I have the Subway Ceramics Avalon / Minas with a medium gray grout. And a Shaw's white sink, if anyone is considering that, by the way. (My contractor could have ordered it directly, but at his request, I went through a tile store, and by the time everyone had put their sugar onto it, it was OBSCENELY expensive.) I'm not an installation expert, but at least with the Subway Ceramics, the installers use little plastic spacers between the tiles (I think some others have their own spacers?) when they put them up, they don't do it freehand, so how much grout you get is a function of 1) the limits set by the curvature of the tile and 2) what size spacers they use. So you might be willing to go a little darker with a smaller grout line, or with a handmade tile that refuses to go close together, you might want to stay light. The traditional color is close to concrete. But most modern people don't seem to like that, so do what pleases you!

This is trickier than you think. If you choose and "off white" for the cabinet paint and keep your totally white appliances, the cabinet paint will look like whatever undertone is in the white, most likely yellow. They'll look like they need to be painted even though you've just painted them. I would recommend painting them an actual color in your granite. These are all Ralph Lauren paints, but you can find similar colors at SW if you like their paint. The top image is your Kilim Beige, bottom is your granite. Consider other beiges (like Edwardian Linen), greys (like Cove Point) , taupes (like Antique Bone), and browns (like Desert Caftan). If you really want white cabinets, choose a white that matches your appliances - they look fine with the granite, right?

If the appliances stay-I'd reconsider painting the cabinets..appliances will look very out of place or so I think. Too heavy next to white(that should be cream or ivory of course, at minimum, with all the other warm surfaces around..or it can be other color, something in warm realm, but one should love it...all this spray painting stuff is very expensive to do right. Or a huge effort to do right.) In short I'm not sure that painting is the best way to go if almost all the finishes stay as they are. There's a reason this kitchen looks maybe dark to you, maybe older-but it makes sense nevertheless. I agree with all the previous posters who suggested plain backsplash(maybe with some interest like subtle variation that one can get with handmade tile, or crackle..but also just the right color, that goes with rest of the finishes (check Daltile..their color selection is pretty good) will brighten the kitchen and make you happier. The tile itself will have somewhat reflective quality too. Meaning: more light. Love the suggestion of couple glass doors..that can be fun. I'd put (maybe) a rug of my liking...accessories/kitchenalia(is there a word like that? lol) that I like to look at while using them..they can be light/bright..they can be shiny..different textures-something polished, something organic, something fabric..all this brightens and softens kitchens, unless you have a very minimalistic style and prefer to have nothing on the counters. But this kitchen doesn't lend itself very well to having absolutely nothing. I'd put a plant there for sure:) It's a nice kitchen. I think small changes, not big overhauls that can open can of worms indeed unless very well thought out, and one's ready to pay for them a lot, will make the biggest difference for now. Do you have good undercabinet lighting? That's an important thing to have. Enjoy your new place! PS I like wooden trims on windows:) To me it's like yay, exciting! Probably because I don't remember seeing it where I lived before, until I moved here.

lindsjoyr, did you already paint one cabinet or is that a sample up there? I too think the dark cabs are so pretty with your appliances. If it were me, just grout and then live with it. If you want to paint cabs later, then go for it. (And hide the white coffee grinder ;-)). You have fab appliances and the backsplash is beautiful and classic and will be easy to clean.... You did a beautiful job!