There are lots of durable and functional cabinets out there. I looked at and liked Cliq Studios, if you want framed. Your existing cabs are a fairly common design, should be easy to find something very close. I agree you should start out at Home Depot or Lowe's. You may find just what you want in your budget. For your countertop, you should be able to come up with a sq. ft. amount of counter space, then you can compare prices per sq.ft. Home Depot has an online countertop calculator to estimate countertops, using their selection of materials and prices. I found it very useful. Be careful that a 25" wide countertop doesn't block your doorway even more, leave plenty of room to get around the counter and through the door. I personally wouldn't like the look of mixing acrylic backsplash with quartz. As to granite, I have been told that there is more permanent type sealer available now, doesn't need redoing every year. And, at least in my area, it can be very economical, far less than any acrylic (a limited choice of stone at that low end, though)

I agree with GD that this doesn't sound like the guy you want for tile work. If this contractor is doing the other portions of your remodel himself then I'd tell him I prefer the tile work be subbed out. Red flags start going up for me whenever a contractor tells someone what he's willing to do vs finding a way to build what you want. Charges per square foot can vary depending on where you live, and I find an upcharge of $400 to be high for 20 sq ft. I think he's quoting that because he doesn't want to deal with the design. I've installed my share of tile and don't find a brick pattern to be 6x more difficult than a straight. I'm not a professional but anyone who understands tile can figure out the design without much difficulty. I suggest you visit some tile stores (not big box) and ask for referrals for installers. Then have them come out and bid the job.

they sound interesting enough to me, being crackled and having variation. larger size might work..what size you consider? Gray is already considered dated lol. Makes no sense to me personally as all this dated thing is a new concept I'm still struggling with-how a color can be dated? but in terms of what happens in trends etc-it's on its way out, yes. they move into warmer tones. they're still into greiges for now to bridge between things a bit. white is becoming big as a neutral. wood stains are making a big comeback. this update on trends can go on and on but i'm sure you can find thousand threads here discussing it so i'll make it short. if you're really worried-it might be you're simply are not attached to a color enough. which is okay, really. then pick off-white. off white is pretty. Even very much so. I like both off whites and grays(I do have preference for much warmer grays though) so I have off whites and warm grays. And many other colors too since I love them too. I commit by choosing something of course,-but it's fine since commitment, paradoxically, is a road to freedom:) But I admit I was also worrying when choosing..well choosing everything except for stuff like toilets etc. Of course one worries, it's a hassle and an expense and you want to love it in the end. So. Try to worry less. If you can remove "dated" from the equation- great. Go with your heart's desire. If no-then ok, take it into equation and don't do gray. Worry less. You did a great job on everything else, so no reason to think your backsplash won't turn out well either. It will.

Skip the Hardi please; it's a backsplash. Don't make any complicated tile details.