bondstreet's Profile

I disagree with everyone who is telling you to paint the cabinets. It looks to me like you've bought a house with hardwood floors and unpainted wood molding everywhere. Why would you need to make the cabinets different?

If you're drowning in wood, cut the centers of the cabinet doors out and replace them with glass.

I don't object to the rail above, either. It lends a little Arts and Crafts feel, although I think you should give it a job to do, by filling the space with colorful glass bottles or jars or pottery or a collection of whatever you like to collect.

I would change out the hardware for brushed nickel or even enamel knobs. I would paint the walls a light, soft grey with some green and blue in it like Behr's Valley Mist:
http://www.behr.com/Behr/home#view=14;channel=EXPLORE;vgnextoid=6bd8ea6621ca5110VgnVCM1000008119fea9RCRD

and a darker version below the chair rail.

And while you're at Home Depot, get a light fixture like this:
www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Track-Lighting-Flex-Linear-Track/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zbdt9/R-100642441/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

And get a nice, simple table along these lines (although this is not what I call budget):
http://www.barnfurnituremart.com/product_details.aspx?id=DRCMHSB658536