My granite supplier advised using tile from the granite up (no granite back splash). She could have advised the other way and made a little more money, so I think she advised based on her honest opinion. I also like the "no granite back splash" look better. Just guessing, I'd say the only reason to use the 4" granite back splash would be if you weren't going to use any other back splash at all (a more low-budget option, in my opinion).

ellendi- if I don't show off, who's going to do it for me? I gotta do it when I can ;) On Topic now, jnh004, I got the tile at "The Tile Shop". I wanted something with a little more life to it, than a cream or off white ceramic. My soapstone is in the background so I made my backsplash with a little more oomph, but still subtle. The tile is called Lansdale Carrara. This is my take on this selection, that it is the impure pieces from whiter stone that can't be used in larger slabs. I could be wrong, but the carrara I see on this site is always white and there is no white in my stuff. Lots of tans, grays, almost greens, and off whites. I think for your granite a more neutral stone or ceramic would work better. Its fun to search and examine what will work. My moto is that if it doesn't "sing" when I look at it, I move on to something else. Of course sometimes you have to move on anyway, but give it your best effort before you make that decision.

My counter seam with a fine-grained quartz is a hair's width. Part of the reason is that they used a machine that pulls the slabs together. Not sure that's possible with a backsplash. Are you doing a full quartz backsplash? Some people mistakenly do 4" of the counter material and a tiled backsplash above that. You'd want to avoid that.

Fori is extremely displeased, haha. I would gladly help you if I could, but I have so much to learn yet! I just need to get the BF to let me have a go at the wet saw. I think I would totally enjoy the whole tile cutting process - I have enough "artsy-craftsy" in me that it's kinda right up my alley. rebunky, I totally get it. I have SO many projects that are on my to-do list. *sigh* Never enough time. Yanno, it's funny, back when I started this whole update project (not a remodel - nothing so grand as what you all are doing!) I was taking trash out one night and a neighbor stopped by to chat. I told her I was painting my cabinets and she mentioned that she had been working on her kitchen for a year. And I remember thinking..."A year?!? What the heck? She's retired what is taking her so long??" HAHAHAHA!!! I was clueless. A noob. I am terrible at visualizing changes - I have to see pics of how it could look. And even then, I am terrible at making a decision. So I am very thankful for those here have more experience and a better "eye" that I do.