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I really like the tiles!! Could you paint the cabinets white? What is the current countertop made of -- it looks like laminate, in which case I'm not sure what you can do. But I would keep the tiles, they are pretty!

Replacing the counters with Ikea butcher block seems like a cheaper and better-looking alternative to re-sticking laminate.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/rooms/kitchen/10479/
Plus, butcher block would look really nice with the light blue tile. Tiling over the existing backsplash isn't a good idea, if it's even possible. I agree with Susmita, painting the cabinets white would brighten up the place and would look great with the blue tile.

I agree with Susmita. I'd keep the tile and paint the cabinents white. Could you afford to splurge on butcher block counters...?

I like the tiles, too. This shade of blue is pleasant and calming. Personally, I'd just go with it, since fighting it would be difficult.

If it was something like pukey green or neon yellow, then, yeah, I'd do anything to change it. But this blue is low-key and rather neutral.

I'm a blue freak and would totally play up the blue if it were my kitchen... but it's not. So I recommend taking zazzu's suggestion and using the blue as a neutral. We all consider BLUE jeans to be a neutral. Think of this as denim for your kitchen.

No no no no no! I once tried all the things you're suggesting, back when I had the kitchen from hell. Any cheap fix is going to look tacky -- trust me. (Tiling over tiles looks especially junky.) Here's what actually WILL work:

Wallpaper the fronts of the blue cabinets (they're flat, no?). There was a post somewhere on AT about a guy who used museum shop posters to paper over all his ugly cabinets. It was like a walk-in Warhol.

Then get some fabulous cloths to drape over the countertops, and lean some photos/artwork against the blue-tiled backsplash. Better to cover up than DIY.

Learn from my bitter experience.

Perhaps you could cover the counter tops with stainless steel...contact a sheet metal fabrication company, and they can cut and bend it to your measurements. But plain laminate counter top material isn't so expensive, especially if we're talking a small expanse of it....I always see it in the AS-IS room of Ikea.

Painting the laminate cabinets should be easy as pie, just use primer first (zinsser b.i.n. works well on laminate). It will make the paint adhere to the cabinets, and if you take your time and apply it smoothly, it really works and is durable. Just be prepared for the strong odor while applying the primer.

It's not a good idea to stick something on to the counter tops as, whatever you use, it won't be sturdy enough for preparing food. It's not a huge job to replace the counter top (unless there is a whole lot more to this kitchen than you have shown). Ikea can cut to size and isn't too expensive. The cupboard doors can be primed and painted though, if there aren't too many of them, it may not cost much more to just replace the doors. I would replace the counter top and doors first and then decide if you need to do anything about the tiles. I think they will look much nicer when everything else isn't trying to match.

Why not paint the kitchen walls dark blue?
Then the light blue and white elements would become elements of a more cohesive overall design.

Hi AMNY,

You don't mention if you're a renter or buyer, but sounds like you are looking quick/budget fixes.

I agree that the countertops can be replaced with IKEA butcherblock, but you could also hire IKEA or someone else to make you new melamine countertops which are relatively affordable.

I assume the cabinets are blue melamine or blue painted-wood. If that's the case, I would take off the doors and use a high-adhesive primer like Zinsser Bin 1-2-3 (with good ventilation) and finish with 2 top coats with the paint of your choice. You can use a foam paint roller for a smooth finish.

For the tile, I would not recommend putting something over it unless it is rigid sheet like a sheet of stainless steel or colored plexiglass that is screwed into studs in the wall.

-Figs

There is a self-adhesive, thicker-than contact paper called Alkor that you can get from Ebay. I got it from a catalog which specifically said it was wide enought to cover counters. I used it in NYC as a renter to cover the leftovers from the 70's avocado green Formica (with Harvest Gold appliances) counter tops. It lasted 9 years, and I just realized, I never took it off before I left, and the landlady didn't say anything when she gave me the entire deposit back. They come in a lot more colors now and stainless steel looking, too.

I think in another context, the tile will be great and by itself, it's really rather nice. I'd leave it.

Can you just take the blue cabinet doors off entirely for an open shelving look? Maybe jazz up the interiors with some cool wallpaper or fabric on the back? If that doesn't work, there are primers/paints that will work on laminate if that's what those are. Don't try to match the existing cabinetry because it will never look right...use a contrasting color...see below.

The blue countertops do need to go! As the other posters suggest, the IKEA butcherblock is great and is quite inexpensive, plus it would look great with what you've got. If that's not your thing, new laminate countertops can be extremely inexpensive to have made, particularly if you choose something basic.

I think if you can make your dominant color in the orange, red or yellow family, you'll find the blue will really look good. Paint the walls, or if that's not an option, add textiles and accessories in that color.

Here's a link to the article on how to paper over (decoupage) your plain kitchen cabinets:
http://www.jonathanfongstyle.com/decor/warhol_kitchen.html

I like the tile, but you can change the look of it fairly easily by regrouting with coloured grout - how about olive, taupe or chocolate? You'll set up a versatile colour scheme that you can carry though to the rest of your decor. Replacing the laminate counter and small cabinet doors seems the easiest way to de-bluify. Since the doors are so small, why not go with a luxury laminate like zebrawood or mahogany?

I like the blue tile too. If you can neutralize the rest of the blue - it could look really cool.

Think about it... add yellow... or red or a complimentary green.

My neutralization suggestions - if you're renting and not allowed to make permanent changes:
1) Take the doors off the cupboards. Easy breezy - replace them when you move.
2) it looks like the only blue countertop is the island area... get a piece of glass cut the size of the counter and put a pretty fabric or something (maps, photos whatever) under the glass.

Of course make sure the glass edges get rounded. Someone who works with auto glass should be able to do that for you.

This place is gorgeous. Some people would commit murder for that backsplash, certainly I would, but you might want to consider eliminating the sterile white and introduce a warmer cream as the neutral in your home. White just makes blue look really cold and stark. The glass idea seems like your best bet (kudos clickchick), and the easiest. What colours do you like? Which would you have preferred? Also, you can easily tile over existing tile, no problem. It is done all the time.

It looks like the tiles have a little grey in them?? If that's the case, a stainless steel or grey/black countertop would look really good. A wood (or other warm color) counter would not look as good, IMO.

I'd remove the cabinet doors and live with them for a while. You could store larger, attractive items up there. Otherwise, I'd cover them in a stainless-looking contac paper (which I believe is available).

And by limiting your colors, the kitchen will appear larger and uncluttered. White/blue/stainless/grey/black will flow together nicely.

I just read CLICKCHICK's suggestion of glass on the countertop and I love that.

You could print out b&w photos, maps, satellite imagery for under the glass. That would look great, IMO.

Thanks! It's the first good solution I've been able to come up with for someone else.

I'm thinking that way... only the surrounding edge of the countertop would be blue...(unless you let fabric drape down) and it might serve as a good (or at least, not terribly offensive) accent.

The glass would be easy to clean, hard to damage and really super easy to remove when you leave.

Wow, thankyou all so much for the suggestions.. My head is spinning! ( in the good way )

So many great ideas...

Ive decide to keep the tiles! but am replacing the blue counter top ( probably butchers block... ) and doing something with the cabinet doors... ( still not sure what to do... )

AMNY

I like the idea of papering over the cabinet doors, maybe with the creative looking papers or wallpapers.

I don't truly comprehend the fabric on the counter suggestion, unless the counter we saw is the only one, and it's just not used that much. I suspect there's more of it, with a sink in it, and that's impractical. I also have a counter "unit" that doesn't match the rest of my kitchen, so getting a good tip would help me too. Maybe a big tray would work, or some other kind of low flat and rectangular containment, canisters, anything to block out some portions of it with things you need anyway.

Same idea for the tile. Suspend a series of pictures/abstracts or large decorative tiles from above with the tile for a backdrop.

My MAIN TIP for last is to a) introduce another favored color/theme of colors with the paper, canisters (etc./whatever) and pictures, then b) add a scant few blue accessories around the room. I did this to "recede" the fug vision that is my yellow sink/counter into the whole kitchen; it's still an eyesore, but my eyes don't ask my brain to deduce what's the thing in this room that doesn't belong.

I suggest making that blue really pop and become modern and livable--a chocolate brown wall paint.

That said, it certainly isn't for everyone; a carefully and well-done repaint of the cabinets is certainly doable (or you could have them professionally sprayed). Melamine and laminate can be painted over with the proper primer and preparations. So presenting the alternative: white it all out. Your (small?) kitchen will be airy, and your tiles would be perfectly accented with accessories of blue/green/brown shades.

You can also have new cabinet doors made. Take one of the doors to Home Depot or Lowes and ask the salesperson what your options are.

I like your kitchen. It's certainly not boring, tacky, or dated which are the problems most people have. Tile can be refinished to change the color. Check miraclemethod.com for one option.