Hate my new kitchen - help me salvage it!

[Truckingalong]

Gloss grey doors (film still on so it looks dull), bleached wood counter. It looked fantastic in my minds eye but looks dated and boring in reality. Still to be done - replace mangy old fridge, remove wooden trim the builders stuck on (loathe them - trim, not builders!) and paint the cream bits that are showing from the original carcass.

I wasn't going to have tiles but I think it needs something to lift it a bit. Any suggestions, before I make it all worse?! Thoughts on any of theses tiles?

I would definitely emulsion/use Dawnmumsnet style wallpaper & then think about replacing paint with tile or glass once you've found colours you love.. Wallpapers don't last long in many family kitchens but might be perfect for a holiday home?

I would go for brightly coloured glass splash backs and brushed or stainless steel appliances with those grey cabinet add ceiling spotlights (use diffused LED bulbs) and down lighting under cabinets and it will look great.

The one that Dawnmumset put up is lovely. Dont put wallpaper in a small kitchen due to the steam.

Wwww.tonsoftiles.co.uk/ted-baker-geotile-wall-tiles.html
Not sure if I have linked correctly, but would a more monochrome look work?

www.tonsoftiles.co.uk/ted-baker-geotile-wall-tiles.html

I think bit will look totally different when it's all finished. I love the shiny metro tiles as they jazz it up whilst still being 'classic'.

Sage green might work. Perhaps with other accents of the same green around the kitchen.

What kind of handles would you go for? I think cream round non-plasticky ones might look nice.

Truckingalong, here are your tiles, tracked them down by chasing the image across blogs and articles;
www.casbahdecor.com/Moroccan-tile_p_163.html

Good luck x

Or something like this

I wouldn't go for any of the tiles you've shown. You need something really striking - I'd go for lime green tiles or similar as it needs a real lift. I think you also need to look at the lighting. Do you have under cabinet lighting? Good ceiling lighting also transformative.

Don't go for lime green. It's dated already. Go for something more classic and get a Matt silver fridge if possible.

This thread is funny.

Everyone is giving contradictory advice!

FWIW I love the mismatched tiles look but honestly it will date really quickly IMO. Even more than metro tiles supposedly are.

Moroccan tiles link here:
m.ebay.co.uk/itm/ENCAUSTIC-HAND-MADE-MOROCCAN-CEMENT-TILES-ZALLIJ-FOR-FLOOR-WALL-FROM-MARRAKECH-/271180983794?nav=SEARCH

Search encaustic or cement tiles on eBay and there's a huge choice.

I'd order some, put them in as a mock-up (ie don't actually attach, just balance) and see what you think. Or tile and then see if the doors are ok before you order new doors. I reckon you can get away with the grey, it's a more interesting choice than stark white IMO.

Aaarrrggghhhh, so confused!!! So much great advice but it just shows how we're all different. I'm going to read it all properly later when I'm back home but thank you so much to whoever found those tiles for me! They're the front runner right now.
Can't have ceiling lights and I'm not sure about the glass/acrylic panels anymore - haven't they had their time.

I think tile samples are the way forward.

I'm glad it's not just me either who thinks the sink is all kinds of wrong.

Oh and I did slap a bit of white paint on and it looks even worse I think?

I actually rather like what you've put in. I really wouldn't rip anything out yet. I'd pair it with some interesting geometric shaped tiles in a neutral colour, white probably in such a small space. Geometric is the new trendy thing, metro tiles have had their day. I've just used these with grey grout in a small bathroom and they look fantastic.

www.tiles-direct.com/wall-tiles-c26/3d-gloss-white-30-5cm-x-26-5cm-mosaic-p1390

Op I think I would stain the worktop darker and go Moroccan or similar with the tiles. It's a tiny kitchen so even if they look dated in 8 years time it wouldn't be a big deal to replace them. Here's my patterned splashback behind my cooker, my units are a greeny grey colour (I also hate glass splashbacks). I think you need to add interest. It may be a small room but I don't think it will look any larger if you stick to plain tiles!

It def needs bright and bold tiles to bring it all together, anything dull will still create the washed out look.

Dawnsmum - that picture is on my pinterest board and is exactly what I was going to do originally!!

Donthate - I like those tiles too and looked at them yesterday.

What about something like these - the kitchen picture Small space means you can be bold. I also like the white tiles as well though.

Bright orange splash back.

Hate mosaic tiles! How about brickwork? Would that look dreadful?

I really like your kitchen kitsmummy

I'm trying to convince DP that either Moroccan or geometric printed tiles are what he really wants in our kitchen.

I think I'd go for bright wallpaper with a clear glass splashback over the top. I'd probably also darken the wood slightly - has it been oiled yet? It's a little difficult to tell but it looks like it's a grey wood - bleache/stained? Most oils will darken the wood a little anyway, though you can get tinted ones. I think it needs more contrast. Tonally, the doors and worktop are too similar but texturally/atmospherically they're opposites; you've got urban slick grey meets coastal drizzle grey.

Again, difficult to tell without being there, but maybe repaint just a couple of the doors, eg the one over the sink and the one over the hob, to break it up a bit? Not sure whether that would make it feel more cluttered though - perhaps best to try with paper and masking tape first!!

What's happening with the floor?

I would replace the sink with a white ceramic one if that's possible?