Blogger Thrifty Decor Chick's kitchen: I *think* this is pirula's kitchen (but if so I forgot to name it properly): The trim between the counter and backsplash here seems like it would help with the crumb problem deedles noted: This GWer's kitchen was featured on the show "I Hate My Kitchen", but I can't remember her name! Another GW kitchen with trim between beadboard and counter (WillTV, I believe): And so far as another alternative to tile, how about paint? Increase the pop of your wall color: I've heard of using glass panels with the back painted, too. The blog House on Ashwell Lane has some cool tile alternatives, including this stenciled backsplash and blackboard backsplash: Here is a link that might be useful: No Tile Backsplash Ideas from House on Ashwell Lane blog

I don't know why circuspeanut's list has: quartzite - solid surface Quartzite is a natural stone. It is Corian that is usually called solid surface. Quartzite is sometimes sold as granite though more and more places are labeling it as quartzite. It can be white/grey looking similar to marble or have brilliant colors and dramatic patterns. It's composed mainly of quartz, harder than granite and on average more expensive than granite. If the stone is totally quartzite, it doesn't etch, but some white quartzite apparently has something calcium based mixed in and does etch. I'd also suggest going to a few granite yards and wandering around if you haven't already. A lot of the ubiquitous granite uses the safe boring granites. There are more interesting ones.

I have a chandelier that has a rod like ctycdm shows in the first picture. It came with two 6" and two 12 inch stems (.5" diameter) that could be threaded together for the length needed. According to the manufacturer the pivoting piece at the ceiling allows for a 45 degree max stem tilt. Something like that should be able to work for your sloped ceiling.

I wanted yellow walls, and we chose Benjamin Moore's "Rich Cream," which actually reads as light yellow in our kitchen space. I really wanted yellow, and all the ones I tried were too bright (highligher bright) until I tried the Rich Cream, which was perfect: warm, soft, yellow. So all this to say, even if you choose another color of the rainbow than yellow, it is important to try the trial cans in your space before choosing the shade, because differences in lighting impact the color seen. We love it, and after our upcoming kitchen remodel, plan to repaint the same color!