A Story About our Kitchen

good question. really good question. I can see your kitchen is very clean and I guess that makes it seem "cold".
The curtains are a very good idea. And how about plants? You could put some on top of those hanging cabinets.
And how about a bowl of fruits instead of the plate?
I love the look of this kitchen: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/64387469646126811/
plants and open shelving.
Then I would add photos. In the kitchen I like food themed photos. There are very beautiful ones.
And if I could pick I would always make the kitchen cabinets white.

I have a similar set-up in that there isn't much wall space for hanging photos or other art, and our cabinetry looks almost identical to yours. I added some personality by alternating small plants and larger framed photos (5x7 at the smallest) on top of the cabinets at evenly spaced intervals. If you go with framed photos, larger frames work better since your view is obstructed from the ground. You can set them atop an old book or small empty box (from like, muffin mix or something) to add a little height (just make sure you can't see the box peeking over the top lip of the cabinet from afar), and place them in the center or even a little behind center.

The curtain idea is fantastic – it'd look so great above the kitchen sink.

Perhaps switching out the lampshade, or DIY-ing the interior of it for a little pizzaz: http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/easy-diy-decorating.

You can also change out the cord on your hanging lamp, or wrap thick colored yarn or braided cord around it (like 550 cord, which is thin).

You're super into black and white, so I wouldn't go overboard with slathering your kitchen in color. Little pops with plants atop the cabinetry and either colored photos in simple frames or black & white photos in mixed-and-matched colorful, patterned frames atop the cabinetry will definitely add small pops of color in an easy-to-stomach dose.

Cushions on the chairs (not the bench). Fruit bowl on the table. Patterned and solid dish towels. A runner on the floor on either side of the island (fridge side and sink side). A large patterned rug under the table (patterned in order to hide food crumbs and spills better).

I would refrain from cluttering the front or side of the fridge.

Hmm. I'm sure I have more. Let me think on this...

OMG! Your house is soooo big! You couldn't swing a cat in our kitchen, let alone our living room. Lucky girl!

What about the instagram magnets? we have quite a few and they add lots of color and personality but aren't all over the place, crazy. Plus, Finley loves to play with them :) I agree with lots of plants!

You might think about repainting in a warmer color. Everything is very monochromatic. Also, though it might be an issue with young children, how about a rug -- under the table, or a runner in front of the fridge. These days, the indoor/outdoor options can be very attractive, as well as add a design element. I would remove the "Eat", the scale is wrong. And I'd suggest a larger, more dramatic clock.
I might suggest a bigger art installation on the wall above the high chair (but can't see that side of the room well enough. You could put something on the wall with the thermostat as well. In all cases, I recommend something that is textural in nature-- especially if you don't repaint. Good luck.

Where you have the rectangular piece of art (I think in front of the phone/fax?), what if you tried doing a gallery wall? You could do family photos, art, a combination of the two -- basically anything that makes you smile. It would add a nice pop of character to the kitchen with minimal commitment (especially if you hang them using command strips).

You could also try a large vase of flowers on your island if you want to fill the space somehow, but I really think just adding some personal touches would go a long way.