Thanks for all of the input!!! It sounds like a pendant may not be in my future. I loved the idea of it but as I was looking at it more, I was worried that there might be too much going on there. I was having second thoughts and wanted to get opinions from all of you. Holly-Kay: we are planning on changing out the chandelier above the table to a bronze finish to tie in with the darker wood and fireplace things. But I see how a pendant above the sink might be too much. Snookums2: we removed the dark screens and it looks much better. I can't wait for everything to get started! I thought about tiling to the ceiling but wasn't sure since our cabs don't go to the ceiling. We are going to add a taller crown but nowhere near ceiling height. That may be the subject of another post. Nosoccermom: great idea about hanging a balloon. I don't have photoshop but maybe I could cut and paste something there and post again. Thanks for the suggestions!

I think rob answered you well :) Although when I think of subway tile I always think of a tile with a specific shape, which might be wrong, but i'd think of either 1x3 or 3x6 (brick shaped?) as subway and anything else as ummm something else LOL I would agree that decorating can be (and often is) individual, but there are also some rules to decorating that keep a room from falling apart visually. My kitchen is eclectic as all get out, and in looking at the art deco lighting, moose handle and inset cabs with crazy granite, you'd think I just "chose what I loved" but actually every single little piece went into a specific pattern of scale and design. WOW factors are carefully counted and defined, and limited. Jumps from design style to design style are very carefully completed by altering style or material to bring a twist to the item that pulls it towards another (ie material or finish). We all have things we love :) But if you wander around the house, and grab every one of them, and throw them in the kitchen, you are probably going to find that many don't "go" together or in the kitchen :) Red did something that to me is always a clear signal I'm heading down the wrong path decorating wise...when I have to ask "does this work" it's my instinct kicking in because it really does not work...I just want to be talked into ignoring my instinct :o) Your instinct is spot on here...you have two fab elements...but you have to choose :) And choosing the lights is the way to go!

I don't have pendents or recessed lighting - so no help there, but if you don't have under cabinet lighting, add that to your list. My under cabinet lighting is the most helpful lighting I have. At a guess, I would say 2 pendants over the island, but your lighting store should also be able to help you. It depends on what you use and if your recessed lights light up the island - then pendants aren't necessary. Change out the track light over the sink for sure.

I think you're right to shy away from stark white. or any white for that matter. this is no white anywhere in that kitchen. I wouldn't do a white subway tile of any kind. (at the bottom I posted a very creamy glazed brick tile that could work, but you'd have to get some samples. ) just to show you how ugly it is to tile on top of the back piece, and with these 2x4 white tiles, ugh. Baltic brown has the darker earthier tones. you could try basalt tiles (home depot carries them) or even black slate or maybe one like this w/the dark grout. this is a ceramic tile. (Tilebar) love the black outlets too. install under cabinet lighting if you don't have it already. coupled w/your wood cabs, this would be a striking combo black zellige tiles in the 4x4 Cloe has the 4x4 (I think lowes carries the Cloe line shown here in the subway tile) you could also do an Ivory travertine (as long it's it's the nice creamy white and not the pink tone) the color looks like this. they have it in subway tiles too this is probably the number one backsplash tile w/Baltic Brown. it's difficult to find any other type of tile used w/this granite Tilebar.com has many tiles in your color range. you get 5 samples for $5. This is Nabi Sea Wind Diff granite, but same coloring, more or less. basalt, black slate, Navi, and some sand color tiles. want a coppery glass tile? Horizons by Dal Tile in Driftwood Glazed brick from Cle'Tile The bottom one is Parchment. more of a creamier tone that might work w/your stone. if you want a white color, choose an ivory or very creamy white if you go w/the darker black tiles (which I think is a winner w/your wood cabs) paint the surrounding walls a creamy white