in a few months I'll ask for help on that red dining room ;)

What a sweet hubby.

I would leave it alone. It looks nice. I would possibly paint the outlet covers and not them be so much of a feature. Just needs some canisters or some decor. Good Luck.

You could do something like this, where the walls are a desaturated yellow and they provide a backdrop for your nice cabinets, rather than providing an obvious color. I think white would also look good since you have a lot of colors going on with the cabinets, countertops, and floor. Or some sort of beige like the last picture: I'm not recommending that exact shade because your cabinets are lighter. You'd have to bring home some swatches and play around.

thanks for the suggestions so far!

Remove the 4 inch laminate backsplash and consider tiling the backsplash with white subway tile, using a gray grout. Paint the walls a soft gray/beige (griege lol).

Perhaps you could ask her what color she wants it to be "eventually". If it turns out that she loves the green, it will not be a good surprise to paint over it. You might consider adding undercabinet lighting.

Tiling to the underside of the cabs is a grat suggestion but may be hard to accomplish by a September move in day. Consider painting for now in a buttery yellow such as Benjamin Moore Butter, Calla Lily, Light Yellow or Pineapple.

I agree with Lefty. I would go with cream subway tile and that's all.

I'm so excited that people beat me to my speech about removing g the 4" granite strip and using a simple tile that won't fight with the granite. Trust me, it will be lovely and a great backdrop for accessories. And while you're at it, make sure the outlet covers blend into the backsplash, it's a nice finishing touch.

I'm not sure I would use white subway tile. It seems like that would be quite stark against the black appliances, and a colored grout would be too much pattern with the countertops. Removing the four inch strip seems like a great idea. I'd do a subway or glass tile in a darker neutral color, or even in a stainless steel. If you intend to keep the countertops, maybe pick a neutral mid tone color that already exists in the countertops and go with that. And change the outlet covers as well. Congrats on the new place!

Congratulations on the lovely new home and family. I too believe that you should remove the 4" strip and tile in a neutral shade that ties in with the counter tops, but is not too light against the black appliances. There are oh so many outlets there to contend with, but if you could match them to the tile that would help. Good luck.

Consider staggering the cabinet heights - move a few to the ceiling to add dimension; you could then add an open shelf below that cabinet. I don't like the long straight line at the top and bottom of the cabinets - break that up. Replace or add plain glass to two doors on each side of the sink for openness - interior lighted would be pretty. Add under counter lights, add at least one pendant over the island - make sure it matches the dining light over the eating area. I suggest something fun and minimalist from Ikea for both. The current light over the table looks builder grade.
If you are considering a vent hood over the cook top, be very careful not to obstruct the view, you might want to use the vent system that rises from the counter on each side next to the cook top; otherwise be sure to purchase the clear glass hood with underneath lighting included in the hood then don't add a pendant over the cook top. The vent system would be costly post construction - so if you can live without it do - but strong odors permeate. You have a great basic design that you will enjoy making it your own. Have fun with it! Look at the colors of items you love and add some of those colors to the kitchen area.

Paint and back splash - I like leaving as is - not really needed since range top is on the island. Paint the walls around the cabinets a soft color that blends well - the problem is the granite - it fights a bit with the cabinet color and flooring color. Maybe a soft blue grey or other tint of grey would work well, but stay light and pastel rather than bold and dark.

I would lean toward something like- Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, a light "greige" that will be a lovely complement to the coffee colored living area and will help tie the cabinets with the counter. I would carry this same color into the dining room as well. Since you have a new baby heading your way, it would benefit you to save the money you would spend on back splash, just paint and get less contrasting outlets and covers. Then get to that nursery! FUN! Congratulations and good luck with your lovely home & family. :D

These are a nice taupe colour and are from www.rockypointtile.com in 3x6. I think the paint would suit in this colour also, if I am seeing the true colour of your counter tops. I believe it would look okay with the black appliances and suit stainless steel, should you find the need to change at a later date. All the best with your lovely gesture.

I would put an ice cream cake in the fridge :)

It looks like the living room walls are painted a different color than the kitchen, looking at right of the picture where one color ends and the other color starts on the wall near the door. I'd get a bunch of paint chips from the store and place them on the countertop, pick one of the lighter\medium tones in the countop and paint that as the backsplash or the entire kitchen. Do you know the paint color of the living room? you could paint the kitchen the same color of living room. I'd wait on tile for the back splash, she might not like it, then its hard to remove.

Remove the 4" lip backsplash, and replace with a nice beveled subway tile in cream or beige, or do a glass tile in creams, beige, brown combo and paint the kitchen a nice light cream to brighten everything up like Benjamin Moore Natural wicker, Dune White or Sea Pearl (anything in the OC collections by Benjamin Moore) I think she would love the gesture and those small things would make a HUGE impact. The other small things I would do would be to add Wainscoting panels to the back off the island to make it look like high end cabinetry and ebonize the island (painting it almost black) It would tie the WHOLE kitchen, including black appliances together. All of these things could be done very reasonably and is definitely within the scope of a weekend or two of work.

I would have my husbands head if he removed the 4" strip or painted a color I didn't like- what does she like? What do you have for furniture?

Funny that the elbow in the pic has the same green as the wall...

You are a sweetie to do this. I like the cream subway tiles, or some kind of soft neutral glass mosaic tile. But that's just me. There has to be a way for you to gauge your wife's likes. Just take her on a field trip to home depot to buy a new tool and while you are there, pick her brain for ideas. then you will know she likes what you pick.

You and your wife could also look at Houzz PHOTOS, Kitchens, and make an Ideabook together. "For the new House." You can make notes about what you like and dislike about each photo. You might be pleasantly surprised at the choices you make together. I believe good communication makes relationships stronger.

(You can still keep your work a surprise.)

I'm having trouble decerning the colors in the granite. Do you know the name of the granite color or can you send an up close pic?

i had those same color cabinets for years; cool colors look awful with them; it doesn't matter what color, stick in the warm range of colors. warm browns, tans, reds, oranges--stay away with anything with too much undertones of blue, I think that is why you hate that green--it fights with the cabinets. If there is a darker brown in the granite I would go with that--and add under counter lights to brighten it up--lose the white switch covers & replace with tan/beige ones. white is a color that jumps toward the eye. hope this helps..you are sweet & I wouldn't be mad at my hubby for doing something so nice, even if I hated the color--it's only paint.

ps. changing cabinet nobs to a warmer color would look really nice too--like copper patina or bronze.

Share the ideas with her and include her in the decision-making process. Surprise her with flowers instead. Congratulations on the house and the new baby!

What colors are in the counter? Can you post a close up of it?

Sorry for my "violent"
reaction but I am very much a control freak..for example I would probably cry hysterically if I was a victim um I mean recipient of one of those HGTV shows where you leave and come home to a make over..
Again what furnishings do you have, what colors does you wife prefer? As sweet as I find the gesture I just hope hormones are not clouding her vision and postpartum doesn't bring a raging wife who hates her kitchen. I honestly suggest painting for now and waiting for anything more permanent until she is thinking more clearly!

Do not do anything without her input!! Wow, I would be so totally honked off to be left in the dark!

Let your wife help with the color selection. She's going to be frazzled enough with a new baby let alone possibly having to look at a kitchen she doesn't really enjoy looking at. By the way, you are a super sweetie for wanting to do this for her.

Ladies (and gents) - I too like to have control or at least a say in paint color, furnishings, decor, etc. however, I'm guessing Ben knows his wife better than we do and has perhaps given him the go-ahead or at least some ideas of what she would like.
Ben - I agree w/River Valley, try to get some input from your wife. Most new home owners share ideas, look at pics (this site is a great place to start). I agree w/Elaine P. about how to choose a paint color. If you go ahead with a backsplash - keep it simple - the granite is busy enough. Subway tile is popular these days - if you want to add more character, add a thin roll of glass time that compliments the color of the wall color. Good luck and good for you for wanting to give your wife a kitchen update. Congrats also on your upcoming fatherhood.

I would put a white subway tile backsplash in kitchen and add oil rubbed bronze hardware on the cabinetry.

I took several people's advice to wait it out and do this upgrade with my wife. I was generically talking about this kitchen and the adjacent living room and it sounded like she has good ideas that weren't part of my plan.

I appreciate the help everyone, and I will definitely use some of the mentioned backsplash and color themes.