I don't agree with your contractor that it will appear to be too heavy, especially when you have the weight of the black sink base as an anchor. I think the granite will be lovely. Your granite is an especially wise choice since Yellow River has the gray of the hood and the tan of the cabinets. Go for it!

You have really beautiful granite with a lot of movement, which is probably the focal point of the kitchen, and otherwise a very simple, clean, uncluttered look. Go for it!
FWIW, with a full granite backsplash I think it would look odder to have the granite stop at the hood and then have just drywall/paint on the sides of the hood. You almost need the granite to continue further up :)

I think it will look beautiful.

I vote for putting the granite there. Your granite is so gorgeous, the more the better. Granite is so easy to clean that I would have done that, also, but I picked a dark granite (Emerald Pearl). A dark granite would make the room "too heavy" on one side, but not yours.

I just looked through some of the "inspirational"backsplashes on the FKB. I love the look of the glass tile that goes straight up to the ceiling. I would imagine that with a granite as spectacular as yours; that it would look absolutely stunning. I would definitely go for it.

Me too. Stunning granite and it will only make your kitchen lovelier!

Just do it!

Awesome choice in granite...

Thank you all! I told my contractor to do it. I think it would look too cut up to do otherwise.

I am getting used to the granite. It looks different in chunks and flat than the whole slab in the yard. I can see where they seamed the granite, but I was looking for them. With all the movement in the granite it was hard to match exactly. I don't remember chosing certain spots that are prominant in the kitchen. Again, I think it will take some getting used to.

Of course, the flooring guy decided not to work today since the granite guys were here. I wish everyone would just play nice. Neither would have been in each other's way. So now I am delayed two days with my flooring (flooring guy called in sick on Monday) and with all the furniture stacked up in the hallway, it is difficult to get to the bedroom and bathroom. Good thing I don't walk in my sleep or I would have a rude awakening by running into furniture.

I am really starting to be ready to have this finished. Thanks again for your input. I appreciate it very much!

Well, now I know why things looked so differently last night. They did not cut the granite where we put the template. I KNEW there was a part of the stone I didn't want in my kitchen and now it is in the most prominate part! I am trying to avoid a total meltdown this morning.