OK, no pictures yet, but here is where we are at: 1) Installed beadboard (the wood stuff that comes in 6" (or so) tongue and groove strips. 2) It was a pain for our contractor to get it all laid in tight with no seams etc. Cost us more than I had hoped, but still worth it. 3) Painted with oil base primer 4) One coat of oil based topcoat in the same color as our cabinets. It looks very good - we think the verticals in the beadboard go nicely with the vertically fluted columns (which I didn't think would work so well at all). We had bought some Utilitech LED under cabinet lights from Lowes and we returned these as they were 1) not dimmable and 2) Kinda ugly. We are looking to purchase a different set of "softer light" dimmable LED lights so we will only have "landing strip" illumined countertops when DW really wants everything "lit up". Our hope is that with dimmable "soft white" under cabinet LEDs the white beadboard will give us what we want (not too bright, and predictable) until we have time to replace the Staron countertops with some sexy granite or soapstone and a different backsplash. I promise to post pics after the final coat of oil piant and after UC LEDs are in place! At this point we really think the beadboard looks nicer than we had hoped esp. for an interim solution.

Yikes! Sorry I missed these responses! Starpooh - Thanks for asking! I'll get over to do that soon! Megpie - We LOVE our soapstone. Now, having said that, I will tell you that we have a softer variety of soapstone that is easier to scratch. We have scratched it but covering it will oil makes the scratches disappear. There are several spots in our kitchen that get heavy use and are more prone to scratching, but it doesn't bother us. I only mention it because if you think that scratches might bother you... this may not be the best material for you. There are also harder varieties of soapstone, so you might want to pick up some samples and try them out. Oh... and a big soapstone surprise for us was it's wonderful defrosting quality! Nice! Steff - Thanks for your kind words. Ripping out the first backsplash was a terribly difficult decision, but looking back, it was the right one. :)

Not sure why it duplicated my post or how to delete it? Lynn2006 - Thanks to beekeeperswife's tips, we used Latricrete's Perma Color in bright white. We had to get it at a local tile store since they don't carry it at Lowes or HD. One bag was $17 on special :) We barely had enough, but mainly because we wasted a bunch in the beginning trying to figure out the best way to grout.

Info for those thinking of DIYing but have no idea of costs or materials All DIY except Countertops… Cost Breakdown and supplies (This total will be more for you if you do not have tools) Cabinets: Conestoga Craftsman line, I ordered them painted, stained and glazed but bought an extra gallon of everything which added a few hundred to total (will use for next project). All plywood boxes, solid wood doors, solid wood shelving, dovetail drawers with ¾” wood bottoms and Blumotion hardware.. Also, pull-out spice cabs, pull-out single garbage, trim molding ect… We did RTA due to having to customize all sizes for corners and wanting quality wood. Price includes shipping $8,450.00 This is what your house will look like http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/stove/?action=view¤t=p1010154.jpg" target="_blank"> Under counter TR angled plug strips- Task Lighting, $496.00 Under counter LED’s- Ledpro on Ebay or(Photonier) $225.00 This is what it looks like http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view¤t=lcdangledplugs004.jpg" target="_blank"> Sink- C Tech 16 gauge single bowl back drain - ebay $289.00 Soap dispenser deck_ Mountain Plumbing $42.00 Backsplash- Buytile & Island stone trim $631.89 Stainless backsplash- Frigo Designs $189.00 Knobs & Pulls- Amerock $195.46 includes extra’s Mirror’s for doors & install $194.00 Refrigerator- KitchenAid (got $554 back on Florida Energy rebate) $1,840.00 Light Pendant- Tvstands.com $326.56 Never MT $17.?? Countertops and install $3,955.00 (w/leftovers) Total with supplies (I have around 1,300 in supplies receipts but do not think husband turned them all in). I’m going to add an extra $300 So Total around $18, 449 not including stools Tools, what we didn’t have we borrowed from husbands place of employment We kept and reused all working appliances: stove, microwave and faucet. We kept existing floor. We also used some of existing paint. We kept cost of brackets/corbels down by using stock molding to match doors on pull-out upper spice doors; we routed out the inside to fit over brackets…Like this http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view¤t=countersupportsandboyspicture001.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view¤t=countersupportsandboyspicture006.jpg" target="_blank"> What it looks like standing up http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view¤t=moldingsupports003.jpg" target="_blank"> I hope this helps those just starting the kitchen journey 