update-my fabricator and GC talked me into the 2 1/2 backsplash telling me that I will eventually regret not using one. I can't go higher because the beadboard crown/chair rail. I can't imagine that it will look off. I wouldn't even notice in my3dogs pic unless it was pointed out. palimpsest- just curious, you said your sink doesn't have one-is it a pedestal or vanity? My setup is a 5 ft double sink vanity with wall on left side and pony wall to shower on the right. This may change your opinion, because now I have 3 walls to protect in a squeezed in double vanity. The outlets/switches are on the right and left walls only and the placement of the framed mirror is 4" from countertop spanning the length of vanity. (I am 5'2" so like a lower mirror)

Look thru the pages linked below for lots of ideas. I've done a bath with tile wrapping around the room and trim finishing off the top about 6" above the counter top. I don't think I'd do a borderline of tile by itself around the room. Having a backsplash behind the vanity will work just as well as doing the whole room. It all depends on the look you're going for, time and money. If you end up with any gaps between the vanity and the backsplash you can glue some matching decorative 1/2-round tile at the junction. Here is a link that might be useful: backsplash

Oh dear. I am feeling so undecided. I put another coat of the Polyshades on last night and it does look nice now -- dark and even. But it definitely is "mahogany" -- deep, dark red. Not the espresso color I had envisioned. But I am now hesitant to start putting on other products and other colors. I'm worried that it will look uneven, or that I will just end up with a mess. Arg -- this is what I get for being impulsive and not doing enough research up front. Anyway, I am heading out to a music festival today, so I am going to take a break from obsessing about stain and see how I feel when I get home. Maybe I will just put the new hardware in and see how I feel about it once the tile is in. The overall impression of the room is more important than the precise shade of stain on the vanity, right? Although -- I suspect that I will have a hard time finding a wall cabinet (for over the vanity) to match this stain color -- I've looked around and there is a lot of "espresso" and white (and still a bit of golden oak). Maybe a "cherry" cabinet would co-ordinate, if not match. Anyway, I need to get my mind off all this for a few hours. Have a good weekend, everyone!

If you’re not worried about the wood counter then I’m honestly getting a wallpaper vibe. Something with a white background and a lot of negative space, maybe a large scale print. Not really busy, but whatever your taste is (floral, geometric, striped) and then look for a simplified version of it. I also like the idea of wide panel woodwork, vertical or horizontal, because I think it would contrast nicely with your tile. You can definitely do a tile backsplash but I think it’s a little more complicated on the vanity wall next to the shower because you have to choose more carefully. Since they are next to each other, there’s the consideration of how much of the wall you do in relationship to the shower, and then consider the other vanity. I think you can be more creative if you opt to do something different altogether. I’m not a huge fan of accent niches but honestly as far as they go it’s a good choice! A white wallpaper with some kind of fineline black print would look great with the tile and the wood. Something about lower tile back splashes right against a full tile wall is a little harder for me. I’m having a hard time with this one in one of my projects and I have found I generally like switching materials altogether instead of breaking up the wall. Also, i love bathrooms with little quirks and I have a feeling whatever mistakes you made you will still love this one in 20 years.