They are making templates for my granite now. My layout is very similar to yours. And I was going to have tile sandwiched between the two strips of granite. However, I'd have even more contrast than you do. I was doing white subway and my granite will be honed black. I am totally thinking I don't want to do that now. But, back to you. I like the granite sandwiched between your granite counters better than the tiles. I think adding accents by taking out tiles and replacing them might make that area too busy. I think that if you use granite in that area, it would all look like one piece that is meant to go together.

It doesn't look that bad to me. The pattern would practically disappear with a like-colored grout and would just be a subtle texture. If the color is off (which is best determined in person and in different lighting) it might always annoy you which is a good reason to send it back. But the photos don't look any worse than some others I've seen posted that have been "oooh"ed and "ahhh"ed. I think if you had posted how much you loved it, you'd have had just as many agree. To me, the black hardware and wood valance "speaks" of a more country (vs urban) look. But I don't know the overall effect you're hoping to achieve.

I have to laugh when I hear of anyone that says that back splashes get greasy, nasty, grout lines gross, and so on... ALL that I can restate time and time again is the OBVIOUS: the person responsible for cleaning the kitchen doesn't or does not know how to clean. Period. If someone fries a lot and does not clean then WHAT do you THINK any kitchen would look like? It's just utterly ridiculous. The majority of people on this web site probably are the upper echelon of fanatics on kitchen cleanliness and appreciate a beautiful kitchen. And we do know what it takes to maintain a clean kitchen. Some people just do not. And I'm with everyone else: if someone is trying to steer you into a direction that you don't want to go in, then don't go with them! I'd be thankful that they gave you a clear forewarning of your imminent unhappiness to come if you hire them to do a specific job they had no confidence in performing. Some wonderful building talent out there just don't come out and say, "I'm not good at...(whatever), so you would be better off hiring so and so."

What a charming house! You've done great. I had somehow missed this thread up to this point, and I did not read all (or even a significant fraction) of the previous responses. I have a 1910 house and also don't like subway tile. But I wanted something that fit the era of the house. I ended up going with a simple (and extremely cheap) 4x4 white field tile capped with a contoured molding tile (that almost but doesn't quite match the field tile because I couldn't find a molding I like from the a manufacturer that did a 4x4 field tile that was 4x4 rather than 4.25 x 4.25. Adds to the charm). I have very few uppers, though. I think a 4x4 white (or gray, since you seem to think white is too stark) field tile with black or charcoal pencil liner would be cool. These all show a pencil liner with subway because that's what the popular kids are doing, but it would work as well with a 4x4 or other basic field tile.