apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

how about a patterned tile?:
http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/rooms/kitchenbath/kitchen/surprisekitchen?slide=7
http://www.dominomag.com/magazine/2007/09/5kitchen_trends
or a mosaic?
http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/rooms/kitchenbath/kitchen/surprisekitchen?slide=10
or wallpaper?
http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/rooms/kitchenbath/kitchen/surprisekitchen?slide=1

Ok, so I had to comment on this because we just (1 week ago) completed our kitchen work and we also used the Nexus Yellow-Brown cabinets. We chose Caesarstone in Eggshell for the countertops, Ann Sacks glass tile for the backsplash, and an Ann Sacks ceramic tile for the floor tile. You can see photos here:

http://katiekdesign.blogspot.com/2008/04/our-new-kitchen.html

I think Home Depot now has a very pretty glass tile that you could use for the backsplash. The walls and floors were the hardest decisions for me too, but now I am extremely pleased with the outcome!

Good luck!

you can't go WRONG with white tile... my question would be how long are you planning on staying?

I would use color if it was me and I was staying. I think natural linolieum in a fun color would be great. Also, depnding how how much space you need to cover i really likes some of the raised patterns of tile i've seen on AT. You could always run a strip of fun tile along a background of more netural.
Floor is harder, i don't see much out there that i like in floor tiles. Is it wooden subfloor or concrete? If it was concrete you could treat or paint it.

It depends on your resale plans, netural is easier to sell. I would at LEAST pick some color for the wall, even if its just a strip.

Also, thank you for skipping dark finishes in a kitchen that small. Any future owners will thank you!

I'm back, here is a thought for keeping that backsplash white, but fun:
http://www.annsacks.com/onlinecatalog/program.jsp?cat=268004&coll=268204&prg=269004

Cork flooring would work well with what you've chosen. In a kitchen, you're almost always standing, and cork's "give" is easier on the feet (and on glasses or dishes that accidentally get dropped).

Linoleum (the real stuff, not vinyl) would go with your mid-century home. marmoleum.com has some really great colors, and it should be much less expensive than tile or hardwood.

I would also get a colorful backsplash, to make a bit of a statement in a small kitchen.

I'd nix the idea of a "color stripe" on the walls, as it can limit your future choices. As well as being a "if only that stripe of red wasn't there" problem for a new buyer.

There have been a couple recent posts on "Wood and White" combinations and I think they all look great.

Try out different flooring options with Armstrong's Design A Room:
http://www.armstrong.com/resflram/na/home/en/us/dar.asp

You can change the cabinets, ceiling, walls, countertops, and floor.

You can't go wrong with the white and wood. And changing the look of the small kitchen is as easy then as a small area rug, and a couple of decorative objects on the counter.

A small bouquet of anything will stand out as being a main color. Right there in the back left corner of your new kitchen. Next to the range.

Or a larger image on the back wall to greet you when you walk into your room. Set the mood with an image, and have some fun with it too.

Grey subway tile

We plan on using the same cabinets and countertop in our kitchen in our Eichler. We've already installed the same in our master bathroom:

http://redneckmodern.typepad.com/redneckmodern/2008/03/bed-bath-and-be.html

We've got black VCT throughout our house:

http://www.armstrong.com/commflooringna/product_details_toolbox_magnify.jsp?item_id=47164&category=vct

and it seems to work well with the new bathroom cabinets and countertop.....I can't wait for the kitchen to get done!

Good luck!

I like the idea of white tile. I think it would keep the look very simple with the warm wood.

Bright white Corian? You might want some warm colour and natural materials to offset a 'clinical' feel. I think Katie's kitchen (first comment) looks amazing with the glass tile and slate floor, but you may want to go with a stronger coloured tile to take the chill off.

...Or you could go the another way with stainless steel tile (i like this mosaic http://www.tilemarket.com/products/23) and black ceramic tile floor.

I designed my kitchen and it is the only room in my house that feels right. I suggest you pick three color elements. In my kitchen I choose stainless steal, oak cabinets and flooring, and black. White is a nuetral. So, you have your wood cabinets and a white counter top. So, use the floor, walls, and backsplash to introduce the third color/element. What color are your appliances? Are they all white? Are they stainless with black detailing?Just something to think about.