Love your floors! I agree that first thing is to improve your lighting.

I also like your flooring. It fits in well with the wood column. What I don't like is the wood trim (door and window casing, baseboard, etc.). Your cabinets don't look bad. If you are going to paint them I might suggest white to give your kitchen a fresher look. Thinkdesignlive is right about the lighting. Everything, including your cabinetry, will look better if better lit.

Read Kylie M's blogs about painting kitchen cabinets and how to choose colors. If you're keeping the countertops you will have to keep those in mind. I'm not sure from the lighting in the picture exactly what color they are. Also look at the Houzz articles on how to light a kitchen.

https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/Kitchen-Lighting

Here is a better pic showing.. Counters are white grey quartz

What would you recommend for lighting thanks

Your kitchen looks a bit dark, and its not from the cabinets. Its the lack of lighting, and probably not the right type of bulbs. Try changing your bulbs to led daylight 3500k minimum, and maybe even 4000k

You will not even be able to judge colors, without addressing the lighting first. Once you do that, I think you will find that the wood is much better looking than you think it is. Wood is back as the dominant choice for cabinets, so you may want to hold off on that, and just focus on the island. Join the Kitchen Cabinet Painting Experts group on Facebook, so that you an be sure you are doing something that will last. There is a LOT of prep involved!

Could I just paint the top trim piece and change out the island light? Or would it look weird to leave the other trim wood?

Taking suggestions I see that with the low ceiling that the bulky island light darkens up the kitchen.. Maybe something smaller and brighter?

the lack of color also makes the kitchen feel dark and a bit boring. It almost looks like it is in a house where no one uses it, and no one lives there. Its not cozy and comfortable looking.

Where would you add colour?

Before any choices are made the lighting needs work I cannot see what types of fixtures you have so maybe post a pic of the ceiling. Post here in a comment DO NOT start another post. I like all fixtures in kitchens to be LED 4000K that will helpp choose colors and also keep the colors true at all times of the day and night.I like the idea of the sage a nice sift sage would be good with the brick I would not do the island a different color . I think the lighting will be what is needed and honestly DIY painting for cabinets is never a good choice .At a minimum you need a spray space with no dust no air movement so you can spray the doors and drawer fronts . You do not use regulat house paint and the paint you choose will need to cure too so that spary space needs to be available for at least 2 weeks. I would not touch the wood

Thank you.. If I were to paint cabs I would be using Fusion mineral paint.. But yes am aware that it's a very big job.. So the option to do some lighting changes and live with that for a bit is a good one:)

I take some pics of the lights tonight

It is best to consult with an electrician that can add well placed recessed lights that will light the fronts along the perimeter as well as the general floor space within and around the kitchen - probably 6-8 depending on the spacing/working around ceiling configuration. The light over the sink should give off light in all directions not just focused track lighting. The island light is trying to do all the lighting for the whole kitchen and that’s what’s making the whole space appear dull. The gray wainscot is also dragging the space down so think about painting the entire walls one color to visually lift the height of the space. I’d address those items before worrying about the cabinets.

So you don't think the island light is too bulky? Just that it's doing all the work?

You are going to end up spending a lot to paint all those cabinets, and still have the oak wood grain and outdated curved design. Honestly, I'd just improve the lighting, paint the grey/blue in a color that wooks with the wood, like a soft green, and live with it until you're ready to change out everything. The wood works with your floors, countertops, back splash, and wall color. You might also consider painting the crown molding around the room the same color as your walls.

Think design live. Do you think I need to paint out the chair rail?? My husband loves it.. Or do you think I'd have an effect with painting the bottom the same as the top but leaving the railing? Thank you

Fusion is NOT a cabinet paint, and is one of the worst possible choices to use on cabinets. Join the FB group and learn how to do this right before you ruin them.

The light over the island is meant for the island only for the most part. Consider getting an estimate from an electrician to install ceiling can lights (4-6 inches each) around the perimeter of the room to serve as task lighting. You could have them installed with a dimmer switch to control the ambiance of the room during various times of day or evening, and they make them where you can select the lumen level of the light. Replace light over the sink with a nice pendant light. Once you get these figured out, you'll get a better idea on color direction needed for cabinets and all.

Well if you compromise and leave the cabinets as is and paint out all the trim including the rail and lower half of the wall to match your off white that may appease him. I just know that whenever you visually cut a room in half with wainscot or a chair rail it brings the overall height of the space down.

Were it me I'd take the shades off the corner window and maybe put in a corner glass V-shelf there to grow herbs.

I'd get as many upholstered bar stools as makes sense in a fun print, surround the island.

I would change the hardware on the cabinets to simple bars

might go for something like this over the island, or something in a half-circle bowed out. I think the island needs curvy pizazz

Thanks.. I think it needs some light and bright :) after reading these comments I think I'll hold off on any cabinet painting for a bit.. Here are some closer pics of the current lights.. I've put in some calls to get some quotes for recessed lights as recommended??

Paint all the trim white in semi gloss, ceiling in flat and walls (including that chair rail) in eggshell (B.M. OC-151 a default white, love it). Don't paint the cabinets, it is too much work or it costs too much money for a professional.

What concerns me is the floor...not the color, but the composition and when you think it was installed. From what I see it is not a brick floor. I think it is this product.

Elcieg the floor is definitely brick:) we had to replace one and was able to source the company.. They're a really high grade industrial brick from the states.. The company sent us a box of them for free:) I assume not cheap to install

For a fixture over the island I would look for wavy or free-form and not a box.

The feeling I would want to defeat in that space is warehouse. I'd want to make it a fun europe-y garden or a bit of a glam loft bar.

Since you may have an electrician in for recessed lighting installation any way, I think it would be worth it to get them to install pendants over the island - the shape will be hard to light with just one fixture I think -

FWIW I think your kitchen has SO much potential - great floors, nice light clean counters and BS - i think once you get it properly lit and styled just a bit (rugs, counter stools etc) it will be terrific, it will just take a bit of patience :)

(I would think about changing up the blue wall paint but I would not paint the cabinets)

Thank you so much for your input.. I was just looking and I think I could remove the chair rail without too much damage? Or do you think it would look good painted white and doing the wall one colour?

I've been looking at lighting on wayfair for ideas.. I love the idea of something less industrial and fun:)

And after backing off the idea of painting the cabinets the hubby is pretty much on board with anything else:)

Okay, thanks, because the floor resembles this one:

This was very popular in the 80's. There were all different styles (look a likes) called Kentile. You couldn't tell the difference. Turns out Kentile was shut down because the product was asbestos. So glad I was wrong, but just had to check with you.

This Kentile was in the front hall when we bought our downsize. We guttered the entire house and that's when I learned about Kentile.

We all thought it was slate.

Thanks for checking:)

Elcieg.. And everyone.. I appreciate all the advice.. Couple more questions please:) so the wood trim follow around to the corner.. Im going to remove the chair rail and do one solid colour but how would you tackle the trim pieces going around the corner?? Could I just paint the trim in the kitchen white and leave the trim on the other walls... Just removing chair rail? Thank you for any advice.. Im so lost sometimes

You should be proud of yourself for getting your hubby to support painting the cabinets. It would be a great idea to modernise the room and bridge the gap between the wood parts with a sage green or greige colour. You may obtain a fresh, clean look while retaining a dash of personal flare by painting the blue walls and island.

Thanks.. It wasn't easy:) definitely thinking of painting island the island and some of the walls a sage green.. We have it upstairs and it really does look nice with the wood and hoping to lighten up the room too

Haven’t read thru all the other comments, but I actually don’t think your cabinets look bad with your floor. I think painting the walls and the island might do the trick.

Texmax13 thanks that's my new plan after the advice on here for now, new lights new paint and new hardware :)