$20-$30 a square foot for labor is the current going rate in my low cost labor area for a backsplash. (If you're having a floor done, the setters usually give you a break on the combination.) Do it yourself. Save yourself several hundred dollars of labor, especially if all you want is something simple. Labor is usually the biggest component in a tile backsplash because it's a small job that's a PIA with all of the bending over and cutting that can occur. It's not that hard (with a back brace and a tile saw) if all you're going for is a simple look. If you have to rip out the drywall because the current tile is too well attached, then it's easier to just go back with cement backerboard than new drywall. Then you can tile right on top of that easy peasy. Or the tile may just pop right off. You never know until you give it a go! Get yourself a flat bladed scraper and start removing the tile now. At least you'll have the project started and won't have to pay for the demo!

CKGM Wow - you must have thought I abandoned you! I was so busy at work(73 hours that week and I am salary :-( and didn't have access except via phone (I did have a mini comment above) I looked on my phone but somehow missed getting back to you on this lovely and inspirational kitchen. Loving it - I love your backsplash choice and grout now match very nicely with your counter. Your galley is going to be very functional - and you managed to build in a feature that I could not pull off - the little bar at the end of the kitchen with 2 stools. I am only allowing a few items on the counter - DH gets his coffee machine and grinder. We share the paper towels, and I have the banana holder and fruit/veggie double basket - unless I can find a better place for it - the pantry is too warm as the pipes go through the wall. When I finally post my pictures - we have more in common that just Grazia tile - we also have a garden window!! What is your wall color - it looks similar to ours!! And as you know, I am finally out of the ABB club!! A bit of a hijack Fun2learn - there are several places on the east coast that carry the Grazia tile - I did find it at Malsnee Tile near Reading PA (might have a Leesport address but essentially Reading) - Best Tile has numerous shops in the east coast but turned out to be cheaper to ship from Tile-Shop.com in California than from the East coast. I worked out a plan to have it delivered to the cabinet store, so shipping was much less.- I worked with Nelson (not TileShop.com) Nelson Chow Tileshop, Inc. 510-525-4312 Here is the info on Best Tile Laura Breindel Showroom Manager Best Tile Syracuse 315-437-1606 ext. 211 And Malsnee Tlle information- I worked with Rebecca and Jessica 1106 Stinson Drive Leesport, PA 19533 (610) 916-7621

Gray would never go with that stone and those cabinets. The aqua really doesn't work either. You'd need to paint the cabinets, or change the counters to go with all of those cold tones. Your bones are warm tones. You need warm toned choices. Look at removing the 4" splash and going with a warm cream tile. Maybe an interesting shape, since the stone is so regular in appearance. You could do a warm green with lots of gray tones in it for the wall, or take that turquoise and add more green and gray to it, to a more teal gray color.

If you want to try to save the backsplash before changing it, you could try painting the walls the same white as the cabinets. If possible, paint the ceiling also. Paint would eliminate one if not two warm tones that the tile is currently competing with. From there you could also try changing out your hardware (fairly easy and inexpensive). If you have stainless appliances, go with a silver color, which will provide another gray tone; or else brushed brass/gold, which would work well if you can't change the ceiling color. Mixed metals in the kitchen are in right now so you don't have to worry about the sink faucet :) white walls and ceiling, silver hardware white wall, original ceiling, gold/brushed brass hardware