Hi lowjo... love your kitchen. I particularly love how the curve of the cab above the frig mimics the curve of your hood... which looks STUNNING! Could you take a close up pic of your backsplash? Or at least let us know what it is? It's hard to pic out the colors exactly. For me, this is the most fun, picking backsplashes. Is that a MW or small second oven in your island? Once I have a better handle on your countertop, it'll be easier to help you with a backsplash. Your kitchen to me is a cross between contemporary and traditional. Nice clean lines, natural materials (like your stools) unfussy... just love it. I know I would definitely recommend something "special" behind your stove to draw attention to that area. This will be fun! I promise!!

If I'm your KD, you have no budget :oP Honey Onyx offset with a small metallic.

I can't quite see the color of your counters, so I might adjust the onyx, but onyx it is :o)

I'll send you a bill!

Thanks for the responses! I need help!

I do lean toward a traditional/contemporary mix. I like to mix formal and informal styles. I am fighting my traditional side on this one. I may end up there, but was hoping for something a bit more "fun."

Here's a look at the countertop with the sun coming in:

{{!gwi}}

Here's a look at it without light shining on it:

{{!gwi}}

It's definately a bit more grey with the sun and more beige in regular light. The specs are black with some redish brown that matches the cabinets.

Thanks again for any suggestions!

Remodelfla-

Forgot to respond to your other question. The appliance in the island is a microwave. I wasn't sure I would like it at that level but I really love it there!

Lowjo
I don't think you can fight your tradional side, I think the kitchen is very tradional in style. I think it's lovely. My kitchen works begins 8/25 and I will be having my window pushed out also. I'm going to have mine encased with wood. What is the depth of your window sill?

So many possibilities...
Traditional: {{!gwi}}
with this as an accent {{!gwi}}

Something with more bling {{!gwi}}

Expensive:{{!gwi}}

There's too many to list. What appeals to you? Check out the gorgeous stuff from this site!

Here is a link that might be useful: Beautiful glass backsplash stuff

I really like Sonoma Tile. They are really good a mixing classic with a touch of the "wow factor" Don't fight traditional if that is who you are. You are going to be looking at it for a long time.

Here is a link that might be useful: sonoma tile

I think I will have to lean traditional, but would like it with a contempory flair.

If this were your kitchen, what would you do??

dajeli- the depth of the window is between 11-12 inches depending on where you end it on the drywall.

Boy if the budget could manage I am with Igloo. Honey Onyx!

Your kitchen resembles my kitchen in many ways. I went with the Crema Marfil tumbled marble tile for my backsplash. I used metal accent tiles in a pewter color. Nine months later, I still love my kitchen. I can add just about any color or colors as accents in there. All of December, I had red and green in there and it looked really festive (our kitchen opens into our family room). Around March I put out my pastel ceramic pieces and the room looked so pretty and Spring-like. This Summer, I bought a gorgeous new set of brightly patterned Talavara-inspired dishes with yellows, red and greens, and I love how they brighten up the place! I'm heading out tomorrow to look for more Talavara decorative pieces to put in there next. Last Fall, I didn't have much time to see how those colors would work in there, but I think they'd look great, too. My point is, that if you keep the backsplach neutral, you can use any color or color combination you like in there . . . and change them out with equal success.
Just my one little vote for creamy white or neutral ;^)
Lynn

I still want my honey onyx, and I'd set that on the diagonal and do a small 1x1 in an amber or copper metalic tile for highlights. Use the specs to choose that accent color.

But if that isn't going to fly...Here's something fun...go traditional with a twist. Do a gorgeous soft white subway, but don't go with flat subs, get pillow style, which are modern (and very cool looking) or even go with a gorgeous dove gray, but again pillow (because that might play well off the granite) or ivory...get a couple of each and let us see :oP But again, do the pillow shape. You really will get the "modern" edge, without going overboard.

I'd also say that either of the last two that remodel posted...were GORGEOUS (I particularly like the expensive one LOL)

This site has some spectacular possibilities. I'm still having difficulty discerning your granite tones, but there has got to be something here! I would like a cream, iridescent 1" x 1", either all over or as a background to an accent mosaic. I love your kitchen. The possibilities are endless.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sicis

OK, here's my latest thought. White subway tile. I'm feeling it's traditonal with a contemporary flair. If I'm considering this, should I do 3x6, 2x8, and most importantly, any ideas what I should do for the focal point of above the cooktop?

Thanks for any ideas!

lowjo... I was playing around on ebay looking at glass tile. I came across this and thought of you. It's subway with white but also brings in the dove gray igloo suggested. It's glass, so a contemporary twist. I tried to imbed it but it wouldn't work. Anyway... I'm not sure it's right but wanted to share.

Here is a link that might be useful: ebay glass tile

OOOOOOO.... look at these "pillowed ones"!

Here is a link that might be useful: soooo pretty!

In order of my preference. (Please don't hate me for this -you'll find out why I'm saying that if you click on the link).

There are tons of choices! Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Metallic tiles

You have a beautiful kitchen. If it were mine....

I'd use the stone that is currently on the island (which appears to be the same as the counters) and cut it down to cover the walls. I'd get a slab of Green Emperador or Green Rainforest marble for the island and a matching slab for the window sill.

I'd avoid the glass tiles as they are something that is going to "date". Your kitchen will not. 50 years from now it will still look beautiful and it would be nice if it had an aged, patinated stone to complement the rich woodwork.

lowjo, your kitchen is gorgeous and backsplash choices are endless!! I don't have a specific suggestion, but would really like it to stay lightish/whitish....the contrast is so clean and pretty and I think the high contrast itself makes for the smidge of modern you are looking for. just my two cents.

off the topic....i really like your island pendants. would you mind telling what they are? thanks!

I like Gout grec's first one and remodelfla's last photo (labeled "expensive"). Not real mad about white subways or the idea of gray with your wood stain.

Thanks, everyone, for your your input. Keep it coming! I do want to keep it light because the granite and cabinets are on the dark side.

Jessie21, since we did the kitchen almost 3 years ago, I really can't remember where I got the pendants. It was mail order via the internet and I got the name of the place from this forum. If I hear it I might remember. I know many people ordered from there.

Lowjo1, we too have been looking at backsplash options for our kitchen, as far as style goes, we're a mix of traditional/transitional. We found the most awesome stone at The tile shop, it's called baoding cream, it's a light colored slate but has the tones you said you are looking for and abosolutely gorgeous. I think 2x2 or 5x5 squares would offer a lot of stone variations and provide interest. You could pop some decorative pieces in, use a mosiac or even make a design with the tiles to personalize. If you have a Tile Shop in your area, check it out, they're really helpful and have a hugh selection of stone.

My first thought looking at your kitchen was jerusalem gold like sharb's kitchen assuming the color would work with your granite
http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2007/06/sharbs-kitchen.html

But of course I was flipping thru the finished kitchen blogs trying to find the kitchen with the backsplash I was thinking of (which of course was near the end of the alphabet), I found two other ones

Durago travertine mini-brick in beachlvr kitchen in the finished kitchen blog

http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2006/12/beachlvrs-kitchen.html

Or Durango Split Face like epjenk's Kitchen
http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2007/06/epjenks-kitchen.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Sharb's kitchen

I think I've decided what I'm going to go with. Thank you linnymac for your posted pics! Please check out her beautiful kitchen and let me know if her backsplash tile would work as well in my kitchen.

Thanks everyone! Let me know what you think!

Here is a link that might be useful: linnymac's kitchen pics

Lowjo...What a gorgeous kitchen! Now that I see it I do think the Walker Zanger is a good choice, and as lynninnemexico suggested..use different color accents in the room to change it up. I'm so happy if I helped you toward your decision. Now can you help me find pendant lights? I'm stuck there!

linnymac-

Thanks again! Now, what style of pendant lights are you looking for??

That's the problem...I don't know. I think I have looked at every available one out there.I have 3 planned for over my peninsula...the dimmers etc are all done, and now I don't even care if I have them. If plain, they would have to be off white glass and the fixture itself polished nickel to match the hardware . As you can see I like traditional but could be convinced to mix it up a bit

ok, linnymac, I searched on Bellacor's website (where I think I got mine, and they had excellent CS) and found these:

http://www.bellacor.com/keywordresults.cfm?Page=1

There seems to be many in different price ranges. Let me know where you're leaning or if you've already searched this site.

I owe you! :-)