Thanks for your reply and ideas Eastbaymom! Wow, you are so close to having a new kitchen- I bet you are so excited! We just got word that our cabinets will be delivered next week but the contractor who is installing them is backed up so we are looking at the beginning of July for our install. Yes, we are having under cabinet lighting installed. Your idea of moving the fridge is something we have debated over...and over and over. To put the fridge where you are suggesting (where the current pantry is and yes, it is the small white door on the sink run) would mean that the door way into the dining room would need to be moved out. DH didn't like this design either. There has been a lot of compromising with this final decision/layout due to budget and differing ideas. I personally feel like the fridge looks so oversized and obnoxious where it is currently located. Since the cabinets have been ordered, I don't think we will be changing the location of the appliances. I appreciate your idea and actually really like it however it has been vetoed. I'm considering a counter depth fridge when we replace the current one. I have looked at all 3 of your ideas concerning the backsplash. I am considering subways, especially in something light and possibly glass. I think that something larger is a good idea too. My thought is that I should probably determine the counter selection prior to the backsplash although I really like the crackle subway link you included. This is what our cabinets will look like. What are your counter and backsplash selections? Thanks again for the ideas!

didn't have time to read all the answers. I have no backsplash and have never regretted it...been over 6 yrs. It is painted with BM matte...which has ceramic in it. It is as beautiful now as it was when first painted. I love the fact that I can showcase other things ...art etc in my kitchen and no competition. Also if I ever want to change it is as quick as a paint brush...expense is minimal..paint only ! All in all I think it is serene as you point out . Here is one pick. Since I have a lot of high heat cooking in my kitchen..built in deep fat fryer as well as gas cook top I can definitely speak to the longevity of paint only. c ( more at this album )

Some people wait months to do their backsplash after completing the rest of their kitchen. The only reason to do it now is for your contractor's convenience. I wouldn't do it. In fact, I'd hold off on choosing your countertop if you aren't already obligated to the brown. I think it's going to be too dark. Here's what I would suggest. Get your cabinets installed and then put down some temporary plywood and use it as a countertop for awhile. You can brace your undermount sink to temporarily work this way. Then live without your final counter/backsplash for awhile. Observe how light plays in your kitchen with your cherry cabinets. Bring home different samples and test them during different times of day with different light. If you still think you want the brown counters, find a paint in that color and paint the plywood. See how the light plays with it. Of course, paint won't reflect the light the same way as the stone will so this won't give you a 100% accurate idea of what the final look will be, but it should be close enough. Anyway, that's what I'd do. I hate to be rushed to make decisions on such expensive purchases. I think mistakes are more likely when you do so.

I think the cobblestone is too bumpy a texture for Berwyn. I picture Berwyn with crackle subway tiles that bring out that little sparkle in the counter, and white or gray Shaker cabinets, but that's not a contemporary look. I can't picture it with hi gloss white cabinets, and I don't think glass subways can turn it into a contemporary look. Berwyn mimics natural stone and to my eye that doesn't work with man-made hi gloss. I see a solid white or a dark quartz counter with those cabinets. But maybe I have a different picture in my mind of what hi gloss contemporary cabinets look like versus the Dura Supreme cabinets you've selected.