Home improvement

OK, you guys. I've secured my new apartment, and it rocks. The paint in it, however, does not rock. I know that several of you have the artistic eye I so sorely lack, so I'm entreating you to help guide me toward some pleasing wall colors.

I'm not a Country Kitchen kind of gal, but those countertops are pretty sweet. Any ideas to help play up that sweetness and downplay the extreme brownness of the cabinets would be most appreciated.

Most of my living room furniture is black or very dark wood. I've always preferred a clean, modern, austere look, but I'm open to suggestions.

This place is an open loft, so a few of the walls stretch from the ground on the first floor all the way to the ceiling of the second floor. Right now the whole place (other than the disturbingly blue kitchen) is painted a peachy beige. I'm not really fond of peachy beige, even in small doses. Is it best to stick with one color throughout?

We at Rock and Roll Grammarian thank you for considering this, and if you help us, we will be forever in your debt, and we may buy you a beer for the effort.