Can you take some more pictures from a wider angle so we can see how the whole kitchen looks as a whole?

I don't know if I'm seeing your kitchen correctly, but is that tile with the blue pieces in it behind the stove under the hood or microwave? That looks like it doesn't belong at all, but then I can't see what the whole kitchen looks like either so I don't know. The grayish tiles look okay.

If you can afford it, I would look into having the backsplash redone since you already hate it. It isn't going to grow on you, so cut your losses if you possibly can and redo it.

I am thinking of doing just that. I know it will cost more, but I am never going to like that. I will add another picture. Thanks for responding.

The piece with the blue is a little shelf above the stove.

Thanks so much. Could I put grey up there? Or silver metallic? Or? and do you have any ideas for the floor and wall paper? I have had so many samples up, I could open a store!

I agree wtih Washington Marble Works. Your kitchen looks very nice, and fixing that one area will probably resolve the issues. The border looks fine, and the colors work. And once you get some stuff on the counters, there will be other things to focus on.

I'd change the tiles above the shelf to white tile. That way the focus will be on what you put on the shelf.

I see now that the tile on the shelf matches the accent tile in the backsplash, but i think it is just too busy especially with the blue accents. Switching it to be the plain white tile, like the subway, would make things flow a lot better.

The only thing bothering me is the extra part over the range. The small mosaic looks fine to me.

Agree with others about the shelf. I'd also suggest that whatever you do there should flow all the way down to counter level behind the range. Otherwise, the shelf is disconnected from the rest and looks like an afterthought.

What may be bothering you about the mosaic strip on the backsplash is that the tones are very subdued compared to the wood of your cabinets. The strip doesn't look horrible, but it doesn't add anything, and nothing else in the kitchen picks up those shades. Maybe stick to plain subway tiles. I'd use smaller ones than you have now, similar to those in the photo below.

I like those ideas. I will concentrate on getting rid of the mosaic. It was supposed to look sparkly, but I think it was installed incorrectly as far as the mastic was concerned. I didn't know at the time, since this is the first time we have done something like this. I appreciate the ideas you have given me. when we find someone to do the floor, I will see if they can correct that.