I had a similar dilemma. I was going to just use the silestone as a backsplash - but DH did not like that idea - he thought it was too blah and didn't like the thickness of it. Second option was to use the accent tile from shower surround but neither of us liked that tile on it's own with the vanity top - it is a little busy. I ended up choosing a 4 inch glass tile that picked up on other tile colors. I can't tell you how it turned out because we are still in the middle of the remodel, but I think it will work for me.

You're very welcome Cj. In the other thread, you mentioned getting advice from the tile store that didn't mesh with much of the advice here. I don't blame you for being frustrated. Not quite the same thing, but I can relate because I've almost given up on asking family and friends for advice on my own house struggles. Example, regarding a low ceiling problem: Friend: "Aw, just paint it a cool color. It'll be great!" Family member 1: "I hate it too, but it's of the period, so it's understandable." Family member 2: "It's easy. Don't look up." Family member 3: "I just wish your father was here, because he'd tell you there's not a thing wrong with that ceiling!" It's enough to drive a person to drink. Sometimes I think GW members provide more even-handed advice (after you sort through varying opinions) because they worry less about saying what we want to hear, and they have no real motivation to sway them (like, making a sale, or saving money.) I hope you'll post back with how it goes.

I like the one on the right. but I sort of like the one on the left too. sorry. It's just 2 different looks. That being said, you need to do the "squint" test. I think the lighter tile on the left will appear to give you a white-ish color--so stand back, squint your eyes at the painted backsplash area now--do you like what you see or would you want it darker? Maybe do the test again with the tile on the counter--where you have counters so as to get the full effect. If you want it to look really rich, then darker. If you want to keep it light, then the lighter one. I think both will look nice, seriously. I say pour yourself a cup of tea, and sit down and just stare at it. It will come to you. It is sort of like a meditation type of thing. If anybody is home, they will wonder if you are "ok".

Aww, I had the post almost finished and then pressed the wrong button and poof. To all those who said no to beadboard, I think you are right. Dh didn't like it either. To those who said the tile in the first picture was too dark and too busy, I don't think it is really. But as I said there, it's hard to tell when the photos aren't taken at the same time and in the same place. And since it was a sample, with no grout, the shadows there make it appear even darker. Here is a photo of the same tile. But on this one I took a photo of the tile next to the counter and then edited both of them onto my photo and I filled the grout lines with a lighter color from the tile. The dark areas are shadow so try to look past that. This one is #8 which is a very light gray, also with grout lines filled. This one is supposed to be crema marfil though it's hard to tell on houzz if it really is or if someone just makes a guess. A white deee, I think you are right that a solid cream would look good. That's what I wanted and when I couldn't find it at big box stores, I got all these to look at. Yes, all these have the same color tones as the counter with either the yellow gold or grays. Annie, I thought I bought a crema marfil, but I guess I put it back because it was marble. I'd rather have a ceramic than a natural stone that has to be sealed and shows food stains the way marble can. The one I keep editing into my kitchen looks like stone more than any I've seen, but it is ceramic. Tile #4 has the best colors for my counter, but I don't like that the pattern looks like a screenprint. Oaktown, when I found this counter, I got the last 3 pieces of this particular color, and after that I couldn't find enough even for a small cabinet. I don't know if it is easier to find now. Maybe they found another pocket or whatever they do - I haven't looked again. But when we did the counters, we briefly considered putting it on the backsplash, but it was just going to be too thick and the edge would show on each end. mtnrdredux, thanks for the link. There is one bisque color on there that I think would look good. There is a DalTile in Dallas but I'd rather not drive that far if I can find it locally. I'll look on their website and see if there are any local stores that carry it. You'd think that would be common everywhere. Sixtyohno, you're right, and every monitor probably shows color differently. And as I found this morning, even cameras don't show colors the same. Even with the good camera I have to look at it twice to see why it looks more yellow in photos than it does in person and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that in person, the eye picks up on all the colors where a camera merges them all together into a single image. mdln, yes the cabinets are custom; they were here when we bought the house. Several of our neighbors have the same cabinets and even a friend in Dallas has them. Maybe that style was popular around here in the early 80s. We added cabinets last year and had a hard time finding someone with the right bits and willingness to make more doors. Evidently putting them together is a little tricky. I wouldn't choose them if I were building, but I like them. They are one of those things that belong in that thread about things everyone used to have but couldn't afford it now. hhireno, what I have no is not enough - it's still bare sheetrock that hasn't even been painted. lol I need something that can take some scrubbing. I thought about glass behind the stove, but it's just too modern looking for my house. Do the above pictures appeal to anyone or should I keep searching?