I thought of using cedar, but when I priced it, it was way too expensive and didn't make sense to do it. And I'm sorry to say, but if you're trying to grow as much food as you can, two 4x4 beds are not very much and I think that is a lot of money for two small beds. I have one long bed 12" high, 11ft long and 4ft wide. I have four beds 12" high, 4ft x 4ft. I made them with Pine because I had some already and didn't have to buy much more. It's actually been about 8 years since we built them and they are ready to be replaced now. Now I want to double the square footage that I can grow in. So I want to build… Two beds 12" high, 16ft long, 4ft wide Six beds 12" high, 6ft long, 4ft wide That doubles my growing space. I don't feel I need deeper beds, because vegetables are annuals and I've read somewhere recently that they don't really need 18" deep beds. 12" is just right for me and I don't mind bending and kneeling. So less wood. I priced what cedar I could find and it was going to cost me over $600. to build those beds. I called 12 lumber yards and only two had cedar and they weren't the dimensions I wanted either. Finally, one lumber yard, said he was steering people to use Eastern Hemlock rough sawn, which is very inexpensive. It is more rot resistant than Pine but less than Cedar. Estimates were 5yrs for Pine, 8-10 years for Hemlock, and 15yrs for Cedar. I priced the Hemlock and it was going to cost me $198. to build the same beds. So, if I built the hemlock and had to replace them in 10 years for another $200. It would still be $200. less than building the cedar beds, and would last me 5yrs longer.

Oh palimpset and redroze -- I believe we have some kitchen ESP happening. I was just on Daltile's site in the early evening looking at their subs, wondering if I could interest DH in another color, actually looking at the bisque and then the gray. They have some 4 x 8's available (can't remember the color anymore, since it's been a whole 2 hours ago) And Redroze, I've had your 2 x 8's on my mind, and showed my husband your kitchen on Saturday. He isn't a fan of 3 x 6's, and is attracted to the unique sizes and like yours . . . And I think you hit it on about the "non 3 x 6" size being a focal point itself. I have tomorrow off. I will be running around trying to find some varied color, non 3 x 6 subs. Wish me luck in this wee Southern town. I cannot tell you how much I greatly appreciate this input. My husband is OOT this week, luckily he's used to coming home to changed game plans about the kitchen details. He's learned that the ideas I have been offered here are fabulous!

epressler: Thanks so much for checking back! Unfortunately we've made no real progress on our backsplash, and very little progress on the kitchen in general! :/ With respect to the backsplash, though, I did as others suggested and made color copies of about four options, taped them together and hung them up. The only thing I decided is that I don't love the "box behind the range" look. It stood out too much and was a real focal point against all the white. I also don't love anything too busy with our countertops, so I'm leaning towards a plain white thassos subway, or doing some type of mixed marble tone-on-tone white mosaic everywhere (mtnrdredux had one in a shower that was lovely but I've had a hard time finding anything like it). Backsplashes are so hard. Any advice is welcome!!!

thanks all! some really valuable feedback! Our main kitchen sink is going to be an undercount rectangle about 30" long. that sink as well as the prep sink will both have disposals and the prep sink, which is closest to the range is definitely off center to allow for maximum prep space. i never really considered a round sink because I felt the edges had to flow - haven't settled on main sink yet but its between a franke and a Blanco right now bc they both offer very sharp edges with a non zero radius edge vs a more rounded look, which i don't particularly like. I will certainly post when i have made my decisions!