Green Design's answer is spot on - I'm surprised though, that the folks that did their research did not find any "translucent grouts" that have hit the market over the last couple of years... I used to do tile, but have since focused primarily on slab applications - hence my not looking at this thread until now - I would have chimed in earlier... Sorry for the late response I know that this may not help the folks LRy511, but for everyone else that has not grouted their onyx or glass tiles yet - you CAN get some of the "glow" if you use a translucent joint filler/grout..... Take a look at Starquartz - they are made by Bostik/Upco - who makes Hydroment - which is what I used to use exclusively when I did do tile all the time... Hopefully my brother Bill Vincent will chime in on this thread too - he is TOTALLY dialed in on to what's happening in the Tile Industry these days - WAY MORE than me..... and maybe Bill can offer some great insight on this topic too hth kevin Here is a link that might be useful: Starquartz Website

Well it's not a backsplash but I always think of Pharoah's awesome kitchen when someone mentions onyx. The island has an onyx panel that just about glows with the backlighting. Two that I found by Googling - a solid piece and tiles: And here's a blog entry about onyx from a designer. I think it's funny that he says the red one looks like "a meat backsplash." http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com/2008/10/onyx-is-not-what-you-think.html Here is a link that might be useful: Pharoah's kitchen in the FKB

I have a similar question five years later: Is the 4" matching back splash now out of style? And how long will it stay out of style? Doubt that it would be possible to get a full matching back splash 14 years after the home was built. I am considering removing the 4" back splash and going with a complementary tile or, perhaps, a colorful wallpaper. Thoughts as to how long the short back spash will stay out of style? (I'm old enough to remember bell bottoms - the first time they were in style.)

Ok. Some thoughts! -I would absolutely go to the KD who helped with your kitchen in the first place. -if you do cabinets they should match the lowers (because you already have an island in a different color) and hopefully fill the whole space so there is no gap between the cabinets and the backsplash and no wall showing. If there are gap areas you can paint them the color of the stone to make them disappear. -3 ideas about the hood: 1) cabinet looking material and color. this is what I meant about looking like "one unit." I like how they all touch and match. Imagine these in your cab color. I would definitely do glass front To echo the windows . In this case I think you could wrap the hood in the band of reclaimed wood like this 2) metallic. You could pick up some of the metal accents in the room, probably black. Apparently one thing people do is have a carpenter make the hood and have a painter paint it to look like the metal. yours would look great with zinc or antique bronze treatment and glass cabinets to match your lower cabinets on each side 3) you may find that you like your hood as it is (I do!) a lot more with cabinets next to it! If you are definitely doing cabinets this may be an option