As a few people have mentioned before, posting a picture of your current space would really help! Painting your cabinets is, of course, an option (milk paint and chalk paint are two durable low-VOC options). However, I'd try a few simpler strategies first. 1. Backsplash. Try cutting sheets of beadboard to fit in that space. If your current backsplash is anything other than white, white beadboard will brighten it up quite a bit. 2. Mirrors. Do you have an area of wall where you can hang a mirror? To outsiders it may seem vain to hang a mirror in your kitchen, but reflecting what little light there is can really make a difference! 3. Appliances. Someone mentioned it before - black appliances will make the space seem darker. 4. Window. If you have any valances or window hangings, take 'em off! And check outside, too, for anything that's blocking light. 5. Upper cabinets. If you have ample storage space, consider removing a section of your upper cabinets. This is especially true if they're hanging over a peninsula or island. Other options in this vein include removing the doors on a couple sections, using glass inserts (frosted if you're worried about keeping things tidy), or replacing a run of uppers with open shelving. Or you could paint them. 6. Lowers. Cherry darkens over time/exposure to light, so it might be possible to lighten the tone by refinishing them and then sealing without a stain. 7. Counters. Replacing perfectly-good granite would likely be as expensive or more so than for professionally painted cabinets, but I think it would yield better results. Not an ideal solution, but still keep it in mind. 8. Flooring. Short of replacing your floor (what is your flooring, by the way?), try a couple of light-colored throw rugs. 9. Connections. How does your kitchen connect to the other rooms in the house? You mentioned you are in an historic district, so chances are you don't have an open floor plan. Do any of the adjacent rooms have natural light to spare? "Borrow" light with French doors or transoms above. Or remove a door completely (where it makes sense, of course), leaving a cased opening. 10. Declutter. A lot of extra stuff can make even a well-lit space seem claustrophobic. However, a few well-placed objects (especially reflective surfaces like a silver platter, or a small lamp for a dark corner) can brighten the room without having the overhead lights blazing. Let us know what you decide to do!

The hutch color now, goes very well with the table. I dont think it is the hutch that make the room darker, it is more the lighting. However, if you really want to paint the hutch, the color of the lamp in the living room, would be a nice color and would go with your table and the rest of your decor. I do like painted furniture, but, I would have a very hard time painting that hutch. It is in great shape, and it is beautiful just as it is.

Thank you, Patricia. All but front of home is "blank canvas." As single, semi-retired homeowner, my tudor home stands out on a double lot w/open space on two sides: Deer, friendly neighbors and casual fire-pit entertain me behind the deck. Rock work is brighter than in photo, as are the cedar-colored accents. A Bloodgood Maple is replacing the nondescript birch on right, planting a few more feet away from house farther for color, shade and improved landscape. I love simple contrast of flat brown-black (outer frame below), khaki + possibly cedar stain (below deck?) (See 1st photo: Cedar ceiling, door & bench) Answering your questions: 1. Multicolored area is rock work on chimney, extending to short walls to the right (photo above). Every stone hand-stained as it was gray when I removed English Ivy. Photo below is middle-of-staining process, as I was able to enhance as I stepped back to determine color balance. Glossy sealer preserves the stain. 2. BELOW...Under deck: Storage - lawn mower, lumber, fire pit wood, so want under-deck panels or wooden (cedar?) horizontal fence-look to blend with entire scheme. Left side under deck is my workshop w/dk brown garage door. (ugh). Thought 2nd floor brown outcrop should be same color as rest of stucco (tan). Windows? Black-brown on tan? Empress red (like others)? ...Or look at entire deck/stairs/awning to paint vs. power-wash and reseal? Idea for enclosure below deck? Wooden Privacy Slats 3. The color scheme on the front of my tudor seems to work, including cedar ceiling entrance. 4. Need ~3-4' awning above double doors (see earlier photo). Metal Door Awning *Stucco being replaced at no cost working w/Italian mason friend. I can visualize some of these accents, yet guess I need to learn Photoshop to DIY. Dead trees and junk will be hauled off shortly. Thank you for your input!

You do have alot of light in this room. I love the pics and suggestions everyone has posted. It is a large room with all the wrong furniture. The ceiling is beautiful and it would be awful to paint it. I too own a log cabin and there never seems to be enough lighting. Without white ceiling or white walls light does not reflect. It just seems to get absorbed and the larger the room the more difficult it is to light. Are the ceiling fans necessary? Do you have central air? What is your climate like? If you find that you dont use them can you switch them out for a track light or directional light?