The photo's a bit dark, so I can't quite tell your colors. Looks like you have all solid colors in the room: sort of a brick-colored upholstry, dark wood framing and cream walls, with plants outside the window. I think you need so 'pattern' to relieve the solids...at a minimum a tone-on-tone so that there is some texture or pattern involved. get close approximations of your existing colors (swatches, paint chips) and head off to the fabric store looking for something that doesn't feel overpowering, buy a yard and bring it home for trial and error -- you may end up with great pillow fabirc, or a new drape.

It just seems like an odd suggestion to me. Grout isn't expensive in and of itself. The labour to remove the grout is the most expensive part I would think.

We like to recommend that the grout colour matches the tile as far as possible. This helps to create a seamless effect.

actually, to brighten up this dark and small feeling space, i'd look for a creamy base colored stone like khasmir gold or ivory gold, being sure to add an overhang on the island (if you like movement in the stone check out juprana granite) then exchange the pot rack over the island with either a pair of great pendants or a statement chandelier. from my own kitchen remodel experience i'll share you with you this: you'll get a much better price from a granite company then you will from a large home store ;) and be sure to take a cabinet door with you to shop. you can continue the granite onto the wall as a backsplash...they can cut the stone and make it go higher up the wall than the standard 3 inches which can be a great look. but if you really want tile, go for something simple that won't compete with the granite....like a cream colored subway tile. you can apply thim in a running brick pattern or a more modern stacked geometric pattern or even a herringbone. to control staining from food prep, don't use a white grout, use a slightly darker grout color that is inspired from the stone countertop. just remember that using a pattern on the countertop and another pattern on the backsplash can easily become overwhelming and then neither element stands out as the focal point. if you are spending a lot on a granite countertop, do everything you can to make it stand out as the best feature.