Yes I think the backsplash is holding me back....even though I like it, if I were to stay with warm colors it could work. Thanks...

we have a beach house, and there is a limit to how much you want to fuss with things. dont buy anything to accent or match the darker colors, work with the lightest grey. and eventually the funds will materialize to change out the backsplash and you'll be very happy.

I agree on the backsplash. The other colors are fine. I live at the beach but haven't gone overboard making it look "beachy ".. you can do it subtly through art & accessories. Just don't do what one of my neighbors did...turned her house into a Hawaiian gift shop :)

second thought, you could change the counter on just the island to something that matches the lightest grey.

Yes, maybe I can paint everything a light coastal gray and it will all calm down. Right now it's a Tuscan look, arches, columns etc. If the house were older I would consider painting the kitchen cabinets white etc and just going for it. BUT...it seems like over kill at this point. Plus expensive because I couldn't stop at just the kitchen cabinets I'd have to do the whole house. ugh!

Leave the tile and granite in place and use the gray from the tile to find a complimentary gray to paint the cabinets. Even the black granite will look fine with them, although I didn't find a photo example.

I would love to paint the cabinets but find that I would have to do "ALL" the cabinets in the house and it would be cost prohibitive. Love that look though..

those grey cabinets pictured have grey or white backsplashes and counters though... yours would have your dark backsplash and dark counters.

my advice: go on island time and worry about it manana.....

....

I think it would be money well spent to replace the backsplash rather than force all your other decor to revolve around it.

That whole house is Tuscan. just changing some colors to 'beachy' isn't going to cut it! The columns, the tile, the flooring,,everything. Either embrace the Mediterranean look, or be prepared to change out most everything in those rooms. At the very least I would start w/that backsplash. While nice, it's very dark. The cabinets are fine, it's everything else around it.

I assume that's not your furniture? Maybe with your new things and a new wall color, you could lighten it up a bit. reevaluate after you get situated.

yes, when i look at the photo the backsplash is really the worst offender in preventing you from heading out on the road to beachy. you'd end up overstating everything else to compensate and still not like the look.

plain grey subway tile is just not all that expensive. choose a color from what you currently have and you know it will look good. and don't do anything special in the area over the stove. its not necessary.

go with a grey thinking about beige rather than a grey thinking about blue. that will bring the floors and cabinets along with the story.

the columns look as much hamptons as tuscan, once they beige walls are gone they'll read fresh new england.

Yep.I agree...That's why I'm stuck. LOL It's a beautiful home as is...I'd just like to go with more "modern colors." But my husband is Italian so we can make do. I can pretend I'm on the coast of Portofino instead of Oregon. ;-)

It is a beautiful home. I think new paint, bar stools and the furniture will be fine for now to get you in 'coast' mood! Whites and grays and soft blues,,,will be beautiful w/the flooring.

and as an option, you could always change out the countertop on the island to something else. And you could even paint just the island. That alone would go a long ways to changing it up a bit. I do like the black on the perimeter. looks nice w/the wood.

bring on the linguini with clam sauce. happy days.

Well paint is cheap! I think I'll start there with a nice gray with hints of blue/black (not hints of green or yellow) see how it feels with all the white crown molding and white columns. The backsplash, like you said, can be fixed once I home in on what works with the rest.

I know it's trendy but I do like Chip and Joanna Gaines shiplap walls. Maybe I'll do one wall in a darker gray and tie in the room that way. A little texture wouldn't hurt either.

Beautiful. I don't like the backsplash either - very busy. I would live in the house for a while and see how the light is from day to day. I am probably the only person who hates shiplap, subway tile and open shelving :o) but I would still love Joanna's help. You would have some time to research different coastal beach regions.

No I'm with you on subway tile and most shelving. I do like shiplap especially in beach homes and farm houses though. Now I will have to figure out a nice neutral backsplash. It's like buying a belt and designing the outfit around it. One problem leads to another. Ha.

Move in and embrace your new lifestyle. Become acquainted with your new space and gradually develop a list of remodel ideas. Don't dismiss painting your "perfectly good" cabinets. I went from brown Tuscan "perfectly good" cabinets that I disliked for 10 years, to a beautiful light filled kitchen! Life is too short to live in the dark!

Thanks Barb and everyone! I just have to be very careful. I adapt to my environment to easily and next thing you know I too am living in a house for 10 years without change. With all your help today I will paint and change the backsplash. Maybe I'll add a few white shutters and a little shiplap. It will be fun. I hope. ;-)

I'd go two routes:

1 - black and white - celebrate the contrast;

2 - black and steel blue and maybe go down the craftsman cottage route?

Your kitchen is small so the backsplash and granite aren't going to overtake the space. You can still make it into the beach house you want.

Some ideas:

• Beach House Interiors

Actually the kitchen is quite large. The main house is 3200 with the kitchen, great room and dining area combined. So no wasted space to speak of. I love black and white and contrast but just hate to paint all the cabinets in the house. ugh!!! And I would have to do that in order for it not to look like a remodel. Steel blue huh? Where?

Yes, because the stain on your current kitchen cabinets is very similar to the butcherblock that goes with some of the popular steel blue kitchen cabinets. Only you'd obviously use the blue for the wall color or shiplap and accents. I think you need to defocus the black backsplash and I can't see that happening with white walls around it - but if you have another color around it, the backsplash will look more like it blends in.

Good ideas..

Lucky you, I dream of living on the Oregon coast!

Your comment about living 10 years without a change totally happened to me! I wasted a lot of time living in a house I wanted to change, nor did it feel like it was "mine". Life happens, and then all of a sudden, for many reasons, it's not convenient or affordable to make the changes (kids and college savings are expensive, lol).

So, learning what I have learned, I advise you to bite the bullet and change that backsplash now! As a first step, just see how much it would cost to remove and replace (labor). See if you can find a tile that is semi-reasonably priced (not too high end). Keep in mind that the prices for labor and tile goes up each year, so putting this off for a couple (or more) years could mean at least 20% or higher increase.

The house is sooo pretty and so well done....I would select a turquoise/aqua color from the tile relection and paint the two opposite walls in the kitchen in this color.

Then take variations of the aquas/turquoises and use this accent color throughout the rest of the house in pillows, rugs, lamps, art work, and more accent walls, and towels.

Beachy cool colors! Lots to choose from.

I have to look this over.....and consider the what backsplash to use.

Thanks Susan for you input, I like the 3rd picture the best.

I think you could incorporate the current backsplash. The beachy look in most people's eyes are blues, greens, and sandy white beaches. They forget that a lot of beaches are covered with grey & black stones too. Beaches are full of sparkling light from the sun hitting the ocean. Redefine your idea of a beach and voile! You could easily change the colour of your walls, to a rich royal blue like Lucerne BM AF-530 and paint your cabinets in a distressed shabby chic white or blue-grey. https://i1.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-QErKRrSzwiQ/ThP35Rjp7iI/AAAAAAAABmc/SWCdDT_G4GU/s1600/P1130239.JPG or

I realize this is a bathroom vanity but the idea is the what I had in mind. Add Mason jar vases with beach stones and candles around the house.

Use blues or yellow, green in towels, art, rug.

yvesun...thanks, Look at this:

kstonetoo, I have a similar colour palette through my house as this brochure.

Love that colour pallet, tidewater is beautiful. But first remove the backsplash, then you can paint that area to get an idea of what tiles would look best.

Love kstonetoo's palette. Our beach house has a similar palette. I never put in a kitchen backsplash but now I'm tempted. We added a pop of nautical red also.

Yes Heather...Paint is first. I'm going to order samples of the tidewater and see if it's light enough to do the whole room/house. Maybe a small touch of library pewter somewhere to tie it in...Library pewter couch would be nice..

Our Beach house sofa is from room and board in a color called "otter" which is very close to library pewter if you are looking for a sofa.

Yes, I will be buying furniture also. So "room and board" is brand or store?

It's a store. They are in several states but also ship across the country. I usually have them send me swatches before ordering online. It's mostly contemporary to transitional furniture.