If the seam is necessary, I think they did a pretty good job. It is centered, and won't be noticeable from your great room. What do you plan to put on that shelf below the backsplash? That might serve as a focal point and further distract from the seam in the backsplash.

Love it!

I like it! Too many people shy away from a dramatic look.

WOW! Beautiful. Unusual. Wonderful. Embrace it.

It is interesting and dramatic; I could choose to love it. Reminds me of a Georgia O’Keefe skull

Need to see the whole kitchen

wow they did a great job! nothing in a reno space looks finished until the entire space is. Im more bothered by the plate rail than I am the backsplash lol.

We have no way to know why not one piece? We do not know how much material you had, how many slabs, where else in the kitchen it was used nor how much was used.

" Not what you expected" Your expectations were written.........where?"

Were you not given a drawing of WHERE your seams would be when the kitchen was templated? Did you ask to see it? Were you at home for the template and nothing as to a possible seam was discussed? Did you require more material than what you had? If that issue arose at cut and polish, and THAT made the seam necessary, were you advised? Apparently not. We have no way of knowing anything as to why the seam.

As to how it looks? It looks just fine. A great seam.

Nobody can answer the rest.

Very nice work.

It looks beautiful. You don’t need to be scolded about it. It’s lovely.

There are no mind readers in any aspect of design. If you don't clarify every single aspect ? Someone will attempt to read your mind. They will assume, and you will be disappointed you did not get what you "expected".

Given the inference that I scolded? Well. Nobody knows what took place at that template, or what expectations were shared, agreed to be possible or not possible. The op asked does it look good. Yes a great seam, well placed in the material and a very nice result. ......the rest is still unanswered, right?

When you pay hard earned money for your vision.....it bears discussion you will GET your vision.

Sadly, the ways to get something you did not want or expect, far outnumber the single best way to get that which you do. Talk, clarify, get it in writing. Any deviation from the plan? Repeat as just stated.

IMO that belonged in a much more contemporary space but i think the install is fine and with no context I have no idea about the seam.

Sorry I was not super clear. If the seam were cut from one slab youd barely be able to see a chainge in the veining. They were supposed to ”work on lining it up better and send me the drawings for approval” which they never did. So it was not approved by me. My daughter has serious medical issues and during the nightmare of that I forgot to remind them. The number of slabs was unlimited so that didnt matter. The cabinets were custom bilt 22 years ago and there is bothng wrong with them except color so I will have them painted. The small piece doesnt match either but is mostly covered up by my thermador 36” rangetop which is what goes in that space.

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's medical issues. I hope they are the kind that can be resolved!

Your countertop, as it is, is very beautiful. And it looks great with the cabinets as they are. I don't think I would paint the cabinets.

Approach the company and explain nicely what happened and see if they can remedy it. If not remeber that it will look much better with when your cabinets are painted. Perhpas you can go throw a white sheet over your cabinets, take a pic, and see for yourself. I think you will feel much better seeing it without the wood. To me it looks like modern art, which you may or may not like.

I really feel for your situation. My husband has serious medical issues and this month was one with a lot of hosptalizationstoons. We are in the middle of a big remodel and I started to worry about what details would fall through the cracks in my communication with our contractor. I managed to clear my heads enough to say screw it. Let the docotrs and nurses not screw up and to hell with the renovations. I can live with whatever mistakes the contractors make. Not so with my husband’s health.

Hang in there. You have a lot going on. Wishing you and your daughter all the best.

Concentrate on the important things--like your daughter's health.

The backsplash is beautiful--nothing in life is perfect but it looks great!

I think the top grain is throwing you off . Because where it hits the seem the groan at the top is vivid . However it is a beautiful backsplash. If it really irritates you go to the company and tell them . However it is so beautiful . Maybe going with a black hood. With copper hardware

Lol not “ groan “ grain

Hope your daughter’s health issues are no longer at “nightmare” level. That’s unbelievably stressful.

You know what you originally wanted and are aware that steps got skipped during your family’s medical emergency. It’s hard for you to see this through other any other eyes than yours. But if you invited me, a person with zero expectations, info your living room, all you would hear is praise for how amazing it looks. It’s really awesome, I promise you.

If you’ll feel better going back and telling them that they never got your sign off on the final design, go for it. But if that’s not going too substantially change anything for you, it might be the path of less stress to just adjust your expectations and realize all the people on this thread can’t be wrong about it looking great.

I’m new around here and even I already know that the nay-sayers, critics and trolls are pretty thick on the ground here. If you got this many people telling you it looks good, it must be really, really terrific!! Take the win!!! 😝

I think it looks great.

And, at least it's not an (ahem) unfortunate depiction of a body part. Does anyone have a picture of that one from a year or two ago?

"They were supposed to ”work on lining it up better and send me the drawings for approval” which they never did. So it was not approved by me. My daughter has serious medical issues and during the nightmare of that I forgot to remind them."

Lining it up better with the top below? Or lining it up better within/ at the seam?

I ask, as THEY may have been planning a seam all along, and perhaps they didn't clearly communicate that to you?

Personally, I think it looks fine as is. What I MIGHT definitely do is remove it from the island back.

Why? It wasn't necessary, it is a reach to turn the kitchen to "modern" , as the island and all the cabinetry do not really suit .

If you are painting the cabinets? Trim the back side island to harmonize with detail on the existing cabinetry, paint all : )

Oh my gosh, @Mrs. S, I remember that!!! Hahaha!

I do think that the seam is lined up probably as well as could be, but I also wonder why the choice was made to put the seam in the center of the kitchen's main focal point. I am not at all knowledgeable about fabricating such a bold pattern; perhaps there really wasn't a better option.

The pattern is nice, however, its not really flying with the cabinets especially the island.

I just had my 2 tier island cut down to 1 tier and see that you could have benefited from that as well. I would have the island cut down and remove those 2 glass cabinets.

“Does anyone have a picture of that one from a year or two ago?”

LOL, no but I also remember that!

Denise, your backsplash looks great!

I could live with the seam because the overall effect is very pretty. And I like your kitchen. Bravo for blending new elements with what still works for you.

Thanks everyone. Well the origional layout when I went in did have the seam in the middle but it was as if it was a full slab that was cut in the middle for easier installation - not two different pieces spliced together. I think what bothers me most is the top dark triangle on the left has nothing on the right and it abruptly stops. Yes, he was going to tinker with it and get back with me. The owner and I spoke about it and he was there and said yes, that is what they told me…

I am tired of the dark cherry - will paint the cabinets with another darker color and remove the spindles at the top along with the hardware.

I really would like to know if a 116 inch backsplash can be installed as one piece?

My daughter got out of the hospital two days ago - just over two week in there and no it is life long neuropathic pain from Levaquin exposure - two times causing permanent peripheral neuropathy. She is being tortured nearly nightly with acute pain. :-( been going on since she was just 15 :-(

Cant remove the back island - it had wood that matched which is now glued to the slab. Will put chairs there if it is too overbearing. But from a distance it looks good IMO

Everyone Ive invited over and NOT TOLD my dislike has mentioned that backsplash looks weird - that is the first thing they mention. :-( Maybe seems worse in Person?

As soon as it went up I was like ”oh crap” he didnt send me the sign off sheet and I dont like it.