Sandy...thanks for your thoughts. You're the second poster to state that you don't think the beadboard, esp painted a white, would go with the cabinets. Regarding the white tile backsplash I had, that is gone, now, and new dryall installed, ready for a new backsplash. I didn't want to do tile again, since I don't care for tile with granite (too busy). That's why I thought of the beadboard. My plan was to paint the cabinets, so the beadboard would go with it. I was thinking, now, if I don't pain the cabinets, the beadboard would still go, since they would be painted the same color as the rest of the walls in the combo den-kitchen (some sort of soft white). I hate cream in a kitchen, so will not do that. Kitchens should have crisp, clean colors, IMO. But my former, all-white kitchen was a bit glaring and didn't blend with the den too well (mahogany & cherry furniture & colors, dark camel, black tv, red accents, soft white walls). As for keeping the cabinets dark, I do have wood floors that will be refinished, and so will compete with the wood cabinets. Cabinets painted a soft white would solve that problem. I thought beadboard would be plain enough not to be too busy with the granite, since it's only vertical lines, and would tie in with the shutters. I'm hesitant to remove the shutters because that is a window theme throughout the house and are in the den part of the combo den-kitchen. I'm now looking at maybe tin with a pattern, so that the backsplash is silver, but that's probably too busy. I could just leave the plain drywall, add some wood molding (painted), and leave it at that. I'm mulling it over. It's good to know that others don't think the white appliances and sink look awful. That really was the most shocking thing to me. I was horrified by how they looked with the granite. In pics in Houzz, White Spring granite is repeatedly shown in white kitchens (white walls and cabinets & doors). I do think maybe I'm in shock since it doesn't look how I imagined and is so different from what I had. The stove is that new ice white and not the softer white of old, so that's part of the problem, I think. I considered stainless too modern a look for my old house, which is why I didn't get that before, but now I see that stainless would go with the new countertop and avoid any "color" issue. Thanks.

Seems like all of you agree with me that it could be a lot better. I had thought it should be wider if not all the way across. Les, I'd never thought of iron corbels, kinda interesting and unique for sure. I just know when I saw the timber ones at the home show I loved them. But I was wondering too if they were TOO rustic. Caroleoh, I know what you're saying about my trim and cabinets. The cabinets are distressed but not heavily. My heart says rustic but I've decorated more traditional with some antiques and distressed pieces mixed in. kswl, I purposely told the builder I didn't want my mantel painted because I thought the wood look would be a little more rustic and in keeping with the bricks. It just didn't turn out like I pictured in my mind and I can't say exactly why, so frustrating! gray, I do live in TN but I'm over 400 mi from Dollywood so I can't make a day trip to check them out. Sounds kinda wild, I've never seen a mantel carved with 3D animals. Maybe they have a website. Thanks for the input. Would love to hear from others too about their thoughts on the timber mantel or other suggestions. Thanks!

On a positivie note, the fabricator did learn from my experience and said they would show the customer the layout (either by photo or in person) before cutting in the future. Lucky them! Thanks again everyone for your input. Nice to have this board for third party opinions. Friends aren't always honest. I will try come on here more often now to reciprocate. Lucky us, now we are having another issue that will make me forget about the granite issue, with our busy crown molding, it isn't working due to different ceiling heights throughout kitchen, like 3/4 to 1.5" in some areas! The worst area due to a lower board sistering joist holding toilet pipe between floors (opened the ceiling). Never noticed before because cabinets didn't go all the way up... And now will have to try a simpler crown molding that won't look like accordion in some areas due to height differences, or no crown molding on the high cabinets, ooh.... So looks like we won't be getting kitchen back for a while longer, as we have to raise the sheet rock about 3/4" (that's all we got) in that one area. Now I know more questions to ask if I do another reno job before hiring a contractor. Like, will they measure the room from floor to ceiling for oddities to plan for surprises? Shouldn't that be a norm?

im not sure.. you need much of anything more there ... there is some beauty in simplicity .... and.. where the brown plant is.. isnt that how you walk behind for the hose and water???? anyway ... do you pile snow there in winter??? ... that might be an important variable ... ken ps: another variable.. is the large stones as mulch ..... which probably hold heat.. deep into the night.. which is when many things get a cool recovery period .... not to mention all the brick walkway .. and what might be the chimney brick ... im just listing variables you have to deal with.. beyond just hours of sun ...