Oh Peach, it's beautiful! Great choices!!! Congrats on a job very well done.

Peach...it is beautiful! I love lighter cabinets in the kitchen! What is the name of your granite? So pretty!

I like it too. Congrats on finally finishing. You can breath now:)!

Thanks! Capegirl, the granite is Typhoon Bordeaux. I meant to move the cat's water dish back to its rightful place (a little more hidden) and the undercabinet lights need a dimmer. They look like they should be warming some french fries!!

Personally, I would always seal grout just to be on the safe side. I don't believe a good sealer should darken grout, but you might want to test it before putting it on your lovely new backsplash. If you don't seal it, I would fear that grout could be darkened in splotches by staining.

Yeah, Peach! You did it!!! And it looks fantastic! I really like the lighter color grout. The things on your counter should be the accents, right? Not the grout?

Well, with the help of a girlfriend, I may have found my BS too! I'm not going to post until it's done though. I have a feeling many wouldn't approve. LOL
I'm sitting in my kitchen, as I type. LOVE it!! If you'll send me your e-mail, I'll send you a picture. After I get back home... :)
Congratulations!! Let me know what you do with those pesky electrical boxes.

Peach, I think it looks lovely. I know how hard it is to make the backsplash decision. You did good!

Nancy

Looks great!!

That's such a nice warm looking tile, kind of a caramel on my screen. What tile did you use please? I really like it !

Peach, it's lovely! Love how it looks. It's warm, inobtrusive and yet very much belongs. Congrats!

I'm so touched by the nice, warm comments. Picking a BS has been an adventure and it's been made all the more fun by doing it with all of YOU! Pondlily, the tile is a hand made tile by Senio, around ($19/sf), and it's called Tuscania. The color is "Beige." The crackle finish is even more beautiful in person. I have yet to see any other kitchens with it and I would LOVE to.

That grout color is perfect... not too light or too dark... Just right ;)

You can use an "enhancer sealer" to darken if you want to. I would try it somewhere inconspicuous first. Looks great! Much anguish, but totally worth it! right?

Beautiful Peach! I love the crackle. I'm sorry if I missed a previous post on info as I haven't had a computer for most of the summer, but did you find it on line. I will soon be looking for a backsplash and the crackle subways are at the top of my list>

Peach, I think it looks great. You should seal it. I don't know what my guy uses, but it doesn't darken the grout. Maybe if you want it to, there's a way to do that.

I've seen lots of people use their fingers, but not for a whole job. Grout is caustic! Ouch! Unless he was wearing gloves? The advantage is that he probably has to use less grout, and the clean-up is easier, especially if the tile has any micro pores or crevices that grout might stick in. If it gets too stuck in they have to use a strong acid to get it out. Interesting, though, about the fingers. :)

Your kitchen looks lovely! I'm behind you in construction so I'm happy to see your project come together. Love the TB granite. Hope mine looks as nice.

Wow, I love the different shadings in that tile. Great choice.

Since I am obsessing about lights at the moment, what kind of undercab lights did you get? LED, regular, etc., and did you put them on a dimmer?

yellowdog2 - I did not get the tile (Senio Tuscania Beige) on line. It came from Specialty Tile Products in Atlanta.
colorfast--the lights are not on a dimmer...yet. They are halogen.