From what I can see in your pictures, I would keep what you currently have as a backsplash and paint the strip over the top of your cabinets to blend in. Your kitchen looks fine if you are going to sell. Just keep it all clean a simple. SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR YOURSELF :-)

I had just renovated my kitchen in my previous home...new white glass-front cabinets, beautiful gray tiles on the counter and backsplash, new gray retro vinyl floor tiles. My kitchen was a diner style with a great old Wedgewood stove and new white appliances. I ended up selling which wasn't the plan. I had renovated the bathrooms, new roof, new closet doors...all required to sell and my home sold in one weekend. When I went back to visit my old next door neighbor, he said the first thing the new residents did was rip out the kitchen and they threw those new cabinets in the trash....PEOPLE ARE ODD!!! Moral of the story, don't spend to sell, keep it clean, do just the basics and save your money.

Your kitchen is really nice looking and the new appliances are certainly a strong selling point.

I don't know that I'd go with the black granite tiles. A friend who had polished black granite hated her counters because she was constantly wiping off fingerprints, and you want something that you won't have to clean obsessively every time the house will be shown. How about a lighter, more gold-toned granite instead with some silvery speckles to play off the stainless? And then you could use the tumbled marble shown.

I love the basketweave tile but it's not as innocuous for resale.

And yes, paint the cabinets white, replace the pulls and handles with SS ones and try to find replacement SS hinges. Then paint the bit at the top a color you pull from the granite.

I would do nothing but painting the top over the cabinets. I'd keep it clean and neutral the way it is currently. If you update you have no idea if the buyer will like what you chose. When I am shopping for houses I prefer basic and not updated to updated with materials that I now feel guilty because I want to remover them.

It looks like the cabs are in good shape--too bad previous owner painted over the hinges. I would talk to a realtor before you start anything. Personally, I would pull down the wallpaper border and paint above the cabs--something fairly neutral that will go with the adjoining rooms. Unless the realtor tells you your house won't sell without the update, I wouldn't bother.

Thanks for your responses! DH is ripping off the wallpaper as I type! Do you think I should texture the walls, or just paint them, if we can get everything off?

Do you have any suggestions for a good neutral color?

I feel that the room needs a definable accent color that contrasts with black and white. Put it above the cupboards and use it around the room. Make the area above the cupboards match the countertop white. You can add more of the black stripe to that area with glossy paint also, or perhaps create with paint an assymetrical black plaid there? or something else that is interesting but easily undone by next owner. Buy some accent pieces that you enjoy--spend up to $300 on a wonderful clock, some good looking art pieces, perhaps a fabric to use with your chairs, stools, window, or something else. Even handles on your cooking tools can add some color and personality, which the room needs.

Don't worry about the hinges.

Banana yellow looks good--can you add more, perhaps in the assymetrical plaid?

Please don't do granite tiles! I saw some at the home show and I thought they looked cheap...no offense to anyone who has them :)

I agree, with the current real estate market, don't spend much money on a remodel. Some accents pieces will make a big difference...and you can take them with you when you move!

I agree with most of Postings - please, please don't replace the tile with granite tile....Your kitchen looks fine to go on the market- almost move-in ready. I don't know what the rest of your house looks like, but I would paint the kitchen GREEN. A soft neutral, warm green or sage. Check out the Benjamin Moore neutral greens/greys. You will LOVE it!!!!

I just wanted to say that the dark line in the tile is hunter green. So I think that a green might bring that out, which I hate to do.