apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I painted my kitchen a funky orange - maybe some of those faux tin tiles used for like ceilings would look cool as a backspash.

here is the no so finished version from a while ago

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireille/53191233/

superchou, love the idea of tin tiles. i may have to take that for myself! thanks!

For contrast - Olive Green?
Or to make them blend in - the same color of taupe would work too.

Since the counters don't fit properly around the stove anyway, I'd be inclined to get a quote for some new plain white laminate countertops from the local home store.

Do you own this place? If yes, I have a plan. If not, I have another plan.

It has potential at least!..If you can paint, the funky orange or an earthy green or:pale avacado: BMoore..would look young and fresh..If you can have beadboard sheet cut to fit the backsplash/though you do have to glue it..unless it fits tight..painted white gloss..your cooking utensils in a bright vase or jar in the color of contrast..and a stay put rug to tie it in..(that won't show your love of cooking spills ; )

Thanks for the comments so far! In answer to medusa's question, we don't own the place. We'll be renting, so I'm not sure about the beadboard, though I like the idea. Pale Avocado also sounds really nice, since our living room will have green accents and we tend toward blues and greens. I also like the idea of something bright.

http://www.polishposter.com/html/poster0466.html
you need artwork on that wall...and yes, i would paint it a green"ish": benjamin moore's northampton putty, olive branch or vale mist or beacon hill damask. these are all available in tiny sample jars. paint with samples before making a commitment!
what about painting blobby, uneven circles in an orang"ish" (sweet butter) as a border 40 inches up from floor, if you don't use artwork. circles similar to this:
http://www.lesindiennesshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=15
and find kitchen/tea towels with interesting prints.

i have removed paint from formica(easily) with acetone, so try some on a formica sample from home depot. you could paint the backsplash with blackboard paint, and remove the paint when you move. or, paint birch plywood (cut to fit those spaces) with blackboard paint, and install with double-faced foam tape. black, tan, white plus one or two accent colors...and, if you feel like splurging, sub these "blackish" pulls for the existing chrome:
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/category.do?method=get&id=35

I assume that that isn't your "stuff" on the counters...

My advice: Don't have any sort of clutter on the counters when you move in

I wouldn't go with any sort of taupe, beige, etc. as it will make everything "blah." You need something that will pop.

Velcro thin sheets of stainless steel (you could even use the contact paper?) against the back splash.

Get a roll of carnival mirror. You can cut it to size with scissors, and it reflects light and can easily be stuck to the wall with 3M glue-y squares. If you lay it flat, it's not distorted (it's only when it's convex or concave that you get the funhouse effect). A big roll to cover the whole kitchen costs about $50.

One source:
http://www.carnivalmirror.com/

I have a green kitchen with white cabinets and lighter-toned beige countertops, and I do like it. It's more of a sage green, but I like the pale avocado idea better- I realize my kitchen color is probably on the way out, but it was there when we moved in and it's a really pleasant room to spend time in.

I painted my backsplash with black chalkboard paint and LOVE it...I could see great potential with a black backsplash in your place too

I'm with superchou. I painted my kitchen a bright orange and I love it. The cabinets would really stand out against a bright orange color.

i second the contact paper idea. my house has heinous country blue tiles that were poorly installed and i cant afford to replace them yet. i covered them up with cork shelf liner (the kind with an adhesive back) and it has held up well for over 2 years. countertops are a little harder. i just went the cheap and temporary route of buying some big beautiful cutting boards- bamboo and marble and leaving them out all the time. you could also put you coffee maker etc on big trays

Although my suggestions are not related specifically to your original question-I hope they're not too far off topic.
I'd check to see if the front panel on the dishwasher is reversible, and if it is, and it's white-I'd flip it so it matches the stove just a bit more. I'd also paint the beige portions of the range hood black or white. Lastly, you might think about colored drawer & cabinet pulls. You could change them back when you move.
BTW-I was wondering about the walls behind the counters. Will you be painting that area or is that the backsplash? Does it go from counter to cabinets?
PLEASE post After pix.
Good Luck

I had no idea dishwasher panels could be reversible! I'll have to check. Re: the old range hood, sort of--there's a matching oven in the wall of the other side of the kitchen, a la the Brady Bunch. Supposedly it works to heat, but not to bake... I spared everyone a picture of it. And the wall behind the counter is the backsplash, yes. It goes straight from countertop to that to cabinet.

I think we might try the plywood/blackboard paint with velcro or foam tape for an easy/temporary cover for the backsplash. Has anyone else done this? If it's thin and light enough, I'm picturing one long piece. Seems like the plywood would be pretty cheap.

If anyone has pictures of a chalkboard paint backsplash, either painted or covered, I'd love to see them!

Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming if you've got em.

You know, I gotta say, I get so irritated when people obviously didn't read the post...she said she was a renter...but one of the first suggestions was to get a quote for new countertops ? It's like when I asked for advice for my kitchen...I said in my post that there was no room for a table and chairs...the first suggestion I got was to "add a table and some chairs". The second response I got was to "add an island." If I can't fit a few chairs, how the heck am I to fit an island?? I just wish people would pay attention...