WOW! Gorgeous! Can't believe it's DIY!
I am quite envious of your corner window sink. Would have loved to have that in my kitchen - but it just wasn't doable. I feel your pain as far as the backsplash goes. I chose the decorative tile, found a place with the perfect ..umm... regular tile. I asked them to order me 2 sheets of it. They said "Sure. It'll be here in 2 days". 2 weeks later, and 10 phone calls later - no tile. Then they had the nerve to get an attitude with me, like it was my fault. Worst part is - I can't find the tile anyplace else. So, now it's back to square 1. LOL.. just like your window covering.
Oh - almost forgot to mention, your island is phenominal!
---Boxie
PS. I have a VW too ;-) LOVE it!

Very nice! I love that SS, don't pull any out please! ;-)

Do you really need a backsplash? The window trim looks so sharp and that wall color is gorgeous. I think it looks nice and crisp as is. Functionally I guess you need to have something there though. Hey, I have a bunch of leftover Piracema! Just kidding, it wouldn't work with your stone at all.

Sorry I can't give a great answer, but you're doing well so far, I'm sure you'll figure out something.

- D

Fantastic! Love, love, love your island. Did you do that yorself too??

I do think the corbels would look nice but I'm not sure about the marble and the soapstone right next to one another.

I'm seeing airy white sheers w/ a touch of lace or design for the windows. Or dotted swiss somethings.

I would leave the perimeter soapstone alone. I'm afraid that putting marble over there would break up 'the look' and feel choppy--like either you ran out of soapstone or didn't have enough marble for the job.

But marble would look reallllly cool on the island.

Base cabinet to the left of the DW would look better painted white to match the other cabs. Then you could corbel that upper cabinet (probably have to move electrical work) and let that cab make a statement.

I'd keep corbels away from the stove area because I think they'd get in the way of doing stuff and not fun to clean. Also, would be a good idea to check the stove's installation instructions for clearances.

Awesome job. I love your kitchen!

Looks absolutely fabulous. The island is fantastic! You have done a great job keeping the space beautifully appointed yet very user-friendly. What lovely light in the kitchen.

Great job!

What a warm, welcoming room,and I cannot believe you did it yourselves! Take out the soapstone? After all that DIY? Aarrgh.

You call that a farmhouse look? I'd say it's more like a kitchen in a grand and beautiful, genteel country estate! Just calling it farmhouse seems inadequate, doesn't begin to convey the true lusciousness of it. Love the clock in the arch of the cabinet, that's a lovely touch. Your island is to die for! About changing a section of soapstone with marble - did you mean that the marble would just cover from the wall over to the DW but not extending over the DW? I wouldn't do that - just keep it all soapstone, it's gorgeous. I really like the window treatments too. I think they go very well in there; too bad DH doesn't like them. What did he dislike? The color, the style?

Are you going to list all the details, like paint color, tile, what fridge is that, etc? Would like to know everything!

I love it! The window treatment on the door looks wonderful to me. Like other opinions here, I love the corner sink.

I would like to see a list of all of your decisions as well. Thanks for sharing.

DH just didn't like the style of the curtain on the door. So looking at other styles there.

I am surprised that so many of you did not recommend the marble. But I didn't describe the plan correctly in my first post. It would go over the alder base cabinet and the dishwasher so it would cover all the counter under the upper alder cabinets. In retrospect we should have had the dishwasher paneled to make that area more cohesive.

Thanks so much for all your comments. They are so helpful and encouraging. I will post more pix and descriptions after a complete a few more of these items.

Boxie Gotta love that VW gas mileage with the unbelievable fuel prices these days!!

Ci lantro I thought the marble would be cool on the island too but DH nixed the replacement of the butcherblock. It has been a very useful surface for us. No we didn't DIY it. This was a piece leftover from our original kitchen.

I think if you paneled the dishwasher in the alder and put marble from the corner to the end of the dishwasher and on the backsplash it would look great. I also think it would look good to have the corbels there. It would give that section the look of a separate piece of furniture, like a hutch. Regardless, the kitchen is truly beautiful. Great job!

Well,.... look at you!!! This is just beautiful, and I love your fabric and style of window treatments! I do agree with some of these thoughts that if you want the marble and some corbels, the alder hutch is the place for them. When (or IF) your dishwasher dies, panel it in alder as well and it will look great.
The island, the wall color, the gorgeous cabinets and pulls - absolutely beautiful.
You and DH should pat each other on the back now - this is one amazing job and looks gorgeous, warm, inviting, luscious, interesting and....uh oh, spewing too many adjectives.
I do love your fabric and it really pops in that kitchen. Love it. By the way, is the foil wrapped package on the island some goodie you were going to send my way? I am sort of hungry..... :>+

VW - Beautiful kitchen. Great job on your DIY. Love the corner sink, wall color, curtains, chandy.....Oh heck I love it ALL.

I think if you put corbels on the Alder cabs that would give it the separate furniture look and, especially so if you could panel the DW. I personally wouldn't do the Marble.
ENJOY your special space.

You already have 2 types of counter in a relatively small space (wood and soapstone). To put a third type of counter (marble) is too much (IMHO). You probably could have gotten away with it if the DW were paneled. To do it now, IMHO, would take away from the look of the kitchen. Regarding the window, I would find someone in your area that can make a roman shade with your beautiful material. I don't get a feeling that you need a backsplash. If you do decide to do it, keep it simple. Your kitchen is gorgeous as it is! You have done a amazing job!

.....re the backsplash.....
I'm sort of in the same camp as Don and don't think you really need one. If you feel you do, what about beadboard painted the same color as the wall?

Did you mean the marble would go to the right of the dishwasher? If you stop it to the left of the dishwasher then it doesn't go all the way under the upper alder cabinet. I can see corbels under the alder, marble the same width as the upper alder and the dishwasher paneled in alder as well. Or, just corbels under the alder upper cabinet and keep the soapstone on the counter.
It looks great now!

Door window treatment - Roman shade would be great there since you could keep it open for the light and view, or close it on evenings when you are oiling your soapstone!
;>+

By the way, I was just on EBAY looking for your quilted stainless steel backsplash and lo and behold there is a picture of your beautiful kitchen on EBAY on the Rigidized Metals site!

Here is a link that might be useful: VWHippiechick's kitchen on EBAY

I love your kitchen just the way it is! If you must do a new curtain-I agree-try to use that fabric it is perfect! I would definitely keep the soapstone unless you are going to panel the dishwasher! And I wouldn't do the corbels unless you panel the DW. You have done such a wonderful job-why change it? As far as a backsplash? I like it with just the SS behind the range-none other needed! Beautiful!

You kitchen is stunning. I don't have any opinion on the marble or the corbels, but I adore that corner sink and the light fixture over it. The paint color is also gorgeous.

Hi
Your kitchen looks great as it is! I wouldn't bother with adding the marble in to make it look like a hutch unless you can panel the DW to make it look really built in.

As to the backsplash, it looks pretty as it is. My kitchen looks almost identical to yours in paint colors, cabinets, counters, farmhouse style. I did a custom tumbled marble mosaic in behind the range and now I am stalled just like you on the perimeter areas. When I put it up for discussion here, most gardenwebbers thought I should leave it the way it is. I will end up with jerusalem gold marble but the question remains as to what sizes.

Nice job!

I think the beauty of your kitchen now is that it is simple but not too simple. To add the marble or the corbels or a fancy backsplash (a white or off-white would complement your counters and cabinets) would detract from what you've done. So long as you've asked, I think the curtain also detracts. I'm with someone above who suggested white.

I guess I don't understand the need to have some *thing* "pop" when the entire kitchen itself is popping! The idea of a popping thing seems to detract from the serene beauty of what you have. An example of this is Soonermagic's kitchen which is gorgeous but to my mind putting a bright red glass object on the counter (which she did subsequent to the "completed kitchen" photos) detracts from it.

The color of your walls (although it looks different in both pictures) goes beautifully with your floor and the rest of the kitchen. A very simple backsplash of that same color might work but right now I have to say that the wall color works great.

I get why you're thinking marble for that 'hutch' corner, but unless you panelled the DW, I don't think it's going to work.

I would leave it as is, it looks so wonderful I'm jealous. Could we trade? :>)

I live in the Pacific NW so am always craving light, unless you're trying to block out light, I'd go for white sheers on the door too.

P.S. I don't think any BS is required.

As I said on the other post C'est Magnifique!!!! I agree with lissa711 and some of the other posters on the idea of the hutch as well. If you do chose to do the marble and corbels on the alder, the DW should be paneled. I totally get the wanting it to look like a piece of furniture. However, I think it is grand just the way it is.

I always tell my mother people don't know what you don't have meaning so what if you don't change the countertop and corbels, DW, etc. It is perfect the way it is; everything else is lagniappe. People will never know that you might have had something else planned for that space.

Also if you don't mind, I have a few questions:

What are your painted cabinets...Are they custom, and if so what is the paint color? If they are semi-custom, what is the brand...finish...etc?

Also, what is your range hood?

Love, love, love your kitchen! Sooo similiar to what I am trying to achieve!!

Your kitchen came out beautiful. I really love it, its so warm and pretty. I think the island and the mini chandelier gave it the perfect touch. I now wish I had done a chandy instead of pendants. I don't know that I would do the marble, honestly, I think your whole kitchen is perfect the way it is, curtains and all!

I am sure my DH loves everyone of you who have said leave it the way it is!! :-) Did he pay you guys??? Thanks for all the compliments and suggestions. Each one is valuable in helping me clarify how I am going to finish up.

Mary in NC WOW. I sent Rigidized Metals a pic when I thanked them for such good service. Didn't know they had posted it. Thanks for the link.

Oohhhhh! I love everything about it!!!

Can you give some information on your chandelier? I love it! Your kitchen is beautiful.

What a terrific kitchen! I've loved watching your progress pics. Your kitchen has such an original feel to it with an eye to detail, with the different sizes of cabinetry, the unique island, the corner sink. It's really pretty.

I think you should add corbels and I don't think it would overdo it. It would give it that farmhouse feel - just don't go too oversized. I personally think that putting marble on the alder cabinets would be adding too many countertop materials - soapstone, butcher block, then marble. I would think differently if your alder cabinets were a separate area, but since they are clearly a continuous run it may be too busy and jarring to change the countertop.

I think what may be bothering you is the dishwasher - have you considered creating a door panel for it in the alder? that would give the hutch that unified look you are going for.

For the curtains, I think you should go with a two-tone damask print in a similar shade to your cabinets. Something with pattern to give it variety and character, but more lightness as your paint colour is dark. I find that your dark curtains are too jarring against the white frames of the windows. You already have a lot of visual interest that you don't need another thing.

My two cents!

I think your kitchen is stunning just as it is! I've admired your Mouser cabinets from the first time I saw a picture of your kitchen. I don't know if you remember, but I had got a quote for $25,000 for Mouser cabinets, which was more than my budget. You suggested I talk to them and try to bring the price down by picking out a more simple door, etc. Well, I spoke to the "Mouser" guy and he's trying to work out something that would be more in my budget. Just wanted to thank you for the advice. I sure hope it works out for me. I can only hope to have a new kitchen half as beautiful as yours. Enjoy it!
Barb

Beautiful! Congrats! Just love it!

My, for what its worth, opinion on the black splash would be to go with black beveled tile in a diamond shape (square on its side) pattern to mimic the backsplash behind the stove and match your counter top. Would love to see cerrera marble on the island or leave it as wood. The marble would go with the black counter top but I love the look you have there now.

What a great job you did. You should be so proud. Very creative. I am sure you don't need me to tell you how to do the back splash. You can come up with so many creative ideas on your own.

LP Our range hood is the 36" Electrolux Icon. It is very nice. Our cabinets are custom - Mouser in "creme" and alder. Lovelovelove the cabinets. I highly recommend them. The finish is beautiful and the craftmanship is great.

Barb Hope the Mouser quote comes in just right for your budget.

ilovetn The chandelier was a leftover from our old kitchen. Was thinking of replacing it until everyone here said they liked it so much. We purchased it at Lowe's several years ago but they still have the same item. It is very reasonably priced.

Thanks again to everyone who responded to these questions. What a great network this is - I am so grateful to have you all as a resource.

I can't tell you how much I love your kitchen. It is exactly what I am trying to achieve. I have been planning on hardwood floors but I have to say your floors have totally changed my opinion. Would you mind sharing your source? Thanks in advance. Donna

Simply gorgeous as is. I agree with those who would nix the marble. Too much. I also agree with the poster who suggested beadboard in the cabinet color--great idea! An alternative would be handmade 2.5 x 5" subway tiles in an antique white (that's what we're using, with SS countertops).

Your kitchen is gorgeous. I like the idea of the marble and the corbels (providing as others have said that you panel the DW). In Bon Appetit this month there's a great kitchen with three different counter surfaces and it works really well. It's not a huge space either. Although the style is different from yours, the effect that you're trying to achieve is similar. May be worth taking a look.

Donna
Our floors are 18"x18" travertine from Lowe's, Premium Noce is the color. We wanted hardwood too but found it too difficult to match the old, old hardwood in the rest of the house. This was a good compromise. It hides dirt really well and that's my favorite thing about it.

Can anyone tell me if can I retrofit a panel on the dishwasher or do you have to purchase a dishwasher that is made to accept the cabinet panel???? Suggestions anyone?