Kitchen renovation with an 8 foot ceiling

One of the things I've noticed being done in kitchen reno is not putting cabinets up high around the sink area. If it's a nice view make the window bigger and bring in more light. You could leave the beam exposed. I'm not sure what the short railing is for but if you make a large island there it could have all the cabinet space you lose. That open space makes it much airier. Whatever color you choose can appear bright and inviting with enough lighting so pick out the cabinets you like the best. Then for the features you want and need.

What is preventing moving the support beam up into the joist system?

Some good suggestions, but I would do nothing until you have all installed in natural wood, then decide to paint or stain. The shear substance of it all may make the decison easier.

Do not put upper cabinets along the wall and go with open shelves. Then paint ceiling light color and stain beam in darker color. You could make the shelves look like an industrial shelf by building them out of pipes and flanges. This would open up your kitchen and make it look like a modern farm house style. Good Luck

Will the beam be exposed? If not then it becomes a soffit that you paint the color of kitchen. One thing that may help if you're short lower the counter height so room appears taller and it is more comfortable for kitchen prep and if you're a baker that reality helps for kneading dough. If you put in center island have part regular and a portion same height as other counters so people can sit and you can work,but I would look into counter height to trick the eye. The beam is really cool can you add decrative ones like in a Tudor home so it makes things look intentional. It won't matter that if center ceing is 8 ft. It will make the entire room look taller once again tricking the eye . And if you have shorter counters that would be awesome. I hope it's clear and that it helps.

If you want that beam to disappear, match it with the ceiling color. It really does make the room appear bigger if it's white, but it isn't the only color to do that. A light color (like a pastel yellow, blue, etc.) is the way to go, If you want, you can paint cupboards, but I wouldn't go with a dark paint color - same thing if you stain. Put darker colors in the drawer pulls, knobs and hinges. White and black looks sharp and clean (I think). Pastels would also. They also would brighten it up considerably. I'm curious, too, why there is a railing there. Without that you'd have a whole lot more room for cupboards. Good luck.