Your cream cabinets and reddish flooring are warm colors, while stainless steel is very very cool in color. (The black countertops will go with anything!) When you mix warm and cool colors, you off and get a kind of a jangly effect. If you haven't already bought, you might think about black appliances, and with your other colors, warm neutrals, you can use any warm color. With reddish floors, you might try an "antique" or sage green, but if you keep the stainless appliances, teal would be beautiful.

What problems have you experienced with the paints? For me, I use Behr, BM, SW and others with good results. But, I always spend more time on prep than paint. First wash the walls with dawn, it has good grease cutting capabilities. I use a roller style sponge head to wring out as much solution as possible. Rinse using fresh water. Make sure the mop head is new as well. Touch up any holes with a good spackle, I like drydex. sand smooth and spot prime. Prime the walls. Yeah, I know they all say paint and primer in one. I don't care. Most walls haven't been painted in a wall, why waste paint on your first coat adding moisture to the wall? Buy the best roller cover you can for the finish you want. Before using it, wrap it with painters tape and then remove the tape. Notice all the loose fibers? They won't be on your walls now. Now, you are almost ready to paint. Run the roller cover under water to get it wet. Wring it out well. I roll it out on one of the walls. The reason for doing priming the roller, is that it will accept paint faster. Make sure your paint is thoroughly stirred. Strain it as you pour it into your pan/tray. And your cut pot. Never dip a brush into the paint can, you will introduce contaminants. Now, you are ready to paint. Hope this helps, let me know your thoughts.

I consider myself a messy cook and always wait until I am finished to clean up my mess/dirty dishes; but, seriously, how messy can cooking and clean-up get?!? I would make that overhang one level without thinking twice. It is a more modern look, gives a huge prep space, counter-height stools are more comfortable to sit at for young and old, and people sitting at the counter will not feel like a barrier is in front of them when talking to those in the kitchen. You are going to lose your outlets when you make the top one level unless you put in pop-up outlets in the counter.

I need to see the space and as for color you will need to test some in your space no one can really help with that. Make sure your lighting is all LED 400k that will help. I suggest you choose 3 you think will work then paint 3 poster boards 2 coats of the colors and see what works.