I would replace the dark worktop for a white one, if you need a refreshing look as no light bounces on dark worktops, hence why yours looks so cramped. then you add a white splashback too, subway white tiles are the cheapest of tiles and glossy ones bounce off the light great, which creates a more airy kitchen.. If you go for mirror splashback, unless you have OCD and enjoy cleaning 3 times a day, then forget it. it will always look smudged.

I don't believe there will be much difference in price between a glass splash back and stone. I believe the white metro tiles and grey grout (repeating the grout to the floor tiles) will work very well, and my preference would be a matt finish. Kitchen accessories and the oak shelf will avoid it looking too bland. Alternatively, you could opt to make a bold statement by using some of the wacky tile designs that are out there, but then I would suggest considering using a white shelf opposed to oak so the tiles take centre stage.

Hi Amy, Have a look here, it is our splashback and other glassworks catalogues: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lNMo-zjO2Qm1domfNMNmhrBYxmX23d6x/view?usp=sharing We do all of the splashbacks by UV printing method, you might want to learn more about it before buying splashback because if you will be going for printed one, there are many cheap alternatives that i.e. require reprinting in few years. UV Printing lasts for 70+ years. Moreover, by UV you can also do the plain colour splashback that you initially decided for, but it is going to be slightly cheaper. Have a look on pricing here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232760255417 Are you looking for some samples or real pictures? I can have a walk through our workshop with a camera as we have one (60x60cm) black splashback in stock waiting to be posted. #Edit: Toughened and Heat resistant is a must-have feature! Otherwise, it will not usually last for longer than few weeks, it is too easy to smash annealed glass (standard type).

This is ours, standard upstand and large piece of quartz behind the cooker. In hindsight, and if budget allowed, we would have the upstand higher up like your image, perhaps to the bottom of our wall cupboards. We find the cooker splashed onto the paint as does the sink. We used the same paint as we have elsewhere in the house which you can normally wipe down but for some reason the finish on the kitchen means we have real trouble doing this, so we’ll have to repaint periodically.