I think your kitchen looks great!

FWIW, we had a tiled (honed natural stone) backsplash paired with quartz counter in our last house and after living with them for 7 years I think they're overrated. It's laminate and washable paint for us this time around.

Many, and I mean many, save up $ for years, and I mean years, living in way, and I do mean WAY worse kitchens then yours.... LOL :-)

What I am actually saying is I think your kitchen is very nice! Everything looks clean and brand new. Your layout is fine. It actually is very similar to mine which works great for me anyways.

I think the reason you may feel it is "naked" is because it is very monochromatic colors. You just need some colors besides brown and beige.

You would be surprised what $50-$100 can do. A gallon of your favorite color paint for the walls, a few colorful thift store finds to put in that glass corner cab, a couple throw rugs....later maybe do a new coordinating roman shade. It might change your whole perspective.

I suggest doing those inexpensive changes, and then save, save, save....

Have you considered doing it yourself? You can do a pretty inexpensive tile backsplash for under $100, and it's not a hard diy at all. It doesn't have to support weight, so really, you just need to manage to stick it to the walls.

If it will make you happy, I think it's totally worth it. Even if it's only for a year (and then you replace counters and redo the backsplash) it costs less than Netflix!

Nothing wrong with kitchen, just needs a little color. I would start with that, then see how you feel about it.

ITA with rebunky. That kitchen has great bones and layout, and looks new. It could use a little color. If you don't love your counters, and I think they are just fine for now, I would not put any money into a backsplash. What I think I would do is remove the shade from the window, which is a little overpowering for the space, and put in an inside-mount fabric shade in a pretty pattern. Or, if you can get away with it, just a colorful valance. Pull one color from the shade and paint the backsplash area with a tough, scrubable paint. I do not think you need anything more. Enjoy your big, beautiful kitchen.

Start a backsplash fund. By the time you've saved up enough money, you can revisit the issue and see if you really want one or not. It's not like you don't have a little bit of one since your counter has a small one. It might be nice, but I don't think you "need" one.

Gennifer B I was going to suggest diy as well, but really they'd likely have to buy or rent a tile saw as well. $500 for a job that size is not bad at all. There are also a lot of electrical outlets, which is not something most new tile diy'ers can handle and have it look nice.

I think painting a contrasting color on the backsplash area would make a world of difference for $25 or so.

I'd wait until you save up for the counters, and then do the backsplash. Rebunky has good advice, use paint, and inexpensive decorative items to add some color. Why spend $500 on a backsplash that you will have to remove when you replace the counters? Besides which, you say you don't have the $500 just now. Keep saving, in the meantime, you have a really nice kitchen just as it is.

I'm with MissLizzie, remove that window covering. Paint the backsplash. You can also check Habitat Restore for cheap paint. That's how I painted my garage for $10.

By the way I think the kitchen looks nice.

I would wait until you can upgrade the counters. You're kitchen looks great - I would have killed for that to have been my "before."

Save up and get what you really want. You can either paint the backslash or try something unique. My old kitchen had a copper tile backsplash that I did not realize was only stuck on with dublesided tape - and it looked great!

I agree with the majority here that your kitchen is almost new and looks spaciuos and lovely. Many people would be envious. A few inexpensive changes such as paint and the blind and a few accessories on the counter or rugs on the floor would dress it up. I expect the laminate counter is still in good condition being only 4 years old, so I wouldn't worry about replacing it and tiling for now. Take a break from all your reno's and enjoy the home.

Yep, just paint the backsplash area. Most paint sellers have a rack of paint returns, you might find a color you liked. You won't need much. I see something cheerful like an apple green.

Paint first. Then I'd invest in a bit more lighting if possible. Under and over cabinet if possible. Then I'd put a super cheap bit of something decorative around the range. Like tin ceiling square type material. Or a couple of tiles. Stainless steel. I'd consider painting the island, maybe putting a chalkboard paint area on it. I'd put something on top of the two cabinets flanking the sink to draw the eyes up. Bowls? Green plants?

Then I'd invest in a new top for the island. You could DIY a simple wood top, easy and classy. Dress it up, I think it could be the natural focal point of the kitchen.

Then save up for new countertop.

I'd have been super happy with that kitchen, you got a nice one! I'd only have quibbled over the countertops and the size of the sink. And I might have changed out the pulls too.

(Colors aren't perfect choices but just to give an idea of what a change might give you.)

I'm in a similar situation. I like my cabinets and floor, but want new stone countertops and a backsplash. My counters are fine, not offensive, just dated early 90's speckly laminate with the wood edge.

I don't have the money to replace them right now, since all our 15 year old appliances are dying at the same time. I have been thinking about removing the 4" backsplash, painting (!) the counters, and putting in a tile backsplash. My husband thinks I've lost my mind :-)

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. I agree with the above posters, that you could just add a little color and it will look great. Maybe you could hang something in the backsplash area-- art, plates, etc-- and see what you think.

" You're kitchen looks great - I would have killed for that to have been my "before."

This. lol

I really like the idea of changing the shade. Although I like that shade, a soft color may do wonders.

The tin backsplash put on with double sided tape is interesting....not so much of a commitment. I have a friend who is replacing her tin backsplash...maybe I'll ask her for some of them and try it out around the stove.

Thanks for the great ideas and compliments on the kitchen. I do like it very much, even if the neutral tones have gone too far.

I agree - Paint!

Would paint BS a color that I loved and looked good with the cabs.

Would not do undercab lighting if I did not like countertop.

Paint it. You'll like it better while you wait for new counters (and your old counters will be much more pleasing in the meantime).

Saw these in Home Depot. http://t.homedepot.com/p/Smart-Tiles-Murano-Dune-10-20-in-x-9-10-in-Peel-and-Stick-Decorative-Wall-Tile-Backsplash-in-Beige-Box-of-12-tiles-SM1035-12/203886150/

Imitation glass tiles that are peel and stick. I think you can buy them by the sheet. They aren't cheap, but way less than $500 and I bet they can easily be removed when you are ready to upgrade the counters. Or just use paint.

There are some neat wallpapers that might look good. Probably some that look like tile.

If you don't have $500 then a new back splash is the least of your problems.

Save your money, your kitchen looks great.

I agree with those opting for some color accents. The current trend is for neutral everything. Are you contemplating putting in a neutral backsplash? If so you will not think it worth the money in the end. It will certainly not "pop". It would be better to spend some money on colorful kitchen accessories now...maybe red this year and pea green next year... Maybe you will go with a mix of colorful tiles on the wall that you would not have done had you not experimented with color inexpensively beforehand (and maybe by then colorful tiles will become available again instead of the mixy neutrals). That is a very nice kitchen!

your kitchen is lovely. Open the shade and let in some light!! We couldn't afford to do our kitchen either, but my tenant kind of trashed it - so we only redid the tile counters (ICK!) to Corian some years back. Now the cabinets are looking bad so this time we will redo the entire space. Took us 20 years! I would paint rather than DIY the backsplash for now.

Have you considered wallpaper? You can bring in color, as well as a design, if that's your 'schtick'. Just throwing another consideration in the mix. I personally *hate* a backsplast covered in tile or granite from countertop to bottom of cabinets, or even further up. I've gone *about* 3/4 up the wall, with the remained just the neutral color thruout the rest of my home, but only on the interior cabs, so above the stove and sink areas. On the perimeter bank of cabinets, it's just a painted wall, where I had planned to use wallpaper, but haven't done so yet. I also picked up at an auction a painted canvass, which is long and narrow, and thought of using it here. It's a vintage French scene of a girl feeding chickens in a barn, done in dark colors, which is my preference. I just don't want to leave it should I sell. ;)

Paint it and be done. I, too, have that little lip with our current counters (we also have a backsplash). We bought our house this way. Now that we're redoing it all, we have to rip out everything, and that's expensive. So, paint it for now to get by. Get some counters (without the little backlipsplash), and a backsplash you love.