Hi Nolamom!

If you're considering the sumi-e tiles, I highly recommend it and think it's beautiful. I've mentioned in other posts that I love the imperfect/organic feel that it gives to a contemporary kitchen so that it's not so cold. I used the 1x2 brick in Ohara Natural. They've just come out with a stacked brick configuration that I'm drooling over.

re: the Karbon faucet - I still think it's fantastic functionally as well as aesthetically (for my modern kitchen). My only complaints are (1) that I have to often wipe down the base disk on the control lever because I drip water on it when I turn off the water with a wet hand and (2) I have to turn the faucet off to take it out of spray mode.

Here are more pics - feel free to ask if you have any other questions!

Closeup of tile:
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Shot of lower backsplash:
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Full wall effect (decorating still in progress):
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mom2reese,

WOW, great job! the tile is perfect for the space! and i agree that that its organic nature lends the right amount of interest and warmth to your contemprorary kitchen. i love your wall paint selection next to the wood stain of your cabs. and the two types of island surfaces (is that white marble?) also look stunning next to the wood stain. i'm kind of going for that look myself, though my kitchen is more of a nod toward the 1950's. i have walnut and gray laminate cabs (ordered from henrybuilt in seattle) and am considering a white silestone or caesarstone countertop, with the sumi-e tiles in atami silk (1x2's bricklayed) for m backsplash. my walls are in a color i'm calling "putty," but it's got the smallest hint of green in it. --gosh, that sounds ugly actually, but you'll have to trust me that it's all working well together! (i'll post pics once the cabs and appliances are installed)

thanks so much for reposting your pics on my account. it must be such a pleasure waking to your kitchen each morning! (one last question: what effect do you think the 1x2 stacked tiles have vs. 1x2 brick tiles? would you have done the stacked instead, if it had been available?

thanks again!
nolamom

Thanks for the compliments! The island surfaces are Kodiak granite (upper) and Tigris Sand Silestone (lower).

Your kitchen sounds awesome - please make sure to post pics when you're done; I'd really love to see it. The putty paint doesn't sound awful at all - I love those taupe/greys that have a green undertone. I think I've used some variation of putty in every house I've lived in or remodeled, lol.

I think the 1x2 stacked is a little more rustic/zen. I think it's beautiful, but not a good fit for my kitchen. If I were doing a Prairie Style or Craftsman kitchen, I would strongly consider the stacked tile. Additionally, I have a lot of vertical elements and tall ceilings (10'), so I think the horizontal 1x2 helps balance that out.

good point about stacked tiles! -- you must have some architectural or design training of some kind?? i know exactly which silestone is the tigris sand. i chose it for a vanity in my daughter's room. how did you choose your fabricator? yes, i'll definitely post pics at some stage of the renvoation. i've got two guys working on this, and it's going at a snail's pace. they've been super so far. though i just learned that sheetrock was used throughout the kitchen--and isn't it on your old post, someone said that backer/hardie board should be used under tile because sheetrock will want to absorb the water out of the thinset causing tiles to drop off??? well, i mentioned this point and the my contractor said that it should be okay since they are priming it twice and using wall mastic for the tiles. aack, i hooope this is true!!!