Is your hood grey, or that just the lighting? Are you switching out the counter as well?

Are you able to repaint the kitchen walls or do you have an open floor plan with no stopping point? Paint is the easiest thing to change, and as another mentioned, you already have a 4" back splash to contend with.

Laminate has come a long way...some really nice choices are available...some are "in stock pre-made" at a very reasonable price. New tops and different paint FIRST, then the backsplash. Love your new exhaust hood.

I'd remove the little patch of 4" tile and do white subway tile all over between upper cupboards and counter. Later you can change the counter.

I think that you need to really think about color. You have a black stove, stainless vent, brown countertop, white cabinets....etc.

I have to agree with grapefruit that you are definitely lacking cohesiveness. Since you are on a tight budget, just paint the walls and add trim molding to the cabinet tops. Your cabinets tops seem unfinished or the trim has been removed?

I have the same dilemma, in that I didn't think about how my LR paint would ultimately affect my kitchen either. I resolved to just keep painting my walls with the same light greyish/blue I started with.

If you have no stopping point, I don't know how you are going to be able to switch colors without seeing the rest of your floor plan. Balboa mist leans to pink and I think there isn't enough contract against your white cabinets.

Btw, your 4" backsplash isn't dating, it just won't go well with another backsplash. If you are a DIY person, I would remove the 4" backsplash, add trim molding to your cabinets, and maybe tile through your hood, which will solve your color issue. Updating your counters will also go a long way.

Your solid color (brown, it appears) dark counters go really well with your black stove. If they're in good shape, don't replace them.

One option to consider is to add a narrow row of solid black tile above the existing 4" backsplash, preferably underneath the outlet covers rather than cut the tiles. Then, for above and behind the stove, create a rectangle between stove and hood of solid color tile outlined with that same narrow black tile. If you can find a tile color to match your countertops for the rectangle between stove and hood and like that idea, do, but finding a lighter color that will coordinate well with your countertop likely would be better idea.

Another alternative: There are stainless steel panels you can buy for behind/above your stove. With the metal above your hood exposed, you could seriously consider one so you don't need to match or clash with your existing 4" backsplash that goes well with your countertop.

You have a good beginning of a really nice kitchen. Unless that is an air vent on the side of the metal above your stove hood, do consider adding a box shelf, preferably with doors, above your cabinets on each side of your new store hood -- essentially a short cabinet above the existing cabinets -- to create a more finished look.

With the nice size pantry you've got I'd drop the two upper cabinets and go with shelving. I think their different widths compound the problem. Since you're planning to sell you could always store them in a basement or garage if a buyer doesn't like open shelving.

Again since you're planning to sell I'd look at finishes with a broad, classic appeal like subway tile. Because a back splash is more permanent I'd go with a more neutral color for the tile. Just make sure it won't add to the pink look.

From the sound of things you've got your work cut out for you. You have to find a way to live with two fixed elements that you didn't choose nor necessarily like oh and they just happen to be the largest two elements in the room. Sounds like some time with a pro would be a good investment. Consult fee's are typically reasonable.

Wow. You have SO MANY different colors going on right now. I think it would be a really bad idea to add another one by painting the wall/walls gray. If what you want is a "clean look" I would suggest that you reduce the number of colors you are dealing with here. Honestly, I would paint the walls the same color as the cabinets. And then, if you feel that is too plain, I would (maybe) paint the trim the same color as the counter. That way you only have three colors going on: white, brown, and stainless steel. But that brown counter is really your enemy in this whole project.