Are you going to redo the entire kitchen in the future? I suggest you remove the backsplash, repair the walls and paint. If that’s too much work, peel and stick tiles will cover the backsplash until you can deal with it. Live in the house awhile before making any permanent changes. Take your time figuring out what works, what doesn’t.

I agree with you that the backsplash is the worst offender and should come out! However, I do think that the cold gray color from the quartz and the warm brown from the cabinets and the floor, makes quite a bit of contrast. I would not repeat the quartz on the backsplash, as I think this would make the color clash worse. Painting the backsplash as teamaltese suggested maybe your best bet. Find a color to try and marry the brown and gray and once you find an acceptable color, tile the splash. (Paint color mistake is much cheaper than tile mistake!)

Before doing anything make sure the lighting is all LED 4000k (daylight) IMO the simplest backsplash is back painted glass and it would look great with those cabinets . I think you should wait for 3 months min. to see if you even function well in the kitchen before spending any money. I agree the floors do not work with the cabinets or the gray counter . I see issues with the layout for sure. Are those floors all through the house? Please don’t bother painting or getting stick on tiles for the backspash all that will do is call attention to a bigger mess.IMo a new to you space always needs a time to see how it works for you .My big issue firest would be the popcorn ceilings and the lighting.

While the different materials and the cabinet color are fighting each other, I would wait to see how the layout of the kitchen and that huge island function before planning costly changes. The sink is out of the photo meaning that the triangle may be too big for ease of movement. This may be a kitchen that needs two sinks because it is soooo large, maybe two smaller islands instead of the behemoth there now. I know that unloading all the cabinets again will be a pain, but waiting to decide on a better layout is smart.

I do not plan to redo the entire kitchen anytime soon. I like the layout. I agree there’s a lot going on in terms of colors and materials that I don’t like and I’m trying to figure out the easiest way to make it less busy and the backsplash seems the easiest. The grain on the cabinets actually bother me the most but redoing all those cabinets is out of my budget.

I agree about the grain but if not in the budget....I would eliminate all the gray which doesn’t go well with either the floors or cabinets. I would replace the countertop with a neutral beige to tie in the floor then select a compatible backsplash tile. Add color with accessories. And if in the budget, remove popcorn from ceiling.

If the budget allows - I would replace countertop and backsplash.

I second back-painted glass, if budget permits, or a simple painted backsplash if it doesn't. One color and no grout lines will go the farthest in making the kitchen look less busy.

I don’t understand how one could paint a backsplash. Seems like that would be a mess. I suggest replacing with simple white subway tile.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I wish I had the budget to redo the entire kitchen, but we just bought this house and we can only afford something simple to try to reduce all this contrast. I’m not even sure I have budget to replace all the counters. The contractor can remove existing backsplash and install a quartz backsplash for ~$2500. Challenge is matching the quartz to the existing counters. I will look into the glass and painting the backsplash too.

I would just remove backsplash, repair walls and paint for time being.

Suggestion to help you think this through: tape up something over the backsplash in the colors you are considering so you get a better feel for how it will look. Paper in cream or white or a gray that matches the quartz would work. It will take time to do it, but I think getting those distracting glass tiles out of your view will help with your decision.

Please don't use that quartz as back splash for three reasons. Firstly the kitchen was not planned for quartz, outlets and switches should be up under the upper cabinets for the quartz to work, and it may affect things like undercabinets lights. Secondly you can't have quartz as a back splash behind a range, especially a high heat output range like that. Thirdly the grey is already a miss with everything else, adding more won't help it. White subway in a stack if you can't afford anything else, preferable to get an off white quartz counter with a neutral back splash tile.

I actually like the gray with the wood. I would suggest a couple of runner rugs mixing the gray and the floor color. I would keep the backsplash simple like a subway tile.

Hi @Cindy Woohoo, I understand the urge to change a backsplash you hate, and I agree that yours is worth changing ASAP, however, as @HALLETT & Co. has pointed out, the big mismatch in your space is the grey quartz with the warm wood.

Start searching for images of kitchens with warm wood cabinets that you like, look at the counter and backsplash materials they use, and wait until you can afford to change the backsplash and the counter.

A simple white subway tile backsplash with matching grout is your best option. Good luck with your new home!

Congrats on your new house! There’s so many things to spend your money on you have to pick and choose where you’ll get the most bang for your buck and I think the backsplash is a good place. It’s super busy and it’s getting reflected in the counters so it’s getting amplified! I would choose a simple tile that combined the cream and the gray to help tie them together. I found this one at the tile bar. Excuse my super crude mock up I was trying to cover up the existing backsplash

https://tilebar.com/montauk-sand-dune-2x8-ceramic-wall-tile.html

I like Kim H's idea and I wonder if it would make sense to install the tile vertically rather than horizontally to echo the cabinet grain a bit. No contrasting grout.

Warm and cool colours aren't an easy mix but it is done and it can look good.

As a quick fix paint the backsplash tile.

Please ignore the "paint the backsplash" option. Painting that glass tile will look like absolute crap.

Just remove the tile splash and do more of a modern style subway tile. (not a plain 3x6 white tile since your cabinets and quartz are more modern looking).

You want something a little sleeker.

You could also do a glass tile if you prefer.

actually, this geometric design would fit the style of the cabinets nicely

Or, just do a 2x8 or 3x9, 2x10, subway tile in a vertical offset pattern like shown here: (I'd pick an off white that works w/your flooring as opposed to a super bright white)

Do not do a quartz backsplash unless they can get the exact same kind as your countertop. if you try something close, it's not going to work.

Just do a vertical stack white tile. it will look the best.

3x12 glass subway tile in a stack pattern.

BTW, why he's redoing the tile, have him scrape the popcorn ceiling and skim coat it.

I love Kim H’s tilebar tile!!

if the only thing that changes is the backsplash and a goal is to remove the horizontal lines that clash with the vertical lines of the cabinets, I agree with back painted glass, stainless steel, or even a mirror that plays well with the appliances. Beth H did a lovely job of showing alternatives, and I like the geometric a lot.

Lol. I don’t personally care for vertical subway tiles and I think in this case they’d distract from the natural striations of the cabinets.

For what it’s worth, a recent Houzz article celebrated the newest brown + gray trend, which I quite like - and I do like your cabinets.

You have a lovely kitchen - wishing you the very best.