That green of the mums is a good touch. Can you find something in that color?

(required disclosure: have chosen "Haven" green from Sherwin Williams to go with my own light oak kitchen and lobby, which is close to your colors in photo, but with more whites)

I don't know what your budgeted dollar amount is, but if it were me, I would try to find some inexpensive glass mosaic tiles, the 12x12 mesh sheets.

I have seen them in differnt shades of green with all tiles the same color, and some with very pretty contrasting colors also. With all the contemporary features in your kitchen glass tiles would look great.

I found some 12x12 sheets on Amazon for $4.99 per sheet. The link is below. Good luck with your decision.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glass Tiles

Your room is calm and peaceful without being bland at all.

I love your splashes of lime and other shades in front of something where the style is a little structural - about line and massing of stainless, wood and the black from the counters and some appliances. For me, I'd be afraid that a strong backsplash would not allow for my tastes to change over time - for the lime to become ocher or purple.

This is just my taste, but I think I'd look for a nice Italian gray - maybe a shade darker than the room paint. Maybe run a strip of white verticals at the outlets.

If it costs less than I think it does - sheet glass is what first came to mind.

Lightlystartched,
Your kitchen is beautiful.
I too, do not know your budget for a backsplash but maybe
you ought to do a temporary backsplash until you can spend
the money to do an amazing tile pattern.

What about glass? No, not glass tile but the soft lime
green paint color with heat resisitant glass on top. Held
up with white wall or metal clips. Similar to giant mirrors
in bathrooms. But the glass would go over the paint color.

Kind of like this....

This image is from Apartment therapy. If you click on the
link below you can see the discussion about how to do this
kind of backsplash. I imagine the glass might be not more
than a $200 dollars. Cheaper than a mirror. And yet it
looks beautiful.

And of course I included some other ideas for those
on a really tight budget. Creativity is born when times
are tough.
Enjoy,
~boxer

This is Glass over paint

A blackboard. So very cool!!!! It may even be blackboard
paint. Not sure how easy that is to clean, but you can
alway paint over the grease. : )

This is from Lulu painting. Paint over exisiting tiles.
Not in your case but something for others to think about.

A wood backsplash. So creative.

Faux painted tiles

Rulers!!! Cute for a classroom kitchen

Here is a link that might be useful: Apt Therapy

LOVE your stools!

The painted wall with glass looks really nice, although (to save $$) you could just paint with a high-gloss, washable paint. I hesitate to even suggest-but I think the trend is coming back-perhaps a nice patterned wallpaper with that pretty green in it? Just on that one wall run that goes along the stove wall. I'm sure that could be done very inexpensively and is easily (??) replaced.

I like the glass and wallpaper ideas. Ebay has good deals on wallpaper.

Also: burlap? Grasscloth? I'm really digging the idea of a subtle textural that will tie things together without being glaring. Burlap is very inexpensive.

Or, for more cleanability, choose a treated textural paper:
Green Jute:
{{!gwi}}

In picking out my favorite kitchens on the FKB, I realized I gravitated to painted backsplashes, I think both because I like the simplicity of the uniform color, and the fact that it is often used to deliver a pop of color.

I like Boxerpup's idea of glass over paint. I think that tempered glass is necessary behind the cooktop, but the rest could be regular glass, or you could forego the glass elsewhere.

I know you probably want plain, but there is something about your kitchen that says "fire and ice'. Maybe a less busy version but one that would incorporate your light wood and your dark granite. What is your granite. Hard to tell.

Oh my gosh, you guys have given me lots of good ideas! Bmore - you are right that I hesitate to put in a permanent "color". I am kinda fickle about colors and have purposely left the major items in the kitchen fairly nuetral. Love the simplicity and pop of the glass splash.

I love the wallpaper ideas....and the jute! That led me to look at some wonderful google images.

So what about this? Instead of making a splash with the backsplash, I get some really colorful retro modern fabric (like a marimekko) to make the window treatment, and leave the backsplash neutral? Maybe get two shades of grey paint - one a darker painted 6 or so inches over the counter, and then a lighter above that? That way I can have color, but its not permanent, and not busy.

I love this fabric:
http://www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com/Products/usd0/carpets/fabrics/4000/Unikko+fabric+yellow

I can change the island color - I've repainted that thing a half-dozen times already. Can make it a little more acid-y.

What about the existing grey color? It continues into the living and dining room, and I love it in there, but for some reason it just seems dull in the kitchen. I definitely need a lighter shade on the cooktop wall...

Just talking this out is helping.

CRAZY idea -

Get your marimekko fabric for the curtains. Cut out a section just right for a focal behind your cooktop. Since you have the wonderful utensil bar, maybe this would just be a colorful stripe between your countertop and your utensil display.

Paint your backsplash whatever neutral color you'd like.

Apply the fabric to the wall behind your cooktop. Doesn't have to be anything more permanent than rubber cement.

Get a sheet of glass just the size of your hood, and fasten it to the wall behind your cooktop, protecting the paint and fabric focal point from cooking oils, etc.

Voila!

If you clip that glass properly, you'll be able to pull it down and change your fabric focal point whenever you want.

I love that fabric site-thank you for introducing me to it. I think you going in the right direction cause what you're thinking sounds like the way your the kitchen feels.

That kinda stuff also comes in wallpaper if you just want to walk on the wild side for a little while. Most wall paper is fairly easy to apply and very easy to remove (if dry strip-able).

Here is a link that might be useful: Wallpaper, most not quite as bright, tho.

Curious about what you ended up deciding on - your kitchen is so nice!

Eliz

I'm curious too!

Still nothing! I am going to do a funky mod curtain, just need to stop working on the other projects in the house. I get "analysis paralysis" - seeing too many options I like and not being able to choose just one. :(

And those fabrics are pricey!!!