I definitely don't want wood, but thanks for the suggestion. I'm a little bummed tonight because I went to buy a sample of the tile backplash I liked, but the shade of the current batch has more beige brown in it and I liked the charcoal greys that were more prominent. I was too delayed in buying it! Anyway, I did some looking and decided that Corian is not an option in a darker color. Didn't like it. Can't use laminate because of the undermount sink. Lab counters don't sound like a great fit. I think they might be too dark also. Here's my options I think: 1)Honed Granite: if I want to risk the staining issues. No scratching or heat worries right? Perfect color choice. 2)Quartz: risk of chemical stains, risk of heat damage from griddles, slow cookers. No scratches, perfect color choice. 3)Stainless: No staining, heat damage, and scratches only add to the look. Not a perfect color choice. 4)Soapstone: Great color, not staining, no heat damage. Chips easily? It would appear that stainless is a great option for the durability but I really want a tile backsplash. I liked the look of marble mosaic because the pattern was small and from a distance, it would look uniform. I want to look somewhat industrial but not 100%. My floor tile looks like a rusty metal. In the daylight, depending on the angle, it is very reflective, like an old mirror. Without daylight, it has the copper/bronze color more. It is the most awesome tile!! But, I want some warmth. I will have tongue and groove ceiling painted to match the cabs. So would stainless counters be too much metallic? Would they work with a darker tile backsplash. I also like a 1x2 multicolor slate backsplash or something like these: http://www.missionstonetile.com/products/17-Tabarka/tabarka-med-10 Here's my faucet and sink too: How do these compare to each other in price. I have no idea. We supposedly are able to get less expensive AB granite here because it is quarried locally.

These are my pics of my countertops placed Friday June 22, 2018. I cried looking at these seams. It looks so cheap. Fabricator explains that's the way it comes. I explained that I shouldn't be able to see the seams so clearly. It looks so unprofessional. They ended up taking them back to their warehouse. In hopes they say if it is quality control will try and fix it just to make it look better. Otherwise I will have to pay an additional fee for them to come out again to install. I just don't know what to do and if still looks the same. This is the first time I've replaced my counters in 24 years. I don't and can't live with it. looking at this for another 24 years. It looks so cheap and it really was not it's a lot of money to me. I hope fingers crossed that they will fix this problem. They never told me that there would be such seams. I thought the edges were done by a machine and it would be all one piece. I have read up on this and now understand there are seams. But now I do know that they should not look like this. If they are good fabricator you shouldn't be able to see them so clearly. I will find out next week what happens.

Heatheron40, very nice. I asked a question about doing a tile countertop in our guest cabin recently as I feel like the look would complement the cabin aesthetic. Also I’m dying to learn to tile and thought it would be a fun place to start as it’s not an everyday space and I could take my time. Most of the responses were against. Basically stating the grout would make me crazy. The guy at the said what you’re saying I think, he said that modern grouts are more resistant to staining and such, and also to go with a tinted grout of some sort. I love your use of pattern to give it interest and intention!

Ok.. i kno thay im ab two y too l, but i have a relative personal expexperience to share! i am a single mom of 2 teens & after hurricane Florence hit our town, i got an SBA loan to make repairs & update a few things on my wish list. But after getting duped a couple of very shady ”contractors” i was left w/ out of $ & a house in shambles. Over the past 2 years, I have taught myself how to install lights, ceiling fans, ceramic & glass tile, plus drywall, mudding, caulking & painting in every room.. all 2,800 sq ft of it. Anyway, my house was all shades of poo when i bought it.. a reddish-brown pergo floor, dark brown, tan eggshell walls, dark brown cabinets & the UGLIEST brown & black faux granite-looking laminate. I’d planned on getting granite or quartz, but that was prior to being swindled out of almost $68,000! My budget on E, i did my research on an alternate solution & went w/ the Giani paint kit. However, i too read the reviews & knew the glitter topcoat wouldnt last in my house, so i bought a few boxes of epoxy resin & taught myself how to use that too cause i hadnt a clue! i had my issues along the way, ie: sticky batches, uneven application, kids touching it before dry, etc.. but i am happy w/ them. Now idk how realistic they actually look, but I had few people ask if id gotten new counters, & others reach out to touch them, not believing they werent “real”, but Epoxied over painted laminate. Gianis claim of it being “a wkend“ project is BULLSHH & I much perferr the outcome of my own application technique, over what their instructions offer.. but to each their own, right!? Sanded, then SCRUBBED COUNTERS CLEAN Giani White Diamond kit Glitter Topcoat Epoxy Resin, sand where necessary, clean, repeat.. i personally dont like a super high gloss, so i went over them w, an 800 grit sandpaperjust to tome ghat down a bit & i can still see the topcoat sparkling underneath. i also bought several nice trivets to guard against hot items , Blue & red will leave stain if let to sit ill try to post a few before/ after photos Original color palette Did the hallway built in too