I think your kitchen is really looking pretty nice. I also think your sis might be on to something. When doing my kitchen, I was going to go for a taupe tile that really worked with the granite. (See srg215's backsplash--that's the one--I'm living vicariously through her). But then I thought about my desire to change colors in my space. I know I don't have the budget to re-do the backsplash when I tire of it. So I started thinking about white tiles. I was very determined not to get the white subway, and I found some pretty cool beveled Italian subways that had undertones of gray. I was ready to go for it. But that's when I found out I won the beveled arabesque tiles. I love that they jazz it up, but yet the color is white. In fact, I am currently (sorry guys) testing new paint samples. I've always wanted the gray color in the room to be a gray/lavender. I've got samples in the car right now. My point is, that with neutral bones, you really can do anything with the room. And neutral bones do not make the room boring or bland. So, I've posted a link to the photos of my kitchen and "not so boring white backsplash" in case you haven't been bored to death by them already. I'd post them directly here, but I can't torture the GW friends anymore! Look at the details, notice that except for the granite, eveything can be changed to a new color scheme. And this granite goes with any color--lime green, orange, blue, brown, black, gray, white, and on an on. Here is a link that might be useful: The pro photos

Frankly, I like what they have proposed better than the original plan (assuming I understood it right...you wanted the curved end only on the short sidesplash and a straight end on the backsplash?) I think it looks symmetrical this way, as it's the open ends that have the curved piece...not one open end and one that deadends into the wall. So, if it were me...I'd take the credit (I assume you mean a discounted price...not a credit towards something else, which possibly you don't want or need?) and feel good about it. But, as they say, advice is only worth what you pay for it!

Hello, I don't have any advice for you as I too am going through lots of backsplash woes right now. But wanted to tell you your kitchen is really nice as is! Also, for those who don't like to copy/paste the URL's, I added a link here to your PhotoBucket Album. Here is a link that might be useful: rjdavis21 Kitchen Album --Where to stop Tumbled Marble

I had a situation like yours. In the case where the uppers extended slightly further than did the counter top, the tile installer made the tile even with the edge of the upper cabinet and added a very narrow line (maybe 1/2", slightly rounded edge) of tile all the way to the floor on the outside of the lowers. I thought it looked great. Sorry, I have no photos. In the case where the counters were wider than uppers, he lined up the tile with the edge of the uppers and the tile went straight down to the counters, so the last 1/2", or so, had no tile above it. Because of the shape of the edge, this looked intentional.