Daylight on a rainy day in Ireland, ah. The easy thing to do is change the bulbs in the recessed fixtures to the maximum allowed. But this will not help with overall illumination because the recessed fixtures point straight down, not sideways. For that you need to add a surface mount or close to ceiling fixture, meaning new electrical work. Some recessed fixtures can be converted to pendants, by the way. Since it is so dark, I suggest painting the whole thing a nice bright white, including the laminate cabinets. There are many discussion posts on painting laminate cabinets on Houzz. I would paint the interior of the missing-doors cabinet with an oil based white paint, too, to brighten it up. Choose a white that coordinates well with the countertop, flooring and tile. The tile can be changed, of course, sooner or later. With some fiddling, you may be able to adjust the sagging cabinet doors under the sink. These are often much used. If the hinges have seen better days, replace them with identical ones, or swap them with less-used hinges, say from those upper cabinets you took down. It's an old house trick to swap worn parts with less-used parts from elsewhere. Most undersink cabinets can use a coat of white paint on the bottom shelf or Contact paper if paint is not suitable.

Hi PCmom, sstarr and lefty47. Thanks a million for the comments and views. I'm taking it all on board. PCmom I like the frosted glass idea but I think it will block too much light. We are actually thinking of doing this though in our front sitting room as the window is floor to ceiling. Love the recycled lumber idea and it looks great in the photo - think my husband is hell bent on steel shelving though. sstarr - I'm gonna have a look at your profile pics now but I don't think we will have enough wall space for floor to ceiling pantry. lefty47 we are keeping the appliances for now. It is only the oven - its not the prettiest but its functional and we will most definitely get a new fitted one in the future. There are a few other pictures there of the room around and the left wall - can you not see them? If not I can try and add them again. I'm glad you liked the toilet paper. It took me ages to decide where to place that! What does everyone think about colours of the cabinets? I think we might go for a neutral tone on the wall (unless anyone can visualise anything better?) and either with the steel shelving or possibly the recycles ,lumber idea from PCmom? Thanks for your time guys :)

I agree, I think the kitchen units are quite charming. The tiles date it, the top of the dresser and the piece over the window. Agree, would paint the ceiling a soft chalky white. I know they're becoming a little overdone but metro tiles would suit but handmade ones in a soft white unless you just remove the tiles altogether and have a splashback by the oven. Can you afford to update the floor? The dresser offers good storage space, have you considered either just removing the top half or updating the top so changing the architrave and glass panes? The fire itself looks lovely, do you need the heater in front? I also like the brick but the recesses are dating it. I definitely wouldn't paint the brick, if you were to do anything I think it would need plastering over to cover the niches unless you are able to match the brick. Do you have a better pic of the firep? If you are set on painting the kitchen units, I would look at the really dark greys and inky Blues for the base units, as I think they'd suit the style well, with brass cup handles with a very pale grey for ŵall units. Or if you want the same colour units, look at a mid tone grey.

nobody has any suggestions for me?