What worries me is those white appliances are going to stick out like a sore thumb with your other choices, especially the cherry floors which have a reddish cast to them. btw the soapstone is gorgeous.

What about doing a tin ceiling tile behind the stove. I would almost want to paint the tin tile the blue and then rub in a reddish finish for the nooks and crannies to give it an aged appearance. that would also have the advantage of picking up the floor color.

Thanks, cpartist! We think the soapstone is great. This is a budget refresh so we aren't able to replace all of the appliances. Do you have any suggestions to help the white blend better? Also, the cherry floor has more variation than is represented by the sample I included on the pic. Here is another pic of a random spot in the part of the house that already has the floor in.

And here is a pic of the white window trim, floor, oak trim, and wall color together:

Yes, that soapstone is gorgeous! I also did a budget refresh on an oak kitchen with BC floors, but I painted my oak. I'm looking forward to seeing your end results :)

I'm confused about what you want to do with your back splash. Are you only looking to put it up behind the range and sink, and paint every where else? Or are you going to tile everything, and are asking for ideas on something more decorative for those two areas?

At this point, I am planning on painting everywhere. I would like to have some sort of backsplash behind the sink and behind the range, though, for easier clean-up and for protection of the wall. The paint is semi-gloss and easy to wipe clean.

there is appliance paint so you could paint the appliances. they also make something that is like a sticky wallpaper that has the look of SS that you can apply to your appliances.

Maybe some of the folks here would have some other ideas.

Thanks, cpartist. I don't think painting the appliances is in the cards. Personally, I don't care for the looks or maintenance of stainless steel appliances. Do you think a particular backsplash could somehow tie in the white appliances better? Maybe carrera marble or something similar?

If you decide to paint your appliances, definitely pay a bit more for Thomas brand liquid stainless steel paint. It has stainless flecks in it and looks like real stainless instead of shiney gray-colored paint or wallpaper. If you follow the directions, take your time to mask things off, and do a careful job painting several thin coats per instructions, I bet most people wouldn't even know they weren't originally stainless appliances.

Oh, x-posting, never mind. Although I've never understood the maintenance issue with SS appliances. Mine just take a quick wipe with a wet cloth like my former white ones did. No streaks or fingerprints. I know that the Thomas SS paint leaves you with a similar low-maintenance finish. But if you don't like the looks, no matter then.

If you don't like the look of stainless steel appliances, then how about painting the cabinets white? I think white appliances work well with white cabinets. I know it's a little more work to get them painted, but it would look really great. And to answer your original question, it would give you so many more options for a backsplash.

Thanks, but my dh prefers oak cabinets. We had a white kitchen in our prior home and he's liking the oak this time.

So, the white appliances, oak cabinets, soapstone countertops and bc floors are a given. I understand I would have more options with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and different color floors and different light fixtures, but really, I only need a couple of options to choose from. Even one would do. ;)

Anyone have any ideas with the materials given in the OP?

The colors in this kitchen are going in every direction, which is why I would guess people are not giving you any more ideas or feedback. You have yellow (oak), blue (paint), green/black (soapstone), white (appliances/soapstone), and red/orange (floors). All you are missing is purple.

Putting aside the red/orange floors, it seems to me that you need to figure out a way to tie the green and yellow together, since they are both going to stay. But that means staying in that spectrum and not dumping in the red/orange and, frankly, getting rid of that blue, unless you really want a blue/green/yellow kitchen....which maybe you do (and it could be pretty, like a piece of floral fabric but that blue and that oak look dreary together, not pretty). But going beyond that is, as I said, basically getting the whole rainbow.

I think you have a problem overall, not just with picking some backsplash, so you need to focus on a backsplash and a new paint color that somehow will bring this together more. And, frankly, although I'm not into stained floors at all, it seems to me that you need to bleach it or darken it, but leaving it red/orange is just not going to work.

Marble would be a waste and just compound the problem. Plus with the texture in the soapstone, it would just create a conflict of stones and a greater mishmash than you already have.

Honestly, I love wood and never considered a white kitchen but if I had this, I'd be painting the cabinets white immediately. What's the point of having wood if it doesn't look good? This does not look good.

I hope this sounds constructive; it is meant to be.

White beadboard is what I am planning for my backsplash, with a SS panel behind the range. My cabs are reddish-brown QS oak, stove and dw are SS with a white fridge with SS accents. Behind the faucet will be a white painted board as I don't want BB there. My oak floors are somewhat like your cab's color and the color of my cabs are a little like your bc: I think they look great! And my white fridge looks great with my reddish-brown cabs, imo. Would BB work for you? I'm sure you will find a way to pull it together and it will be beautiful! Artwork tying together your varied elements will help. Additional pics of your kitchen could be useful, btw.

My countertops are a soapstone look-a-like (aqua grantique), and I used aqua grantique tile (only) behind my rangetop. (I have counterheight windows behind my sink.) Like you, I was concerned that it would be too dark, but love how it turned out:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3066670/backsplash-over-stove-only

(My backsplash is the 4th posted in this thread.) Green is my favorite color, so it was a "no-brainer" to use in my kitchen, but I also think it works well with my (maple floors, white and cherry cabinets, soapstone look-a-like), and your, choices.

Assuming you stay with blue, I'd prefer a lighter shade with the rest of your choices.

Plants4's post was right on. Although I think painting the cabinets white would be the best choice, what about this idea: strip the cabinets and then do a whitewash glaze? Maybe something with a slight grayish tint? Then DH would still have the wood cabinets he wants, and the white appliances would blend in a little better. I don't have a photo example right now, but maybe someone else does and I will look around.

Thanks for all of these replies! So much to consider. I appreciate those who have shared their dislike of my color choices, as well as those who share similar colors. At least I won't be surprised if no visitors, especially if they are into the current trends, rave about my kitchen. :)

I like the comparison of my colors to a flowery quilt. I think it is very apt as my kitchen is surrounded by old garden roses and is a good visual clue as I search to find just the right finishing touches. I understand that the current trend is for SS, grey, and black/white. But, that look is very cold and sterile to me and not what I'm trying to accomplish. I know it would be easy to follow the rules and have the current acceptable kitchen look. I'm looking for something a little different, more alive, more organic, more homey.

Thank you to those who shared that they have similar colors that live together happily in their kitchens. I would love to see more pictures of your kitchens, gramarows and mommytoc! Thank you, also, cpartist, for your suggestion of a painted tin backsplash with red touches. This kitchen is a room full of life and memories, laughter and friendship. I know I'm not going for magazine perfect, but it's a happy place. Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home!

I'm glad that you aren't letting the differing opinions get you down, akjr_gw :)

How about a slate in a tone that matches your pretty soapstone? Something like they used in this kitchen:

Good for you!!! I would suggest to maybe tone down the blue paint color; this seems to fight with everything. All of your colors and materials have the same weight and fight each other. something needs to take a backseat and let the others shine. If you want to do a BS I would do some tile in a simple shape that blends with the counter. Charcoal with a matte finish. I would say match your wall color but without it being more neutral I don't think this would be effective. Finding a colorful fabric for window treatment would be beautiful to tie it all together. good luck:)

Thanks for the pictures, Errant! Beautiful kitchen! I have been looking at slate as a possibility, though I was looking more at the blue/red slate. It seemed like a more organic version of cpartist's blue painted tin with red highlights. The kitchen sink/window is the focal point of the kitchen as it is visible from the adjoining living space and is the only south facing window in the upper level. I think the sink backsplash would be a good place to put a pop of pizazz. My soapstone reads more blue-grey than green, but it does vary from piece to piece with some more green than blue-grey. I do have a very hard time getting the colors of the soapstone, cabinets, flooring, and paint to render properly in pictures.

Thank you, isabel! Could you tell me more about the materials having the same weight and other ideas on how to add different weights? I think you are on to something. I have to admit that it did take some months for me to get used to the wall color, but it has grown on me. I think I generally prefer saturated colors and I think that is what you are calling the same weight? I can't change the wall color above the cabinets, but the backsplash area is still undecided. Functionally, I want to cover the area below the kitchen window and behind the range. Could I bring in different weights of color with accessories?

Yes. That's what I mean. Your counter is beautiful and looks great with the highly grained oak. These should be ur colors. The blue takes ur eye away from these beautiful elements. u need a lighter color to put the focus on the natural elements. I would suggest a paler blue gray that u could pick up from stone. bUT. If u can't change it in the entire kitchen not sure I would add another element except a fabric or rug to pull ur color together. As far a back splash behind sink and stove I would try to find something that is similar to the stone. Do u have any stone left? That would be ideal. Actually I would probably do the entire backsplash and not chop up the space under the cabs

I hope this helps. I think u really should consider painting the walls

U could try painting the backsplash or foam boards and prop them up there to get an idea of what that would look like

Yes, a lighter blue-gray would be much prettier (I love color, too, but usually go with yellows & greens). As for a backsplash, if it were me, I would not want to detract from the soapstone and would go with a very, very plain tile in a color matched as closely to the soapstone as possible.

One thing that really stood out on your picture and is an easy fix - the oak trim around the white kitchen window would look better painted white. There is just too much going on with the contrast.

I think you could possibly do a white backslash as well with the white appliances. But again I would suggest doing the entire backsplash and not chopping it up with another color.

Heres is what oak, white and charcoal look like together. If you don't have the blue this you could get closer to something like this.. I know the floor is redder but that will just need a runner or something to break it up. YOu can then add your window fabric to bring in you "quilt" As far as accessories I would stick with white or metal that matches hardware

Nice kitchen. I like your original plan of a soapstone splash. You mentioned insufficient clearance behind the faucet handle, but you could re-mount your faucet with the handle in front -- a number of folks on the forum have done that.

Good luck!

I'm referencing the charcoal to your stone. maybe it's not really that dark but it's the 3rd element in the room. You really don't want to have more than 3 in the room without having some connection to each other especially with patterned elements. If you look at errants photo, although a bit lighter the backsplash is a solid color that matches the counter (patterned) and the wall color is the same as the backsplash. the wood cabinets are the other color in the room.

We have similar colors - natural cherry cabs and soapstone counters. We used a slate corinth backsplash and SW Unusual Gray paint (which can look green or blue depending on the light).

Some of those pictures are really misleading for purposes of this discussion. OP has oak, not natural or stained cherry. It's a totally different color.

The thing about floral quilts is that they usually have more harmony. For example, the floral I had in mind is something along these lines that, interestingly, feature a good deal of white (April Cornell table cloths) (assuming that these links work!):

"These links" disappeared so I will attempt just one: Table cloth link.

prospect, I stopped at HD and Lowes today and brought home a tile very similar to the one you posted. I think it looks the best of all the ones I brought home. I think it is this one.

Incidentally, I think I muddied the waters further by bringing home a SS slide-in range that was an excellent price. It's dangerous going shopping.

I was looking at this website about choosing a color scheme. According to this, my kitchen has a split complementary color scheme. My wall color is blue. The complement is orange. The split complementaries are yellow-orange (my cabinets) and red-orange (my Brazilian cherry floors). I also have a good dose of neutrals with my appliances and light fixtures and gray countertops. In addition, my walls are a grayed blue to tone down the blue, allowing the split complementaries to shine. My stone does not read as "green" as the previous picture of the Frank Lloyd Wright kitchen. I'm really not fond of the monochromatic color scheme currently popular. My kitchen is a lively place and the bold color scheme fits it well. I am confused as to why others feel the colors are fighting with one another? Regardless, finding a suitable backsplash is proving to be a challenge.