Another view

Now you'll require counter-height stools for the bar area.

The space looks much nicer.

I might consider replacing the valances.

Thanks!

If you're going to have white cabinets and counters, I'd go for a little contrast in the backsplash -- could be a good place for a taupe to tie in the flooring, or you could add a little contrast with a warm gray or green.

I would suggest running the new backsplash tile straight down from those little shelves on the left side. It would look much cleaner than having the backsplash jutting out to the left beyond the upper cabinets. I agree with other posters - choose your backsplash at the very end of your choices.

I agree with the other commenters, too soon to choose backsplash. I think once the cabinets are painted (Pure White is a good choice in theory, how does it look next to your new countertop?) it's going to be a lot of white and a white backsplash will be too much white. All white can look very clinical.

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Hard I’m sure to see in a photo but the samples seem a little less white than the actual quartz. We were able to see the large slabs in person but this whole process is taking a lot of time between picking things out and installation! Our cabinets will not be painted until the end of October. I think if I thought a white backsplash - subway, zelige - I would have been able to pick it already! My kitchen is very dark (20 years ago I have lived with it after moving from a super bright white kitchen in Florida) and that is why I’m going white now. I think the blue tile is beautiful - afraid of it being too dark.

Look at every shade of blue tile. I think a “whisper” of blue will be enough color to break up the white-on-white-on white. Herringbone installations also add a lot of texture without being overwhelming.
TileBar.com has some great blue options. They also sell 5 samples for $5. I found these blues. I, personally, love the blue picket one the best….

Wow love the lower counter transformation. I agree a light light whisper blue tile might be perfect.

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Is the floor staying?

I realize you want a bright kitchen, but I wouldn't want the floor to feel dingy by comparison? How far does that tile extend?

show some pics of adjacent spaces?

If the floor is staying, I would not do white cabinets - do an off white or warmer tone. It's your kitchen but the white cabinets, white counter, white backsplash is just too much white for me. The kitchen doesn't look that dark. It just looks like all of the natural light is coming from the one end of the room. Make sure you have the proper lighting.

If you did off white then a white splash would be nice

Good luck!!

The counters are new, and unless my eyes deceive me, you already have a 4” backsplash. You’re done. Think paint, wallpaper, but not tile.

Think about a taupe or brown close to the color of the existing cabinets. More interesting and you won't have to rip up the floor.

the white “backsplash” is actually just pieces of the Bedrosians Celine tile.

Pictures from surrounding rooms…the tile is everywhere…

You have great rugs and artwork and obviously aren’t afraid of color. Your current valances are perfect— they caught my eye right away, in a good way.

FWIW, I share others’ concerns about going with super white cabinets with your current floor. A creamier white might work better and would still work with a whisper of blue (or green) backsplash. What is the wall color used throughout your space? A shade or two darker might work well for cabinets, provided the hue has a warm undertone.

My baseboards, crown moldings, built in storage cabinets and all my doors have been SW Pure White since we moved in 20 years ago. We repainted all the walls (from SW camelback which didn’t go with anything really from a designer’s recommendation) to SW Pure White during Covid. Thanks for liking my valances - look at the fabric up close and you will see there is a part that looks must like my floor tiles! Now this backsplash tile would go with my floor 🙃

I have SW Pure White everywhere!

In a single HEARTBEAT? I'd have green on those cabinets. or a soft grayed blue! or BUMP up the electricity, leave them alone and put color on the backsplash!

The house is darling. Don't jam an "afterthought" bright white kitchen in there. Yes, you have white on the walls....with a TON of color breaking that white in rugs, art. Bring some into the kitchen. Leave the white walls as is.

Why is the kitchen feeling different to me? Because you've already got the bright white of the tops.

I'm usually not for two tones, splitting a kitchen to upper and lower paint colors. White on top, green on the bottom? I might make that an exception , here.

The internet will not gift me a perfect picture.....: )

Or even go whole hog all in

Jan - thank you for all your suggestions!

If my cabinets could be restored to a perfect stained finish I would be happy with a wood tone. These cabinets have had a bad uneven finish from when the house was built and wear marks. Every cabinet refinisher (because they are painters!) who has come in here has steered me to all white - saying my kitchen is so dark. I want it to feel like a designed kitchen. And want to make the floor work because this is not my forever home so I don’t want to spend $30,000+ to change them

Light blues or greens would be gorgeous. Lighting matters so don’t feel forced into a white kitchen “to lighten it up”. And not to be snarky, but taking design advice from contractors isn’t a good idea.

Some ideas for soft colors: blue

Green

I think C.O.L.O.R : )

Failing that? The doors and drawer fronts can come off, go to a REAL refinish local to you. They're partial overlay, so a good match to that done onsite( frames) would be necessary but certainly not impossible.

Even a good PRO paint job means an off site spray of door and drawer faces.

A DIY is a lot of work......: ) but the very last color on all that I would do is bright white. jmho.

The very FIRST thing? Get an electrician in there. What's in the ceiling for recessed? What about under cabinet lighting, which you have, but is it bright enough? The brightest white on cabinets is often a fail, unless you consider both natural...and artificial light. Especially in a closed off kitchen

WTH ? GO FOR IT: )

Sherwin Williams Waterloo was suggested to me by an interior designer local to me after looking at my pictures…

Side by side..local and non local designers : ) suggestions

Were you my local client, I'd be in a Ben Moore/Ace.

I'd custom mix a color for you , might even be between those above. We'd narrow it down ON site. Paint a couple big boards and decide.

Local talent means local help.on site, that should be, in the best of worlds what you pay for- local eyes on your kitchen and all else around it, in your house and full context right before her eyes.

We seem to be on a similar page, as to color.......!! Hands clapping on that lol?

Curiosity ? Did the designer you paid already say that he/ she'd "not recommend" a bright white? mmmmmmm? : )

This designer has not been to my house - she has no availability but has looked at pictures I have sent her. I so wish you Jan were in Oklahoma! She also has said I should look at SW Inky Blue, Santorini Blue and BM Steep Cliff.

It looks to me like you need color on your cabinets. Her words! Yes you both are on agreement with that!

You can use the same method in your process. Ben Moore stores are extremely helpful . Buy some big poster board. Cut off a portion for the b

Ben store test, save the big area for home test. You might waste a couple hundred bucks testing, but be thrilled in the end.

You might EVEN sample a tile as below... and take THAT to a Ben Moore for a good blend.

A good mixer? Can mix/tweak a formula to a literal fraction of any color.

Maybe a tweak on "Agean"?

Only you will know when you've hit the happy, and you need to be in your lighting, all the times of the day.

I love that tile! What scares me is we have chosen a very expensive cabinet painting company - one that uses industrial coatings for a hopefully long lasting finish. I need to get this right!

I have the Bedrosians Celine tile in white and they are not all white. Hopefully my pictures can show you what it looks like.

Excellent news! You have pro cabinet painters.

Order a tile sample!

" I have to get this right",,,,,,,Yes, certainly! And YOU are the designer, not the painters, They are your technicians, the execution of your wants and your directions,

https://www.tilebar.com/sample-portmore-aqua-3x8-glazed-ceramic-tile.html?g_acctid=625-399-4242&g_adgroupid=&g_adid=&g_adtype=none&g_campaign=Tilebar+-+US+-+P-Max+-+Categories+-+Samples+%28Multiple+Audiences%29&g_campaignid=20881264723&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=&g_network=x&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6c63BhAiEiwAF0EH1D7FGuzWRNI0QkhdcBuK5-mv9ZoRzL-F3Baizf7LkdIbNrM69sUnWxoCgEUQAvD_BwE

______________________________________

They are going to convert any sample color you give them to their finish material, a conversion varnish...? Ask what they use! Ask their process, beginning to finish.

Before they go whole hog to spraying? You ask for a "strike sample" and verify! you love it.

Before you can do that? You test colors, because you will HAVE that tile sample and all you need beyond that is a couple hours in a Ben Moore venue, local.

You can do it: )

Remember.......you STILL have the option of white uppers, that color on the lower cabs. It will be "separated" by the crisp white counters, and then that lovely tile? Beautiful hardware? Think about it as IF you need a hole filled? You want to tell them , pre paint job.

Me? I would begin at Ben Agean.( pic at bottom)

Ask for a quart at FULL formula strength, and another ar ONE HALF FORMULA STRENGTH. Get both in "Satin Advance" finish - it will be closest to the look of the pro finish.

I ordered the sample tiles!

Hands clapping! Keep us posted!

It sounds like your kitchen renovation is coming along beautifully! Since you're leaning towards a light, bright kitchen with SW Pure White, our custom mosaic art could add a stunning and artistic touch to your backsplash. A handcrafted mosaic can bring a unique, elegant flair to your space, while complementing your quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances.

For the shelves, you could integrate small mosaic pieces or decorative mosaic tiles as accent pieces to tie the whole look together. We'd love to show you some ideas—feel free to check out our store for inspiration!

That blue tile is gorgeous!

I see no reason to not have white cabinets if that’s what you want. You can later bring in accessories to add color.

I love this kitchen! Where can I purchase the backsplash tiles?

@jlathosm - click the link that was included in the post under the photo that you've posted above - it will link to Design Shop Interiors who originally posted the project photo. You will be able to send them a message or call the number they provide on their profile in order to ask about the source for the tile.

I zoomed in on it and did a Google photo search -

It looks like a glass tile - but I didn't see an exact match for shape/color.