I think with changing the colour of the walls to white or something that you like (maybe in the grey tones to match the counters) will help the tiles look less out of place. Putting some great hardware onto these cabinets will make a more personal presentation. Painting the cupboards is an economical choice, depending on your taste, high gloss black or open up the area with a white paint. If the cupboards are in good condition, I would try to salvage them (they look new). However, if you paint the walls white, I would stay away from white cabinets. The tile is not so awful that you couldn't work with it, but I agree that currently it doesn't work.

There is tile paint available for a quick fix, but if it were me I'd just rip those busybodies down and put up some timeless, light tiles...or you could skin the walls with some 1\4" drywall and just paint it whatever you'd like.

I think the kitchen looks great but could use a bit of dressing up. The colors are hard to translate via computer, and I wonder if the gold wall paint really matches the tiles. I'd opt for a warm gray that works with the lightest gray in the tiles but that still goes with the warmth of the cabinets. Putting hardware on the cabinets would add some personality. I'd suggest window treatment on the large window whether it's as simple as a grass or matchstick wood blind or even a fabric shade to bring in some personality. Think about a large mercury glass bowl for fruit. Large hurricanes or containers filled with objects would also look nice (I have large gum balls!). An area rug under the sink can jazz things up as well.

some hardware on the cabinets might add some character... nice tile though!

thanks!!

based on all your comments, I'm leaning towards grey paint on the walls, which I find elegant, paint cabinets black (they are new) and install nice hardware to go with.

isn't it going to be a bit dark/ sad?
is there a dark grey I could paint the cabinets that could work? or another color?

What about White Dove on the Cabinets and Revere Pewter on the walls?

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and maybe like a darker brown roman shade, and drum pendant if you have a table..

I think you are probably right that you are missing a punch of collor, you sound like a punch of color kind of gal not sure why:)

Maybe let's introduce color in textiles, like an Avocado Green or ..

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if you don't want to change the backsplash, please take a look at the examples below,

I think if you go with a lighter paint on the walls it would change the way you see the backsplash. Looks like a cream color in the tile, similar to the tiles we used. A good color to look at is Valspar Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford (from their historical collection). Then try some oil rubbed bronze hardware on the cabinets. I actually like the cabinet color and I think if you made some minor changes you could make it work.

This paint sample is the one I mentioned.

I agree with Kevin. Do the simple things like painting and putting nice hardware on your cabinets before you take on painting cabinets and tearing out the backsplash. If all goes well, a couple of days of labor and a few hundred dollars will transform your kitchen. Good luck.

I'd hesitate to paint new cabinets. I think it'd be more economical to re-do the backsplash.

Are you talking about glass backsplash? If so, no don't paint it. It's fine. Your cabinets are fine also. Add a fabric parson chair to desk, paint walls a taupe. Add brush nickel long 4-6" pulls to cabinet to up date the look.

Add a bamboo shade to window in dark brown. Home Depot sells. Your kitchen looks new. Why would you change it?

The paint color and pulls that Aggie shows are what I'm talking about.

If the cabinets are new I would NOT paint them. Changing your wall color and adding hardware will help pull it all together.

Here is a picture of our kitchen. Our cabinet color is very similar to yours and our backsplash may be the exact same. If you want to see more pictures you can search (New Kitchen from Hell to Heaven). I think you have a really nice looking kitchen and painting the cabinets could ruin it. Try little things first before doing anything drastic.

@kevin.. wow. we really do have a similar looking kitchen.

I love all the ideas Aggie... will def look into those paints. and it's true that a dash of color like green would suit our style very well.

@mariannemich We do (I guess great minds think alike) LOL. I really love your cabinets and I just hate to see nice looking wood painted.

I wouldn't paint the cupboards either, but I do agree hardware would really add a nice touch. Depending on the style you are after, Hickory Hardware has two different ones I think would work great. The first is P3052-OBH, in an oil rubbed bronze which would give an extra warmth, and the PA0225-SN, this one is a satin nickel bar. A little more modern feel and would compliment the back splash. Both of these (and many many more) are available on Houzz.

I think your cabinets are lovely and I would absolutely not paint them. By all means paint the walls (easy job) and if you hate the backsplash then rip it out and put in one that isn't so busy and high contrast. But painting lovely new cabinets in order to accommodate a backsplash you don't like seems foolish to me.

I like your tiles. Perhaps as others have already said, paint your walls or to add a splash of colour, change your accessories.

I don't really like the tiles either, but I agree with everyone who's said to do the paint and hardware first. Two things, though.
I wouldn't use those bar pulls with the extensions on the ends (sorry Aggie). I've heard way too many stories of them ripping people's clothes off. (My cargo shorts will attest).
The other thing is, that all good looking kitchens have good lighting. I'd certainly recommend recessed lights placed 18" in front of the wall cabinets; and LED strip under cabinet lighting. If you still hate the tiles after that, at least you'll have a good looking to play off of.

Definitely start with the hardware. Try black or bronze for contrast. We swapped our brushed nickel ones for matte black hardware (borrowed a page out of Ikea's kitchen catalog) for contrast. Have almost the same exact color cabinets as yours. Check out the attached pics

my cabinets would look so much better with the hardware!

thank you!

Can I salvage the tiles once they are gone?

I have decided that they are really not my style but that many people like them, and I don't want to discard them.

I could maybe trade them with a professional ? And have them install new ones?

Please provide any experience with that..

Ah and those tiles are also in the master shower....