[Ikeafreak]

I put together a collage of the elements I'm using inour kitchen/family room. I found a mosaic tile that I love and it has allmy colors in it. I'm just not sure if it will be too busy in the room.

Here are my questions: How high up the wall should the tile go?Would the tile compete too much with my amber swirl sconces and/or granite? Should I opt for a single color mosaic and if so, which color? Anyone have other suggestions for a backsplash? (I'm going for a contemporary look)

Weallotted money for a 4" granite backsplash, but I don't know if i'll like it. I want the WOW factor and I don't think the granite has that.

My collage, consisting of family room artwork and rug on left, honey maple flooring, amber sconce, kitchen cabinet/hardware and proposed mosaic tile in center, and appliance color and uba tuba granite on right:



My kitchen plan:



Thanks!

Heather

[Cyndi_L]

HI!!A question : are your countertops going to be the granite in the photo? If so then, in my opinion, the mosaic as is would make the look too "busy".Â*That said I would go for something in the solid colors--the prune, for example. It's picked up by the sconces and the artwork in the living room.Â* An idea would be to make the window wall your feature wall by painting it prune, do a windowsill level backsplash in a complementary color (maybe copper tiles like 'kisacs' did, link below) and then you can have your sconces on the wall adding a statement and complementing, but not competing with, the other artwork in the space. Btw, I liked Eva's suggestion of tiling the windowsills as well. Food for thought. The mosaics are really neat!!Cyndi http://www.americantinceilings.com/colors/colors-coppers.html

[DesignDiva]

I love it and I would run with it...it's fabulous and over the top but the cabinets are extremely plain (they are exactly like mine) so IMHO you need a standout backsplash. The granite will read black (I had ubatuba too!) so the backsplash will be fine.

[Ikeafreak]

Cyndi- Thanks for your feedback. I remember Eva saying something about tiling the windowsills, but I've never seen that andwould love to see a picture if anyone has a link.

I also found great embossed paper wall tiles on THS that I think would really pop if I painted them and put glass or plexi over them.



I'm being pressed a little by the electrician to make abacksplash decision. Apparently, whether I tile or not makes a difference inhowhe sets the receptacleboxes, depth-wise. I tried to explain to his all male crew (who completely don't get it) that I can't possibly be asked to make that important of a decision until all the rest of theelements are in the room and I can look at the space as a whole. I've ordered samples of the mosaic, so I'll be able to make a better judgement soon.

Eva- As soon as I get the tile samples, I'll take a pic ofeverythingtogether and post it here for more opinions.

Thanks! Heather

[Ikeafreak]

I did a mock up on Photoshop. Opinions, comments?

(I'm artistically challenged, BTW)

[DesignDiva]

See how fabulous that looks?! I love it.

[GardenOfDarwin]

I think that's fabulous!

Susan

[Cyndi_L]

That looks really great! Enjoy the process and be sure to post those pics as soon as you can!! Cyndi

[laurie]

When I saw the first pics. with your backsplash I thought, "green on the walls" and there you go, you have it in your photoshop photo. That little bit of green in the tile is screaming for green and it looks fabulous!!

When you look at the granite in a small section like that it looks as if it would be too busy together with the tile -- but, I agree when you stand back and look at it as a whole, the countertop will look black against the backsplash.

BTW, I love all your elements.

Laurie

[Ikeafreak]

Thanks everyone! Let's hope it looks as good when it's actually installed.

The contractor told us to go ahead and start building all the cabinet boxes (28 in all, but some will go in the playroom). Drywall should be completed by early next week and the kitchen install starts shortly thereafter! I CANNOT WAIT!

Did I mention that I'm in love with our contractor? I am a picky person, especially whenshelling out serious money like this, and Idon't haveone bad thing to say about him. He's meticulous,hard working, by-the-book, on time everyday, etc. I feel very fortunate because of all the horror stories I've heard.But the best part? He came in $50,000 less than the next highest bid!!!!!!