I believe that this particular line of tile is outside of their normal line and made exclusively for Lowes. The color is not the same as their normal line of tile and they just don't make some of the pieces. They CAN special order anything you can get at a regular tile store - ie AO's ice white subway tile (with all of the accessory pieces), but at about 6 times the price of their gloss white in stock subway tiles (more expensive than local tile stores). Lowes "gloss white" is not available anywhere but Lowes and only in the pieces they stock. Believe me, I went several rounds with them on this in more than one store. What they have in stock is what they have for their very inexpensive line of tile. kaypeakay, have you priced out just using daltile rittenhouse square for the whole project? I've seen some really great prices on that stuff posted here. For some reason AO (except in stock at Lowes) is much more expensive. Maybe you won't have to mismatch.

First off, I'm not an expert. But I do have an opinion, so take it as you will! 1. I have a slight preference for #1 because I think it might be better with the cabinet colour and my gut agrees with yours that the matte look is probably better. It might help if you could get a photo with the cabinet in as well? And my personal preference is the larger tile size of #1 as well. 2/3. I actually think the photo you have included of the glass tile alone is really pretty, though as stated above I personally have a preference for larger tiles. I wouldn't necessarily put it in my kitchen, but I would be able to appreciate it in someone else's. In the end it really depends on whether or not YOU (or your DH) find it busy. The fact that you are asking makes me thing one of you does. In that case my first thought would be to do as badgergal did and orient the tile vertically behind the cooktop only, then use your other choice between the counter and uppers everywhere else. I thought it was really stunning there... Or I might consider putting the glass tile as an accent strip, similar to the model home but following the lines of the upper border rather than just a straight line across the back Not sure if your travel schedule will include down time in airports and such, but it might help to actually colour your mock ups for the backsplash to see how you feel about the busy-ness of the tile. Any crayons or coloured pencils kicking around? It might not take you too long, and might help in the end. Good luck, hth mmhmm

Have you considered dropping the traditional realtor and using a flat-fee MLS service if one is available to you? This is more work on your part, but the two strong benefits are that you have some control over what's going on, and you can save money. We recently sold our home after some 90 DOM. Listed with a flat-fee from day one, we had plenty of showings but no offers. I kept on top of the visits, calling each realtor back for feedback (some were helpful, some not). Using feedback, we made minor tweaks. We staged the home ourselves, using (selectively) ideas from GW and other sources. But your real feedback may come from friends and family who actually see the house and visit it. One such told us to wash the roof and get a virtual tour (with ~60 pictures). We did so, spending $500 in total, all along wondering if it was money wasted. Two weeks later, offer in hand (which closed, btw) we didn't wonder any more. I don't want to oversimplify things. Different things will work for different people and different homes, and sometimes you don't know just what DOES work... maybe it's just dumb luck. But... IF you can stay on top of it, have reasonable physical access to the house (we moved only 8 miles away), and don't mind doing the work, you at least KNOW what is being done. It's the same sort of reason why I learned to change the oil in my own car, after two experiences where the "new" oil was black, and I paid for synthetic and couldn't be sure what was in there (yes, two different places). As the old adage goes, "if you want it done right, do it yourself". Of course this can't apply to everything in life, but what real value does a listing realtor bring besides putting your home on FMLS? Can they convert a looker to a buyer? Can they bring in buyers when none exist? Some might think so, but let's see the proof. Advice? It's available for free, as you can see. I know that sometimes a selling realtor can talk her buyer into buying a specific home, but is the reason for the buyer's benefit or the realtor's? Is the realtor tired of showing them homes and starts to lean on one that seems just ok? Is it the 4% commish on that home? Remember, NO ONE wants your success the way you do. Watch warily over everyone else, even those that seem to have no benefit one way or another. My buyer told me he had tried contacting the listing agent for the home for sale next to mine. Very similar, same builder, close in price. The agent failed to return two calls from him, so he figured they weren't that interested. But when he called my flat-fee agent, who contacted us immediately, we got back to him in 30 minutes and were showing the home the next day. That other home is still on the market, with DOM in triple digits. The poor sap of an owner probably has no idea, unless his new neighbor tips him off! I figure many will rebut my comments, no problem... I am saying what I think and all are of course free to do likewise. But this thread is not about any of us or our opinions... it's about YOUR home, YOUR money, YOUR time. Sit down and think long and hard about what has happened so far and what you'd like to see happen, and to what extent you can influence it. To what extent can others influence it? How can you help them to influence it? Think and act, and be selective about which advice you follow (including this one!)

Upgrades without context, which is often how they are applied. is not necessarily the right thing to do. And many buyers will respond to it because they are attracted to shiny new objects. A house I made an offer in in 2011 recently came on the market. One of the previous owners had owned it from 1810 until the 1920s. One from 1931 until 2011. Unchanged floorplan, many original details, changes that were made tread lightly on the original house. Yes, the bathroom and kitchen which had been added on to the original house at the back were awkward. But the most recent owners essentially gutted it, and aside from some original floors and a mantlepiece, it is chock full of 5 inch crown molding, chair rail, marble in the bathrooms, and all sorts of things it never ever had. Ruined, completely ruined. It could have been much worse, yes. Buyers will love it because it looks just like Houzz and Pinterest inside.