I hardly ever use the cooktop, and its too expensive to replace the countertop, so I have to just replace the backsplash. So your saying white on white I heard that doesnt work. If I ever do replace the countertop the backsplash has to go and I know this. So because of money reasons Im just going to replace the backsplash

"So I'm planning on taking out the backsplash and replacing the countertop with an easier one to keep clean. So I need suggestions on a countertop and backsplash that might work. Any suggestions would be appreciated."

and then........

"I hardly ever use the cook top, and its too expensive to replace the countertop, so I have to just replace the backsplash."

Perhaps go back to bed and decide what you want to do? : )

I'm clueless, as I am sure are others..........

Mean?

Read what you wrote, please! It is not mean, yes it was a bit sarcastic ), but you read it, again, and ask yourself if you can figure out what this poster would like to change?

What does the poster want?

Your words.........

"So I'm planning on taking out the backsplash and replacing the counter to with an easier one to keep clean . So I need suggestions on a countertop and backsplash that might work. Any suggestions would be appreciated."

Your words........

""I hardly ever use the cook top and it is too expensive to replace, so I have to just replace the backsplash."

"

Seems to me it was pretty simple the countertop I have is a nightmare to keep clean, but I realized I have to take out the busy backsplash before I can pick out any countertop. Also for financial reasons if I keep the existing one I still have to take out the backsplash. Does that make more sense to you? I just was asking for suggestions on what backsplash would work.

Since the backsplash area is not that large you could run the same counter top up the wall

I dont hate the top I hate that its a pain to keep clean and like I said I dont have finances right now to get a new countertop. I just talked to my contractor and he suggested trying just painting over it first and then if that doesnt work then tear it out. Thanks for your suggestion

You have to clean every top. For germs alone. You need to DRY glossy black or you will see water spotting. It's hardly a workout to dry that amount of top, right?

Or....tear the darn back splash, find a GREAT wallpaper and paper the splash. Use a peel and stick and if you tire of it? change it.

Yes when ever I get water on it I dry and I also have a quartz cleaner I bought that works well that I use once a week and I dust it everyday.

So the problem...............is what?

This is standard housekeeping in a huge kitchen. Use the quartz cleaner every day....a simple spray and wipe /rinse dry.Quartz needs no special quartz cleaner, at all.

"Fantastic" cuts through grease. Smells nice

Or?

Get yourself a couple Norwex DUSTING cloths. Dampen one and go over the counter and dry with another to a gleam. Daily.......

Anti bacterial, and worth the money - quite different than all other cloths. You'll need no more than water. Also great for normal "dusting"

What I sense is a bit of I don't want to have do much of anything- "I barely eat here"?

I am single and I use the microwave more than anything and im not lazy but I am not a clean freak either, although I have become more of one since I got this black countertop. Thanks for the suggestions the towels I have dont seem to be working even though they are supposed to be made for this

Get the backsplash removed so you can visualize a new one. Go to the stone yard with your measurements and see if they have any remnants you like. Your kitchen is small and you might get a great deal on a leftover piece.

Backsplash on the side and the side by the countertop is coming off next thursday, my contractor and I decided we would try painting over the existing backsplash by the sink and under the microwave first. I have a feeling I wont like it so im pretty sure the baclsplash is coming off. Already decided on a pure white tile backsplash with black grout to match the countertop. If it all comes off it wont cost me an arm and leg either, depending on how hard it is to get the backsplash off on the side first

I'm curious about a cement grey color backsplash with your counter. Could add more depth and interest than just white with black grout.

Can you use white peel and stick tiles over the existing splash instead of painting it? I'm curious about what others say because I may be in your situation soon of wanting to replace a splash on a budget.

I think you need to clean your top daily with a spray of something wet (I get spray bottle and use vinegar and water), wipe it with a damp sponge, then dry it. I might be wrong but is sounds like you are dry dusting daily and need to use a daily wet cleaning. It truly is just a spritz and wipe that would take all of 45 seconds on your size counter.

I get that black shows everything. Sorry it wasn't an ideal purchase. The counters are really beautiful though.

I thought about the gray also, but i need something that will make that black countertop pop, so white is the only way i think. I do use vinegar water and a little dawn but ill try it without the dawn. I have no choice really with the countertop I cant afford to change it and its only 2 years old and it wasn't cheap. I like the idea of the peel and stick idea I might try that first. The painting was going to be a cheap way to go, but it seems like the peel and stick might be a better idea, thanks

Just get ALL the tile off. Skimming drywall is multiple trips. Don't waste time and money.

When it's all gone, paint it white and live with it until you drag home a few wall paper/peel and stick or whatever. Even if you decide to do a tile? There's no harm in a fresh, smooth wall.

You won't save any money with your method.

I really liked x comment about keeping the same backsplash as my counter.

Since you are thinking of taking out tile backsplash, which is very busy, then try to paint it first,.
You wal need to give it a light sand, use proper prim tt and then paint with sarin orzemi gloss paint.

Whoa……half asleep, I made a lot of typos….1) lightly sand backsplash, 2) use proper primer, 3) paint backsplash in colour that co-ordinates with cabinets with satin or semi gloss paint,my have to do 2 coats.
Paint grout and tile one colour. Try that and if you really don’t like it, then you can rip out and find new tile

Yes I know and thanks I have already talk to my contractor about doing this. The problem is there is backsplash on the side by the micro wave that has to come out and also by the other side of the countertop they put a strip in. If I would have been here when they did this I would have stopped them when I saw it. I found some matching countertop pieces I can use to replace those. Bottom line is cost. Ill make a decision when I get a quote what its going to cost me to do this. Im in the middle of doing my bathroom and we are waiting for the tile to get here, so my contractor is doing the little things first. I made some visualizations and white doesn't look to good, more of a light gray maybe

Don't use black grout, regardless of the tile you choose. Too harsh a contrast. You want a subtle overall look. Choose grout to match the tile you choose.

I might have to keep the countertop I have for money reasons

Might just end up painting over it for financial reasons either bright white or light gray. But the part on the wall to the right of the microwave has to go

If you pick a white make sure it goes with the white of you cabinets. Why do you have to take the tile off on the right side. Just paint over that too.

I could but I found some marquina midnight to match my countertop and It just depends on what my contractor says it will cost me to take off that part. I cant paint the one on the left side of the countertop. That has to come off. Thanks again for your help

Formica is trending again, so I wonder if it would be cost effective to just cover the quartz with it. Low maintenance for sure and get any look you want.

Other than vinyl tile or vinyl wallpaper, you can also use latex enamel paint in a sheen for a backsplash and change out the color any time the mood strikes.

Thanks for the suggestions but I had formica I replaced that in my opinion total junk with the quartz that is in there now. I would rather clean everyday then ever use it again on anything. Good suggestion on paint that is probably what I will end up doing. Your right I can change the color anytime I feel like it way less expensive

Here you can visualize some kind of paint color and possibly for the walls as well.

OOps I just noticed your beautiful rendering with nice blues and whites but the vivid hue makes the cabs feel a bit dull. Look at something with some yellow in it.

We used Baby Bok Choy from Sherwin Wiliams for our painted backsplash and around the window and its very pretty.

I like the 4" splash for the bar top so that would look nice for the sink wall too.

That splash is going away because the other side is the same trim as the countertop which is marquina midnight so I already found some quartz that matches exactly, so that splash is coming off and replaced with the same that is on the other side. I really hate the color green so that is out. What did you think of the bright white pic I have, although I still think that would wash out with the white cabinets. Remember I know its hard to see in this pic but the cabinets are bright white not that dull white it looks like in the pic. Thanks so much for your help

Maybe you need less yellow light bulbs, like 4000k closer to sunlight for the can lights, 3000k is similar to old incandescence.

For a nice blue look and Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. A popular color and the rich saturation makes the cabs pop.

Okay that color is awesome thanks so much. I have 4 different light switches on my bulbs so Ill check it out. Blue is also one my favorite colors. This might be the way to go. I just have to find the equivalent to that color with either behr or Sherwin Williams. I just think they are better paints. Also those are old pics I have 2 under cabinet lights now that are very bright if I want

I'm so pleased.

I meant the lights that shine on the upper cabs makes them look almost ivory. Your undercab lights are fantastic.

In your photos it is obvious you have two different color temperature bulbs on the left vs. right uppers.

Keep all the lightbulbs the same temperature (cool vs warm). You want cool.

Your contractor would know but chipping off the tiles will mean texturing the walls. They make rollers to DIY texture if you are inclined to YouTube it.

Yes he already talked about sanding the tiles down and prepping them if we paint, which is what Im pretty sure im going to do. But the tile by the left of the counter I think has to go. But im going to use that blue. You dont think that color is to dark with the black counter?

I thought you were removing the backsplash tiles entirely down to sheetrock. I would rip them out rather than painting over them which IMO would look like a half-baked attempt at something.

I love the Navy and I think there is enough contrast with the black or I would not have suggested it.

It comes down to finances and I asked my contractor if he had done it before and he said a lot of times. Plus im in the middle of a bathroom remodel, so the finance situation is a big thing. He basically told me the way these tiles were put on, his words not mine it could end being a big job. Tiles are glass metal and ceramic mix and like he said lets try painting first and if I dont like it or it doesn't look right then we might take them off. Depending on cost. Since we are being honest here this all started with me asking for help replacing the countertop which is a nightmare to keep clean and then people just started going off about how busy and bad looking this back splash is. But I also I have had people tell me its kind of a cool modern look. If you read some of the old posts you will see how un sympathtic and mean a lot of people were. This was just done 2 years ago and after thinking about it im not going to spend the money to try to replace this awesome countertop, ill just stay on top of it. Thanks again for being nice and helpful about this situation.

Realize that by inviting people with different tastes into your home, you will get a lot of feedback unrelated to the original question. Fortunately most is with good intentions because we catch things where the OP is like I did not think of that. Even something as simple as lightbulb temp here for example.

At first glance, I thought the tiles were way over the top, but with your additional photos of the living spaces, they do seem to fit the vibe of the place.

Since you are keeping the counters after all (and they are stunning), I would not rush anything, esp with another remod going on.

I would keep the quirky fun tile rather than paint it. Painted tile looks like....painted tile...and is not a great look. It takes a lot of care to get it so it looks intentional and not like a snafu.

I love the blue light on it!

Once again and I have to say this you are so supportive and understanding without being condescending. I appreciate this and you do realize it goes with the theme of being modern and kind of mono chromatic. But most of these pics are old, I have changed the look and Im going to have white oak floating shelves on the wall on the left side of my counter. Im going to take a pic to show you what I mean and please excuse the mess with all my bathroom stuff laying around. I do think however the wall by the microwave and to the left side of the countertop tile backsplash has to come down and I also think that will help.

Taking down only a portion of the tile is a bigger job than taking it all down. I'm not sure that approach would be an improvement and could make matters problematic.

The look now is very cohesive with tiles covering the entire wall.

Right now the blue light gives a waterfall effect which would be interrupted by a break in the tiled walls.

That wall is the focal point so I would not try to salvage something that does not need to be fixed. I myself was only giving alternatives because I thought you wanted the tile gone.

Are you second guessing your choices because of rude people? Forget them...own it. They will be tearing out their oh-so-trendy white subway in a couple of years.

Yes they kind of started me thinking about it, and even my contractor was like I will do whatever you want but I think its fine the way it is. I dont blame anybody but everybody kept telling how busy and horrible my back splash was so I started thinking they were right. Thanks for helping me realize its fine the way it is, before I got into a big mess financially and not to mention tearing it down would have cost. I like your joke about the white subway tlle. Talk about boring lmao. I was also wondering what blue light you are talking about, thanks again.

I’ve had both dark granite and white quartz countertops. I actually prefer the dark to keep clean. The white shows everything and can stain. The dark looked dull and dirty after cleaning until i found an easy solution, rubbing alcohol. Most cleaners leave a film which can look dull. After cleaning, a quick spray with a 50/50 solution of alcohol and water, dry with a paper towel, it looks like new.

PS, I use this method with windows also.

Just a quick (inexpensive) thought - I agree that leaving the tiles is a good idea. Buy an inexpensive set of black pulls from Amazon and see if making the hardware darker helps to pull the kitchen together. I agree with your contractor that painting the tiles looks cheesy.

And I LOVE, LOVE that countertop. Using the “quick spray” idea sounds like it will reduce your dislike of the maintenance required.

Black pulls and put them where Im kind of misunderstanding you sorry. There are black pulls on everything. It might be hard to see but they are there. Good idea using the alcohol and water Im going to try this

This is something my contractor brought up and it makes sense. If you look at pics below you will see what im takling about. The side of the counter by the stove has the same quartz as the countertop, where as on the other side has the backsplash. he said he didn't understand why they did that. He suggested if anything we take out that backsplash and replace it with the same quartz as the countertop which i found, with the company that originally put it in. He said he thought the same should be done by the backsplash on the wall by the microwave, for consistency sake

put a similar piece of black quartz to match the other side

Look again at your photos.Your undermount lights above the tiles is a cool tone, it gives off a blue glow that you may not notice but the camera picks it up.

Same with the upper cabs. Look closely at your photos. The upper left is yellower than the upper right in the photograph.

The 4" quartz backsplash would be preferable to match other side of the bar top. For the other counter under the micro...moot point. Leave it as is.

I see it now and am probably just going to take out the splash on the other side of the counter and replace it with the black quartz I have already found. Thanks again

So just a quick update as stated above the backsplash is off the aide of the counter and it came off pretty easy and will be replaced with the same black quartz thats on the counter and same thickness as the other side of the counter. Im also thinking of putting up floating shelves where the gold sax is now.

Should I go with black or white oak

I think either one could work, it just depends on the look and feel that you want.

You could tape it out on the wall to see what color and configuration you might like. Shelves that are a bit staggered and/or asymmetrical might be a nice look for you.

You have a great space. I used to be a design contributor here on this forum, I am no longer. But I saw your space and I love what you’re doing with it!

You just contributed: )?

I made a visualization

with 2 different phots one with the gold sax the other without. I like the one with with black along with the gold sax. Remember where the white is it will be the same black quartz as the countertop for the trim, which will match the other side of the countertop.