I had a couple of questions for you that I would be so happy if you could answer, since this whole glass backsplash-buying thing is turning out to require the most research for anything that we've bought for our kitchen!

- The Wolfgang White looks like what I've been hunting for which is a true white colour. How does it read in different lights, and does it have any coloured undertone? I've found it so hard to find a true white, as most glass tends to have a green or blue undertone. Yours in the photo tends to look white with a silvery tinge which would be perfect with our granite.
- Did you go with the gloss or the satin, or a mix of both? It looks mixed in your photos but it didn't indicate that on the Artistic Tile website.
- Do you find that the tile is very "bling-blingy" in person? I don't want it to overshadow our granite too much, yet both my husband and I feel a little pitter-patter in our hearts when we see glass backsplashes.
- What colour of grout did you use and what size were your groutlines? Any tips/pitfalls to watch out for during the installation?
- Your tiles seem to have so much dimension. Are they flush if you run your hand over them, or do they "pop out" in certain areas to give them a textured effect? Are they smooth in surface or bumpy?
- Are they handmade tiles, meaning are the edges more rough rather than straight-edged?

Here is our granite:

Here's a backsplash similar to yours from a Canadian company called Interstyle. It is a mix of matte and glossy tiles which makes me think that yours must be the same:

Thanks Cat_mom!!!! I'm so excited that someone pointed our your backsplash to me.

Details:

Link to my photobucket album: http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r53/cat_mom/kitchen/

Our cabinet company: http://www.royalcabinet.com/ (our cabinets are cherry veneer in a "flame" grain pattern with slab doors, with a very light, "watered down" stain, grain matched from top to bottom of each cabinet/drawer stack, and side to side where possible or necessary, matching cherry wood light rails under the upper cabinets, maple veneer interiors, plywood boxes, wood shelves, dovetail drawer boxes, all wood full-width pullouts).

Our handles are from Valli and Valli: http://www.vallievalli.com/vcrmobile/home.php?lingua=eng&page=serie&id_serie=389 (style A 230 in sizes A, B, and C).

Hidden pulls are from Hafele: http://www.hafele.com/us/external/catalog/decorative/244-259.pdf (Page 245, the black one, but the smaller size--not as wide).

Julien sinks (Nicole Arsenault in Customer Service is a doll!): http://www.julien.ca/en/products/residential/index.html (ours is from the urban edge collection; model # 3715; 30" X 17" X 10", plus the matching sink grid).

Grohe faucet; the Ladylux Caf�: http://www.grohecatalog.com/product/33755/ (we got the all stainless steel version, see bottom of page), the soap dispenser (Model # 28 857 SDO,stainless steel) and the Ladylux Pro pot filler faucet (stainless steel): http://www.grohecatalog.com/product/31042/.

Handles, sink, faucets, and soap dispenser came from Hardware Designs in Fairfield, NJ: http://www.hardware-designs.com/ (Sean Sweeney�great salesperson!).

Wolf Range: http://wolfappliance.com/ (we got the Wolf AG 36" with six burners; Model R366), purchased from Leibert's Royal Green Appliances: 228 E Post Rd White Plains, NY 10601 914-949-5999 (they do a lot of Wolf/SZ volume, so offered good pricing on our range).

Pando hood: http://www.pando.es/ (we got the P900, not sure if it�s on their site, which isn�t a great site by the way).

Miele dishwasher: http://www.miele.com/usa/dishwashers/product.asp?model=353&series=76&cat=2 (Miele Optima, fully integrated).

GE microwave: http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SPECPAGE&SKU=JEM31SF&SITEID=GEA (JEM31SF with trim kit).

KitchenAid 42" built-in refrigerator (in stainless steel): http://www.kitchenaid.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=Built-In+Refrigerators&cat=89&prod=1284 (KSSC42QTS)

Dishwasher, microwave, range hood, and refrigerator came from Reno�s Appliances (Elmwood Park, NJ store, now moved to Patterson, NJ. Also located in Fairfield, NJ): http://www.renosappliance.com/

Andersen 6 ft wide three window bow window: http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/AW/AWProduct/awProductDetail/AWProduct/1135095640489/1102951372825?model=400+Series+10+Casement+Bow+Window&pc=Window&tab=1-1 (Pine interior�stained to match the cherry cabinets, Terratone exterior, Tru Scene insect screens�wood veneer interior stained to match the cherry cabinets, satin nickel Estate handles/hardware).

We got all blumotion glides and hinges on our drawers, pullouts, and cabinet doors. All glides are 75 lb rated except for the mixer pullout which is 110 lb rated. We also got the soft close hinge clips from blum for all the hinges: http://www.blum.us/usa/en/index.jsp Most of the hinges are 150 or 170 degree opening hinges (except in doors that just can�t be opened more than 90-110 degrees because of their location. Those will keep the 110 degree opening hinges). The 170 degree hinges allow for full width pullouts, and seem to be easier on the edges of the doors themselves.

Our granite is called Labrador Golden Flake: http://www.igmcorp.com/pGranite/labradorGoldenFlake.html (the place we got it) http://www.thegraniteshop.net/materials/02expanded/lab_golden_flake.htm (another picture, maybe a better representation of it).
You can see pictures of our actual granite in my photobucket album.

Backsplash is from Artistic Tile: http://artistictile.com/Collections/?place=3191&category=33 (Stilato pattern in Wolfgang White; installed vertically).

Wood switchplates are from Arnev Products, Inc.: http://www.arnev.com/ (cherry on message center wall and on island, ordered unstained/unfinished and then stained and finished by Royal Cabinets to match the cabinets, maple ones used inside one or two cabinets, ordered with poly, no stain).

Our under cabinet (U/C) lighting is Kichler Linear Lighting (xenons) with black tracks, wiring, stabilizer clips, splicer boxers, and bulb holders:
http://www.kichlerlightfixtures.com/Kichler Linear Lighting.htm http://www.littmanbros.com/pd_kichler_linear_lighting_molded.cfm

Our fan is from the Matthews Fan Company (Edwin is a great help with any questions!): http://www.matthewsfanco.com/Matthews Pages/Bettina-Main.html# (the Vent Bettina in polished chrome with mahogany blades).

Our heating in the kitchen consists of two toe kick heaters from Turbonics http://www.turbonicsinc.com/ (two Kickster +4�s, one on each side of the island).

Our counter stools are from Design Centro Italia/italydesign.com (Nathan): http://www.merchantmanager.com/ita6377/MM001.ASP?pageno=933 (Baba black leather counter height stools).

Our stepstool is from Williams-Sonoma: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/h167/index.cfm?cm%5Fsrc=PRODVIEW&showsku=6049753 (Ultraslim Compact Aluminum Step Ladder, 2-Step).

Our dishtowels are from Wm. A. Kilian Hardware Co. (online): http://kilian.stores.yahoo.net/ritflemwonto.html (Ritz Flemish Wonder Towel).

White oak floor, no stain, 3 coats Bona Traffic poly.

Walls are painted with Benjamin Moore White 01 wall paint in AquaVelvet finish.

Some pictures:

More pics will be added to my photobucket account/album(s) within the next day or so.

I want to thank everyone here for their advice, encouragement, and support as we made our dream kitchen a reality! I learned so much and I know we couldn't have done it without you all in our corner!

Cabinets: custom natural cherry Amish made
Counters: Beleza soapstone
Backsplash: Slate corinth from The Tile Shop
Floor: existing vinyl from Lowes
UCL: LED strips installed by DH
Bar stools: Trica Swirl

Just before demo:

Here is the old kitchen, termed by a friend as my "one butt" kitchne


Between the sink and the refrigerator was the only drawer stack, barely visible in this photo, 15" wide, and a collapsed lazy susan that we could not repair.

The adjacent family room is a huge, open warm area with skylights, heavy beams, a pegged oak floor, panelled walls, and a monstrous fireplace wall. The breakfast room, which I wanted to combine with the kitchen, opens onto it. A white kitchen would have looked starkly alien to me. There was so much wood around I couldn�t imagine adding more wood tones, but I couldn�t imagine painted cabinets. For twenty years I couldn�t IMAGINE ANYTHING.

Then, came the first inkling of ideas. A designer friend suggested black cabinets and recommended the wonderful guy who became my GC. Many, many, many more ideas came Gardenweb gurus where I found inspiration, information, and great ideas, I now have a new kitchen. And I love it. And I want to share it with you.

Photos of the demo:
Here you can see the retaining wall between kitchen and breakfast room coming down.

Under the new supporting beam, new flooring is laid and pegged to blend seamlessly into the old breakfast room and family room floors. All tongue and groove paneling has been carefully removed and will be reused. The window, once over the sink, will be reincarnated as a "backsplash" over the range in the finished kitchen.. (I wouldn�t have known I could do that without GW.)

Finally the cabinets went in. Without Gardenweb, I would never have known how much I would love frameless, custom -made cabinets. Hey, the ones at Home Depot looked pretty good, I thought. I chose a small local company run by two brothers who do it all. The perimeter cabinets are a warm stained cherry, and the island is a dark stained walnut. Both contrast to and complement the old red oak panelling and floors. Cabinet installation was meticulous, as was nearly every step of the project. It took the Chris and Gary three days to install the cabs.

I was SO lucky to have a wonderful GC who came in under budget, Here he, on the left, and a subcontractor manuver the fridge into place once the cabinets were installed.

The next step was countertops, both of which I love. These are the ONLY slabs that "spoke" to me, and I searched northern Kentucky and Southern Indiana thoroughly. Met some nice people, but only two granite slabs I would treasure. The perimeter is brushed black pearl, a very figured black pearl with a pettable texture and no trace of green. (Of course, I learned about textured granites here at GW! The cabinet makers had never seen brushed granite before.) It contrasts perfectly with the dark cherry and the Amerock Kane oil rubbed bronze pulls and knobs..
One image below shows the color variation of the Black Pearl in direct sunlight with the color in shadow around it; the second image shows the beautiful texture. The brushed surface makes the direct sunlight that comes through the large sink and range windows much less glaring than a polished surface would have.


It is a typical high gloss finish with a lot of contrast which adds visual texture to the room. This slab also combines all of the warm reds, browns, and golds in a pale warm overall color and contrasts beautifully with the dark stained walnut island below. My picture does not do justice to its clarity and depth.

Last to go in was the backsplash. The linear tiles were netted on the back, but only in the center. The tile guy worked three and a half days on it, laying the tiny pieces of tiles meticulously one by one around the window over the stove.

And so it all came together. Now,from the most used entrance to the house, visitors enter the family room and see the kitchen beyond. Several old family pieces are featured. A corner cabinet, wall cabinet, breakfast table, and a very old leaded glass fixture are in the kitchen. The wall cabinet heights were varied to allow me to showcae a collection of “glug jugs” or fish pitchers on top.


The dimensions of the new kitchen are about 10 1/2 feet wide by 24 feet long. Because I walk with difficulty (due to polio as a child) I didn’t want to trot across an empty space to get to cabinets on both long walls. So there is 24 inch wide x 8 foot long island with about 3 foot wide walkways on both sides. Perfect for me.




At the left end of the window wall is an old wall cabinet. It is flanked by two old pewter sconces and under it is a stained walnut cabinet, 15 inches deep, 42 inches high, custom designed and built and installed by the cabinet makers.

Tight money constrained or postponed a few choices. One is the window over the sink, which I wanted to come down to counter level. Choosing a standard window instead of a custom to save what seemed too much money for a few more inches of window is the biggest regret I have. I currently am using the same old JennAire range I have had for nearly ten years. Its feeble broiler frustrates me beyond belief, but in my mind it is already the Capital Culinarian it will become when my bank account recovers a few more decimal places. The 1200 cfm hood above it is a pricey (for me) custom ModernAire which does exactly what I wanted: it completely covers the stove area, blows out air hard enough to toss branches on trees ten feet away, and blends inconspicuously into the room. Even when it is on full, I don’t find it too terribly noisy.

The oak wall opposite the windows has no built in cabinets. Panelled doors replace the old white-painted hollow core doors to a small bathroom and the basement steps. On the long plain wall itself are two 3 foot long bookshelf potracks that store an unbelievable amount. In the corner nearest the family room is a corner cabinet that holds dry foods, staples, and some spices.