Here is subway

It appears too "white" for your granite, and no I don't see it with pewter grout either. I think you don't like your granite. Do you? And any tile should mean the removal of the four inch riser for a good look.

Are you sure you aren't looking for a rescue from a dark kitchen? Post the whole room.

Here’s the whole room. Removing corabels from bar and covering tile with wood paneling to match cabinets.

And yes definitely removing riser

And yes I don’t like my granite or travertine at all but trying to find a fix.

Well. For YOU Heather, this is lipstick on the piggy, right? Why don't you SAVE up money and go to real fixes? The first of which would be not to panel over tile, but to drop that to counter height and not choke the kitchen, before you trim differently. And your granite may need some support under there! Second.....unless you love the darkness, consider painting out the cabinetry. Third, the pendants are hung halfway to the moon. Too high.

I'm against the lipstick fix , because it isn't ultimately what you want. Still, can't see the entire kitchen either. So ask yourself...... what do I really want, how long will I be here, is it the forever home etc. And?

Yeah you raise a really good point. Def trying to lipstick a pig lol

And I agree. Pendants are super high. That def needs to be swapped. I see your point about choking out kitchen but will it be weird to have a bar counter height. Can’t envision that I’ll have to look online at examples

Ok I see. Yeah ultimately I don’t mind dark cabinets. What I really don’t like is the granite and tile :/

You are removing corbels what are you replacing them with they are supporting your overhang BTW. I agree with the staements above re lowering the bar it is a very dated look and 30” stools for most people are not very comfortable so when you lower the bar then you add steel supports for the overhang .You have a backsplash with that 4” piece why not spend the money elsewhere like IMO painting the cabinets to keep this from looking like a dark hole. BTW the stools you have are the wrong height for the high bar.

Virtually NO kitchen raises the counter to hide at 42 inches anymore. It's a choker, and it doesn't really hide a damn thing. Ditto Patricia on the stools and the "dark hole". Get a piggy bank. Plan for it to take a while, and since I see a high chair.....realize you will not die at your young age in the wait. : )

I think if you put panels where the travertine is, your kitchen will become a cave -- that's just a very large expanse to go from light to dark!

Your tile could be ok -- need to see it right next to the counter to be sure. But use matching grout, definitely; the gray will be off-tone and draw too much attention to the brick pattern, which you don't really need.

A lighter backsplash could really change the feel of the place, taking out a lot of the brown tones that you don't like and modernizing the feel. I'd do just that one part and then reassess, and/or start saving for more substantial changes, like a new counter and cutting down the bar.

What would you suggest doing to bar then in meantime?

Nothing. Get a piggy bank. Or paint it out to your wall color. Then stop. Go to piggy bank

in the mean time you could just paint over all that tile in a neutral color. you can do it with cabinet coat paint after some primer. I painted my tile and it turned out great. that could tie you over until you can save money and really get what you want.

I actually painted each individual tile but I think in your case I would just spray the whole surface with a matte finish. it works.

I'd remove the tile. Replace or repair the drywall and paint with good kitchen paint. If you panel the bar paint it to match the wall, or dry wall it. Any backsplash you put up now will get damaged in a few years when you can afford new granite. Just live with only a riser for awhile. I wouldn't even bother to replace corbels. Just paint them wall color.

Forgive my poor color matching and lack of depth. I know it is not the kitchen you want but it does not look as dated as the tile.

When you can afford new granite you can change the island too.

I don't mind the dark cabinets.

It looks to me like the pendants were placed on the sink side as opposed to the eating side of the "island" which may be why they are higher than they should be.

There are grease guards you can use while frying.

Much less expensive than subway tile that will get ruined when you get new granite.

Time passes quickly when one has young children.

I’ve decided to replace counter. Lower bar as suggested to make it flush. And replace pendants. It’s actually only 2800 for Caesar stone with install at ikea which is half of what I thought bc they have sales every quarter! Thanks for the input everyone!

Heather, please let us see your after photo's and so glad you can change it now.

Its still a work in progress! I've been without counters and backsplash for three weeks. ugh. I will def post tho!

Ok I need help again! I changed the counters and lowered the bar as suggested. Love the extra space! Should I stain the paneling on the bar to match cabinets or paint white to offset it? Or leave it the color it is? I dont know what to do. Excuse the mess! Construction zone. Getting the tile in today!