Thanks for the clarification, Steff. I agree the green granite goes better with the autumn colors above. I think I just wanted to make the green granite go with it, because I like it, and because it took several beatings pretty well. But, I like the most recent backsplash better that the green granite, so I just have to find a more suitable counter. Regarding the honed absolute, it seems many others on this website say the same thing. Wonder about any other honed granites that might go well with the backsplash and not have such maintanence issues. Before I settle on the caesarstone, I do want to explore (exhaust?) the options. I saw today (here I go again), in a high end house basement laundry room, a gray concrete counter and sink that I believe would go well. However, I've read about cracking and scratching. Almost done with this particular decision... Thanks everybody.

Thanks for the nice comments, but I'm seriously thinking of scrapping the whole idea. While it's beautiful and goes perfect with the soapstone, it's like it's too refined for my "old farmhouse" kitchen. I told my husband this morning that I'd put it in a bathroom in a heartbeat, but in my kitchen, it feels like I'm letting my fancy lingerie show under my work apron . . . It's ok for a hint, but this seems too much for me. And the other problem is that I think it makes it feel like the baking center with its wood top belongs in a different kitchen. I painted my backsplash a light green to see how I would like it, and at first I loved it, but a week later the novelty has worn off and I'm finding is kind of unsettling. But that is why I painted the backsplash first - I just wasn't sure how I'd feel about that color on the walls. For that kind of money, I really have to love this look, and though I really like it, I guess I don't like it $1,000 worth LOL!! I really like the crackle look - am going to look for subway tile with the crackle finish. My floor tiles are rectagle, so the rectagle backsplash would continue that pattern, and then I'll going to see how it would work to use the border on the floor as the border on the wall. Not sure what I'll use for the inset. On Sunday afternoon, I was all ready to purchase that tile. My husband dropped off the paperwork but the Sales Lady never called me so I had time to think about it, and the more I thought, the more I started questioning. Maybe I was dealing with "I'm tired of looking and this will work" syndrome, but after a few days I got rested and felt better about looking more. Here is my floor pattern. I put this in over a year ago - before I was planning on Soapstone so now the challenge is tying the floor and countertop together - but I think it can be done. I may go as far as to remove all the middle tiles and replace them with something a bit green - I almost chose that when we did the floor, but decided the brown would work better - If only I'd known LOL! The baking center now has a white beadboard backsplash, and will eventuall have some sort of corbel type brackets to make it look more like a hutch than wall mounted cabinets. And some day a window seat will be built under the window. Here is a picture showing the soapstone next to the floor (yes, I have this pattern in the dining room too). When I look at these pictures, I get this nagging feeling I should not have got the soapstone after all . . .I hate that feeling so I really need to find a way to salvage this. That little 5" sample looked fine next to the floor, but having several feet of it on the countertop overwhelms everything else. The good part - it's only freshly oiled that is looks so intensly green (which I do love on its own) and though I oiled the sample it's a chunk that is mostly dark so it looked like it would work with the floor. My husband is not happy that I'm even considering messing with the floor, but the good part is I can do that this summer when he's out of town and he'll not know about it until I've got it all done. We've already had to bust out and replace one tile, and it's not that hard to do. Messy, but not hard. BTW- DH is colorblind to undertones in colors - so he actually does not "see" what is bothering me about the floor/countertop issue.

Ok, I came back and saw I cross posted with the mock-up and I agree - if it turns out that dramatic - you really gotta love it! I love the second mock-up with the vertical glass mosaic, but that doesn't sound like what you are going for even though it is beautiful. You have been given great ideas - and you are right. THere is no hurry, the kitchen looks great now and take your time to find what you will like looking at for years and years. I was going mad trying to pick a backsplash and then I finally - hello?! - figured out I really don't have to choose until everything is in and I can really "see" it. Turns out I stumbled across the perfect backsplash after I gave up looking! But I just got lucky. THat space really is a wonderful opportunity to do something very personal and uniquely yours. Have fun!

Hi. I love the calacatta marble. We're doing that for our island countertop & I just love the creamy white/grey/caramel. I think either of the last two you showed would look fantastic in your kitchen. The subways we are using are by Horus Art, Tiffany series in the bianco with a crackle glaze. ("borrowed" from garden webber Willowdecor!). Also-I'm happy to hear that your island is cherry. I originally wanted alder because of the way it took stain, but my cabinetmaker said it's too soft with young kids. I love the stain on your cherry, so I'm relieved.