I would consider having two square tiles put in the backsplash at the location of the taps. The escutcheons of your faucet would rest on these "pads", and the 3d backsplash tiles would be cut around the squares. Keeping the tiles clean, now that is another matter!

We are planning a much needed renovation of our 1976 kitchen. The white laminate countertop is in perfect shape. Though there is a slate tile countertop for the cooktop counter, there is a a thin white laminate backsplash 4" away from the cooktop. Granted it's an electric coil cooktop, but still. The laminate is also perfect. And the original 1950s laminate countertop is in the basement. Though the metal cabs have rusted under the countertop, the laminate still looks good -- 20 plus years in a family kitchen then 40 years as a basement work space.

We are finishing our basement and in one area there will be small bar. It's basically a niche that is 24" deep x 55" long and then a peninsula that will be 24x72. I've chosen the cabinets from IKEA - flat white (the cheapest ones because they're all hidden behind the bar). I'm going to do quartz countertops in white (probably "organic white" which has some movement to it.) I want to do floating shelves in the niche and would ideally want to use the white LACK shelves from IKEA ($15 each). I'm very drawn to the brass hardware that I see on Pinterest so I'm thinking of splurging on the Delta Trinsic faucet and these brass Anthropologie pulls (provided they are the same color - if not I can get different pulls). I am thinking I should use a white sink rather than stainless -- trying to do a drop in rather than an undermount since it will save $300. Then I'm thinking of splurging on some tile for the backsplash in the niche, to go behind the white floating shelves. I love the combination of navy, white and brass so I was thinking of a navy shimmer tile (see pic). But is that going to convey the look I like in the navy inspiration photo -- or will it more convey 'Vacation in Greece'? I can skip a tile backsplash completely (keep the painted wall). Or I could do a carrera basketweave or chevron tile (love the chevron but is it kind of 'out' already)? Does the brass hardware work in this space? Any thoughts or opinions on any of this especially the backsplash are appreciated. I'm attaching some photos. Please note the final lighting isn't installed yet so it appears a bit darker/more dingy than it will be when it's done. THANKS! Tx!

I am turning the entire back of the dining area into storage by effectively extending the kitchen but it will have more of a furniture look with glass doors on the upper middle cabinets with glass shelves and lighting. blondanonima - I do think you are right that somehow a flat counter seems forced into a kitchen area that wasn't meant to have one level expanse. I've only seen one unit in which it seemed as though the one level unit was meant to be in that space and that person took down all the soffits - and since those soffits contain HVAC ducts, that is a bridge too far for me :-). I am incorporating the soffits into the design of the kitchen which now has a standard hideous dropped ceiling with fluorescent lights above with a coved ceiling. The soffits will be reworked with lighting both up to accent the ceiling and ambient for good lighting. I will also have under counter lighting. dtrivino - I am pretty sure of my eclectic taste :-) and much as I would love a pink refrigerator from Big Chill, it's just one of many design elements I love but have to forego such as recycled glass concrete counters - again amazing but would like ridiculous. aziline The stove (along with other elements of my current kitchen hovel was difficult to replace as each element taken out would have required something else to be done - the stove would have required new cabinetry and the people who installed my old wood floor had installed the wood in front of part of it. There was so much dysfunction that I had to wait until it could be gutted because fixing or replacing one element was too difficult. I did replace the DW because those are all standard 24" openings. The stove served me very well in terms of function as I really honed my cooking and baking skills over the years and there really isn't anything that I didn't make - about the only thing it couldn't do was really high heat wok cooking but I don't think any non-professional stove without at least a wok burner has that capability. I'm attaching pictures of the proposed design of the new kitchen. As you can see the "stove/oven" wall will be one wall of cabinets. Because it extends into the dining area, I want it to have somewhat more of a look of furniture which is why I think I will go with inset doors with very discreet hinges. Cabinets will be frameless so that my drawers can maximize interior space. Those upper cabinets with inset doors would not be a big issue in terms of storage as I currently have framed boxes and just fit plates or whatever behind the frames somewhat so that the interior interior space is used. And the design of that thing over the sink is NOT the design I would opt for. It's just there as a place keeper. If you look at the picture of the short china cabinet, I have the same type of visual demarcation using an old stained glass window I rescued years ago. This is my floor plan This is floor plan WITHOUT the cabinet replacing the bar space This is my approved design for cabinets which shows the cabinets extending into the dining area. This is the approved cabinet design for the "sink" wall showing an elevated ledge and backsplash. I am having a paneled French door refrigerator installed - the KA or equivalent Jennair which is 72" instead of the standard 69". More storage interior and if I ever swap refrigerators, the shorter one would fit into the higher space anyway. Slightly off topic but the design now has the French Door Refrigerator abutting a wall which frames the entrance from the foyer of the apartment to the kitchen. I am concerned about it opening adequately. It requires 10" of clearance to open 125º and 3" to open 90º which would enable all drawers to be pulled out. I am thinking of having the wall cut down so that there is no obstruction at all for the refrigerator door as there would be a much wider opening and no wall. Structurally this is fine as my interior walls are non-load bearing and are just there to create enclosed areas. Again, that decorative thing is NOT the design at all but just put in as a place marker to indicate something will go there that is not a wall but still somewhat blocks the kitchen visually.