I love the peel and stick backsplash tiles. Love the pendants and the art. I believe in art in the kitcgen. And color. For a budget change, I liked all three. Yes, even the blue. (My kitchen walls are smoky green. In my old house they were grass green.) Looking forward to hearing comments from pro decorators.

I kind of like the blue but I hate the tile is is all wrong in the space if cash is short buy some Klenk and paint them if they are stiuck on take it off and leets see what is under there . Get a nice 5 head LED track light in 4000K bulbs and add some art if possible and a bit of stuff that is useful to you on the counters like anice knife black a colored toaster ,you know stuff you use. I see 2 different floors what is happeing there ?

When you say you don’t like the “feel/flow“- is the layout or functionality an issue or is it just the aesthetics?

I had the same question as @la_la Girl. Plus, do you feel there is enough light in here, are your storage needs met, and are the stools comfortable? If you spend 90% of your time in here, I hope you have a comfy place to sit for a break!

Hi! It‘s definitely the aesthetics!

Backsplash tile without the tile stickers

I would paint the walls and ceiling white, like the cabinets, entry doors and trim, no contrast.

choose a small pattern white on light so it's just texture rather than vivid pattern.

this peel & Stick small hex is from Wayfair . Even a verticle picket or stacked look.

IF the countertop is brown rather than gray, choose a beige/tan with white or mother of pearl

I'd find a fun fabric roman shade and replace the black pendants with white

and a large colorful art canvas for the blank wall.

There's only one photo of a kitchen in your ideabooks. To give us an idea what you would really, really love, please add a dozen photos of kitchens to your ideabook.

Yes, I too was going to suggest color matching your walls and trim to your cabinet.

Find some beautiful pendents you really and use them as a focal point. I'd like to see chrome, gold, or brass. Black is so flat and it would be nice to see a metal with some reflectivity.

I don't understand your new black hood. What is the part that is flat and looks like a TV?

Do you love the artwork in there now? If so, frame it, and hang it slightly lower.

Add a small plant or two to the open shelves and some colorful ceramic pieces, or wood pieces - whichever you prefer.

I'd paint the backsplash to match the wall color.

@la_la GirlI think plain old 'more squat' is probably the squatty word you are looking for. :)

I saw this before and after on apartment therapy yesterday. Adding brass, great pendents, and highlighting the wood - plus a muted runner, really transformed this plain white kitchen.

If you go with all white, maybe you want to change your open shelves to wood?

I quite liked the blue version, although the blue paint up top was a bit heavy, and preferred that version of peel and stick backsplash. Overall you are doing some things right - the big rugs are great in this kind of situation, and yes to others' suggestions of white paint above the cabinets and a more WOW hanging light than the plain triple black pendant.

My additional 2 cents is that everything that sits out is a decoration, and in the kitchen when everything needs to be functional, it makes a big difference to choose the pretty versions of things. Examples: get a ceramic hand soap container to transfer your dish soap into. An olive oil with a beautiful label instead of some of the screamy ones out there. A footed wide bowl in your accent color for the fruit on the counter. Trays of various sizes to corral items help tremendously with items feeling gathered and intentional instead of strewn across the counters. Really make those functional objects part of the decor instead of treating decoration as a separate layer.

My 2 cents is that the kitchen has some sharp contrast that makes it feel kind of cold. Especially from this angle, where you have warm woods. I'd warm it up and soften the contrast with different light fixtures, and paint the walls a warm white. Am I correct that your counter leans more brown than gray? You also have lots of small things you're using as decor; maybe simplify those a bit.

i like the result you have now. Its a backdrop...the kitchen is a working space not so much a destination or a WOW kitchen. Put more interesting things on the shelves..get different runners/mats...can you place a green plant to the left of sink [sunlite !] ...make sure you have the bulbs with correct lumens and kelvin rating to make you happy. the walls dont really look gray..more a bluish pale gray. I think its fine. If you want more interest get a statement fixture above the table.... thats a better area to work with. You have a nice home.

On my computer, BM Edgecomb Gray seems to be a good colour for your kitchen cabinets (or a warm white). Here's a visual of all my suggestions.

Add more warmth on top of your upper cabs with these EKET boxes from Ikea for $15.

You need a lot more dedicated led task lighting over the sink and counters. Under cab led strips could be one source. COB vs SMD Strip (Tape) LED light (for kitchen under-cabinet light)

If the grey version is the current and final i wouldn't do anything. It looks awesome. Stylish. Just add some real wood and green accessories. Like cutting bord or two leaning to the wall and a rough glass jar with water and put some cilantro or Italian parsley. If you use herbs. Or even better idea - a small pot (white or wood) with growing rosemary.

Five years?! Go back.......

At 19.00 a week in a piggy bank, is 4,940 bucks. That's enough to change the counter tops to ALMOST anything you want.

Stop messing with it. Start a piggy bank?

I too think much of what you did were all great improvements. In the end I think the issue is the cabinets themselves. They have no personality. You've done what can be done the next step is a major money infusion. Start saving.

Simple tile stickers in a light color from the countertop. Paint the bottom cabinets same color as the top (to me they look like 2 colors). And brass lighting would be really pretty. Kendrah, it looks like a tv to me as well! I prefer the old hood.

@Hellogardener @JAN MOYER @miralili@arcy_gw@Kate Thank you to everyone that has responded. This is such a great resource and I truly appreciate everyone’s help.

To answer a few questions, this is not our forever home. We are an active duty, family living in Germany. In my opinion European (especially German) decor is so different than American. Different doesn’t mean bad, it’s just… different. Yes, I’ve struggled with this kitchen for five years, but not consistently, it’s been off and on. We’ve been told twice that we are moving back to the states and then plans changed and our time in Germany was extended. So my priorities shifted over those 5 years from decorating to traveling as much as we can with our time left in Europe.

We recently were guaranteed an additional four years here so that one of my kiddos can finish high school. And that has reignited my desire to focus on the kitchen.

And the range... yes I agree, it’s odd & it looks like a TV. :-(

I’m making the most of all of it and thanks to everyone’s input. I have some great ideas to work with. I truly appreciate everyone taking the time to help & comment on my photos.

Maybe try adding a bit of contrast and texture, like darker handles, a cute rug, or some colorful bits. Even a darker granite sink or fun tap can really lift the space without changing the counter

Thank you for your family’s service! Germany sounds great! And you have access to an IKEA there, right? I had a kitchen with this type of layout and there was simply too much space in the center… it was exhausting! I think this little island from
IKEA would really help the space visually, but more importantly, it would help the kitchen function much better for you. It looks like you have plenty of space in the center for it. I’ve used this island in two different homes and they’re fabulous! It will fix problems you didn’t know you had! :-)