Thanks for the feedback! Just picked up 2 different "TEC" grout colors: "sand" and taupe grey... I was really looking to NOT having the grout lines stand out but let the breaking light (from under cabinet halogen lights) really show the glass lines and shadows. Well, I'll do a 'dry test' today and will post the finished product later.

i know what you mean about dating the house. we all need a crystal ball! if it helps i live in an area where dated kitchens are the norm. people apparently don't update anything here so it will be geographic dependent too. imo what dates a kitchen is when too many things are trendy or busy or the colors/styles just don't gel. if it is done so it works with your cabs and counters, it shouldn't be a problem. also i have seen subway type tiles with 1 row at the counter and then a strip of mosaic with the rest the plain subway. maybe an option?

I have hand rolled Lunada Bay Sumi-e 1x1's in my laundry. It has a lot of surface texture. I wouldn't like it where there's a lot of spatter because of the cleaning involved. There are a lot of little grooves and divots, which is part of what makes it gorgeous. Other than that, recycled glass looks terrific on the walls. Check the manufacturer's instructions about the base and grout. Mine, for instance, calls for bright white so that the transparent color will look right. Also, if the tiles are beveled, you'll need to use a sanded grout. Most glass tile calls for sanded in any case, but if you have narrow spaces (less than 1/8") and straight sides, you might get away with unsanded.

http://www.delphiglass.com/soldering-supplies/flux-finishing-chemicals/mirror-edge-sealant Here is a product, but there are automotive products that do the same thing. Its just a spray, and you could just hit the silver ones. Do you know what type of adhesive your tile person used? In mosaic we use thinset mortar. DRY. not premixed. Premixed thinsets are mastic based, and they WILL fail. especially outdoors. Your environment also matters. If you live in a dryer frost free area, it could be find for a number of years. The reason I ask is because mirror uses a special mirror mastic. I would never use mastic for anything I want to endure However, tile people often have different opinions about that. And I know when mastic is used in my region out of doors because I often pick up the broken tiles that have fallen off to use in my work :) I have obtained some very expensive ceramic that way. At any rate, here is an article for you. Good luck! http://tiletools.com/mastic-vs-thinset-which-should-i-use/