Life is Like Painting - HELP ME!

An oil painting instructor once said, "The way you approach a painting is the way you approach life.  You, my friend, believe you can't paint and become extremely frustrated, but you almost always turn out a beautiful work of art."  Yes, that does tend to be the way I approach life with one tweak.  I get a vision, believe it can be done, but as soon as I have sullied the perfectly white canvas - that is when I panic and become frustrated. I'm not great with the transition period.   

Right now I am in the middle of a renovation/redecoration project.  So far I am happy with most of it - although there are places that I know are not right.  The kitchen is one of them. 

Exhibit A & B

Please ignore the appliances that I cannot afford to upgrade right now.  I replaced a tiny white tiled floor with travertine and hunter green laminate countertops with these countertops. LOVE THEM.  Not sure they are photographing that well.  I have this chocolate brown on my fireplace wall in the living room. 

Exhibit C

Please ignore the bookshelves and the lack of a rug that will ground the sitting area.  They have not been addressed yet.  I love the chocolate brown.  The rest of the house is a creamy pink/peachy neutral.  It is soft, soothing, and downright dreamy.  However, the kitchen looks like a dark cave with that dark color on the backsplash area.  I like the dark brown above the cabinets and on the refrigerator wall but not below the cabinets.  Here's my dilemma.  I think I need a backsplash to bring in some interest BUT I can't afford it right now.  So, what do I do in the interim? 

Any and all suggestions are appreciated! One caveat - all of these pictures were taken at night - I have tons of windows so I get a lot of light during the day.

Oh yes, check back because I will provide before and afters when the whole project is finished.