It’s beautiful, and once the backsplash is done, they will add a whole other dimension to the overall look.

I agree.

Ephma your kitchen is beautiful!

Patricia Colwell Consulting what are the other issues? Just wondering? Is it appliances and floor?

I’m planning on changing appliances to stainless!

Ephma, what a gorgeous kitchen you have! The colors, materials, layout, even the pulls are just perfect.

Your countertops are great! Don’t fret! I think I would be more concerned about the floor tile being kinda matchy matchy with the countertops. But! You can always add a great colourful runner to distract. You are going to have a great looking kitchen!

@Zalco thank you so much! I picked all of the finishes myself, and mostly while I was living abroad in Germany, so that compliment really means a lot! I’m thrilled with how it all turned out.

You are having normal “I’m in the middle of my kitchen renovation and freaking out” blues. It looks gorgeous. Try to remember that every individual component looks better with all the others. It’s more than fine. Hang in there and pour a glass of wine. Keep us posted.

It is a classic look, and will age well, nothing wrong with them, but taste is subjective. Just have to pick the right back splash, and here is a hint, it does not have to be write ceramic subway tile, that look is very over done, if you like subway tile, go with glass, or a contrasting tone that brings out the darker colors in the counter tops or play with scale and do a larger than normal or smaller than normal sized subway. I know in one of the Houzz articles I read yesterday, there was a beautiful black stone herringbone backsplash, toss in some stainless appliances with that, I think your kitchen would be stunning. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/new-this-week-6-stylish-kitchen-backsplash-ideas-stsetivw-vs~140086128?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u14499&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0_0amp;newsletterId=14499 (first kitchen featured) the cabinets were white not light wood tone, but there was enough brown in the stone that with the black with the dark grout should tie in with both the cabinets and counters nicely.

Thank you Daniel J. I think that is a very good idea. The perimeter cabinets will be white and not sure what color the island will be yet?

Can do black or gray as a contrast with the perimeter cabinets that tie in with the counters, or a bolder color choice to really pop against the whites and grays. That is one advantage to the counters you chose, they are not busy with the veining and they are both classic and neutral, but neutral in a good way, they go with any architectural style and you can put any color with them and they will still look good., same goes with hardware, you can choose glass knobs and pulls, any metal, all will look good with them.

I love the black herringbone backsplash! Good idea about island! I was thinking of a dark grey/black hardware to contrast with white cabinets. Any ideas for floors welcome 😀

jan, I did a dark charcoal island w/my white cabs. I have walnut and black/white accents. (haven't picked a tile yet! i'm leaning towards a marble w/brass inlay)

what colors are you leaning toward?

Beth H. I really like this black herringbone! Your island color is beautiful!

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I like that one.

Funny that you mention a black herringbone. I did one with black Zellige tile (Cle'Tile) in my wood floor where my pantry is. I also did the black and white cement tile around my coffee bar area. looks like we both love the black tile!

Cloe makes a nice artisan look black one in a 2x8 size.

Or what about any of these?

black or white grout (or gray) makes a huge diff on the overall look

this last one is Encore Ceramics. If you haven't looked at their tiles take a peek. some beautiful colors and all sorts of shapes/sizes. This is their Chevron in the Metallic glaze colors, (called Nebula) but they can do it a host of other colors. and they can blend multiple colors

https://encoreceramics.com/product/chevron-2x6-standard-mosaic/

http://encoreceramics.com/product-category/mosaics/

I think a black marble, the nero marquina, would also be pretty

oh, and Oceanside glass tile makes the most beautiful black glass. they come in subway tiles, but here they are in mosaics to show you the coloring

this is the actual tile in the white. It's a 2.5 x 8. you could then lay it in a herringbone

For Floor I like a nice wood look to warm the space up, if you are worried about durability in the kitchen, consider a wood look vinyl plank or more tile, the easiest would be if you can find a sample that matches your existing flooring, just one pet peeve I have with wood look tile are the grout lines, I like the bare minimum grout line to make it look more like wood. If you can not find one that matches your existing flooring, see if whatever you end up with for the back splash comes in a larger size that allows you to repeat the pattern just to a different scale.

Great backsplash ideas Beth !

Jan, I think your kitchen is just beautiful! Please do post pics when you get your backsplash in.

Beth H. can you tell me what paint or stain you used on your island? I'm thinking of a charcoal grey color for mine and really like yours. My cabinets are stain grade. Thanks

If you have a choice between stain and paint, I'd recommend stain. We have charcoal stained lowers and painted uppers. The stain is in way better shape than the paint even tho the lowers get more action.

Do you have a picture? What charcoal stain did you use? Brand?

Daisychain, that's a nice looking stain. I've worked a lot w/GF stains and like using them.

Jan D. those of hers were factory stained, so there's no telling what process they did.

Depending on the type of wood, you can go really dark.

On my oak doors, I did an aniline dye in black, and then went over that with General Finishes gel stain in ebony.

over that, I did Penofin oil (it's clear coat and sealer) that was also tinted ebony.

the door was red oak

after one or two coats of the aniline dye

hard to get a good picture of something black, but you can see just how black it really is after the gel stain, and the ebony oil clear coat. I like how the grain is still visible

I did the same routine w/all my door and window trim

As for the island, I used BM Wrought Iron. it was a conversion lacquer

this is w/the sun streaming in through the door, so it looks a bit light

normal light looks like the front portion here"

Brass hardware seems to draw attention to small appliance area - replace those? and is there another finish already?

Beth H. What is the benefit of doing a conversion laquer over just painting the island??

Beth H. I’m doing the perimeter cabinets simply white by Benjamin Moore. Do you think Wrought Iron on the island would go nicely? The backsplash is grey. It looks black but it’s not.

Jan, I think it would. but then I"m biased :)

it's been 6 months already??

I like you backsplash. it would be a pretty good match if you did the island that color.

and I hope your'e doing gold hardware. w/ the slight gold veins in the countertop, I think the gold would look beautiful.

you still have the white floor tiles? (if you ever are going to change them, I'd do the french oak flooring)

what if you did greenish color to match the island veining? like this one the other person posted?

But I also think the wrought iron would be nice too.

as for the painting w/a brush, or spraying w/the lacquer, I believe you get a better look w/spraying. lacquer is supposedly more durable? (i'm not really sure on this one, only that spraying w/lacquer you're able to get a very fine mist that gives you a smooth looking coat)

I like the green color but thouget Ild keep it more neutral. I still have white tiles but want to change to woo floors. Haven’t decided which wood floors yet?

Beth H. I want to do flat black hardware on my cabinet and island. Would black hardware look good on the wrought iron color?

it would pretty much disappear. see the outlet on my island? it's black in the middle.

why black?

I think a soft gold would look nice w/the white and stone. and against the dark island color.

if you're dead set on black, do the island in the same white

Beth H. I just now saw your message about hardware! Sorry

why not switch to a black faucet? (you don't have to. the gold or the black w/work w/the SS, but if you want black, it's an idea)

I have a copper sink. and I hate SS. when I redid the kitchen, I got a matte black faucet and love it.

works w/the black window too. I have other black elements in the kitchen like my black/white tile, and black Zellige tile, plus the appliances, so the black ties in elsewhere.

If you want to do black handles, it will work w/your backsplash. against a dark island color though, I'm not sure

Which do you like better?

this is Kendall Charcoal. a bit warmer gray

the black hardware may show up better on this color

Definitely the gold looks better!

Beth H. I just saw your message about French oak flooring. Is that the color/shade you are recommending? Or brand?

it's just one option. I like it in mine.

Mediterranean collection under Calif. Classics flooring.

Beth H. Do you know where I can purchase this kitchen rug (runner)? Really like these grey cabinets. Will try this color on my island.

no I don't. sorry.

Beth H I ended up painting my island the same color as yours, Wrought Iron by "Benjamin Moore". I'm thinking of doing satin brass on the island and flat black on the perimeter cabinets. What do you think. I will post a picture.

I'm having trouble getting a good photo uploaded.

It looks so good!!!! Very rich and grand.. you may be not used to it, is my guess? I painted one room a greige color and it looks more grey then a grey/beige blend and I hated it i cried. But as the room came along with other things I fell in LOVE with the grey. The teal curtains I added with house plants just popped everything along with the dark flooring and doesn't look cold. Your counters are beautiful and you will love them.

that photo is super tiny. can't see anything.

I don't know how you're uploading, but make sure they're normal pic size.

Beth H

I ca turn photo right side up for some rea?

so here's mine w/the brass. I also have a lot of black accents, but you dont. I see mostly white. why not stay w/one throughout?

If i stay with one I think i will go with flat black. How does that sound? i plan to put hardwood floors and stainless steal appliances.

You can always change it if you don't like it! just get the size that's avail in both.

I like both.

but if you go w/the black, I'd consider bringing in a runner w/black. (unless you plan on getting a black wall oven?? I just feel like you need more black in there if you want the black handles.

try the black/white runner.

this one would be nice.

Beth H I have light fixtures in the kitchen and dining that have black and satin brass. I will also have barstools that will be black and brown leather. Do you think flat black hardware sounds best?

if you have the black hardware and stools and lights, it should be fine. why not get samples of both and see what you like best?

Good idea, th thanks!

Why not get the grey herringbone sample as well? That could be gorgeous with your countertops.

Cabinet hardhardware comes in grey herringbone?