They will NEVER work, No matter the cabinetry. Do over for one or the other. Start the piggy bank, and WAIT. Post a better photo of the entire space and who pray tell..........did what?

It looks like the counter goes with the cabinets from what little I can see.

It may be that only the back splash needs replacing. Let's see more pics pls.

We just got the house.. the counter goes with the cabinets but are older and need refinishing too(good bones for cabinets). I really would do something to improve the look until I could change the backsplash. The floor is easy to replace. Thank you all for any help!!

Use the $ on the backsplash now, not painting the cabinets

this is super weird. Why would someone use 2 diff materials, 2 diff tones and textures together like that? Rip out backsplash it doesn’t begin to work w countertops

DON'T touch it. Make an idea book of kitchens you love. Buy a bank and use it If you MUST do something, waste 1500 on tile and labor for a VERY plain SOFT white subway backsplash. Then stop.Possible a new stainless dishwasher.........then really stop.

Agree on waiting. If it really drives you crazy there are removable tiles and wallpaper you could cover the backsplash with.

The cabinets are really not that distasteful. Putting hardware on them (which could be expensive) might help while you save for a complete redo.

man, who picked those two stones? they're both beautiful pieces, but why on earth would they use them together??

neither one was cheap to do. it'd be a toss up which one I would keep.

do you plan on painting the cabs? if so, and you choose a white, then choose a marble countertop that matches that splash.

is the floor vinyl? I guess that's changing at some point too?

I'd also wait a bit. save up, and get it all done at once the way you want it

If you don’t plan on keeping the backsplash consider painting it with a tile stencil - I know it sounds strange but check out Cutting Edge Stencils - they have transformations on their Facebook page every day and they look amazing. I plan on doing it on our fireplace surround to get us through as I have future plans to completely redo the whole fireplace eventually.

no. you don't "paint a stencil' over a solid piece natural marble. doing that would make it look worse.

i've seen them paint travertine tiles, but never a solid slab on a backsplash. that's beautiful marble.

I agree they are both beautiful stones but they just don't go together.

I was planing to add hardware on the cabinets, I just can't get over the mismatch between the countertop and the backsplash. In case I decide to go ahead and change the backsplash(even though I don't have the $$ for it), what material/color would do best?

Thank you much for all your suggestions!

Just a thought, I have seen online stick and peel glass tile that are kinda affordable, did anyone work with this material? Any recommendation? Can it be installed on top of existing marble?

I wouldn't even touch it. Live with your kitchen... for at least 6 months. Learn the ins and outs, what's working and what doesn't. Save, save, save. Hire a kitchen designer and a great contractor. Then go to town.

Listen to everyone. There is no point in spending money before you have an overall plan. Did you ever buy a sweater you really did like because it was an unflattering color and then spend more money buying shirt, pants, boots, scarf, and jewelry to “go” with this ugly sweater? Why invest money and then decorate around a backsplash you will need to replace when you finally design a new kitchen. “But we already spent $$$ on the backsplash. I don’t want to throw it away....”. Trust us. In two years you will be back here asking how you can make this year’s backsplash “go” with the new kitchen you can finally afford. It will drive all your future kitchen decisions. In the meantime, get a bottle of wine, your three best friends and laugh at the backsplash.

Spell check. “sweater you DIDN’T like....

Listen..............SAVE. Leave the dang thing alone. SAVE.

In the meantime, remove that corner knick knack shelf.

Please listen to Jan and those telling you to wait. Don’t buy hardware either. If you choose something that doesn’t work with your newly painted kitchen (if you go that route) you now have holes that you must work with when choosing new hardware. I know you don’t like the kitchen, but saving, searching Houzz for ideas, finding a Kitchen Designer and getting a reliable contractor should be enough for now. Refacing, repainting or replacing all might be options. Take a deep breath and WAIT.

leave the classic cabinets as is....I wouldn't even add hardware as there is a bit of a bevel for finger grip. Someone goofed a bit when it came to counter and backsplash....but its not the end of the earth. I'd get a dark slate/stone look vinyl sheet floor.....minimal veining ...nearly solid in other words. They can install it over the green stuff that's there. In a way...that sort of thing on the floor will make the backsplash "pop" a bit and then counters get so much on them I think the counter will be less an issue for a while. Wait then till you get time to look at things in a more coordinated way.

I love Jan’s comment. Take it to heart. ”Decorate in haste, REPENT at leisure“ is the single BEST piece of advice I’ve seen here!

It’s strange but I for one have seen so much worse.

The quality is good. Save while you think and research.

WAIT until you at least figure out if that space even functions for you having cabinets painted is very expensive and a crappy DIY job is even worse

soak in your new home, there are so many things that will pop up at you along the way, its not a do or die in this kitchen.

Were both counter and backsplash installed before you bought? asking because I see open electrical in the backsplash...

Yes, the open electrical is due to changing the regular outlets to GFI...

I have decided to keep the cabinets and the counter as they are and change the backsplash.

I wonder which material/color will do the best in that situation?

Thanks everyone !!!

If you don’t have the money right now to replace backsplash might it be possible to remove backsplash and patch the wall as necessary and paint it? Or just wait. I think counters are more expensive to replace than backsplash.

My gut is telling me you shouldn't do any back splash... the counter has a lot of movement already. Pick a creamy "warm" white to brighten up the cupboards/backsplash instead of a grey-white to match the warmth in the counters. Gold tone for knobs and pulls.