I'm not usually a huge fan of white walls, but in this case I think I would paint everything white, approximately the same color as the cabinets. Then bring in some bright, beachy colors with artwork, accent furniture, etc. I love the bright orange in your fruit bowl - pair that with some blues and greens, etc. What does the rest of the space look like? And how is the lighting?

so, just painting the walls a diff color will make it happy?? nothing else? lol. you now what I mean.

since this is your forever home, how about you remove that horrible backsplash tile? I think that would contribute loads to making it happy. right now it's brown and chaotic.

this white zellige tile looks beachy.

this 3x9 ivory glass subway tile would look a lot better. just one of many other choices.

what if you did something like this instead? (ignore the white granite)

these are a few other cecelia granite kitchens just so you can get some ideas.

since you're at the beach, get some beach-y art on the walls, trade in that brown table (if you're trying to get away from brown, then don't use brown furniture) for something white. bring in some texture w/sisal rugs

I would LOVE to change the backsplash...but to be honest, I'd rather have a white granite. Neither of those are going to happen in the next 10 years so It's a non starter right now. I just have to work with what I have. I assumed paint would be the fastest and cheapest way since we just bought the house, money is a little tighter for a few months.

When you have some colors to try, go to samplize.com for peel and stick sheets of them to work with. I think you should look into Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

As usual, great advice from Beth!

Sadly, ITA. I couldn’t sleep with that noisy, bossy backsplash in my house. Love the bead-board idea. Congrats on your new home.

It's true. The backsplash is the most at fault here.

the backsplash makes me dizzy.....

If you get rid of it, i think you will be happy with the rest

congrats on your new home! I’m having issues with my open concept and choosing colors too. I think answering your actual question works best for you and I would go with the same color as the cabinets to bring it all together until you can do something else. love the color of the door. maybe a jute rug the color of the door? If you want to change the tile you can buy stick on tile for very cheap for until you can change it. It’s called wall pops and totally cute.

Even painting the tile backsplash would make it look better.

https://www.thehandymansdaughter.com/painting-tile-backsplash/

Beth H - great suggestions. In your fist set of photos - I am looking for a high quality jute/sisal rug (maybe with some wool thrown in?) that looks exactly like the one second pic from the bottom in your last set of pics. I’ve tried wayfair, rugsusa etc. any advice for next places for on line rug shopping?

OP- a SC beach house!!! So wonderful!! I have to jump on the backsplash bandwagon. I little DIY will go a long way I think. The bead board, some jute, white table and beachy art and your kitchen will look like it came out of a margarine! Best of luck and congrats on your new home.

Should say *first set of pics.

Couldn’t figure out how to edit a post in the app!

Ugh!!! Magazine!!! I need coffee!

I agree that the backsplash is the issue. The previous owner of my last house had installed a very similar backsplash. I though I was not up to removing it so I primed it and painted it white. The calming effect was instant. I waited about a month and then felt motivated to get rid of it altogether and took it down myself bit by bit with some good gloves, goggles and a chisel. It doesn’t require skill to take it down but I ended up needing to replace some of the drywall. Still, well worth it. I didn’t end up retiling - it looked great painted so I returned all the subway tile and called it good.

I know doing a backsplash sounds overwhelming, but it isn’t. @function_first gave you a first hand story of how easy it is. At a minimum, paint over those tiles. Your eyes will thank you. As much as I love the look of rattan beachy chairs, I would go for comfort first.

I second, third, fourth and whatever to removing the backsplash. It dates the kitchen for sure.

I agree with the others who are advising you to find a way to change the backsplash. I think it will make a HUGE improvement. Do it!

As Beth said, the backsplash is the issue

I tiled my own backsplash with no experience, it's not brain surgery...but it takes time and research. Pretty much anything is better than what the kitchen has now ;)

From what you show in the photos, you really only have that "L" shaped wall of backsplash next to the fridge and the range...not much BS to deal with. It would be so worth it to do something to eliminate that dark and dizzying element. Paint the tile, take it down yourself, paint or add inexpensive white subway or beadboard, all of which are DIY-able.

The bead board is a great idea!

Another vote, for purging that backsplash ... I would rather live with painted drywall than that way too busy tile.

Jane, I think you have an overwhelming consensus. redo the splash asap. plenty of good tutorials out there. if you don't have the money for any tile, then just follow the beadboard link I posted.

Jessica, wool and jute are going to be a bit pricey. you can try PB if you like this handwoven look

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/lark-wool-jute-rug/

West Elm, mini pebble,

jute/wool:

https://www.naturalrugco.com/products/madeline

Etsy has quite a few.

Or, how about this one? it's Rockfield off white on Wayfair (diff sizes)

they have this gorgeous blue one too! Ozias.

Colca wool rug

Birchlane, jute rug.

World Market has some great rug choices. this is Ivory/Jute

If you like the banded jute, seagrass or sisal rugs, try Safavieh on overstock, wayfair, amazon, etc.

Ikea also has them. a lot of colors

Beth H - well I know what I will be doing tonight. Thanks!

Please come back and show us what you’ve done

A much belated update; I had a few familial emergencies that zapped my time. Maybe it was better. I really had to live with the house before making big decisions. Anyway...just reread your comments to me and--- You were all right about the backsplash. I hated that horrid backsplash from the first morning I stayed there. Despised it, actually. I wasn't a fan of the outdated granite but couldn't afford to change it. I looked. Sooo...can live with it. Since I'm at the beach I just think of it as the color and picture of wet sand ... That backsplash drove me crazy. First--so freaky busy. Second--sooo outdated (and this house was built '15 or '16).

I've been to every tile store with hundreds of samples and the tile I think looks best is this one: Tantan Beige 4×4 - Style-Access. I don't know how the color shows up on monitors. Now the big decision is 4x4 stacked or 3x6 stacked or regular brick look. While the 4x4 is modern, I don't know if it goes with the cabinets/area. What do you think? 4x4? 3x6? What about layout? regular brick layout? stacked? To me, diagonal is waaay too much for the area.

What do you, as experts, think? It's not a big area, as pictured in the first post a year ago.

Then, I'll be off to explore paint colors for the entire house!

Welcome back! I agree it's always good to live with something before the big change. I suggest removing the tile and pondering some more. I'm not a color expert by any means but IMO, the tile while quite lovely, isn't bringing anything to the party. (I had a co-worker like that once...)

Once you've removed the tile, your brain will be able to see the space more clearly and other ideas will pop out or at least have a calm space in which to be considered.

i would stay away from a modern stacked look and go with a rectangle size over a square. Unless it is a pattern square, solid square reminds me of bathroom tile.

It will be easier to figure out the tile color if you get the old backsplash down and you can place tile samples vertically along the top of the countertop. The tile you think works will be hard to assess if your eyes have to see the old backsplash. I’m thinking a warm white tile will brighten the room better than a beige, but the one you chose could work.

Really? I'm so no a decorator. I didn't think white of any temp( warm or cold) would go with the counter and/or cabinets which are a construction white (which I would say is a cold white). Can you recommend a tile?