You know how Patti's slate has squares set horizontally at the bottom then a line and then has the offset going above? Because I do have such a small kitchen I'm thinking I would just keep the backsplash to the height of the horizontal line of squares-- although it would go up rather high behind the cooktop. That first line looks to me to be appx 4 x 4? For the height behind the cooktop, maybe there could be a rounded top instead of a squared top-- so a strong vertical element but still not too much backsplash? I fear too much backsplash will take away from the openness I really crave. i'm actually thinking just the opposite. i think you should go all the way up the wall to the ceiling, and that will make the space actually feel bigger and more open. but only if you use a really simple tile--something with almost zero texture, color variation, or embellishment. like white subways. ditto to what bluekitobs said above--they won't compete with your shaw's sink. here's a pic of my last kitchen with white handmade subways and a shaw's: oh, and don't worry about the misspelling!

The kitchen you found that you love, if I'm correct, is by Candice Olson/Divine Design. It was the subject of one of her shows about a family who all cooks together, even the teenaged kids. They have a family food business that they're all involved with. If I'm correct, there is an aisle across from the cooktop, leading out to a French-door patio, with storage cabs and a desk parallel to the cooktop peninsula. I'm not sure where the wall ovens are, they are either there or in the long bank of cabs/refrig that run parallel to the window wall. Now, I love Candice - her color palettes (I hate those gaudy Crayola colors the other HGTV designers love), her sense of architectural design (which most interior designers lack). But her kitchens, although very beautiful, to me have always lacked essential functionality. Her design for an obsessed baker with a good-sized kitchen that only had a single wall oven instead of a double, for example, or giving a busy working mother a fancy glass-topped island hood that will require somebody standing on the island to clean the back portion of the hood. Her design is a riff on the "Something's Got to Give" kitchen that created such a huge wave of interest a while back; just subbing full overlay Shaker cabs and glass-tiled backsplash. It's a classic look, so I think it will always be popular in one version or another. But when it comes to functionality, many people here have done a better job.

Hello Peggy, I was a bit confused with the username different than the post name...yes at times I can't seem to navigate and find the things I'm looking for. Glad you found me - I welcome your comments. Would love to be finished with this project but it seems I take such a long time deciding, now the thing is that I really like it so far and don't want to "mess it up" with a wrong decision :) The cabinets are frost glaze. Lowes also has a bisque glaze - it had a bit more tinge of yellow to it and the glaze didn't seem as white. You can't tell it in the pictures but the glaze around the details of the cabinets are white white, the bisque didn't have that. There is a bit of distressing in the frost glaze which I'd rather not have but only my husband and I notice it through close examination - looks a little worn but I suppose that will be good in the future :) I fell in love with this granite when I saw it, nothing else quite "hit me" like this one did. (I orginally fell in love with the look of the white on white as the marble gives and couldn't quite find that in a granite) We had considered others that were a bit cheaper but they never gave me that "wow" factor, so after a month of looking we made the decision to go for the summer - it was exclusive to just one fabricator here in town - went there and to our dismay they were out of it which was hard to believe because their whole yard was filled with it - was so discouraged and then I found out that 2 slabs were released and we jumped on it. I was going all over trying to find it and other fabricators were telling me that others were doing the same thing?? It came in quick and left the same way. I know it's from Brazil but that's about it. My pros of going with it behind the stove were the two reasons you mentioned - love the rock and so easy to clean but I'm pretty decided from everyones comments that I will go with the tile - NOW which one - LOL I will check out the tumbled travertine - then there is the issue of color, size, shape and straight verses diagnol - LOL and crying again :) Don't have pictures right now of the open areas - will get but we are working on finishing touches in there too. I don't have the measurements but the rooms are quite small compared to alot I've seen here. One story ranch. There is an arch that cojoins the living room and the dining room (if you can call it that :) the only thing that seperates the dining table and the kitchen is the island. There is a sliding glass door with mullions (to give it that "french door" look-didn't have room for a swing) and then out to the deck which overlooks our yard. Thanks for the compliments. We are trying to make our small space beautiful, warm and open. We're happy of the progess so far and have to remind ourselves that it will eventually be finished and will be worth it! You will have to let me know of your progress - would love to see where you are with it.

supermom.... thanks so much for the heads up. I'm right around Ft. Lauderdale but the door style won't work for me plus I want all drawers (where ever possible) for the lowers. It would be great to find something like that. I check craigslist daily and will start again with ebay. I know the chances of finding the door style I want in the configuration I need will be slim to none. But ones never knows.... I'm going to perfect a final drawing and then post. I'm going to need help to figure out what kind of lighting. Again... a little ahead of myself but if it took me this long to achieve a layout; who knows how long lighting will take! The electrical is one thing that we won't be doing any of the work on ourselves so I'd like to have as much as I can figured out so when we do have an electrician come in I can get a price for all the work at one time. You are all amazing! Thank you seems inadequate. Elyse