Originally Posted by
Lisa Starr
John, Most people would probably consider wallpaper a "dated" look, but the right paper might still look nice. What about your backsplash area? . That takes tons of abuse. Ceramic tile is durable, but tends to make a busier look. If the walls are smooth enough, you can consider laminate for your backsplash? Some paints are durable enough for that area as well, but make sure they are labeled as scrub-able. Depending on your tastes, natural light in the room and colors throughout the house, you can do a bit of color on the walls. Most people will tell you to chose your cabinets, then countertops, then backsplash, then flooring and then finally paint. This is basically because paint is available in infinitely more colors and thus easier to find one that looks good with your other choices. Consider reading "Kitchen Discussions" in the Gardenweb portion of Houzz. There are literally 1000s of posts and photos showing how people did their kitchens and the outcomes. Don't let the over-the-top kitchens that cost more than my home scare you. There is lots of really good info there.