With the red pendants and modern hardware, it looks like your style 'wants' mosaics. I think a mosaic would look great! I think you can do something bold on the b/s -- everything else is neutral, except for the pendants. I don't think it would look too masculine. Maybe use a more muted colour for the b/s to 'feminize' it a bit if you are concerned about it. On the other hand: I love the subways posted by kitchenaddict. However, I think the red pendants would look out-of-place with the subways. I don't know...what do you think? It just seems like mosaics would be a more natural fit in this kitchen.

What if you ran each band halfway between counter and window (or counter and wall cab) and then bumped up behind the range and between the windows? The band would always be halfway between the counter and the object on the wall. I think it would be more interesting than completely straight lines. If you do it too low, it risks being hidden by anything on the counter. Too high and there is shadow from the cabinets.

I'm not sure how I came across this post, I think it was displayed on the right side and I clicked on it being intrigued by the tile making. I was at one time interested in working with papercrete and hypertufa. But after enlisting my brother, who wasn't as enthusiastic, and my niece, who poured cement down my laundry room sink, which original to the house had lasted 70 years, and ruining three blenders, my interest waned. True to form, if I come upon difficulty in a project, I think of it as a sign for me not to continue. And really, after all these years of trying various crafts that result in crap, I should know better. I also should have known better than to ask my brother, who always says it can't be done to any of my unique design ideas. And I should have known better than to ask my niece, who once stayed up all night before having to drive to LA for an art show, cutting mat after mat after measuring once, twice, sometimes ten times, but always coming out with the wrong size. I think we both have math dyslexia. I should video us trying anything crafty to see where we go wrong. I think both of us having ADHD might have something to do with it. Sorry for the backstory and run on sentences. So, I just wanted to see if you continued with your venture. And to say sorry for whatever tragedy occurred to cause you to have to move to Florida. Not that there is anything wrong with Florida, but it isn't Panama. Which is one of my favorite places in the western hemisphere. I hope no one is upset that I brought up a seven year old post.

Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think. Tile is finishing up tomorrow. We are going to skip the tile on the peninsula wall. For the finish edge on the outside corner we were going to polish the edges of the tile and keep it fairly square. I wanted a quarter round, but my husband won that coin toss. I appreciate the advice and encouragement. We still have to paint and the door needs a makeover, possible replacement. We have to see how the makeover goes first. Lots of loose ends to finish up, but close to the finish line.