Here goes nothing

Kitchen As Is:

Tested Valspar English Tea Party

Considering Valspar Cosmopolitan Olive

Tests with English Tea Party

Then I tried doing some craptacular cutting and pasting to what I have:

You can see I need some help.

"Well the glaze/paint was pretty thin and I felt like it was sorta just a mess and am really second guessing the whole effort. Any recommendations?"

I'm not a big fan of faux to begin with and even less a fan when faux is deployed as a band-aid. It's one thing to have a faux plan, it's another to turn to it as plan B. It can be an expensive endeavor as a Plan A, but when it's a Plan B the tools/brush buying and glaze colors, yadda, yadda, yadda, and it can add up to a chunk o'money before ya know it.

I'm assuming if budget and desired allowed, it would have been a tiled or otherwise treated backsplash. Since there's paint, then paint needs to be the solution to the Blonde.

The backsplash area is not that large to just repaint. I like the Jalapeno, it looks very nice. Have you considered just using the Olive or Tea Party straight up paint for the backsplash. Another color idea is a punchy, fresh, citrusy green with the cabs and wall color. Something like BenM's AF-430 Wasabi.

In a perfect world it would be tiled but no the budget doesnt allow that right now. I thought a solid color would work when I tried the Blonde but even though it turned out different than I thought I dont know if any single color is going to look right. I am trying to stay away from somethine overtly green.

I think I am just lost on how to pick a color scheme. Tell me, with what I have now should the backsplash area be lighter or darker than the Jalapeno in order to balance everything out. I thought lighter initially, then I was thinking no darker with this faux idea and now Im throwing my hands up. I almost feel like I should leave it until something hits me as the greatest idea ever or until I can have it tiled.

My thinking is along the lines of Funcolor's advice except I would go all out with getting tile. Since it is such a small area you would not need much tile. You can get deals on "open" boxes at some stores or discontinued colors. Even check out ReSTore for tiles that are practically free. In fact you may be able to pick up an open box for FREE on CL, leftover from someone else's project.

A backsplash can be an easy DIY if you use smaller tiles. I would go around the corner a bit with the tiles by the stove or you be forever wiping the walls every time you fry something greasy or cook something tomatoey that splatters.

IMHO faux painting on kitchen walls always makes the wall look like they need a good scrubbing. Sorry.

It looks like we cross posted.

" I almost feel like I should leave it until something hits me as the greatest idea ever or until I can have it tiled."

Bingo.

May I also suggest getting some durable vinyl wallpaper for the area. That way it can function well for cleaning around the stove, and add that pop of color you wish for. Then, in the future when you decide to tile and repaint, you can easily rip it down. You can get some nice wallpaper out of the discontinued bins at places since you only need a small amount.

How easy is it to do the tiling? I wouldn't describe myself to be too handy so is this something typically hired out or anyone can take on?

Duh. I see now that, that is not a range with pots on it, in the corner, it is a dishwasher. The photo is dark and I did not even see the faucets.

Anyway, a DIY for a decorative backsplash should be something just about anyone can pull off. I would not suggest installing a tile shower pan or anything that needs to be utterly perfect, for a first time project. Smaller 1" tiles are easier to work with and even with 5" tiles you may not even need to do any cutting if the area is the right size. When I was a kid, my mother did the bathroom walls about 5 feet up from the floor, in those little quarter inch tiles. A great look in the 60's.

There are all sorts of DIY websites on the internet and even little vids of DIY tiling projects on YouTube. Check them out and see if you feel you are up to the challenge.

I've also seen those stick-on floor tiles being used for a backplash with good results.

If my DIY self had a choice between faux finishing a backsplash and tiling one, I'd choose tile. You really might be surprised what it takes and how much you can save/do by DIYing. Leave the Blonde for now and explore options.

Thanks for advice. Ive started looking into doing the tile myself but am wondering after buying necessary supplies and renting a wet saw just how much cheaper it would be to have it done, maybe a lot still. I went and looked at some tile last night. I can get some 12x12 mosaics with 1" tiles for about $10 or less, I figure I would need about 18 or 19 total. Here are a couple more cheesy snap shots with a tile background:
Mosaic 1

Mosiac 2

Tan

Couple thoughts right off the bat are is it going to look odd having tile above a 4" granite backsplash? Most countertops with tile backsplashes I see bring the tile right down to the countertop surface. Also, there is something off seeing a dark glossy granite then a more neutral low sheen tile right above it. What kind of tile is going to look right above granite and am I supposed to remove my existing backsplash so the tile can go down to the countertop?

First, I really like your bold choice of paint color. The walls are beautiful and very warm and inviting. I love this color! It seems to me that painting the backsplash area the same color as the rest of the room would be an elegant way to bring together the elements of the space. Perhaps some lighting under the cabinets (think IKEA or Home Depot cheap!) would do the necessary brightening. At some point, when your budget allows, add a tiled backsplash which seems to be what you wish to have in the long run. This will give you time to live in the space and figure out what you really want. Should you decide you want a backsplash NOW, then consider colors that complement, rather than contrast, your current color. It really is inspired. Go with it.

Ok on the glazing issue...you're using way way way too much glaze which is why it looks bad. You want to do a dry brush technique where you barely have anything on the tips of the brush and do your x's until it's totally dry, then go back over it again. Personally I'd do a buff and a burnt umber over the yellow.

But if tile is your next choice, you have two options. First that 4" back is easily easily removed :) I've done it many times. Simple razor slid under the edges and the back and a bit of a pull. Fill the holes and then you can tile to the counter.

But you can also leave it in place. Visit the kitchen forum and find the finished kitchen posts (you'll find the link on the post entitled something like "read me first"). You'll see lots of beautiful backsplashes over 4" granite.

I personally am a huge fan of texture in design. It's often left out of the equation. In choosing my backsplash tile (against a granite counter) I chose a crackled subway tile in ceramic that was handmade. The contrast in the textures is what makes it flow so well. Much like the often seen tumbled marble backsplash with granite counters. The texture diferences are fabulous. In your case, a beautiful slate would really play well in your kitchen. Especially using a mixed slate tile where you have different tones in each stone. You could pull in the warm and cool tones in the kitchen.

That tan was horrible by the way :oP But I liked number one a lot!

This is a kitchen done in a yellow paint, burnt umber, brown and buff (white) glaze over top:

I like tile option #1.
Why not just paint the backsplash area the Jalapeno color too?

Love the Jalepeno. Wilsonart Laminate sheets aren't expensive, and they're pretty easy to glue on the wall. Or, just paint it Jalepeno.

I too have granite countertops and want to tile my backsplash but every sample of mosaic I have brought home I have not *LOVED* against my granite. It's either distracting from the granite, or appears too "busy" next to it.

I've seen several kitchens on the kitchen forum that have done a backsplash in beadboard. I think it's around 25 a sheet at Home Depot. Have you thought of a white beadboard backsplash?

I also saw some glass mosaic tile at my local Home depot that would prob look wonderful with your wall color..it has the red/orange, but seems to pull more browns and may not go with the black granite.

Have you looked at mosaic stone on ebay? It's much cheaper than the big box stores. Or on amazon. I found some amazing travertine split face mosaic(looks 3D like) that i'm thinking of.

Are you replacing the appliances in the near future? If you go stainless you could do a stainless mosaic (again check out ebay, they have full stainless or a mix of glass/stainless, or stone/stainless. Otherwise I would go with something maybe that played up the white against that wall color. maybe some beautiful subway tile in white in a herringbone pattern?

On the cheaper though beadboard would be the most inexpensive. If you want more washable, lowe's carries a wallpaper that's washable and looks like beadboard. it's even paintable! I found this through google images for beadboard backsplash: (Not the area behind the range, it's different)
a href="http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee84/dana1047/?action=view¤t=beadboard.jpg"; target="_blank">

I guess it depends on what direction you are looking to go. Do you want it more modern (go with mosaic glass, stainless)

Do you want it more traditional ? Go with subway..

Do you want something more transitional..or cottagey? Go with beadboard.

If price is not a limitation...I think fire and ice mosaic would look stunning! It would pull in the wall color, white appliances, (or any appliance color for that matter) and the cabinet color nicely!

Here's a pic of it...It's pretty pricey though!

I would say since you've put so much effort into your kitchen remodel so far, if price is currently holding you back, then paint it the same as the wall color, and live with it until you fall in Love with something.

If price is always going to keep you from spending 200+ on great tile backsplash then go with another method!

I like the idea of painting the wall Jalapeno. Find a nice piece of art or a tray or wall-something to hang and provide contrast.

Wow lots of good ideas! I didn't paint the backsplash Jalapeno to begin with because I thought it was a bold color and this area could be broken off easily into another color to provide a little contrast. In retrospect I wish I did paint it the same but I don't know if painting it Jalapeno now is a great idea because I don't have much paint left over and it took about 5 coats to get the walls just right so my fear is it would take a lot of coats and still not match exactly. Plus I still feel like it needs something different to spice it up.
The appliances are all pretty new so going stainless will be way off or up to new owners down road.
I guess I'm not sure what style I'm going for. I'm often finding things I like described as Tuscan or Mediterranean but still like modern touches. I think tile is way I'm leaning so I need to explore what material and color will work and see how quickly I can come up with the money. I have a little less than 20 SF of area so I figure at least 200 for tile and if I have it done another 300-350 in labor. For that do you think its worth having a professional do it? Considering materials and equipment I'd have to buy or rent plus time and assuming the end result would likely be better if it was done for me?

I don't think this has been suggested altho I've only quickly scanned the replies. I've seen this done by others and it looks very nice. Paintable textured wallpaper that looks like the metal ceiling tiles makes a nice, easy, inexpensive backsplash. Many people paint then use a glaze over. For durability you can then do several clear coats.

You might paint to blend with your countertops and do a metallic glaze. Lots of paint options.

Have a look at the lower left "squares" style.

Here is a link that might be useful: paintable textured wallpaper

dana1079 Love the Fire and Ice Mosaic! I posted last on my phone so I wasnt able to view the pic right until now. That works for me for sure. I just stopped by lowes to have a look see and they have some interesting stuff for special order from Solistone (www.solistone.com). I havent priced it yet so maybe its out of the question but check out this glass tile from their Opera series:

Also, their installation is about 6.69/SF which works out to be better than half of my other quotes so I can have it done for less than 150, that is pretty hard to beat I think no?
By the way my granite is a sapphire brown. It looks black from the angle of the pictures but looking down there are some browns and silvers and a tiny bit of the sapphire.

Ryuiuc, for a wet saw, look to Harbor Freight Tools. You may have a store where you live, but they are online. Prices can't be beat and quality is fine for something you're not using daily for years in a trade.

Another solution, if you're using tiny tile on a backing, such as you pictured, you don't need a wet saw. You can cut out the shapes you need with the scissors.

For a deal on tile, look under "free" and under "materials" and you might also search "tile" and "mosaic" in your local Craigslist. You don't need much tile and you'd be amazed at the deals people make on their leftovers. I have done vertical tile work with both larger and smaller tiles. The smaller was easier, but neither were difficult at all.

glad you liked some of the tile. The fire and ice is my favoriate but very pricey and out of my price range! I would be leary of paying 6.99 a square foot for tile installation! Tiling is sooo easy. We redid our bathroom floor, shower stall, and kitchen floors, all DIY. It turned out great. Get yourself to a bookstore and get a tile book! Also I've heard that backsplashes are even easier than floors.

The glass tile you picked looks good! Maybe the color of the walls are a lil off on my screen but they look more orange/red while the tile looks more crimson.

You should check out Home Depot. The original tile I mentioned that would go well with browns is glass. I think it's 5 a square foot at my local HD.

Online it shows 9 a square foot, so you might want to check it out locally. It's called MS International.

Here's a pic: (it reads a little red in this pic but has bronze, browns, orange, and red in person. They also have another online that reads a little more brown and black with some red thrown in.

sometime with stone would be easy to pull together in a tuscan or mediterranean style as well since they love natural stone! HD has some decent prices online for 2X2, as does amazon.

Here's the tile I LOVE and will probably use for the small fireplace surround. This is the split face tile they have on amazon. They have plenty of different shades and it looks great installed. Split face tile is normally outrageous in mosaic on alot of sites online, but relatively affordable on amazon or ebay.

Here's a link to the one with more brown and black:

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Depot tile

My neighbor two houses down just did something similar.
Painted her kitchen 'pumpkin spice' but didn't paint any of the areas between the counters and upper cabinets....hoping later when funds are more available she'll be able to get what she really wants.

I don't know how much more area of your kitchen there is to cover, but it can't be any more than what my neighbor has in her kitchen which has wall cabs on all four walls and is a rather large kitchen after combining it with what was the dining room.
But the 'poofy' (as I call it) wallpaper she used, I swear I had to walk up to it to make sure it was really wallpaper!

She picked rather large tiles for her paper pattern, I think they are 6", and the whole kitchen cost her just a little over $100.

Neighbor's is a Tuscany look, 'tiles' with earth tones, each 'tile' is different. And although I can't find her pattern online right now, I found another 'poofy' wallpaper pattern to show you an example.

When I say 'poofy', I mean that the wallpaper tiles are actually raised a bit to give the wall more of an illusion that there really is tile there....gives each tile some depth.

Just another idea for you to mull over. *smile*

I love the color of the walls in your kitchen!

Here is a link that might be useful: Inexpensive alternative -