That's what brings my kids together. I prefer them working together against me that all the chaos of them fighting each other. At least they are learning to organize and cooperate. And it's not like they can defeat me anyway. ;o) Once in a while they'll all get so mad at me they shut themselves off in one kid's room... and clean it! Oh the horror! It goes something like "Oh, Mom is so mean! I'll come help you, that'll get her!"

I really like the Crossville tiles but perhaps a different shape than those squares - what are they 6x6? They have got to have a huge range of shapes and sizes just looking at the website pic you posted. Do some combination of big and small with a detailed row to keep it from being boring. Your kitchen has a rustic, earthly feel to it so maybe 6x6's are the way to go instead of the more trendy subway shape. I wouldn't do 4x4's though. They look year 2000 to me and your kitchen it too beautiful to date it. I would probably put the 6x6 squares on a diagonal though. To me, it looks much better - more interest and movement without being crazy and certainly not boring or static like a grid. I think the smaller brick shape *is* more modern even though it is still a subway shape. It's the smaller shape that makes it feel that way. And the tiles Olandy posted are gorgeous too but the scale is too small. 1x1's get really busy in a large space. Personally, it would make me dizzy while standing at the sink. Have you looked at Sonoma Tile Makers? I know someone posted their a link to their tantrum glass tiles but they have a huge range of basic colors that come in all different shapes and really neat decorative tiles. We used them for our bathroom three years ago and I did a combination of decorative 1x8's as a border, 4x4's, and 6x6's. If you are interested I'll try to take some tiles pictures and post later. I admit I haven't read all your backsplash threads so I might not know the vibe you are going for and these could be way off but here are some ideas from houzz. I did read you are drawn to simple and plain, tonal tile but are you worried all together it will be too boring? If so, why not just add a "little something" over the cooktop or behind the sink or both to give it just a touch of interest without going over board. Here are some ideas and maybe these all have too much going on for you but you could limit the "extras" to whatever amount you are comfortable with. The field tile in all of these is very calming and tonal though. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/english-tudor-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-portland-phvw-vp~131656) [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by portland kitchen and bath Robin Rigby Fisher CMKBD/CAPS [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-backsplash-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~852438) [traditional spaces design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-home-design-ideas-phbr1-bp~s_2107) by new york tile stone and countertop Portico Tile & Fixtures, Inc. [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/showroom-display-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~96089) [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Venegas and Company Certainly not these colors but maybe something like it in what works with your kitchen colors: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/aston-road-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~87928) [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Venegas and Company [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/sen-design-kitchen-and-bath-professionals-traditional-kitchen-san-diego-phvw-vp~73516) [eclectic kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by san diego photographer Chipper Hatter Architectural Photographer

The seedling caught my eye before I pulled it out of the bed, irawon. I was just walking around, taking pictures, pulling tiny weeds out of the beds and almost pulled it out. I looked around to find more, and there are tons of em coming up under and around where Dick Ward, Christmas Tree and Gosan Sunproof are growing. This one is just kind of novel to me because it's the first seedling I've ever discovered growing among my hostas. Of the seedlings I looked at closely, this one definitely seemed to have the most substance. Super-tiny, that "stick" in the picture is a pine needle. Hostas are fun : )

I know this is an old thread, but I'm looking into Snowcap for my kitchen. How is it holding up? Would you be will to post another picture of the counter and backsplash together? Thanks!