I would paint all the brick everywhere warm white...satin for occasional cleaning. That done I think everything else will look OK because the colours are natural. New doorknobs are always good. You could if you wanted paint all the bench and cupboards white or rich cream as well....MUCH more spacious effect. there is a product you put on first and wait and paint...Hardware will knw...something like PSo

We have dulux whisper white cabinetry and it is lovely soft/warm but I made mistake of using non-tinted ceiling paint and even with bulkhead divide it looks too stark white (or makes cabinetry look too creamy). Since I can't change the cabinetry, I think I will eventually go over ceiling with 1/4 tint whisper white.

I assume the cabinets are laminate though -- it would be difficult to repaint them , PLUS a decent amount of colour will take the focus off them . The walls seem to have a blue tinge to them -- to me ,that adds to the colder , austere look . If I was going to repaint anything , I'd actually opt to do the walls in a warmer English Cream , or even a slight Apricot tinge would be more my taste . And then , the right hand wall in your 'new'pic 1 ( I think it heads to the rest of the house ? Theres a door there ) I would wallpaper in a textured paper , again with apricot tones ,maybe something like relatively simple apricot and cream diagonals 12-15mm wide on a woven textured paper ? ) . And 'double down'with the splashback tiles on the 'front' of the island . So that whole room would be English Cream or maybe a slight apricot tinge , instead of the slight steel blue tinge , with the warmer brown tiles , the pretty neutral floor , the slight coffee cabinets -- and then orange appliances and stools and pendent lights possibly . Obviously , you'd then need to go warmer tones for your dining furniture -- wooden frames , or black gloss and dark glass table , and creams , apricots , orange upholstery ? Mind you , once your present furniture is added , that may be enough ? It looks coldish and too neutral now IMO , but nice furniture will divert most of that attention .

@Kate Exactly, this is the one. @ausjoinery Yep, we have kids at home. Am not too fond of glossy finish due to finger print will be easily visible, but positive side of it is easy cleaning. @dreamer I was thinking about the darker cabinets too (Though am a white colour fan), awalnut brown or black or so on..