There is a color expert by the name of Maria Killam and she made a suggestion that I found interesting. She said when we have a fixed element that we cannot change such as the tile that is one shade of creamy white/beige and we now have a new brighter, cleaner one, add back some of the creamy color elsewhere to make it look purposeful. In that vein, would you consider countertops that have a mixture of both a bright white and a creamy white? Maybe a warm beige wall color instead of gray? Create a monochromatic scheme with touches of black. A rug under the sink that incorporates all the colors would be good.

I think you really should consider the floor color in your final selections here. Going gray is just going to clash.

Regarding the tin tile, I would not suggest it. Now you just one more new element that does not coordinate well with the other elements.

Good advice from Aurora Tee.

I think it is the wallpaper that is throwing you off here. Remove it and paint a nice color - perhaps a light, sagey green.

Thank you! Yeah the wallpaper definitely needs to go! I was thinking a very neutral light gray color .. any suggestions ? Thanks!

you say you're painting the walls gray, does that mean you're removing the wallpaper or will that stay?

I would work on the wall color. I'm also not loving the black hardware - it looks a little spotty.

Thank you @Courtney Fell I was planning yes on just painting over the wall paper.. It’s in good condition and not worth removing .. so the counter tops will be painted with a kit i got .. it has specs of light gray, cream/ copper.. so you think paint the walls an off white instead of light gray? And paint the back splash white?

No gray for the walls. As suggested a soft sage green would work, or bringing in that soft white/beige color.

Also- any suggestions for an off white wall color ?

I totally understand wanting to get rid of the wallpaper, but if you do, remove it. Don't paint over it.

@writersblock may i ask why ? Thanks!

No gray, there is no reason to use gray. There are many other options. I am thinking that you have already created disconnects by painting the cabinets white and by having gray living room floors. The living room looks very nice with its current color, but I would replace the gray rug.

@writersblock may i ask why ? Thanks!

Because, for the most part, you are taking a shortcut that saves some time now at the expense of making the paper a nightmare to try to remove later on. It's better to do it right: remove the wallpaper, then paint. I know there are a lot of companies that try to tell you it doesn't matter( because they want to sell you expensive paint for the purpose, usually), but anyone who has ever tried to remove painted wallpaper can tell you how much they loathe the folks who painted it, and how much swearing is generally involved in putting it right.

The tile floor doesn't bother me as much as the tile backsplash. Maybe because the floor isn't sandwiched between the cabinets the way the wall tile is. Or maybe the floor looks vaguely more modern. Whatever it is, the floor gets a pass from me.

Since your counter has that four-inch splashback, a very low-cost and low-skill thing to do would be to remove the tile on the wall above the counters, patch the walls as needed, and then paint that area along with the rest of the walls that you are painting. (I'd not go pale grey - I think that will be monochromatic in a very lackluster way. And possibly because grey is so trendy right now, it'll make the walls look distinctly modern and then the old parts of the kitchen will look really old by comparison.)

Aside from that, I'd say swap the hardware for something white that blends in well to the cabinets so the fact that the hinges are an older style isn't so obvious.

Optional:

1) Use peel-and-stick vinyl to update the floor. A retro pattern would probably look particularly nice since those can be very cute and would not make your cabinets/counter look old by comparison.

2) Look on craigslist for white appliances.

Edit:

Here's your kitchen with the green walls everybody is recommending and a retro vinyl floor.

Yes, I think def go with pure white subway tiles for the backsplash. Did you know they are only 22 cents per tile at both Home Depot and Lowes? Grout is real cheap too. Totally worth it. And as far as a particular off white for the wall paint color - I woudl consider Alabaster White from Sherwin Williams. Its a soft warm, but not overly yellow white. Get a sample and paint it near the cabinet and see if it works for your eyes. IF not, try some others. paint them all close together near the cabinet and see which pleases you the most. Leave the floors alone. :)

Thank you.. or do you think I should paint the kitchen the same color that is in the room attached to it??

yes, that work too! I think that is what i would do, to keep it continuous and flow well.