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.

The wall color you just put in definitely has blue undertones. Blue and orange are complementary colors on the color wheel. Complementary colors enhance one another. The blue in your new wall color will make your cabinets and floors seem even more orange. I like the aqua kitchen posted above. But, if you just want to tone down the orange-y vibe without painting cabinets, I would pick a more neutral color for the walls - some sort of white - and paint those. Use some light colored runners on the floor to help break up the flooring color. Maybe put in a backsplash. Then see what you think about the cabinets. I think if you don't like the wood on the cabinets, you should not feel bad about painting them. There is nothing wrong with painting wood cabinets or furniture or paneling that you dislike. BUT cabinet painting is a big job, to do it well enough to withstand daily wear and tear.

@Carla Semancik Only you can tell how SW Bohemian Lace acts in your light. It is characterized as Warm on the color wheel, but the reality is warm and cool can be only compared in relation to another color, something is warmer/cooler in comparison to another color. I think it is a pretty color, but I see a hint of pink in it. For that reason, I would not personally choose it. Perhaps without even realizing it, you picked a ceiling white that lands in the same vicinity as SW Bohemian Lace, only a little lighter and a little whiter. I have given you some options for cabinet and walls. I would only pick one, and use it in different sheens. They are all more chromatic than Bohemian Lace and a touch darker, but only by small margin. My vote is SW Origami White. It sits almost in the middle of the Yellow Hue Family, so less likely to have a pink cast. It is the lightest of the 3 options. I generally prefer a 0.2 difference in chroma between whites, but I didn't like any pairing I found that fit that criteria so I tightened it a bit. Next I like Zurich White, followed by White Heron. I really like them all, so I cannot stress enough, you have to test your color on a sample board before painting everything. Light is everything, and your light will affect the color in your space and ultimately you have to like how it looks.

IMO if apinted is what you want go MDF for all painted cabinets with a factory finish for sure . All painted surfaces can chip but the factory baked one less often. Painted wood has no advantage IMO and MDF just works better since it does not expand and contract so no issue with seeing the tiny spaces in a painted wood form that movement.