This morning I took a look at some pale grey kitchens on Houzz. Others suggested this and now I agree. These kitchens look great with: white walls and countertops (not a cool white), pale beige walls and countertops, or white walls and beige countertops. Many had beige or hardwood floors. This seems plain but it is so not! Any colorful accessory used looked great. It looked dressed up and pulled together. Check it out and do idea books like housegall200 said. You are going to have fun!

Isn’t HOUZZ amazing??? I wish i could find all their Christmas stockings and put homemade treats in them, that’s how i feel about these folks...Pros and not so pros, a joy to have this capability to help us love where we live!

Your floor:

Tiles with floor color; light gray/cabinets; gold touches/trim; white/appliances

LG HI-MAC SAMPLES--THIS ONE WOULD REALLY WORK IN YOUR KITCHEN:

Since you are getting countertop prices, I would also get floor tile prices so you can compare. Depending on your materials, changing the floor tile may be less expensive than changing the countertops or changing the cabinets, and it would give you an updated floor in several areas. Look at some tile options, and then have a contractor to give you an estimate for installation.

You have a classic kitchen. Doesn't look bad at all as is. I actually like your current countertop and, if it is undamaged, would keep it.

If "dated" -- not the current fad -- actually matters to you, the only things that I can see that might actually have a "dated" vibe to people that care about such things are

1. Scallop trim over the sink:

Since you've already painted your cabinets, matching the painted wood finish with a straight board will be easy to do.

After the holidays and you've had time to relax a while, as you begin to think about your kitchen again, check to see how the scalloped board is attached and if you might be able to replace it with a straight bottom board painted the same color as your cabinets

2. Short backsplash rather than covering the entire area between countertop.

Personally, I PREFER the short backsplash. It makes changing the colors of the kitchen much easier -- painting is easier than tile removal and replacing -- and it makes hanging a shelf for spices and/or sugar bowl or cups or colorful trivets much easier.

You could even leave the short backsplash you now have and add more tile above it rather than remove your current counter top and backsplash .

Since you intend to add a tile backsplash over the countertop anyway, first try painting the wall above the short backsplash your favorite bold color -- perhaps a cobalt blue to embrace the blue hue to your cabinets. Then add a few colorful trivets, preferably in shapes that make you smile when you look at them ... both useful and easily changeable decorations according to the season or your mood.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=628&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=YWr-Xa6VCIKZ_QaK5qeoBA&q=Colorful+interesting+heavy++metal+trivets&oq=Colorful+interesting+heavy++metal+trivets&gs_l=img.12...7848.19857..22094...0.0..1.401.2292.25j0j1j0j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.CgQdqt5ETyA&ved=0ahUKEwjuyeKVtcfmAhWCTN8KHQrzCUUQ4dUDCAY#spf=1576954490938

3. Flooring is about what works that you like. If your flooring is older than your countertop, scratched or worn and, especially if it might need changing again soon anyway, you might also consider changing your flooring INSTEAD OF your countertops and/or backsplash.

But first, enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

If I were you, I would find a way to paint the floor tiles- end of story. If I could not paint the floor, I would get a rug and call it done. No new countertop, unless yours is no good, no new backsplash, no new paint on cupboards.

Your kitchen looks very nice. It does not look like a showplace and if that is the look you are going for, get ready to spend plenty of dough. But if you want a fresh kitchen, you are golden. Put your things in there, a nice kettle perhaps, a big wooden bowl of fruit, pretty tea towels, and fill the kitchen with the smell of something festive baking.

PS Thinking more, I would accessorize with some pretty blue and white ceramics, Delft or Chinese, or English transfer ware, or Polish pottery, so many choices for leaning into the blue.

I think changing the floor, and getting s/s appliances would make you happy. Redoing the countertop may not do the trick.

New light and lightly patterned countertops that tie together the pale gray, tan floor, white appliances, and wood would greatly lighten the space by throwing light upward. The floor can be covered with an indoor outdoor rug to break it up.

following

I'd focus on the floors, as I'm not keen on those tiles.

JUST paint over your existing backsplash . Your kitchen Looks nice and clean !

Don't add another backsplash ...just paint the walls over the backsplash ...all white would look really nice . Enjoy !

Bright white walls will not go with your floors. A warm white will go with floor however a warm white will not look right with the colour of the cabinets. I also agree the floors are part of the problem but I know it’s not something that you want to tackle. The creamy floors (warm colour) and the grey/blue cabinets(cool colour) are the problem.

When you picked the colour of the cabinets did the paint swatch look blue at all? You have received so many different options that your head is probably spinning. I would suggest hiring a designer for a colour consultation . They can look at your lighting and suggest the best way to marry everything together.

Good luck.

Color consultation seems like best advice.

I really like the color you picked for the cabinets, and I'm glad to hear you're going to take some time to think about it before jumping into repainting. One of my all-time favorite kitchens is one of JLo's kitchens, which she did in Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray. It's a bluish gray very similar to yours. I think you'll find its' a really versatile color, I know I have loved it everywhere I've used it. Best of luck on your journey -- I think you're off to a great start. Here's a couple screenshots of JLo's cabinets:

If repainting isn't an option, I would go with a color consultation for the backsplash. I chose that route in my own kitchen reno and it was the best decision that I made. Be open to going to tile stores rather than Big Box ones too as the selections are usually better. I also agree with Shirlpp regarding the window trim and flooring and to help with the floor, try cleaning the grout with Resolve carpet cleaner. Use the aerosol spray, scrub and wipe. It'll take some work but will remove buildup on the grout and some focus from the floor.

Interesting dilemma, and I'm sorry you are going through problems over it. However, I see the various white tones making it all so competitive. Between the white appliances and especially the current walls, they are ruining your newly painted cabinets.

At the very least, they are not giving your Silver Shadow cabinets a fair chance!!!

I agree with Jan, that ideally, stainless appliances and stainless sink would be your friends here. But since money is tight, wall paint color needs to be the mediator here. I think that would help a lot to bring your floors into balance with your new cabinetry color.

Please consider this, yes, before that hole gets deeper. Maybe a huge sample of Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige could be a great mediator here. (It can be color-matched anywhere.) Bonus here is that a color called Cadet, much like your countertop color, shows on SW's website as an official coordinate to Accessible Beige. ...Or if that doesn't work, some other light greige.

I believe you can make your cabinets work beautifully, given the opportunity they deserve.

The OP left ages ago!.........

Ages ago? Dilemma started only two weeks ago. (12/18/19) Busy time of year. And maybe she decided to take the advice of slowing down to make a thoughtful plan. I hope we see an update from her in 2020.

Update: Merry Christmas everyone! We REALLY tossed around all the different ideas given to us. I went back and forth so many times. In the end, what helped make our decision was that this week we found out that both our children will be needing braces $. So, we will start with painting the space between the cabinets and counter. We will also remove the backsplash behind the stove and paint there. I did go as far as seeing a color specialist who thought a new counter would help if we couldn’t afford the new flooring. We also received some paint ideas. I will be experimenting with different lighting. All your comments have been immensely helpful and I will continue to review them as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you for the update! Keep us informed! We are all rooting for you! Braces are more important than kitchens! I personally think the color of the cabinets is nice-I really like light gray. I’d change light bulbs and add a rug for now. I also like that youre going to try painting the wall. I might also paint the wood trim. My friends are putting vinyl wood flooring over the tile in their new house and the price was reasonable. Maybe when youre ready, that might be a consideration, but I wouldnt rush.

I agree with what some of the others have suggested...try some different light bulbs. Possibly you could fix your problem for a few dollars.

Thank you for the update! Glad you were able to use some ideas moving forward that will help you focus your money on braces. Happy Holidays and good luck to you, update us when you can!

New disign kitchen

Glad to hear you figured out what you want to do. (Hey, braces are important!) I also think that your decisions are good ones. Painting the walls and changing the light bulbs are the cheapest ideas and probably will do a LOT of good. Keep us posted. As you can see, folks get VERY invested in other people's dilemma. Happy Holidays!

I know I'm late to the party, but I'd like to add my 2 cents. I like the way your cabinets turned out, but I dislike the 3 back splash options. Those thin horizontal mosaics are dated. Look for something much simpler. As far as your floor goes, if you can't replace it, you can try grout paint to modernize it a bit.

@toscana26, you commented on my bathroom remodel and asked about the website I used to create the image above, with different flooring. The tile was a ceramic wood look tile. Here it is!

https://www.tileoutlets.com/visualizer/

toscana26, can you post a pic if you ever did anything that you liked....or found remedied your situation? Would love to see. But also, I realize that it hasn't been that long....so you might not have done anything yet. :-)

Oh....we have been working on it. I know it’s been a bit. We ended up doing both our bathrooms first and a hallway. We are working on painting the kitchen but we had to do a lot of mudding because we took off that silver backsplash. It pulled off a lot of the drywall and was pretty uneven. I will post pictures as soon as we are done. As far as the kitchen goes, we have only finished painting the ceiling so far. We are pretty close to being done without spending a whole lot. It should be soon.

Looking forward to seeing it!

Silent White has a lavender undertone. The “they” who advised you on that color steered you wrong. The best way to counter the lavender and tone down your blue counter is to choose a backsplash with some warm orangey/brown/gold tones. Of the three options you show, the one on the left works best. But I would go for stronger color. Something like (just for a color mix example) this:

PM, that would look fabulous!

@tracy, thank you! That tile is sold on Wayfair. I’t’s Avaricon, and is maybe too, large-scale and bold, at 8”X8”. But I thought the colors were all there.

For anyone looking for a tried and true white that will not skew your other colors, I recommended Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White (ever so slightly grayish, and cool), and BM Chantilly Lace (warmer, but without going toward yellow).

PM, Sorry for the misunderstanding. Our cupboards are painted Silver Shadow (not Silent White). When I first did my original post, I stated the wrong color. I was unable to change my post d/t my error - for I could not figure out how to do it... but I think I have it corrected it now. We decided to paint the back splash 1st and see how it looks before spending money on tile. The color we are using is Drift of Mist by Sherwin Williams. Though I agree your tile picture makes all the colors pop!

I like @P M suggested complimentary backsplash idea with the style of your cabinets, however, if you want something a little more subtle, you could go with this

Pleasanton Cottage Kitchen · More Info

Also @toscana26 I cannot over-emphasize the use of under-cabinet lighting--so easy to purchase and even install yourself.. It makes a world of difference in how your kitchen looks--in the daytime, as well as in the evening. Enjoy your kitchen and don't worry too much what others think :)

Looks AMAZING!!!! I have the exact same cabinets and would love to paint mine. Can you tell me how you did yours & what you used? Thank you very much in advance!

@toscana26 - Are your countertops black or Blue Pearl Granite? We have the Blue Pearl Granite and I'm in the process of painting our cabinets Behr "Coconut Twist"... its in the white family. I also switched out the knobs & pulls on the cabinets to a darker 'aged bronze' from the silver on the oak cabinets. So... different cabinet hardware may a huge difference! Sorry, you had the color issue with the paint. But it helped me. I want to paint our island a different color than the cabinets and now will prob use a darker gray! (My husband's picture is showing, not mine:))

Oh, our floor is 18 x 18 travertine tiles and the backsplash is 4 x 4 tumbled marble tile. We did the floors & countertops a few years ago, but couldn't agree on the cabinets. I finally won! lol

@Matt Judy
You asked what our countertops were...they are actually Formica. Your kitchen sounds beautiful. Would love to see you post before/after pictures.

Toscana, I actually think Formica is one of the best, maintenance-free & long-lasting countertop surfaces. If something stains mine, I just throw some diluted bleach water on it & all is well.

I didn’t forget everyone that posted a comment. We had nothing to post. But we finally finished our kitchen, where I can post at least post a picture. It’s been 2 years later. After taking off the backsplash, I had to plaster/sand/prime many times to get the walls smooth. It took a long time, though not 2 years…life happened.

1. We had the scallop trim over the sink removed, then painted to match cupboards
2. Put trim up along the tops of all upper cabinets
3. Changed the lighting to a bulb that brought out less of a blue hue
4. Painted ceiling
5. Went with neutral color for kitchen and dining room walls from Sherman-Williams - Drift of Mist SW9166
6. Changed electrical outlets from black to white
7. Added a blue rug in kitchen (because it matched)
8. Changed baseboard from black to white
   We decided not to go any further on the kitchen until the rest of house is painted. Then we will reevaluate.
   
   

Your kitchen is lovely!

I think it looks great! I hope you do, as well!

Your post shows just how much is involved in just one mere room's update! Thanks for posting your finished room. Hope you're enjoying not being all up-in-the-air with stuff. That alone is worth celebrating!

great job!

If anything, i would paint only the lower cabinets a darker mid tone grey in the same tone of the countertop or stencil the entire floor in a tile pattern using a white the light grey and the dark colour .

wow that looks great! So crisp and fresh :)