Hi there. I used 12x24". I got my first look at these at a RBC showroom. I ordered them through Nebraska furniture Mart near me that carried some RBC tile lines. RBC only sells to the trades I believe. Nebraska Furniture Mart special order them for me from RBC. I DYI'd the tile job. If I had it to over again I would have used a larger grout space to hide my slightly uneven lipage.

Well, I am liking it. It was a risk. The tile showroom sales woman thought I was a little off when I wanted to put the porcelain marble tile for the shower, with the porcelain pattern floor, and the walnut. But then she started liking it too. I possibly just wore her down visually. That was last spring. It's been a looong time bringing this together. And unlike Hunzi, I like a floor that looks like dirt, its more grounding to me. The thing about the floor is that it has brown, lighter tans, grays, blues, even slight green, and brings all the colors of the room into one. This picture shows the floor a little greener than it is. It is more of a bluish blend with browns IRL:

Thanks for the ideas... Mom2reese; I love the C.P. kitchen! I'm a bit worried about all the business of butcher block with the "mottled" marble. What do you think? I also love the idea of stainless IF i can get it in my budget. I do have a local tradesman who can work with me on this... i'll have to check out his prices. Bill, good pic... that gives me a good visual w/ the dark countertops. My very first plan (before budget cuts) was to go with black granite. I'll have to check out the laminates, I hear they've come a long way. Justnot martha; I know exactly which ikea laminate you're talking about ... i have 9 slabs in my basement which has about 80 linear feat of cabinetry in it :) (we bought the ikea out & the salesman was snarky about it, but i guess he'll live :) any other suggestions anyone?

Look at your inspiration photo (the last one) again. It is not wall to wall windows. There is breathing room and wall space around the windows. While a wall of glass might be different, I don't like a wall of windows, especially without breathing room. Go back to three windows or even one larger and two narrower ones. I like the C-shaped idea, but I would make the cabinets stained like your main ones. Your hood is more like that one above, the barrel shape, right? You are using the chimney style in the drawings and that just doesn't look right with panels around it. I don't think a hood looks sad and lonely if not connected to cabinets -- I think it looks clean and functional, but I wonder where my oils and things, my serving pieces, etc. will go. LOL (You could look into putting in some niche space in your backsplash or to the side.) If you do uppers, I do like the idea of stained better, and I do think the same height is better. Or just put one on the window wall to the counter to balance the one at the other end and forget the other one. (be brave -- the copper is beautiful and can shine on it's own). Make the island less of a cabinet that turns the corner and treat it more like a piece of furniture added to the rest of the kitchen. Give it a different color, different counter, different trim, hardware and even a different (but related - not too different) door style. Maybe put it on feet. My thoughts, anyway. ;-)