Wow - that is beautiful! What a nice change. I can't wait to see the finished kitchen. Where did you move the sink?

It looks super! I don't have a good eye fr backsplashes. Have you looked in the FKB to see kitchens with white cabs and black granite? You might find some ideas there.

Tell us about your experience with the Ikea installation. Did you DIY? I am thinking about Ikea cabs for my laundry room.

You're almost done...it must feel good!

Sandy

Oooohh very nice! I like the idea of black counters, and if you save money even better, especially if you don't have strong feelings about shiny/honed. I don't think honing granite is easy (or even doable) after install, but others may know something I don't. Back splash could be subways in white or cream or celadon, for safety, or glass in any color, or beadboard or whatever. Good luck! More photos please....

Beautiful! and I think polished black will look great.

Wow...beautiful!! (but I'm partial to Lidi as I just finished my Lidi white kitchen last month!)

I LOVE the beamed ceiling! I think your black ctops will look great, and your tile choice.

I can't wait to see it finished and more shots of it!

I don't think you can hone granite later. Marble, maybe, but that's a softer stone, and you can "chemically" hone it by etching the whole surface. I'd make sure about the honing thing before I picked a polished surface just in case you'd be stuck with that.

Oooh, that is gorgeous! I am excited to see it finished! I bet you are just beaming--I know I would be.

Congratulations--it is going to be stunning!

Love the ceiling!!! The kitchen looks great so far. I think the polished black would look really nice as well.

I think your new kitchen looks wonderful. Have you considered a textured granite vs honed? Depending on your location, many granite suppliers offer granite colors with texture. Absolute Black granite is very nice, but it will show everything. If you like other finishes besides polished, than I would suggest purchasing it the way you want it. Some granite colors are available with really nice textures and it would be worth the trip to see them in slab form.

Here is a link that might be useful: Granite Countertops

Beautiful kitchen. Your ceilings are neat and give the room a rustic feel. I like how you did Ikea cabinets with a Viking range and a Viking fridge. It's that combination of save and splurge that works SO well.

For your backsplash, I think a honed tile would look great. Black polished granite will look great as well. I don't think there's any problem with going with tried-and-true classics. There's a reason why they are so enduring - they always look great.

I love your ceiling-- what a transformation!!
Not many ideas for a backsplash since we probably aren't doing a tile one... we've considered beadboard, though. It might pick up the detail from your ceiling well.. plus, you could paint it any color you want. We are doing SS behind the range, by the way... elsewhere will either be paint or painted beadboard.

tiger
Congrats on your remodel - really looking good - backsplash is quite an individual choice - it's like a woman choosing 10 pair of shoes to go to a black tie - "honey do these look good" Honey really just wants to get in the car & go so basicaly says "yes" to all 10 -

If you have a tile place nearby ask to take some sample boards home - live with the choices for a little while to decide - SImiliar to what you did with the 6 or so stone samples. If you are still undecided about counter stone - post some pics of your choices & if you don't like shiny - you are not suddenly going to like because it's on sale - plenty of stone dealers/fabricators out there that I'm sure would be willing to meet your needs at a reasonable price pt - especially on a black granite

If you are going monochromatic I would say put in a carrara subway, then add pops of color with fabrics,pretty dishes and a nice kitchen aid stand up mixer -

My personal choice would be to add some subtle warm color - as the palette is in the cool tones
With your current palette, assuming wall color is done - You really have no limit as to what would work, so it's personal preference

Here's a link to Daltile - great tile, reasonably priced - many options carried at home depot - this may give you some ideas

http://daltileproducts.com/home.cfm

Ck out the craigslist materials - you can get incredible deals - just be sure you know what you want -

That Viking looks like mine is it a color or ss looks like stone - is it griddle in the middle?
'

You are doing a fine job & in the home stretch - don't race to the finish line & regret your last choices -

Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: CL

Wow, thanks for thoughtful responses. I am going to go back and read them slowly and soak in your input :) You are right to tell me to take my time.

To answer some questions, the sink is in the peninsula (out of view, directly under bottom of picture). I will take more pics with next steps of progress.

I hired a pro IKEA installer. He did great job. I am not a DIY guy and even with price of install, relatively cheap. I also just finished an IKEA closet with an IKEA installer. I will post as a new link above, since I know many are curious about IKEA.

I bought the Viking Appliances from a local dealer off of e-bay. Super deal. They are ss. Keeping fingers crossed, since reviews on here are lukewarm at best (grain of salt).

Thanks!

that range is a grill in middle and I also have ss backsplash and warming shelf to put above. Thanks!