with a hanging fixture and adding pendant lighting over the bar area would drop your visual focus, as well.

Maybe someone could do a mock up with green cabinets for you. I don't think green would look any stranger than the wood cabinets now...not that they look strange. It's weird because I keep looking at the pics and while it is different, I don't hate it or thing it looks "bad". I'm just not used to seeing a lot of blank wall space in kitchen. It's actually kinda cool looking...hope you get some good feedback here.

I agree with Rebekah Gibbs--if you do nothing else, get the cooktop off the island.

Is this a blank slate, or have you decided to keep certain elements? What is your budget? That will help guide suggestions.

good point! well, I say it's a blank slate b/c there hasn't been much done to it. But, I definitely have a budget, and it's not that big! So, I really have to work with most of what I have. I plan on painting cabinets, replacing countertops/appliances/fixtures... but I do think that adding a 2nd row of cabinets is out of the budget. I had planned on extending the island b/c moving the cooktop to another part of the kitchen will be pricey. I liked the idea of hanging light fixtures to lower the visual focus. I have played around with the idea of maybe color blocking... painting a portion of the upper wall/ceiling? i made some mock ups in photoshop of some ideas. i put floating shelves and a mirror where the art kind of is now. i appreciate any and all advice!!

You need new appliances in better locations which means an overall plan. The cabinets as is are the best part of your kitchen . It is a quasi MCM kitchen. Get some hardware on the cabs , fix the light fixture and plan for what you will do that will make a difference in a year or So. If you must wait a bit longer to save money then see if you can replace the fridge at least. The things you propose would be an utter waste. We are potentially entering an economic slowdown of longer duration than people know. I’m not saying to do nothing but do the right things at a better time when you have a better sense of many factors.

The first thing you need to do is get the cooktop off that island. It's not safe. There is no room around it, either from left to right, or top to bottom. If you're going to the expense of getting new appliances and countertops, it would be a real shame not to address that now. It wouldn't be difficult or costly to move that to sit in another cabinet. You're replacing the counters anyway. I agree that I would stack cabinets above the others, however, if it's not in the budget, it can be done at a later date. IMO, the open shelving you are considering is making the kitchen seem very unbalanced and I would opt for cabinetry there. Take measurements of the cabinets you currently have, as they will be able to be unscrewed and moved to another location. Really think things through before you embark on things that are really not going to improve the function of the space.

An induction cooktop will be safer on that island, and from what Houzzers say they are great! I think your bright art is all you need in contrast to the white room. Try one of them over the door between the two sets of cabs. Paint the cabs in the green from that one piece of art.