Is the countertop staying the same?

Subway tiles with bright accents.

Ceramic tiles

Questions: Is the photo YOUR kitchen as that would lead to the second question which is you have a 48" pro range, and are worrying what tiling a splash will cost? Which leads to a third question which is I hope you are planning removal of the four inch granite riser? And how many cabinet faces have that basket weave panel as not sure I would want any busy splash, and last question which is what is the flooring ?

I wouldn't change it ..I would change the color of the cabinets ...into a light silver grey ...too many cabinets with different lines and the wood ...it makes it look oppressive ...! ...too me the problem is not the backlash ...but need to see more form the entire kitchen ...including the floor and layout .....
P.s. Beautiful stove !

Second glance ....and why do you have so many different textures of wood ...and glass... Clear glass on one cabinet ..the other textured glass , the. A wood mixture . FIRST I would change them to make it unified ..then look again and then paint them ..probably ....there is too much going on with the cabinets ...as if pieced together from different houses ...there is no harmony ...that is the problem for me !

Jan Moyer, that was my thoughts exactly!

Please do not paint. I cannot understand why designers recommend removing the four inch granite border when it gives a lovely finish to an expensive granite or quartz countertop. Few months time and it will be the greatest addition to kitchen counters.

True, a odd mix of wood, glass........

We remove the four inch splash for tile. Tiling above the riser.......ruins the look of both the granite and the tile. That's why. It's not a "border", it's a common and ordinary riser.. It's a non decorative functional substitute for tile unless it continues all the way up. ....and there is no reason to have both it AND tile. Folks with 48 ranges lean to TILE.

Hi Everyone: Thanks for your comments. I should have been more clear. It's a beach house and the room is much too dark. We need to brighten the room. Don't want to paint the cabinets as they are made from guanacaste (exotic) wood and the sellers had it shipped in from costa rica. The mixed glass I don't like so we need to whittle it down to just one. The flooring is guanacaste also. I will try to post another pic or two.

Here's the kitchen from a different angle. Thanks. Don't like the granite or the two-tiered island. Need to brighten up the room. Thought the tile might look nice but maybe I need brighter? Wanted a Hawaiian feel. Maybe. Need to replace the island lights also. Thanks!

First, don't even THINK about a splash, until you resolve keeping or ditching the counter tops. I'd paint out the ceiling between beams . Toooo!!! much wood for the lack of natural light.

The entire island is SCARY. I'd redo, customize cabinetry to go beyond the step down to safer ground, and that would mean BAR stools, not counter stools, and safely away from the step. It appears you have room in the foreground of photo. You are not yet ready for a back splash, at this point. Or lighting as that island is not good. It may be the photo, but it barely looks passable........and not sure how you open the oven or fridge doors.

Hi Karen - is your kitchen in Hawaii? It looks like a very upscale kitchen with some Asian influences.

I like the ceiling - I think it's perfectly appropriate in the kitchen. I don't think the island is scary. I agree that in general two-level islands aren't as sleek and pleasing to the eye, but yours seems to serve a purpose since the step down is a bar counter and occurs at the step down in your kitchen.

Do you like the Asian vibe you've got going? That could direct tile choices. And we should know whether you're keeping the granite or not to really give you some good suggestions.

There is a designer with an extensive portfolio on Houzz - Charmean Neithart interiors - with a really beautiful and unique Asian-inspired kitchen. Worth a look if you want to embrace your kitchen as it is now:)

https://www.houzz.com/projects/1797024/asian-inspired-kitchen

Are you keeping the countertop as it is?

I think the wood is beautiful, but I can see why you want to lighten the place up.

What color is the rest of the room painted?

You don't need a backsplash, you already have a curb. You either have one or the other, but not both. I'd also look into LED tape light for under the counters and any glass front cabinets to brighten the space.

As others have noted, the granite riser will have to be removed if you want to install a tile backsplash. I'm not sure of your budget, but something like this Ann Sacks tile, which echoes the lines of the rain glass in your cabinets, might be pretty and would nod to the modern and Asian influences - the color palette is pretty muted, and reminds me of your "too expensive" tile.

Pendant suggestion:

I’d use a honey to tan colored glass tile that will reflect light and compliment the woven cabinet doors. Look for a size that is bigger than the scale of the woven cabinet but relates to it and do either a varying sizes pattern to be more modern or a standard brick pattern all same size. There is so much going on in the room I’d try to keep it relatively simple and glass tiles can be luminous and rich. Good luck!

We are ditching the granite entirely. We hate the black granite. In other words the granite counter tops and risers (backsplash) are going away.

There is plenty of room between fridge and counter. Will look for a better photo. Thanks!

That certainly opens the tile field lol

I think if your goal is to brighten the space, having lighter tops and echoing that between the ceiling beams with paint, would help quite bit. Tha red/warm wood tones seems VERY prevalent in Hawaiii just on a quick google search. Frankly, I don't feel Hawaii in any of them, but that is jmho.

Here's a view of the space between counter and fridge.

Jan, I despise the granite!

I appreciate any/all feedback. Thanks!

I agree with Jan, paint the ceiling white in between the beams. The countertops a light colour white. I think the back splash should be a light glass tile. The cabinets with glass have the glass plain. Additional under counter lighting as well. Good luck!

Great go with something lighter!

It's entirely up to whether you want the backsplash to inspire the counter or vice versa!

I agree with Jan about painting the ceiling between the beams.

I know now nothing about Hawaiian interior decorating trends. :) But I'm not understanding the different colors on the back of the island.

If this were a remodel, it would probably be best to raise the whole kitchen if you couldn't lower it. But it isn't.

I absolutely love the movement on your slab wood doors, and I would really love the weave if it were the same color. Like the textured glass--not sure why some isn't.

It is a gorgeous kitchen, still! I also hate black granite. Or it hates me!

Whatever you do, I would go slowly. Change out the counter for something light/white would be gorgeous, put in a light BS, and UCL. THEN see how things look, before doing something like painting that gorgeous wood ceiling.... But if it's still not enough, then paint.

@ Karen

A kitchen is not totally independent of the entire space. In other words, could you stand waaaay back, in both directions> What is the foreground space on that level? What is the rest of the decor etc?

I'm sure the bar portion of the kitchen is part of a family room?

Bravely, I shall put this out there. That ceiling isn't the only thing I might paint. I'm not going to lie........that much wood , that dark, with that little penetrating light from low windows? If you want a miracle, you may have to make your own. . Just saying...

What if the cabinets went to a watery ocean turquoise blue, the tops to a white , the ceiling between the beams got painted and you used a glass and watery toned splash? Or a cement tile in those tones? It is WOOD. It has a place, maybe your kitchen isn't the place. Lord knows the wood police won't come.

That ceiling is gorgeous! It would be horrible if you painted it, please don't. I would go with a a lighter counter top and a backsplash. The kitchen is beautiful, but with the black counters and all the wood (ceiling, floor and cabinets), I suspect it is dark. You might consider lighter cabinets if you're going to make a lot of changes.

Parramore Brocade Mosaic / Waterworks

Yes, the ceiling is gorgeous and so are the cabs. To paint either of them would be sad, and that's putting it mildly. What is that wood anyway? It's stunning.

Painting those cabs brought this to mind....

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til it's gone". ;)

What would be "horrible"? Horrible is when you force yourself to live with something you do not like.......if you do not have to force yourself. Wood is a surface, a material, like any other. Depends what you love, doesn't it?

It's guanacaste wood from Costa Rica.

Okay....... Someone might be mad in Costa Rica: ) ? Lovely in a big and light filled kitchen with a light tiled floor? This one isn't that.

Thanks Melissa!

I think those cabinets are really gorgeous, and I'm usually quick to recommend paint. Lighter tops will make a huge difference -- no point in talking about backsplash until you settle on the new stone. Congrats on the new place!

How about painting the ceiling between the beams white. Taking down the shelf unit over the wine fridge. Then you can run your lighter backsplash up that whole wall and then put back floating shelves that you salvaged from that shelf unit over the tile. New lights over the island will help and also lighter stone countertop.

I think the wood is very pretty also and I keep in mind this is a beach house; it's not a house in the 'burbs. I'm all for painting cabinets when it's warranted but these remind me of Hawaiian koa wood.

You could even tile the upper area floor in the kitchen ....then step down onto the wood...

Just thinking out loud. Found some really pretty tile ...I'm out looking for myself...it's marble and glass.

Sorry, that last picture was in error.

Shells?

I find myself desperately hoping guanacaste wood won't accept paint...it's crazy to encourage you to paint those cabinets or that ceiling.

Annie, how can I contact you direct? Thanks!

Painting the cabinets would kill the value.

The room is oppressive now, but other things should be lightened long before that!

I find myself desperately hoping guanacaste wood won't accept paint...it's crazy to encourage you to paint those cabinets or that ceiling.

I second the sentiment.

Karen - I don't know! I'm not a pro, so there's not a contact option on my profile. I tried to leave you a message but the system says my phone number isn't valid - ha. Tell that to the zillion telemarketers that call daily.

anniebird, we do have a message option, I have it and others as well. The problem is, I can't remember how I got it! I am not sure how I activated it. Here's what I can tell you. Go to your Houzz info. Click on Edit Profile. To the far left of that page, is Advanced Settings, click on that. Now you should have a list of options to be emailed a notification about, and one of them (down the page a bit) is "someone messages me". Try selecting "Every Time", the only other choice is Never. THEN click UPDATE. That may be how I got to receive messages. Hope this helps. :)

Thanks Beth09 - I'll give it a whirl. Also thought I'd take a stab at offering you design options, Karen. Not wedded to these choices, but interested in your thoughts:

Countertops:

Tile:

Roman shades:

Hard to match colors by monitor.