Here is the picture of the booth and floor:

I do plan to have cushion on the seat and the back.

The wainscot around the booth is red birch and so are the wood inserts on the booth seats. The table is a maple butcher block.

The fridge is next to the booth as you can see in the picture and on the other side of the fridge is a red birch pantry.

This is a fairly small kitchen about 11' by 12' and just has that one small window north side. I had a real dark kitchen last time so my goal was to lighten it up. I had really dark cabinets before. I don't like walking into a dark home I like a light home.

The kitchen is a room all to itself it is not an open plan although there is a wide arch opening to the dining room. The other opening is to hall to garage. I am in a 70's ranch.

I'd choose the backsplash first, because that is your most "permanent" material (more so than fabric or paint). It all depends on what you're looking for. Do you want to stay neutral, or add some color? I could envision a slate or quarry tile with various neutral tones that would bring together your white/off-white upper cabs, your brown lower cabs, and the beiges in your counter. Or you could do a neutral field tile with something more decorative (mural, pattern) over the stove. There are so many choices, I think you need to give us some idea of what styles you like. I have a mix of cherry and off-white cabinets in my kitchen, w/ a green granite counter, and this is what I have on my backsplash. It brings together the cream, wood tones, and greens.

Then, in our "bar/butler's pantry" area, we have this.

Your kitchen is so pretty. What color are the walls of the adjoining rooms? Do you have any "favorite" colors? What colors have you even considered?

You know people can recommend a lot of things, but the bottom line is you have to like it. So let us know what your taste is. Do you have a particular style that you lean toward?

I'm sorry you misunderstood my post with the instructions. I didn't mean to start a new thread. I meant start a new response in that thread. Sorry, I'm not always as clear as I'd like. LOL I'm glad you figured out how to post the phot's though.

Color: All the walls in the house are light neutral (off whites). I like greens, blues, rose, clean beiges, and white.

Style: I seem to like victorian, english country, simple elegance, english tea party (new one!)

I like the looks of a light, clean looking home.

The tricky part in my backsplash is if I go too light then the upper cabinets look dirty (don't like that). If I go to a medium shade then the uppers will look more white which is what I want. I do not want the backsplash to hide in the background, I do want it to make a simple statement.

I remember your original post from sometime in the winter about your countertops being not what you expected and what to do about a backsplash! So I understand your frustration if you still haven't found a tile/paint/fabric you love.

I must say the room looks great and I love what you've done so far. I personally would hire a decorator to help you with these final decisions. I have done that in the past and while you know what you like and don't like, I found it very helpful to have a third party offering suggestions and bringing new ideas to the table.

If it were me I would go with a very neutral backsplash tile. Tumbled durango travertine is a classic, never get tired of it, looks great with everything, can't go wrong backsplash. It's the little black dress of kitchen decor. I have never been a fan of really elaborate, colorful or busy backsplashes. The backsplash is a fairly permanent part of your kitchen, it's not easy to replace and can be costly to install. Use paint, fabric and accessories to give your kitchen it's punch. When you get tired of a paint color or fabric it's easy to replace them.

Then I'd go to a fabric store and find a few fabrics that just really speak to you. Bring them home and find the one that you like best for your cushions and window treatment. Then, I'd pick a color out of the fabric choice to use to paint the walls. A decorator can really help with this by helping with the fabric and paint choices. The decorator I worked with, pointed me to this striped fabric in paprika orange/red that went perfect in the room, but I never would have picked on my own because it was so bold. It looks great - sometimes you need a little push to make a decision!

I would love subways in your kitchen. Tumbled marble would also be nice if you don't want the "white" from the subways. Maybe a light green for your walls (or maybe a greyish blue -Eddie Bauer Shale is great).
Go to the store and buy some samples of tile. Lets start there. Bring them home and post some pics. Once you have that settled. Then get some samples of the fabric and will see which one looks best. We'll be able to recommend colors to match the fabrics. I don't think I would like anything to bright or even stripes. I see something soft.

I was just coming back to post that I would like to see some neutral subway tiles in there ,but I see mlraff53 just suggested that :) If you have a sample of your cabinets and countertop, I would take it to several tile places and see if they can help you come up with something that will blend with the top cabinets and the countertop.

Laurie

Have you checked out backsplashes in the finished kitchens blog or at Kitchens We Love?

Someone on this forum used a cream/greeenish crackle glazed subway that might help bring out the white of your upper cabs. But I have to be honest, I'm not feeling green in that room because of your countertop. From my monitor looks like your counter is a true taupe with grey/blue undertones. If so, the yellow undertones of a green paint or green tile will compete with that countertop.

Not sure if Hoffman's kitchen is in the finished kitchens blog. Maybe if you go with something a bit more in the reddish/brownish/taupeish family. Or something simpler -- maybe Stainless Steel subways? Or what about a glass backsplash? Just throwing out ideas.

I think I would take samples of your countertop and upper cabnets with you to look at fabrics and try to chose one that works well with those colors. I would also paint out your wainscoating to the cream color already on the trim. Painting it will take it from a country look to a more elegant/country look and help unify the space. I think I would go more elegant on the backsplash than just plain tile ,if you topped the tile with one of those nice finshed tile trim pieces that it would really make the back splash outstandout no mater what color you chose. I would chose the fabric to be the most color splash in the room that way its easier to change later if your taste change. I was looking for cream and ended up putting in a deep red with hunter green leaves on it and thought it was a cheap temp. solution but fell in love with the statement it makes in the room since everything else is fairly neutral.

I still vote for subways but take a look at this thread (the large pictures with onyx tiles). They might look nice in your kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: onyx tile backsplash

If I recall from your earlier posting, I believe you were concerned that your countertops had a pinkish cast to it? My concern with any green would be that it would emphasize that even further.

Can anyone suggest a color to iwantakitchen to deemphasize the pinkish undertones in the counters? Once that is balanced that should help you get a direction to focus.

If you want to keep it light and bright what about something like karenforroses' backsplash? Except for your birch lowers, your choices in terms of white cabs and light neutral counters are quite similar. I've long admired her kitchen for the clean and simple palate she used, but no one could ever say it is boring.

What I would suggest is to find an inspiration kitchen (via the FKB, mags, etc.) that is similar to what you have so far and use that to help narrow your choices. You may also want to swap out your bulbs in the UC lights to a warm white as they also can have a great influence how your counters, backsplash look. In my kitchen at the moment I have replaced a few bulbs with a warmer white bulb and it's amazing that it gives the backsplash a whole different cast so whatever you choose be sure to check it in your lighting since with the limited windows and northern exposure you will be relying more on artificial lighting.

Here is a link that might be useful: karenforroses' kitchen

If you like more traditional decor--Victorian or English--classic subway tiles would fit the bill.

I'm not sure that the booth and that square table really fit with that idea, but if you pick a fabric in a graphic--a plaid or stripe--pattern that echoes the backsplash, and then repeat with curtains or a valance, then the theme can continue.

If you go with the subway tile, then you can pick a fabric and then the paint, as the fabric will narrow down your color choices.

I hear you about being stuck. I think the big thing for me was knowing what I wanted from looking in mags and other's kitchens but not being able to really translate to my house and $$.

I am so totally like this in my family room. I would go in a furniture store and freeze-don't even talk about fabric samples. I have finally hired someone to help. But she is also teaching me as we go along. How to mix prints, when enough is enough, what to accent etc. To me it is money well spent because (I hope) I can translate this to other rooms.

One thing-if when you see someone's previous work-I asked for this-you don't really like it I would just move on. For me, I have to jibe with a decorator personally. You can tell when someone is a good listener also-like when you say you have $$$ left and that's it!

You look like you have a great kitchen, made some beautiful choices and just need to put the final touches. It may not take someone very long to help you pick out a tile and fabric to blend all your elements together.

PS-I think subway tiles are just classic and I regret not getting them in my kitchen.

Thank you for all the suggestion! I do like the idea of brick look tile instead of 4 x 4's. The main trouble I am having is getting something I like that will actually work with the countertop. It seems like every sample I bought home has clashed with it. And I can't go real light as it will make the upper cabinets look dirty. I saw another kitchen that had the same uppers as I have (we had the same cabinet builder) and her tile was a slate and it made the cabinets look more white which I liked. But the slate itself was a little heavy and dark for me.

I saw this tile in a forum that I liked but was not able to get a sample of it in my area.

http://www.jeffreycourt.com/content_p_pietra.asp?ContentId=225

It is the quartz fire and ice brick, the larger picture on the right.

This caught my eye and would love to see how this will look with the countertop. BUT since it is not in my area and no one will get it is there something very close that you know of that I could see if I can get a sample of?

I'm thinking a tumbled cream marfil, travertine or chiaro might look good here--perhaps even mini bricks. I have tumbled botticino in mine--enhanced it and it changed the look dramatically. Try Dal Tile--you can order samples if there is not a store locally. Wet the stones to see if you prefer an enhanced look or not as enhancing natural stone looks the same as when the stone is wet. Keep in mind, though, you need to decide which look you prefer as once the stone has been sealed you cannot go back and enhance it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dal Tile Tumbled Natural Stone

Have you considered any of the glass tiles for backsplash? They have a light, clean look and might bridge the gap between your whites and your woods and your counters. I could see a clear glass, 2x1 mini brick in your spaces and it would have a subway feel but a little sparkly and modern. Possibly a coppery toned glass would tie in your cabinetry hardware. Neutrals will work best for you in the long run, I feel, since you are visually sensitive to subtle color tones. Sounds like you would tire of one particular color in your permanent installations so save accent colors for your towels, bowls, art. Tile places have talented tile designers who can pare down your statements and get you on the right color track. From there, you can toddle over to a fabric store and ask for more help for cushions. You've come a long way...don't poop out now!! PS - I'm a designer, and I bet somebody in your area could set you on the right track for a one hour consult. Good luck to you!

I agree with flyingcarrot -- ask around for recommendations for a decorator, and hire him/her for a couple of hours to help you out. S/he will know what's available in your area and will be able to steer you in the right direction. Tile is an investment and isn't easy to change once it's installed, so it's worth being "sure" before you take the plunge.

Your kitchen came out beautiful. I remember your posts from a few months ago. If the backsplash is giving you a heart ache, then skip it for now. Focus on the fabric for the seating area. You can always paint the backsplash until you figure out what you want. Painting the room and backsplash will at least give you the "done" feeling, then you can take your time to figure out what will look best. Most tile stores have someone who can help you...I am not talking about the Home Depots, if you bring a sample of the counter and cabinets, I bet the store can help you, or many of them have pictures of jobs they have completed to give you an idea. Best of luck:)

Chose a neutral backsplash with some character and texture, like the tumbled Durango travertine that caroleoh suggested. You are immobilized by the fear of making an error. Sometimes it is just not possible to conceptualize what one wants to achieve (it's a gift!). A designer can get you out of the box and help you to move forward. You may be presented with ideas that you would never have considered and be surprized by your reaction. Also, a designer has access to samples of fabric, stone, etc. so that you could stop making yourself crazy looking for stuff. Many designers are willing to do consults by the hour rather than by contract. I highly recommend that you consider it.