Chris - I had a similar problem. I started with my counter top, and everything else was designed around it. As you can see in the pictures, my counter top has lots of stuff going on. When it came time for the backsplash, I wanted something that looked good on its own, complimented the counter top and was not a distraction. I was drawn to stone, and travertine seemed to be what I liked best, but no travertine 4'' x 4'' tile I found clicked. I ended up using 12'' x 12'' filled and honed travertine tiles that were the perfect color, texture and movement, and I had my granite installer cut them to 4'' by 4'' tiles (if I wanted subways, that would have been easier to cut something like 4'' x 12'' tiles). This doubled the price of the tile, but travertine is a lot less expensive than some of the more exotic ceramic tiles I was looking at. And here is the tile (excuse the range glamour shot - I still don't have any really good backsplash glamour shots) Anyway, just something to consider. Jon

oh mayflowers forgot to say that I like the idea of adding cabinets to back of peninsula area but was also thinking of having two backless bar stools with black leather seats there as well. Will have to think about the wainscoating and now that I look closely the area could use an update and it is scuffed up. the more we look the more we see that needs help with this house Ugh thanks so much Here is the living room, my carpenter is fashioning a pine wood free floating mantle as we speak, it will have oil on it and natural tones. We have sofa facing the fireplace that's a thin cordoroy material in a light blue/green and plan to have an accent chair against the other wall (the staircase wall) with perhaps some type of server or china cabinet over there, dining area is too small for china cabinet but might be able to have a behind the sofa credenza (for more storage) we also plan to have an area rug in front of the sofa. I am looking for a gray one with texture if I can find one. what do you think of those ideas? Right now the dining area has a work table we're using till we find what we want lol

I'm a little concerned that your countertop sub (is he a fabricator?) is talking about making a tight seal between vertical and horizontal. With modern fabrication, say over the last 20 years, there has not been a problem with that, the way there used to be years ago when counters were formica and fabrication methods were less refined and precise. And the "sanitary" comment is out of left field--did your contractor say that? In any case, I will list the reasons why I do not like a small strip of granite (usually 4") on the backsplash: - you will spend a lot of effort designing a beautiful tile backsplash; why cut it short by 4". - the additional horizontal line of the 4" strip will visually make the space between your counter and upper cabinets look smaller and more cramped - some people think the 4" backsplash looks dated, though opinions vary on this - the 4" backsplash creates a small "ledge" which collects dust. Yet one more thing to clean. - you will be charged for the material and installation for the 4" backsplash; money that you may have preferred to spend elsewhere. I think that a 4" backpslash would be good if you were NOT installing tile and just had drywall on the rest of the wall. Or, if you simply like the look, as a lot of people do. Get what YOU want, not what makes life easier for your contractor. BTW, who is installing your tile backsplash? You may want to find someone outside of your contractor's subs. I was recommended someone by the tile store where I bought my tile. He specialized in tile--all he did is tile, and had been doing that for many years, so he really knew what he was doing. I am only mentioning this because of my concern that your contractor is saying he needs the granite strip to "make a tight seal". How elaborate will be your tile backsplash? If it's just, e.g., plain subway tile, that's pretty easy. But with a more complex pattern, tile backsplashes can be exacting work, and if your contractor isn't so painstaking, you will have to live with a backsplash that may not look so great (we've seen that happen on this forum several times).

Just out of curiosity what is your wife's objection to the 6" backsplash? I understand that this is tall, but in your situation it seems like the visually "cleanest" alternative is either the backsplash on the back and not on the sides, with nothing else on the sides except drywall, or an even backsplash and side splash of 6" all around. Two different heights of backsplash, or backsplash on one wall and a separate tile on the sides are more visually complicated. So if the objection is visual in that 6 is too high, I think the consistency of one height and one material would override the fact that it's a little higher than normal.