If the cost wasn't an issue, I'd opt for a full granite backsplash as well. I love the look.

Search "Granite Transformations" on this forum. Several people, including me, have made negative comments (briefly, the material is relatively thin, expensive, and IMO looks fake/cheap).

Deniselie:

In My Opinion - going the route of Granite Transformations
will give you Granite counertops - but just barely.

I do not have a clue what they charge, and what area of
the country you are in, However, the scope of what GT can
provide is severely limited when it comes to edge details
and colors. Additionally, the thickness of the stone countertop
is thinner than a 2CM or 3CM slab, and impact strength is
sometimes compromised.

However - That Said.........

IF the color they have is what you are in love with, and it does not
matter what kind of edge detail you want... then GT might
be a viable option for you.

Please do not get me wrong - I'm not knocking them, I just
want to make sure that you take your time and look at all the
alternatives to GT - like conventionally Fabricated and
Installed 2CM or 3CM granite slabs - that's all. Lot's
more colors to choose from, many many diferent edge
details to choose - and it's still "Granite"......

As far as the full height splash goes - this is purely
an individual aesthetic matter, and YOU have to decide
what turns YOU on...

Personally, even though as a Fabricator,
I make more money doing full height SLAB splashes in
a clients home - I personally don't
particularily care for "the look" and in my own home,
I have always opted for full height splashes - but in
a tile of some sort - either Ceramic or Stone - That's just
MY preference for MY own home...having started on the Tile
side of the trade 30 years ago, and being a second generation
Tile & Stone guy - I have my preferences due to my history
of being in the "biz" this long... HA!

Anyways - My best advice to you is this:

Even though you may be all set to pull the trigger on the
Granite Transformations deal - wait a little while and go
talk with some qualified Natural Stone Fabricators in
your area, and see what other alternatives you have at
your disposal. I would not tell any prospective Fabricator that
you are leaning towards GT - just have a drawing or sketch
of your kitchen with dimensions so that every guy you talk to
will be comparing apples and apples - and any potential bias they
have towards GT will not be a factor (most Granite Guys
do not like GT, so why make it an issue?)

Once you feel like you have seen everything you possible can,
THEN make your decision - and be sure to post pics of the project
here on GW... OK?

Just my .02 cents

kevin

PS. I have attached a link to the Stone Fabricator's Alliance
map of Fabricators - hopefully you'll be able to
find one that is in your area and you can contact for a bid.
THESE would be guys that I would reccomend you talk with if you
want to find great alternatives to Granite Transformations

Here is a link that might be useful: Stone Fabricator's Alliance Members Map

I have to agree with Kevin on everything. I am not an expert on stone. However, it has been my experience that any of these quick fix companies such as Bath fitters,and Kithen Magic cabinet refacing are over priced for the quality that you will receive and the wear the material can stand up to. What you are paying for is a one day, no mess renovation. If this is what you are sold on then go for it. But, I would get estimates from a stone fabicator just to compare.

I have granite counters and backsplash and love the ease and convenience of not having to deal with grout lines. I didn't choose an expensive granite and I chose one with lots of movment. Not what I expected to choose at all! However, make long story short, I love it! The movement has me facinated. I am always finding new things in it. It is really, really pretty.

Going with the granite ended up being cheaper than the expensive tile I would have probably installed. Also, I would have taken forever to chose just one from all the wonderful choices out there. So I am very happy with my granite.

I would listen to the folks on here and check out other granite yards to see what they have to offer. You might be very pleased with what you find. Please be sure to post picture so we can all ohhh and awwwhhhh!

I don't know anything about the company, Granite Transformation, but our backsplash is also the same granite as our counters. I really like the look and the movement looks great as one looks into the kitchen and see the continuity with the counter and backsplash. For our kitchen, I like this look a lot better than when we had tile as a backsplash.

In most cases, I don't care for granite counters w/ matching granite backsplash. It's 'too much' as you say. Once in a while, I see one that I think is OK. But, I don't see a lot of granite that I like. I'm more in the soapstone camp.

I prefer a contrasting color for a backsplash. Even if you want granite for a backsplash, I would choose a different color granite for that. Kenneth

I'm not fond of the counters and backsplash matching with granite. To me, it's just too much of the same. I like contrasting surfaces. With the right splash materials, it can be virtually maintenance free.

I'd be concerned for all the roaches with their poor depth perception constantly ramming their heads into the backsplash. :)

We debated the same thing, but felt it didn't set off the undercabinet area at all. We also felt it was "too much", in much the same way that a medium to dark painted room with the same color ceiling instead of a white ceiling seems to shrink it down.

I guess it is a mater of personal preference because we had the granite counter tops and matching backslashe in our old house and loved it so much, we are doing it again with no regrets or worries....do what you like as I am sure it will be fine.

Paso-

What you are saying is the crux of the issue as far as I
am concerned... What a person uses on their backsplash
is purely a personal choice, and there IS NO right or wrong...

It's stricly what YOU - The end user wants to use...

Go with your heart and enjoy the looks that turns YOU on!!!!

hope that helps

kevin

deniselie -- I don't have granite but I do have busy marble for both the countertop and the backsplash and it is one of the smartest things I did in my kitchen! (emphasis on "my" because it's clearly not the right choice for everyone!)

Let me tell you why I chose to do a slab backsplash: I love the material. I L-O-V-E my marble so much that I wanted to be able to see it when I was in the breakfast nook or in the family room talking to my family (in the kitchen), etc. If it were just a countertop, the only way I'd get to see it is if I were working on the countertop and if our countertops weren't cluttered with stuff (as they usually are). Like, yesterday my four year-old and I were making a watermelon slushee and we had all kinds of things all over the countertop, so just little bits of it were peeking through. But then I had that whole backsplash just winking at me!

It's not for everybody, it's not for every kitchen. But it was right for me!

{{!gwi}}

Does anyone have a backsplash on top of the 4inch granite backsplash. Should I tell the granite guy not to install their 4inch backsplash. Thanks Jim

Cloud Swift, No wonder you love your granite and BS, it's beautiful! What is your granite?

jimbo409:

if it was MY kitchen - I'd opt to delete the 4" slab
splash and go with tile or whatever you choose - right
from the countertop up to the underside
of the cabinet uppers...

just my personal opinion, but adding a full height splash on top
of an existing 4" slab splash looks like an "afterthought" to me -
but then, that's just MY own opinion - I'm sure there's
lot's of folks that have done it and loved it - (a 4" slab
splash with something else on top to make up a full height
splash...)

look around at examples of both styles and decide which you
like better, and then have at it!

hope that helps

kevin

Everyone has already said it well, but I do have a little to add. Some people like them and some people don't, but it depends upon the granite too. For example, although I don't like full granite backsplashes in general, I think that the one posted in this link is quite beautiful. So here's my advice:

1) Decide if you like the look of the full height granite backsplash or not in general. (Pick up a good kitchen book/magazine or search google images online.) As you look at them, do you often like them, sometimes like them or (like me) usually cringe. If you CRINGE or OFTEN LIKE them then stop there. You're done; you've answered your question.

2) If you SOMETIMES like them, then try to find an example in a granite that you like and try to find out exactly why it is that you like some versus others. Is it the darkness or lightness of the granite? Is it the contrast or lack thereof of the cabinets with the granite, etc.

I hope this helps.

- Jim

Thank you all so much for your input. Since this was posted, we have found a granite that truly beckoned us to take it home! This particular granite is beautiful, but would make me crazy to have up, down and all around me, so I guess, Jim, I basically took your advice and determined the 'cringe' or 'love' factor and that's where I'm at. Tumbled marble with metal insets is where I'm headed. It feels good, looks good, and I guess you just gotta go where your heart takes you--and hope it all works! That's the tricky part. Maybe by the time we are done, I'll know how to take photos and do a show and tell. Thanks again, everyone. This website is the best!

I love our full granite backsplash as well. After having my kitchen for over 4 years now my tastes have change so there are things i would do differently but i would deffinately go back to full granite with more contrast between the counters and cabs (that is a tough decision,lol). I am like Cloudswift and did it for the practicality as well, SO easy to just wipe clean. Great idea to go through magazines and circle the ones you love. Good luck!!

{{!gwi}}

Athomewith3,
Thanks for sharing your photos. You have a beautiful granite...very soothing, but I understand exactly what you mean about more contrasting. I saw your lemon (or is it pear) plate! Where did you get it? I must find out! Also, what color is aound the door you painted? Isn't it difficult to decide about the tile flooring as well? What is your tile? looks like 18x18s?

how are the pictures hung on the granite?

Denisele, i got that cute little lemon plate from Pier 1 Imports. I love plates and have 8 others plus the trivets behind the sink hung throughout the rest of the dinningroom/bar area. The color around the door and the rest of the kitchen is 1/4 formula of Caraway from Behr paints, basically a watered down version of the original dark green caraway (originally in my livingroom). I love the color and get many compliments on it. Please keep us posted on your progress.

ne flyingdiver, the trivets are hung with those removable 3m hangers, love them!!!