Back and forth on back splash?

Rebecca K
by Rebecca K
This is my kitchen the walls are a sage green, frosted pine to be exact. We just put in wood floors in Oct and still have to replace lights. Our cabinets are 3 years old, looking back I wish I would have gone with white but I dont want to paint these. I am very back and forth on doing a back splash. I want our home to look more updated and modern but tend to lean towards country decor ( lots of rooster, pottery, plaid etc in my house, try to change it and go right back to it) So my dilema is- do i add a white beadboard backsplash, a tile of some sort or leave it alone. My husband is with - leave it alone :) Any suggestions on what I can do to update this space that wont cost alot-backsplash etc...Thanks
View from living room, we just put in wood floors 2 months ago :) love them, and we now have up white sheers.
Don't mind the curtain rod, need a new one. And look- my new wood floors :)
  38 answers
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 21, 2012
    Antoher view of kitchen- garbage can no longer there
  • Becky P Becky P on Dec 21, 2012
    I can just tell you my experience. I, too, am of the country persuasion, leaning towards primitive recently. I did the 1 inch glass tile backsplash about 2 years ago and I am not especially fond of it. The main reason is because it is too modern for the rest of my kitchen, and I am not willing to change the decor. I like change too much, (painting for example) and a backsplash is too expensive to change often. (And a big job, I have heard, too). If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely have went with white subway tile, which is country. This Old House magazine just recently had someone do a beadboard backsplash and I really liked that, but not sure how it would hold up to grease/water.
  • Z Z on Dec 21, 2012
    What a cute country kitchen @Rebecca. Personally I think you did the right thing not getting white cabinets. But then I'm a wood nut. As for your back splash have you thought of using the Anaglypta wallpaper in beadboard? It's awesome. Either that or they have some that looks like tin tiles. Either would fit with your country theme.
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 21, 2012
    Love the names ladies :) Thanks for your ideas, I too like to change things way too much, I am painting every summer and swore to myself I was done. I will have to look at the wallpaper- that may work, i too had thought of white tiles. I wonder if it is something I would want to change later too... but it is neutral so that could work. I cant wait to start pricing stuff.
  • Z Z on Dec 21, 2012
    The Anaglypta is very reasonably priced at $$15.50, $20. and $35 a roll, according to L's website, depending on the brand. It's varied in content, but I believe all has some vinyl. It's paintable and the two higher priced brands are also scrubable with a moderate hand. The least expensive say's is "washable". I like @'s idea of subway tile, but if you have to hire the work out it can get costly. Makes me wonder if there's an anaglypta paper that resembles subway tile? I did a quick search and couldn't find any, but you never know.
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 21, 2012
    Thank you so much becky for looking this up for me!!!
  • Becky P Becky P on Dec 21, 2012
    btw, I have that exact same oak table set. lol
  • Z Z on Dec 21, 2012
    You're welcome @Rebecca. I forgot to comment on our names too. Rather funny, huh? There's allot of Becky's on Hometalk. Do you go by Becky? That's my real name, but my cousin's used to call me Beck for short. @ I used to have that same table too, but sold it via CL.
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 21, 2012
    I use to go by becky for the longest time, my family and friends still call me that and my husband and his family. At work its rebecca and most of my friends call me that or becca :)
  • Lisa Lisa on Dec 22, 2012
    Rebecca I have remodeled 2 homes in the kitchen area and i can tell paint paint paint. Its the cheapest way to go easily changeable and there are several technical you can do to make it look like s wallpaper/faux finish to pull all your colors together. First though i would paint those bar stools white or crackled tanish (pull out the counter top colored). Black is defiantly not country. I did the country thing too (had a farm) but im living at the beach now and loving it. Good luck and have fun...
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 22, 2012
    Rebecca, your best bet is to just stop for a while. Let a few months pass before you make any decision. Tile is an expensive and exhausting job! Particularly on a wall where it tends to want to slide. White is great but if it is a job to keep wiped down...not like a quick wipe down with Murphy's soap. Modern looks great in a photo but too many of our homes are not modern and it would look out of place. If you are comfortable with country then that is what you stick with!
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 22, 2012
    Thanks ladies, my husband agrees with me stopping for a while, :) I spend a lot of time looking around and wanting to change things, which is why i get sick of things so fast. thanks so much for the suggestions.
  • Lulu Dubin Lulu Dubin on Dec 23, 2012
    Rebecca, the thing that stands out the most for me is the curtains. I think if you went with curtains with less of a pattern and a brighter color, it could make a big difference. It's probably the cheapest and easiest change you can make.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 23, 2012
    I agree with Lulu...change the curtains. I have darker wood with white counter tops so I used a simple white vallance over both short windows. Vallance over sink, vallance with straight long panels at larger window...could be done inexpensive. Could even use sheer type, but whatever you do, keep them plain...no ruffles, no trim, no tiebacks! This would make it look more uptodate without being modern and would cut the caramel look of cabinets/floor/curtains! But you are getting there. You have a great space...love the layout! It looks very comfy for cooking and living and that is what it is all about!
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 23, 2012
    I have white sheers up now, just not in these pics let me see if i can find them and post them. I was thinking of painting the tan color a white as well to change it up some. Thanks :)
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Dec 23, 2012
    Hi Rebecca..I hope you can find the pics of the CURTAINS..I would love to see what a difference they make. And to be different , I personally like the black on the stools, my eye is drawn immediately there, it is the pop in the kitchen imho. I would add another element of black also, somewhere to balance a little, maybe a vase, black tin for cooking utensils etc. And like @SheilaG, Plum Doodles I would paint the table and or chairs! ha! However just know that she names her furniture!!!! @SheilaG, Plum Doodles Sheila what would you do? Rebecca I am like you, change change change...I am a restless soul I guess!
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Dec 23, 2012
    Oh, are you talking about the " tan" wall? hmmm I am with you, but I dont know what color ...stumps me, but hurry with the curtain picture.
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 24, 2012
    Those are cute, Love all the suggestions Shelia!!! I have never thought to look for black wooden bar stools before, that would be something fun and different. I wouldn't be able to paint the table, had it made by the amish and no way my husband would go for it, he is against painting wood / :) I had one at one time where the top was black and the rest was oak that was before I knew it would be in style. I do have a quilt rack- in another pic of living room that is black and oak and a long bench that is the same. However I dont know if they would go.... I will check out those curtains in my detail when I get home from work tonight. Thanks again, I love all the suggestions I am getting!!!
  • Becky P Becky P on Dec 24, 2012
    I love the catalog Country Curtains. My sister buys from them all the time. And there is no way I would ever consider painting my oak table & chairs either. I fulfilled my black chair fantasy by buying the counter height table & chairs for my family room that had the black & stained look.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Dec 25, 2012
    Sorry in advance if my suggestions are duplicate - didnt read thru all previous comments. Im not a fan of having a fabric valance that stands taller than a wood valance .. makes the wood valance look odd.. floating. Id vote one.. or the other. Two valances compete and together are too much. IMO Backsplash? Considering your palette.. I would vote something that would be closer to the counter top color - travertine like. Plenty of porcelain tiles to choose from! Subway 3x6 would be simple.. straight forward and easy to DIY. Being that you have a 4" laminate splash -- I would not use any deco inserts, its not tall enough and will be a negative on the height.
  • Kyla Wootton Kyla Wootton on Dec 25, 2012
    Have you seen the replica tin ceiling panels? That would make an interesting backplash.
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 26, 2012
    BeckySue- I am confused, now this doesnt take much :) Are you saying to take down the sheer panels?
  • Becky from Practips Becky from Practips on Dec 26, 2012
    May I add another Becky to the conversation (lol!)? Looking at the previous comments, and due to the limited backsplash you have (window, appliance garage, etc.), it may not be necessary to add tile. In reference to your tan wall, do you have more of the green paint to make the entire room the same? It may be boring to some people to have all for walls the same, but it would bring a cohesive look to the space. Love the wood tones! :)
  • Becky P Becky P on Dec 27, 2012
    those new wood floors make a great difference! Nice!
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Dec 27, 2012
    I love them : )
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Dec 31, 2012
    Hi, what a difference the sheers made! I love the floors too, they show up more now.Keep us posted on whatever more you do!
  • Lulu Dubin Lulu Dubin on Jan 01, 2013
    I think it looks so much better with the white curtains. I agree with @Designs by BSB at least if I understood her correctly. I would take out the wood panel above the window between the two sets of cabinets. If that what you meant @Designs by BSB
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 01, 2013
    Love, love the floors and the sheers are great! It is looking soooo good. Do not rush in with the backsplash just so you can get finished because that is too expensive to redo and is a LOT of work! It can't be changed as easily and cheaply as can a pair of curtains! But you are getting there! Looks great! It has a real modern but cozy vibe!!! Great Job!
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Jan 01, 2013
    @Rebecca K And...I just noticed the framed pics under the cabinet, I like that touch, they look dark like the stools, so you did pull the black out more. Looks very nice. I am curious about the sheer over the sink, does it get sprayed, spotted, etc from dish washing? (I am so un" as far as covering a window , just as much as guys are about "painting wood" )but I dont know what your view is or how much you need the light.I think I would have put just a sheer valance..but this sure looks so much lighter and updated than the yellow ones. Oh, I like the idea of the tin backsplash, but I dont know if it would work! Nice going!
  • Rebecca K Rebecca K on Jan 01, 2013
    Bernice H- I have to be very careful with the curtains when doing dishes, I have had a few times when things splashed up on them and luckily I caught it in time to wipe it off. We live right off a main street so after years of no curains went with the plaid and now these. Didnt realize how much ppl could really see in my house until I looked in one evening- huge eye opener. I am thinking of eventually getting blinds and then I wouldnt have to have a curtain at all. Thanks for the comment on the pics- those are my roosters- had them packed away and forgot all about them :)
  • Becky P Becky P on Jan 01, 2013
    @Rebecca K my family thinks I am nuts because I will go out by the street to see how much you can see in the house when it is dark. Then I know which way to adjust the blinds! lol Never realized until this house that you have to turn the blinds the opposite way or you can see right in with them closed. (Upstairs windows)
  • Z Z on Jan 01, 2013
    @, you don't have to go outside to check that. Just look through them from the inside during the day and you'll be able to tell which way to turn them. If you can see where people generally walk or drive by then they can see in at night.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 02, 2013
    Sorry just getting back here.. since you have a wood valance with the wood galley rail at the top, I would remove the sheers. Wood valance + fabric valance that heavy/long are competing. Do you need privacy? I would suggest a horizontal blind. The sheers close to that sink look un-natural to me... Now if you decide to take down the valance and galley rail for an updated look .... a fabric valance would look great :)
  • Judi Judi on Aug 29, 2014
    Rebecca, we need an update on your progress!!! Love the sheers as it makes the kitchen look larger and more open. Would like to see wood stools if you stay with the solid window coverings...no pun intended, also without the backs if that works for your family. Also to your original question...if you have done a backsplash I do hope it is something very washable. Love the plain green paint as a contrast with the wood cabinets. Finally, l would enjoy the plaid curtains especially with fall coming or cold winter nights.
  • Amy Ogden-Paparone Amy Ogden-Paparone on Aug 29, 2014
    Horizontal blinds are horrible in my opinion, so I'd raise the curtain rod over the window to be even with the cabinet rail and hang grommet-ed sheer white curtains all the way to the floor. And go for the back splash!! Maybe a subway tiled one :) It would brighten up the entire Kitchen area and look beautiful. Not that your room isn't already pretty. Whatever you do, just do it because it makes you happy! That's all decorating is really about!
  • Carol Carol on Sep 09, 2014
    Do the white beadboard backsplash, it does not cost a lot and is beautiful. I would also get shorter sheers for over the sink.
  • Moxie Moxie on Mar 19, 2015
    I would a white subway tile that fits both modern and farm styles...u could paint a faux tile backsplash. ..less permanent
  • Sue Harrison Sue Harrison on Aug 01, 2016
    Love your kitchen! I would open the sink window, no curtains at all ,take the wood down above it. Then I would like a glass shelf across window with some succulents or small plants OR hang stained glass in the window.