Hi. Welcome! I like the look of cream and white. I see it in a lot of the pictures I've looked at of other people's magnificent kitchens. I'm sure if you Google for images or check out http://www.houzz.com you'll probably see something that may help you get an idea of what your combo would look like together. Try the link below for posting pics. There's lots of good information there for new posters, such as myself and you. In that message there is a link on how to post pics. Here is a link that might be useful: New Member Information Post

I'm not sure how dark that granite is. From one picture on the web, it looked kind of medium colored. We have a fairly dark granite backsplash and really like it. Our cabinets are natural cherry so they aren't dark. We really like it and we don't find that it makes the kitchen dark. It is less than 18" of the 8' wall height. We did it partly for easy maintenance (no grout), partly because we really like our granite and this features it more, and partly because we liked the continuity. We also used the granite for the window sill and the pass through shelf outside the kitchen (this picture has the temporary black wallplate, I don't have one taken showing the shelf taken after we put in the granite wallplate covers):

Whew! Busy weekend and not much computer time left over so I could reply back to all the replies. Wow, thank you all!! I am afraid that I don't have the greatest outlook right now. I talked to the fabricator this morning. He is still pretty certain the granite bench piece is not going to come out in a manner that will allow it to be reused. UGH! Hopefully after a job they are on now they will have time to stop by tonight and take a look and do some measurements. I don't want to think about the alternative. :*( Angie_DIY- Wow, you have been through the ringer as well with trying to decide the best option for you and your kitchen. I agree with the thought to get what YOU like. I wish I had spent more time making a decision the first time around. I saw a backsplash in Bedrosian's when I first chose my granite about 4 months before it was put in. It was in a mock kitchen with the same granite as mine and a similar backsplash. I thought I scored when I saw that and all my choice was made. Didn't even dawn on me that the cabinets were cream vs. my dark stain, etc., and that things might not look the same. ;-/ drbeanie2000- and if they did mention it they shouldn't be offended by your obvious eye roll because they deserved it! LOL breezygirl- are you going to do a backsplash in the rest of your kitchen? For some reason I thought I read here that you intended not to. I think it looks gorgeous without. Very clean and streamlined. I have pondered over your kitchen many times in the last six months. I love the drawings on the wall...so precious. ;) And yes, I will certainly consider a 4" backsplash vs. a 6". I love the look of a 2" however with two messy male teenagers in the kitchen at all hours of the day I think that 2" wouldn't be enough of a shield to their messes. Another reason that white cabinets weren't an option. I spend enough time wiping fingerprints off the wall, doors and light switches. Who knew basketballs could be so dirty? O_o ellendi - thanks for thinking of me. :) What would you do instead if you had a chance to do it over? I know you feel that your granite is a bit dark but what your hubby preferred, is this correct? Would you even entertain using the Rixi again yet with a different granite...? Would you go with a lighter GO granite or something different? Just curious. kailuamom- what a lovely and spacious kitchen! Your granite looks similar to mine - what is it called? IowaCommute- welllllll we're not so sure it will be able to come up. My fingers are crossed...and my toes. Where are you in the process of your kitchen and counters? hags00 - the spot factor on a more solid color of granite or quartz was an absolute concern for me as well. Prior to the island we had a table with a glass top. For five years I windexed that thing several times a day. It's such a blessing when the waterspots, etc., can remain hidden somewhat and only need to be cleaned once a day! iroll- spills going down the back of the cabinets is a very valid concern! So interesting that they tiled the walls but not the backsplash. Trends sure do change. What we have right now along the bottom 3 inches is a non-grouted round faced onyx mosaic. I am constantly wiping crumbs that get caught in 'valley' areas where the curve of each tile meets. Not to mention one wine glass spill and down the back of the cabinets it will go. I need to figure this whole thing out sooner than later....

Hey, Cloud! Is yours the blue kitchen, by chance?! When they did the first installation and I had my doubts, I start searching GW and found someone's beautiful blue kitchen w/ full granite backsplash, and I was indeed trying to find shots of well done installs. I couldn't quite find a close-in shot among your earlier photos...thanks so much. So helpful. My two windows are undercabinet cutouts (about 4-5" of space between window bottoms and counter), and while the installer offered a lip/sill as an option, I was looking for a cleaner look to the facade of the backsplash -- plus, more corners sticking out just meant more that would risk getting chipped. I can just see us sliding our glass salt/pepper shakers across the cabinet and constantly hitting those corners. :) Below is a profile shot of one of the windows...latest version. I could've cropped the pic more closely, but then you'd all miss seeing my refrigerator in the background that's been parked in our family room for six months!!!! Maybe it hurts less to insert some humor into all of this. This was their 'best we can do, ma'am' on Monday. I'm just noticing NOW that they left the upper joint completely uncaulked! And see the gloppy line silicone at the lower edge? They didn't even try to tool it. The company owner, who was there, said that since it seemed I was so bothered by seeing the black line in between granite pieces, he said a bead of caulk would be better. Ugh...I'm just so done. Life really is too short so, yes, I'm picking my battles and trying to move on....obviously more difficult than it sounds, as I sat bolt upright in bed at 4 a.m. this morning, thinking about my kitchen. Here's another question for ya: the end portion of your backsplash that faces the window? Is that as glassy-polished as your countertop surface? See the end edge of the window, the piece on the left? All of the straight edges in my kitchen look just as dull. In this pic, you can see side by side the difference in glossiness....normal? Edited/Added: or, maybe, is this similar to wood and its end grain? And that the flat surface of the granite can be polished to glassy smoothness, but the end/edge surfaces, not so much? This post was edited by javiwa on Wed, Feb 4, 15 at 10:32