RJR- I love your glass mosaics with the white subway tile. May I ask what color/brand they are? They look like they might work as an accent for me. Kitchen additct:I googled to find your kitchen, and I do remember seeing it before-probably when I had googled for pics of crema marfil backsplashes! I do love the look of the crema marfil and had ordered a sample. However, my sample doesn't look like a "perfect" fit for my granite, but it is very close to what I think would look good.I had considered ordering another sample of a different kind. Yours really goes with yours. Is yours the turkish or Spanish crema marfil? I understand that there are different types and grades, and I wonder if that can affect the shading. thanks Boxer pups for the photos. The first one looks similiar to my cabinet color and granite color. I remember seeing this photo before. In looking at it- I don't think the backsplash does anything special for the kitchen-sort of plain vanilla. I think I'd like something to jazz it up, personally-maybe- like a row of glass mosaics?

Everyone is mentioning epoxy grout or unsanded grout. What is the difference? Which is the best? Unsanded grout is the more conventional of the two. It's basically portland cement, pigment, and dry polymers to give it strength.it's the normal grout used in grout joints under 1/8" in size. Epoxy grout is just as the name implies. It's epoxy based, and is tough as nails. Epoxies make several claims. They claim to be more color fast than normal grout. They claim to be alot more stain resistant than normal grout. They claim to be much stronger than normal grout. In all three cases, the claims are valid. However, in residential installations, with the exception of maybe countertops, it's my feeling that epoxy grouts are bigtime overkill. Common sense in picking grout colors will go just as far. In addition, epoxy grouts are about 4 times as expensive as conventional grouts, and if you're having a pro do the installation, there's usually an upcharge for grouting with epoxy. Personally, depending on which epoxy, I'll charge 1.50 to 2.00 a foot more just for grouting with epoxy, because it's that much more difficult to use. One other thing to think about-- if you decide to go back to the white grout, you definitely don't want to use the epoxy. Because of the color of the epoxy resin, white epoxy grouts tend to take on a yellowish hue. Also, you talk about using hex tile-- the choice is then epoxy or SANDED grout. Otherwise you'll end up with a grouting nightmare, due to pin holes and shrinkage. Trust me on this.

Oh wow, thank you all SO much for your replies! You are wonderful and have given us lots to consider! remodelfla - You know, we never thought of laminate! Thanks for the suggestion! I took a peek online and there are some pretty cool soapstone looks, but I'm concerned about the seams and the "green" factor (we're trying to make our home as low VOC as possible without going broke). Hmmm... johnliu - My DH likes your vote! That is pretty much exactly what he wants to do - Give it a shot, and scrap it and go with wood if it doesn't turn out right. I had no idea that Ikea was having issues with their wood countertops - we need to look into that (eek). And I completely understand what you mean about granite not fitting a cottage look. Thanks for your reply! dianalo - Thanks for your butcher block vote! sparklekitty - (Cute name!) Thanks for your suggestions! Yeah, the more I look at the photos, the more I agree that the dark counters give the nicest contrast. I'm thinking that we should go this route one way or another. ellendi - I would love a matte finish dark granite like Jet Mist. A terrific suggestion, thank you! For a while I had my heart set on Nordic Black granite in an antique finish (which I learned about through this forum). I absolutely love the look and low maintenance, but unfortunately, it seems to be pretty pricey. :( Is there any chance that the Jet Mist would be $30ish a sq ft? I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'll look into it. cleo_2007 - Wow! What a creative idea and gorgeous kitchen (with exactly the look we love)! Thank you!! Staining the wood dark...inexpensive, cottagy and contrast. Verrrry interesting. We will definitely need to explore this idea further! One of my goals for the house is to keep it as low VOC and non toxic as possible. I'll do some research on the India Ink. Waterlox, while awesome, I think is pretty high in VOCs. (My nose has been off the charts sensitive ever since I got preggo with our now 17 month old.) But - maybe there is a low/no VOC food safe Waterlox alternative. ? I'm excited to look into this more. boxerpups - Yes, the India Ink idea is definitely growing on me! I was concerned about the maintenance for the concrete as well. I'm really hoping that I can find a durable yet no VOC alternative to the Waterlox and we just might be in business! I suppose one down side would be that a scratch would reveal the lighter wood underneath, right, and it would probably require at least re-sealing annually? But, granite needs to be resealed, and soapstone oiled (for the dark look) - so I could probably talk DH into that. Very exciting, indeed! Thanks for your reply! blfenton - Thanks for your dark wood vote! I didn't think of trying other places aside from Ikea for the wood - we'll have to look into that! Great suggestion - thank you! dawn8b - You have marvelous taste! ;) I'm glad that you love it too! It's funny, I bought the shades to try and make it look more casual - I should have saved our pennies and left them off, lol. Oh well! It is beautiful either way. Thanks for your reply! sadiebrooklyn - Another matte, dark contrast vote. Thank you! And thanks for your compliment on the green! We did use it in the kitchen in our last house, and I adored it. It is the one color that we are using again. (It makes me feel like a little bit of our first home traveled with us.) We renovated our last house for sale and I was sad that we didn't get to enjoy the new kitchen for very long, but, I am very excited about all of these ideas for our "forever home's" kitchen. I'm off to research how to create a dark wood, budget and eco friendly countertop in our kitchen! But please feel free to keep those suggestions coming! Thank you all, again!! :)

acountryfarm, 9 children in a 2200 sq.ft. home being homeschooled and your old white kitchen still looked new! If anyone can use and enjoy this kitchen it is you and your family. For all of us looking at the amazing photos, this kitchen is beyond our wildest dreams, but for you who poured all you could into it, you were expecting a certain feeling and it isn't there for you. It may be living with it, in it's current beauty, gives you the time and insight to change what it is that denies you that total satisfaction with your project, but I understand you're wanting to figure it out before you all settle in and everyone says "Mom, can we be done with the kitchen now?" (At least that is what my kiddos are saying). We are all here for you, if you want to change something, but if you don't be reassured, yours is one amazingly gorgeous kitchen! The magazines are waiting to snap pics of this one.