We bought ours from a granite/tile place (who also installed it). The shops like that will let you take home a few samples at a time to feel them out. You take them back when you're ready to order or if you need to change out samples cause none of those worked. You can get sample from Lowes or Home Depot, but you have to buy them. I don't know their refund policy, but I bet they'll take back all the ones you end up not using.

I'd probbaly prefer to have something there at the desk -- if not the tin, maybe a fabric covered message board -- the kind with ribbons that can hold notes or photos. I like the phone out of the way, but I'd also like the look of puttin it down on the desk and having a message board across the entire area. Whatever you decide, you might just want to live with it for a bit and see how it works for you. It will be easy enough to do when you decide. The tin splash is a nice look and does compliment your sink. I considered tin for our kitchen, but it just didn't seem right here.

Oh my -- do you have to pick so theoretically? That is, can you get much of the other stuff up and running so that you can see the context a little better, set the tiles up against the counter with the floor in sight and choose *then*? ~one who's expert at delaying choices as long as possible. Speaking of which, it's pulls-time....

Thank you for your help! I have found a local stone center that will be able to provide me with the side splashes in about a week. :D I didn't even think about looking there so thank you everyone!