Wow! Your kitchen is beautiful.

I can see white subway tile with some black accent tiles for the BS.

Not sure about the yellow pottery. If you hang the rug somewhere, I think red, green, or that purplish color would work for the punch colors.

My vote for no pot rack. If you leave the island open, it will more comfortable for conversation. How about pendant lighting for a larger chandy that would coordinate (but not be exactly the same) with the one at the window. I think the room is large enough to handle it.

Rug would look great framed and hung. Good idea.

Can you provide a full island picture? It's hard to picture anything at or around it.

Your kitchen looks so pretty ....

I can't see yellow as your accent, but my mind immediately jumped to lime or kiwi green. (Maybe it's just the way the photos are coming through, but I'm seeing a lot of yellow in your paint color and my concern is yellow accent pieces would clash with the yellow-based paint. Again, maybe it's not so in real life, but in the above pictures that's what I'm seeing.)

As for the pot rack, as jerseygirl_1 wrote, it's hard to tell given the photos, but my gut reaction is "no" because I'm afraid a pot rack would take away from the pretty chandelier you have over your sink. Take that with a grain of salt because I've only seen half your kitchen.

I'm not sure I'd do a backsplash -- I really like the painted wall in between your gorgeous soapstone and pretty, creamy cabinets. However, I always like a white subway tile and black liner (as jerseygirl_1 mentions): check out jgarner's backsplash. Well look at that -- she has the green I was thinking of for you ....

Congratulations on your beautiful new kitchen -- you did a lovely job!

Thanks so much for the responses. I will try to post pics of the "other side" of the kitchen tomorrow. It is a short wall with a vintage Hoosier cabinet given to us as a wedding present by my DH's grandmother. Not too much happening over there. Thanks again for the help!