So many great ideas. I do love that 3rd pic of Boxer's. It's pretty icy which I thought I didn't want but it kind of sparkles but without beings crazy busy. I was looking at safer taupes with a mix of cool and warm but my cabs are oozing with warmth so an icy cool bossy backsplash might suit my space. DH did an about face this afternoon. He admitted he didn't care for the peach, which I don't either, and said if i added more of the replacement glass and even a darker glass (my plan) it would be ok. I said ARE YOU CRAZY? No way I'm doing this now. I don't want to 'get my way' knowing he hates it. Told him I'm not being stubborn but as much as I wish he didn't care about any of it I can't do something he doesn't care for at all. Please don't tell him this but after more consideration maybe he's right... maybe, just maybe I would tire of the F&I faster than other choices. I don't know I question everything now even more than before. If I tire of the F&I years from now I could never admit it; I'd have to bite my tongue! Like I said, don't tell him any of this ;) Poohpup your DH might be an even trickier situation if you're not certain what he will potentially loathe! Mine did take some pics at a big box today that we're lovely but more tumbled travertine and slate type. I like all those just maybe not for this space. Fouramblues I looked at the pic you just posted. I really like that as well. I'm starting to feel a little better overall. So now I have some homework to do tonight. I'm going to find the silvery stuff and look at morepics as well as that line of Ann Sacks and the Complete Tile and any others mentioned here. Sonoma Tile has some beautiful choices as well and the fact theyre made within about an hour from here is a pretty cool thought. I've got homework to do while DH watches Sunday night shows I hate. Thank you GWers!

I've got fire and ice, but I did not install myself. I did do the sealing. I did not enhance, but it's up to you. I tried regular sealer, enhancing sealer and no sealer on my sample and then stain tested each of the 3. I happened to have both types of sealer at home, so it didn't cost me anything to try them both. Here is a picture of my sample, although the picture is not great, but you can see how the enhancer changed my sample. You might be able to see how the enhancer made some green come out in some of the pieces, and I didn't want green so I didn't enhance. I also replaced some of the white and peachy glass tiles with the darker amber tiles which are also in the picture. I posted the results of my stain testing on a thread which I have linked below. Scroll down about 3/4 of the way. It tells the kind of sealer I used. I have been very happy with my sealer - no issues with staining, everything wipes right off. However, it did seem to lighten the fire and ice a little bit, or maybe leave a little white haze on it. The directions for the sealer say to apply it, let it sit for a while, then wipe off the excess. I think I didn't get the excess wiped off well enough, and this caused the slight haze. IIRC, I put on 2 coats. I sealed last August and have not sealed again. I don't think it will need it again until at least August, and probably not then. My installer left the tile on the mesh backing. It is definitely meant to be installed that way and it would be a much bigger job if you took it off. I would recommend that you remove the mesh behind the glass pieces, however. My installer did not do that, and the mesh shows through some of the glass pieces, even though he used white thinset as specified in the installation directions. Good luck! I love my fire and ice and I get lots of complements on it. Here is a link that might be useful: Old thread about fire and ice with staining results

Debbie, Danielle and Venice, thank you for your kind comments. I'm thrilled that my kitchen is an inspiration to someone, and was remiss in not mentioning my two main inspiration kitchens: those of cat_mom (wouldn't have tried for a more contemporary feel had I not fallen in love with the clean lines of her kitchen) and Jodi_in_socal, the original GW trendsetter for the Fire and Ice backsplash. But truly, there are so many beautiful kitchens on this forum and so many helpful people that I had a wealth of inspiration and information, for which I am extremely thankful.

Forgot that you said you were going to enhance. Check out morton5 kitchen. She used kashmir grout with her madura gold granite. She enhanced. Jodi and I did not. Also berryberry but not sure about grout choice. Poorowner at some point stated natural gray or tan color. With so many color variations in the fire and ice you can use a lot of different colors for grout. My granite has gray in it which is why I wanted a light gray color grout. Good luck!!