If you want to change the color of the countertops without actually replacing them, take a look at Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations. You can google it, there are many colors to choose from. The blue tiles, you could just prime very well and then paint them. Or if you think you could do it without breaking the white tiles, carefully break out the blue tiles and replace just the blue tiles with another tile you like?

Thanks! I'll google that product for the bench tops :) I have heard of people painting tiles before but I wasn't sure how to do just the one tile? I'm guessing just tape around it... but is there a trick to what type of tape to use?

I would just use painters tape. I have painted tiles before and it it works perfectly!

Thanks for letting me know about rust-oleum! I have just read some reviews and watched a few videos, I'm keen to give it a try! Now I just need to convince my partner... Haha. What colour rust-oleum paint do you think would suit?

We are painting all the walls white and unfortunately we can't change the flooring so it will need to go with that colour scheme...

The blue is very blue, but you can work around it..(. If you are not an owner, I would keep input carefully budget friendly).. I am not sure about the Rustoleum product. It may make a big mess... I see the floor *warm tone, screams at the cool white and blue... I would try to integrate it with a rug..?.

Is that a paintable surface above the backsplash tile? If so, pick out several colors of the colors think you would like and try them out on the wall. Give yourself some space between the different colors. Prime before painting! If you can't or don't want to try samples on your wall, try the samples on white foam board available at larger home improvement stores. If you are looking for a gray color, choose one with warm undertone. The tile floor is very pretty and in the warm family.

I meant to say pick out several SAMPLE SIZES of the PAINT colors you think you would like and try them out on the wall.

Use a giani granite paint kit.

Personally i would paint the countertops black, all the tiles white with black grout and then on the wall with the tiles halfway up i would paint a turquoise or a bold red. This would detract away from the floor as well as giving a bit of a feature. I'd love to see the colour on the roof as well!

If you're careful, removing the decorative tile and replacing it with something else should be easy enough- perhaps a metal tile? Painting the countertop isn't a long term solution, but it could give you a year or two while you focus on other projects. Just be sure to use cutting boards, silicone mats, etc. to protect it from wear and tear. I'd go with espresso, and almond for the walls.

Painting tiles is easy. Our tiles in the kitchen were painted four years ago and they are fine.

You could always chip out the diamond tiles and replace with mirror or aluminium. The worktop could be tiled.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Yes painting the countertop would be temporary while we focus on re-building the deck etc... But it would just give it a nice update to see us through our major projects first. I imagine installing a new bench top would mean a full kitchen overhaul because pulling out the blue top will probably damage the tiles already there, so we would need to re do them too... And we just can't do all that right now. But I might look in to the paint for the bench top and either replacing or painting the feature tiles. I'm really enjoying everyone's suggestions :) thanks so much! I'll post a before and after once it's done!

Better product is called Spreadstone. It's a liquid stone applied like paint dries hard. Comes in a box w/ all tools except masking tape plastic cover for cabinets. Check it out on you tube.

You could make a big difference with a few inexpensive changes - update the backsplash with some peel and stick metal look tiles, change the cupboard hardware for something a little more upscale and paint the laminate countertop with the previously recommended products. It just needs a few tweaks to look terrific!

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Laurielynne's suggestion of peel and stick metal tiles is quick easy and inexpensive. I'd do that first. A copper tile would echo the flooring, so maybe that color.

I generally don't like the idea of paint on a work surface that would be subject to heavy use. Why not just live with the countertop till you are ready to remodel your kitchen?

I wouldn't consider painting over a bench-top as a permanent solution, we would only do it because it's cheap and will transform the look of the kitchen to something we like much better until we are ready. The way I see it, we can't make it any worse than it already is, and if it is a total disaster it doesn't bother us too much because we know in time we'll completely re-do it anyway :)

you can very easily have your counters re-laminated. They just pop them off, strip off the old Formica and put on new. there are so many great new colors and patterns. I just had this done with the 180fx Formica called "petrified wood". they are gorgeous. You just need to find a good fabricator/contractor in your area.

You may want to check our marble slabs, I think White Carrara would look lovely in your kitchen.

http://www.marblesystems.com/products/collection/marble-slabs/

Sorry to get into this discussion late. But there is a mix of the cool and warm colors everywhere. Are you going to paint the walls also? If so and you may want to stay in the cool with the tile. Here in Michigan the is a company that adds a thin granite veneer over existing counter tops. I would replace the bamboo shade with a cool color. My gut instinct is to go warm every where. Paint the lower cabinets a warm grey or greige. I would repaint the top cabinets a warm white. Freshen the wall color. You could add a crown molding to the top of the cabinets. Think about maybe adding glass to the front of 1 of the cabinet doors. The reason I think warm colors because then the floor would not be so glaringly ugly. If you are going to paint the back tile anyway go a warmer white. I know sounds like a lot of work and it probably will be. Good luck have fun and congratulations to your partner on the house.

I replaced decorative tiles in my shower. You need a lot of patience and the right tools not to damage any surrounding tiles. First: use a dremmel with a metal grinder attachment or a grout scraper to remove surrounding grout. The dremmel Iis preferred because it is much faster and less effort. You will create A LOT of dust so prep accordingly.

Second: Then use the dremmel again to make cuts throughout the tile you want to remove. These cuts can be random.

Third: use a small chisel and hammer to get the cut tile pieces off. Be careful not to damage the backerboard or wall behind the tile. Just dont go knocking away, be patient and take it slow.

Once the tile pieces are removed you can clean up the wall and apply new tile. I used this method and didnt damage a single surrounding tile. It was my first time ever working with tile.

Although I am not a fan of the color blue I really do think that the counters should stay as they are. Another writer had a great idea for you to use the peel and stick tile over the ceramic tiles on the wall. You might look into the small mosiac glass tiles with a blend of steel, blue, and white. Its very cheap and would modernize your kitchen instantly as well as blend off of the colors together! Best Wishes!

How sad that people are speaking of painting that wonderful airy kitchen black. If you hate it paint it. I would love it and would only paint something country cottage over the ocean themed focus tiles. No wonder there are so many unhappy folks in the world surrounded by all that black.

Google "painting countertops" for ways to paint the bench-top far more inexpensively than using the Rustoleum product, especially if it's just for a short period. lkdrew is right about re-laminating; Formica has some gorgeous choices these days.

I like the blue c-top, I like the warm tile floor, Can't see the fridge, the corner (pantry?) is wierd and blue tile was done on the cheap, there should be two rows of em. The white toe kick will become visibly damaged. I'd say take the floor tile up to under the base cabinets or install dark rubber wall base. The cabinets are painted anyways, so a color to blend the c-top and floor tile. Then work with the color above the tile and over the top cabinets. Have fun!

Better not try to ,paint over the countertop.. it will peel after a while

Just embrace the blue and add more blue things like a tile mural and then add some more pretty objects in different blue colors. See attachment with a million blues in it.

http://www.Aliciatappdesigns.com

Some things you just shouldn't do 'on the cheap'. Get new bench tops installed. Go for something less 'in your face' than the existing blue. Maybe hardwood ? Maybe a reconstituted granite in a color that works with your decor and taste. The white surroundings give you plenty of scope. But what about removing the security screen at the kitchen window while you're on the job, it's hideous. Anyone wishing to break in will surely just choose to break the unsecured window next to it. : )

The paint is only a temporary solution, in time the kitchen will be done properly. The window looks out to a deck that is about to be ripped down and re-built, when that happens we will put in a servery window in place of the windows there at the moment :) We just can't afford to do the major deck reno and kitchen at the same time, but we can give the kitchen a quick temporary face lift until the deck is finished and have the money saved to do the kitchen properly :)

Just re laminate the countertops just did it on my new house.

Leave the countertop. Medium grey paint on cabinets and soft lighter grey on walls to soften the whites and feel more integrated. If floors still don't blend maybe a blue and grey carpet? If you are worried about cleaning and don't mind the texture look at the RV patio mats. Or cover tile with Spreadstone or similar. Add some yellow accessories - canisters? Then a blue, grey and yellow check valence. Take some of the grey paints and sponge on the blue tiles creating a mottled look of all three colours

Oops - wrong pic