My 2¢ worth: first of all replace the dark blinds with translucent cordless single cell blinds in ivory or off-white--they let light through and provide privacy + some insulation from cold or heat. Clean, crisp look.That alone will brighten up this space. #2: clear the counterspace!--so much clutter! Where to put all these appliances that get little daily use? Get yourself a ss 24x20 or larger cart on wheels (see Amazon.com--Seville classic ss cart) and store little used, bulky appliances on its shelves--and roll the cart into a nearby coat closet--out of sight and way-- to be wheeled back when needed or individually carried back as needed. 3#gorgeous blue tiled walls.Don't touch them. #4:Walls: keep as is if off-white--not same as trim white white.Just a fresh coat needed.To make it "disappear," paint the radiator the same color as the wall behind it. #5Keep the white trim white--looks bright and clean.Keep kitchen door white. You might want to stop here and make no further changes #6Cabinets: I like Gast pic above on right, but too much blue for your blue-tiled kitchen...IMO. I'd go cooler and lighter...consider the light gray of the beadboard in the Gast pic above right. Beautiful hue. Don't go for the white white everyone clamors for these days.Too stark for your kitchen and too contrasty with the blue tile, too country kitchenish. #7. cabinet hardware: Look like glass knobs in pics. Go for knobs/pulls like in the Gast pic above--or similar in pewter or ss, my preference. Those "modern" ss bar handles don't work with your cabinets. #8 the round table is not a good fit against the wall. Get a small sq or rectangular ss or butcherblock-top table for that spot. Chop off the top tier of your chairs to shorten....and match their tops as they are now so's won't appear to take up so much visual space and still remain comfy--don't replace w/ uncomfortable stools.Keep white. #9. Do away with wood valance over sink window.Too country. #10 Countertops--solid color Corian type or laminate--depends on budget--don't want busy stone textures of quartz, etc. Consider a medium value cool gray. (Or maple butcherblock?). Can't see color/texture of floor.... hope some of this helps. Good luck! lisianthus' pic tho nice is too busy-cutesy for your minimalist aims IMO

i also wouldnt be too happy with this design, ist very boring, all Brown and tan... so. get some nice blues and teals for throws and cushions, maybe with bit of yellow in it a round or oval coffee glass table would work much better here and reflect more light, adding teal accents - vases, and Greens- artificial plants etc. rugs - some ideas - , get colourful deco accents on your fireplace mantel as well, no more tan ;) i love your clock, but i dont think this is the best place for it, i think a big nice artwork with some Pop would work much better here - clock could go to Foyer, staircase wall etc. artwork - good luck, hope that helped a bit.

It looks very good James. Even though as you say it was a clients design build, it works fine. Once the Island has stools it will fill it out better. Has that naked look at the moment. The position of the wine rack might cause issues but overall it looks like a really clean and fresh kitchen. Plenty of natural light and the colours compliment each other. The extractor is a nice feature too. Everyone has different opinions as I see on here but if the client is happy with it then job done. Looks really well fitted too.....well done :)

I can perfectly understand that you don't want an additional door off the hall, and do you really want to approach the utility with washing etc, through a hall anyway? I just wonder why you want to make the door disappear, when its not on a wall with units? If it were, it might be easy to paint it/finish it similar to cabinets, but in the middle of the wall it will stand out anyway, whatever you do. To my mind, it might be better to just put an ordinary door in there, similar to other interior ones or glass paneled if you wan the light. If you are going to do it out with similar units to kitchen, it will flow in any case, if you can see them. Several friends have done this lately and it looks fine and the continuity through the glass paneled door just seems to make the kitchen appear even larger and lighter.