You’ve got nothing to lose to try to stain it a bit warmer to work with the counters. Strip off any sealer with acetone and allow to fully dry. Mix up a Natural and maybe Golden Oak 3:1. Work with a friend and apply to the stone, timing how long it’s in there. Then wipe. One apply, one wipe.

If that doesn’t work, replace it.

If you can't live with it then have it removed and select something that appeals to you. It's the best solution, painting it would be much worse outcome with stone and you'll still end up replacing.

I think I'd try changing the grout color to see if that makes it more appealing.

Personally I would live with it and spend the money and time and emotional energy fixing up the rest of the house. Moving into a new home and getting it moved in takes a lot and there are probably things you need to purchase like rugs, window treatments, lighting etc. that are necessary for comfort and aesthetics.

The kitchen wouldn't be my aesthetic choice but personally I could live with it - I have lived with worst since it looks new, fresh, clean and doesn't personally jab at one's eyeballs. When everything else in your home is done, you can circle back to the kitchen.

I find that often once I am used to something I stop seeing it. Certainly no one visiting you is going to leave thinking about what a hideous kitchen you have - it is just innocuous - at least in my opinion.

I can see why you don’t like it it. The backsplash competes with the granite and is a different style. I vote to warm up the color to see if that works for you.

I've had butterfly beige, and it's a strong durable granite. No chips, no stains, no sealing. When we added it as a short-term plan, I covered the old backsplash tile with bead board to keep the counters calm. My cabinets were sw agreeable gray and the bead board was painted bm paper mache. Those colors worked well in the limited light that my old kitchen had. With a simple backsplash the counters read as "gray". I would have to redo that backsplash, it's too spotty with the granite.

I appreciate you all taking the time to reply. Helen, I agree and actually did that. We moved in 1 1/2 years ago and lived with it during covid lockdown. I've just decided I can't keep living with it. NotMyCircusNotMyMonkeys, I actually haven't heard of staining ceramic tile. David, changing the grout is an interesting suggestion. Motupeg and Skippack thanks for agreeing with me! Lucky998877, it's interesting that I had actually seen and liked the idea of bead board. Since I want to add an island, it would make choosing a color for the base of it easier. I'd prefer tile but there's just such a long expanse of tile with nothing to break it up! Oddly enough, I chose the house because of the large kitchen.

i think id wait and pull the granite and backsplash. wait means until products are available and you have the money to spend as increases have been thrust on everything. These price hikes may back down so waiting might be to your advantage then you can do both. personally I dont dislike the splash ...when you look at the two things the granite is maybe the thing i'd look at more critically. these are discretionary projects so wait for better timing in the marketplace.

I don't really mind the countertop, either. It never shows anything!

Paint the back splash. Google has lots of how-to's. You can always cover with bead board or replace it later. But it's a fast inexpensive fix.

Not my money, but I think it's the counter that is wrong. Doesn't go with cabs or flooring.

if it is in your budget to replace backsplash, I would definitely do that and get something simpler. If not, cover in headboard. I did that in a rental home, and it looked nice

On the scale of clashing top/backsplashes we've seen here, that hardly rates a mention.

That's funny.

Joseph is right: lots worse has been seen here. :) That said, if you want an inexpensive (possibly temporary) fix, you have options:

-beadboard as others mentioned

-painting the tile

-dyeing the tile (new to me as well)

-using a bonding primer to apply new tile (agree with choosing something simple and plain with granite) to existing (eliminates the expense of removing current)

The floors look gorgeous and I prefer the backsplash tile to the counter granite so I'd be more tempted to change the counter to a plain light one. But that's my opinion seeing your pics on my screen. It's your kitchen, your opinion and choices! :)

I would have said change the counter (it isn't what I would have chosen either) but houssaon's mock up with the plain gray backsplash changed my perception. With that plain background, the counter seems prettier (to me, that is).

The backsplash could be fun in a different kitchen, I think - but here it doesn't work with the counter or the cabinet style, or even the lovely flooring.

Maybe you could try peel and stick wallpaper over the tile as a stopgap:

https://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?keyword=removable+wallpaper+tiles

Thank you. I do think this is a great idea for some people but I think I'd almost rather have a solid color since my counter is kind of busy. Thank you for looking it up. Also, I didn't properly thank Houssaon for showing me what it would look like as a solid color. I saved your picture as a reference. Thanks for the work you put into it!

I don't think it's too bad, but if you can no longer tolerate it, choose an inexpensive option like just covering it with beadboard or something peel-and-stick. Since it's a flip house the paint on the cabinets might not be as durable as a factory finish, and you have very few drawers. Unless all those base doors conceal ROTS, save your money for a remodel, then move the range to the same wall as the sink, move the DW to the right, move the fridge to where you now have the range, and enclose it in a box that covers the sides. Come back then and we'll help you with a new layout. :)

If you find that you need to use a temporary fix for the tile, you could do what I had to do back in the 1980s:

The previous owner of the house had installed parquet flooring tile on the wall of the family room, above the knotty pine built in cabinets. I didn't have the $$ to tear them off and repair the wall.

I used wallpaper liner - a heavy, smooth paper that concealed all of the joint lines in and between the tiles. This gave me a smooth base. I then applied a wallpaper that I liked - but for your purpose, there exists wallpaper that is made to be painted - In fact, at Bed Bath & Beyond's website they show both plain liner paper that can be finished with paint, and a paintable paper that mimics a plaster wall. There are many patterned options out there, too, most not what you'd want but there are a couple with only a fine pattern (like, to mimic linen) and even a beadboard look-a-like.

That’s interesting! Thank you.

we are redoing our kitchen . Pretty well set on the counter , cabinets and flooring but oh still , working ion the back splash. Really I don’t dislike yours. I wouldn’t have a granite counter if my life depended on it. I much prefer the quartz ones we such. Much more subtle an easier to care for, I do like your cabinets, perhaps I would have chosen a lighter wood tone on the floor. I don’t see anything in the kitchen that makes me want to immediately change anything. I have seen far worse, many times worse,