I'd be inclined to move couch & armchair along wall with large recess if they will both fit. Mount TV onto flat wall opposite. You could have a low unit to house electronics, or use the one you have. Have purpose-built storage cabinet w/shelving built into smaller recess. Some of the shelving portion could be backed w/mirror to help throw light into room. Use the shelves for books, objects of art, photos etc., and the drawers or cabinet below to store things you don't want on show all the time. I also think a large area rug will ground the family room area from dining/kitchen. A neutral one perhaps or you can inject some colour. Large art pieces on wall as mentioned. A largish plant in a raised pot would add some greenery. You may find you need a floor lamp near couch & chair. Regarding the kitchen, I think you might be able to fit a narrow timber sideboard at end of island bench so you have some additional storage there. I say timber because it would warm up the coolness of kitchen. I agree undercabinet lights good idea for additional task lighting. You could either go mirror backsplash or some gorgeous tiles. As there are a several changes you want to achieve in this space, it might help to do it in stages. Storage seems to be a priority (fam rm & kitchen) and rearrangement of furniture & TV. I would tackle this first. Additional decor ie rug, art pieces on wall(s) could be addressed next. Then splashback and some additional lighting if budget allows.

Wish i found this Q &A before. So many beautiful people advising and sharing here! I am Repainting Tropical Queenslander with dark red and orangy timber floors and this thread is so helpful. I painted Whisper white and it is throwing so much Green it makes me so sad I am going to repaint. I get loads of tropical sun in the north facing - with eastern morning sunlight. Was just about to go and buy Natural White just to cover it. Do you think it will be too dull/warm a colour. I do like a fresh feel and contrasting with vivid white decorative trims. The whisper white looks nice For a while in the morning while the morning sunlight throws read up onto it but then it returns to a green

You could have one side of galley kitchen cabinets in a richer shade of white (I'll have to start looking at the choices) and the opposite side in a grey. Will you have overheads too? Then the subway tiles in a softer shade of grey than the grey lower cabinets. I'd love to see photo of door handles.

Hi dani, your living/kitchen area is not huge, and you have three different finishes in your kitchen. I think that this is probably enough in the space, so I would definitely go with a warm, light, neutral that works with the colours in your overhead cupboards for all of the walls. You don't need a dramatic feature wall like your blue/grey wall in a smallish room. The wall colour should visually link the kitchen area to the rest of the space. Think understated and elegant...