You are in the warm /cool battle of a 15 year old home. You won't like my answer. Your cabinets already fight your " cooler gray" decorating and paint . Assuming this is not changing, assuming you aren't changing any cabinetry? Get more of the granite, and make it the SPLASH in one ( preferably BOTH ) areas. Sorry, but you will have a tough time, any other way.

There actually isn't any grey in the house. What are you referring to? The paint was already here but its not grey. It's definitely a warm toned paint....more like a very light tan than grey. It matches the color in the quartz almost perfectly. I would like to repaint at some point because the previous owner patched a few places with a paint that wasn't a 100% match and it drives me crazy! I would probably just do white though, should I ever repaint.

Otherwise I love the cabinetry and the quartz (its black canyon quartz from silestone) and have no plans in changing it. We like the travertine that is there but I would just like something a little different for behind the stove.

Jan if you have a wall color suggestion that you think would work better with the cabinets and the counters let me know! The bottom level of the house is a 2 story entry and is open so it would have to be a color that would work for the whole first floor/entry. Looking at these pictures I can kind of see what you are talking about with the paint....but I do think it looks much more grey in the photo than in person. It's definitely not the wall color I would have chosen but we just moved in 2 months ago!

If you want to warm up those walls, I’d suggest you start by changing your light bulbs to a warmer white (anywhere from 2700K to 4000K). If I had to guess, I’d say the current lights are at least 5000K, which is why everything looks cooler/bluer than it really is. Btw, what is keeping you from changing the existing backsplash?

We like it? lol We just couldn't find the same tile so we thought we might just do something different in the area behind our stove. I've seen it done before I just can't seem to find anything I like that I feel will tie it in together.

You have to got to a dedicated tile STORE ( Not the bog box ) ......and you have to drag home samples. Match it as close as you can. : )

That's our plan for tomorrow! Do you have any wall color suggestions?

You don't need to change the wall color. Yes, it doesn't look great in combination with your cabinets, but it is the cabinets that are very outdated and yellow, and changing all your walls to a warmer color won't change that. At some point, you might consider painting your cabinets white. I agree with others to find a tile that matches your current one as closely as possible. An alternative could be a solid stainless steel backsplash for the stove area.

Call me crazy but I’d like you to consider a “grayed” mirror. backsplash there. Easy enough to clean and it would reflect the rest of the area.

I realize you like it. Truth is , it is VERY difficult to pair two real stones. This is why granite is so often paired with a simple ceramic subway. Years ago, in common brown toned granite, you DID see quite a bit of travertine, and tumbled marble pairings.

I'll give you the answer you don't want. Pick and updated size 2 x 8 ish in a very !!! soft white ceramic subway. For BOTH areas. Grout in same soft white. That's the real answer unless you find the match: )

I think I am going to bite the bullet and paint the cabinets white. I don't really mind the color but I definitely think its limiting as far as other design aspects. My floors are a honey color so definitely will still have warm tones going with the counters and floors but I know I will love the cabinets white. I think at that point we may go ahead and replace the travertine with subway tile.....it would probably end up being cheaper in the long run since subway tile is so affordable. Definitely CAN'T replace the counters. It's a tonnnnn of counter space and I just can't justify removing all that quartz so it will have to stay.

I think painting is your best option, however,,,,

there are plenty of travertine subway tiles that will work w/the countertop and the other splash.

As mentioned, go into an actual tile stone that specializes in natural stone. You will find a much larger selection.

If you do plan on painting the cabs, just know that it's not a cheap date. doesn't look like you have that many cabs (is it just what's in the first photo) ? will prob run you in the 3-6K range, depending on where you live. please contact a pro cabinet painter (not a house painter). he should remove all of the doors/drawers and take them back to his shop to be sprayed. the ones in the house will have to be cordoned off so he can spray those.

you don't want a super bright white, so look at something like Alabaster or White Dove.

If you paint the cabs, you can also get new hardware. If you want new, get them before painting so that they can fill the current holes. (or you can find some that fit your current spacing)

@Megan Parker - I think painting the cabinets white is the best option. The color is dated and is dictating other choices for you. I'd also rip out the travertine (also dated), and replace it with subway tile. Those changes would give you a much more updated space and allow your quartz counters to stand out.

I would consider using your quartz. You don’t have that much and it would pop against your cabinets. Minimize the types of materials especially on the cook top side. No medallion. Dated. Plus, it’s too short a run.

You have beautiful floors, and I think the warmer white cabinet paint in the last pic Beth posted, would be stunning and really fresh looking on your cabinets with your flooring and off white subway with same color grout, and new hardware. Given your counters, it seems like you’d get a similar effect as in that pic.

Ive been all over the board with styles choice and have grown to have a real appreciation for a classic look in a kitchen, since mine is open floor plan and furniture in rest of house is classic modern mixed with older pieces.

I Just put in Nordic White cabinets (an off white) from Brookhaven and I have floors like yours (maybe a tad lighter) and have found that it can be challenging getting the whites just right unless you get that under cabinet lighting correct before even looking at backsplash tiles to bring home.

IMO when you have a counter like yours (darker) that stands on its own, its more flattering to the counters to keep the backsplash the color of the upper cabinets so there isn’t a break in color between the bottom of the uppers. I think the term I’m looking for is delineate (?). When small appliances or staged decor finds its way to our countertops there’s less jumping around for the eyes. (Less clutter is what I’ve been aiming for) My home isn’t that large, so I color-matched my Benjamin Moore flat paint for the walls to the off white cabinets and was able to use my same crown on cabinets in semi gloss on into rest of house. Allowing the same color to flow through the house made it seem like there is much more room than there really is. When money permits a beautiful hand knotted runner would look stunning in yours.

I cant wait until one day I open up these forums and see that you’ve posted your refresh.

Its always exciting to see before and after pics, regardless of the extent of the changes.

Update :)

Very pretty. I’m on the team of “hate words on the walls”. If you don’t love them, by removing them you will better achieve a clean modern style that I think you are going for. But if you love them, keep them, and I will shut the hell up. You did a great job!

i have to agree about the EAT. The backsplash is all but covered w/everything. let it shine! backsplash actually looks nice w/the countertop, but it's already busy. adding the EAT and Stir crazy, and the other elements is a little much. If you must have the signs, put the EAT over in the dining room area. (plus you've already got the homemade above the pantry) you don't want overkill.

cabs look great!