Moccasinlanding, thank you - I wondered if I could just take a picture of it. Now, however, the deadline has passed and I'VE DECIDED WHAT I'M DOING. Whew! Actually I didn't decide. I told my contractor who showed up this morning that I CAN'T DECIDE and am going completely crazy out of my head bonkers not being able to decide between stainless w/ marble subway backsplash or soapstone w/ beige subway backsplash. So I told him to decide for me and I'd be happy either way (and if not happy, it would be default tell me that I really wanted the other thing)! So HE chose stainless w/ marble. He said black counters are too ubiquitous these days, and dark (potentially depressing), and that we can add more warmth by replacing our kitchen island top with butcher block (it's currently stainless). To answer your question about our floors, they're wood. Yesterday I found an interesting online piece about a woman's original 1912 or 1913 kitchen - showing pictures - having one counter w/ steel on it. It appears to me to be zinc or pewter, and it was in a pantry-type room that had U-shaped counters, the connecting counter being the metal one. The other two were made of old dark wood. Stainless was invented in 1913 (amazing how many things were - including refrigerators!) and so I feel good enough about doing a period kitchen in stainless as long as all else looks old-fashioned for the most part. And as long as I can contrast w/ lots of warmth in other ways - particularly re. wood. The marble should help w/ that too I hope. Can you tell I'm trying to convince not just you guys but myself, too? ;) Here's the link that shows that woman's original 1913 kitchen (I can't help but feel sad that she changed it - and also some of her choices - but to each her own. Plus she wrote that it was meant to be a temporary fix only): http://www.fromtimespast.com/RestorationJournalTheKitchen.htm Third pic down shows the metal which you can see much better if you use your computer to zoom in on it.

hostagrams - Ouch! I am so sorry that sounds incredibly painful! I don't know if you saw my follow-up but Oceanside is having a really big problem with their Geologie line. My new tile came in and the rep at the tile showroom called to tell me it was cleaner than the original but still had something on it when she held it up to the light. She called her Oceanside rep who she says was mortified and asked her to get it wet and see if it was sticky. It was. She asked him what they are doing differently since this has never been a problem before. He admitted the line has always been a problem because the paper doesn't adhere well to the slate tiles and so they have been trying new adhesives - obviously it is not working ;-) THey are paying to have the tile shipped back so they can clean every sheet of my tile by hand. I inspected my other mosaic and it also does have something that shows through - but it is a brown glass tile so it is not as obvious. Anyway, since the one of your choices has very light tile if you do go with it inspect it VERY carefully! THe good news is they are taking responsibility and will pay for installation. EVeryone thinks the backsplash is stunning at first glance and I love the overall look - but this has been a bit of a pain. It seems like the cost for getting my perfect bathrooms was a number of issues with my kitchen - the countertop was fabricated incorrectly of the last 2 slabs of a discontinued Ice stone color - I managed to get the fabrication cost deducted which will help my frame of mind considerably every time I notice the problem :-) I am waiting for the cabinet maker to remake ALL of the integrated appliance fronts - he did not bother to re-measure after the appliances were installed and made them all too short - fridge and wine cooler edges/hinges show - big gap between the dishwasher and the cabinet - just nuts. He had too measure anyway and now he has to do the work again - what a waste of time. THe joys of remodeling - but at least I didn't break anything. Hope you are up and around soon!

lindybarts - mine will be very similar, except 6x6 layed on a diagonal, like kailuamom . I ordered the 6x6 but the 2x2 "dots", because I want them to match the floor dots and the "floral" pattern I have in the floor doesn't come any larger.... or so says Daltile. stnjan - I don't have tan brown granite, but mine is verde butterfly, which is pretty dark. I'm like terriks, I wash it down with soap and water, rinse and then wipe with microfiber cloth. Most nights it just wet rag and then wipe it with micro cloth. The micro cloth leaves a streak-free shine! terriks - I love your backsplash also. I remember you posting that you did it yourself. I'm very impressed!!! THANKS for posting your great backsplash! Christy

I know. I saw a show on Oklahoma Catfish Noodling once on TV. I thought that everyone would think that all Oklahoma people were rednecks with no front teeth and that all went catfish noodling. Geez! I have never heard of Tiger King so I looked it up. Holy cow! Mullets, tattoos, piercings, missing teeth...that is what some parents look like. Some kids go to school with Mohawk haircuts and mullets still and are as proud as can be of those haircuts. Or reverse mohawks! Seriously! Yes, meth is bad in this part of the state, but probably all over Oklahoma in rural areas where law enforcement...well, I won't finish that comment! This is a republican, good-old-boy state! You probably know who they voted for president the last time. My electrician moved to another part of Oklahoma because of "too many druggies, deadbeats who won't pay, and the local sheriffs." His words, not mine. Thank goodness, most Oklahomans are not like the Tiger King.