HOME DECOR: KITCHENS - COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASH DESIGN

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>COUNTERTOPS<br /><br />You probably already have a good idea what product you want to use for your kitchen countertop.  The difficulty comes in the large range of color and pattern available for each of the products.<br /><br /><br /><br />When planning or remodeling a kitchen, the countertops need special consideration.  They need to be water, stain and heat resistant as well as scratch and chip resistant.  Your counters are going to be around for a long time so they need to blend well with your decor and be fairly neutral so that they don't tie you down in terms of future redecorating choices.   Each product has its advantages and disadvantages.  Granite tops the list in terms of popularity and comes in both tile and slab form.  <br /><br /><br /><br />Here are a few surfaces to consider:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">QUARTZ SOLID SURFACE</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Man Made)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VcaK8UXuTXVcXPYMEsdUASoq226w5sNiz_Nn-BTFQNmBTGojirdPyBA0jZ5QpFEF9Ah8hl9h1R2oXDhyyzeXk-hG0gcdAmP0LeEdbCNSl0RmgSWFc_gsSclG4AcI3IcdsnEagIy0L_Qv/s1600-h/1180096684873_pg64_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VcaK8UXuTXVcXPYMEsdUASoq226w5sNiz_Nn-BTFQNmBTGojirdPyBA0jZ5QpFEF9Ah8hl9h1R2oXDhyyzeXk-hG0gcdAmP0LeEdbCNSl0RmgSWFc_gsSclG4AcI3IcdsnEagIy0L_Qv/s400/1180096684873_pg64_18.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man made surfaces, such as CesarStone above, are imbedded with quartz and other elements to mimic a natural stone look.  Similar in cost to granite these materials are completely non-porous.  Their surfaces are harder to stain, don't need to be sealed, and as such are more hygenic than many surfaces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_Y6w9T4b-lk8p0cyH_P9tMC-nZvgCfQfY6CIYfC3kJHFctNd_WvzS8wcyK_RHzaAxAwM7VxHZo2qFqH7LyFe2mo5PLI3A9NKTV4DT-rqcsOLHfz1GqHk8zmNELIWIN4pn7S4_uMLa2cd/s1600-h/4365-chickering-lane09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_Y6w9T4b-lk8p0cyH_P9tMC-nZvgCfQfY6CIYfC3kJHFctNd_WvzS8wcyK_RHzaAxAwM7VxHZo2qFqH7LyFe2mo5PLI3A9NKTV4DT-rqcsOLHfz1GqHk8zmNELIWIN4pn7S4_uMLa2cd/s400/4365-chickering-lane09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPFh1RHhgkRywzvPZdjCadhUFO_hKR5Z-88xoK7C867g8JnO3cj_-Tw7Tv4WCzTtIjk9zvbdn3l87mRntzW-2SxXH2aQGX3iAeV-AuDvIdepHv2c4Av7lK73SLt8l3OtZSNNOBAdWXPri/s1600-h/QuartzCountertops_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPFh1RHhgkRywzvPZdjCadhUFO_hKR5Z-88xoK7C867g8JnO3cj_-Tw7Tv4WCzTtIjk9zvbdn3l87mRntzW-2SxXH2aQGX3iAeV-AuDvIdepHv2c4Av7lK73SLt8l3OtZSNNOBAdWXPri/s320/QuartzCountertops_02.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The look is so similar to granite it is often difficult to tell them apart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pI9WJ_lsFJB2Lejj7kGcT4tBG_Ni7ZavuUse2yIIA9GMIN8UvsgDK9FJKSenopOwSiJBW4Ra1oztwpDSs0yc05kViCS9iLnxRR-GuY1q5axnUVt84hrdIeNJnaTNWeD2DyVonF7PnIMa/s1600-h/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pI9WJ_lsFJB2Lejj7kGcT4tBG_Ni7ZavuUse2yIIA9GMIN8UvsgDK9FJKSenopOwSiJBW4Ra1oztwpDSs0yc05kViCS9iLnxRR-GuY1q5axnUVt84hrdIeNJnaTNWeD2DyVonF7PnIMa/s400/image003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">GRANITE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUulcf2L5_yG6L-T4DlIOqdVoWS60_AoxOdOz0qSf6lcTdKFsuJmVHql3kWNg5I157QG5hrFHyfe2YavzV164dBQJNE6k9E1_0Yss5Bcla4O_ZvyGujBWKHlbCPD3pg-GeQ_-2Oe0GGMB/s1600-h/61237084267fn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUulcf2L5_yG6L-T4DlIOqdVoWS60_AoxOdOz0qSf6lcTdKFsuJmVHql3kWNg5I157QG5hrFHyfe2YavzV164dBQJNE6k9E1_0Yss5Bcla4O_ZvyGujBWKHlbCPD3pg-GeQ_-2Oe0GGMB/s400/61237084267fn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Granite is hard to beat for a perfect kitchen countertop surface.  One of the hardest surfaces available it will resist scratching and chipping and is impervious to heat - and in terms of sheer beauty and variety it has no equal - there is depth, motion, color and sheen.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiD-Q0Du43Z7rJmGwUefoaS1fBoZkpElBOBGwb72S-25EHwjutBiHTbUCDkfuJ9NwQsabWQa3xtqwBqphEiZaNnSpzVA76DsNan1NlX-saa9nON_0XUzeDUR_wt1-HQR49ojzgkShmHAr/s1600-h/PICT0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiD-Q0Du43Z7rJmGwUefoaS1fBoZkpElBOBGwb72S-25EHwjutBiHTbUCDkfuJ9NwQsabWQa3xtqwBqphEiZaNnSpzVA76DsNan1NlX-saa9nON_0XUzeDUR_wt1-HQR49ojzgkShmHAr/s400/PICT0110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Granite is available in tile form and as a slab.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcwm-iviHXTJa-T23WtTm9EVq2Bn6AilNgH2b0GXCaPYj2D2RO7mUePhvAByOftAugvbXaFmeWO1GSGLo0Q1XHa8PnInfd_2k5ysZrx_WHV8WTqh0hzZn8k5ByjbfgTqT63WPGwKT1JS-/s1600-h/2897543054_00597e7e6d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcwm-iviHXTJa-T23WtTm9EVq2Bn6AilNgH2b0GXCaPYj2D2RO7mUePhvAByOftAugvbXaFmeWO1GSGLo0Q1XHa8PnInfd_2k5ysZrx_WHV8WTqh0hzZn8k5ByjbfgTqT63WPGwKT1JS-/s400/2897543054_00597e7e6d.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Picking out your granite slab for the kitchen can be quite an adventure.  A visit to a stone yard will reveal more variety than you thought possible.  Some varieties are more speckled in nature and others have motion - with large patterns of veins and color going through them.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You should take samples of the other elements you will be using in your kitchen with you, such as </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">woods, paint and fabric, to help you narrow your search.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVIXgzP9PNAAs5ifp2Lu58Mju_LfsJWSPixuERlT37RD2ZUZnGlePQ0KFTXE2PnwHKNONeDIUdyPw0jih0H_vZyfEUJbj6SOKnQ3NHoixB0TpQGTLl-B_NqpNEEn2HqoiiJrxgbqL6fQv/s1600-h/candicekitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVIXgzP9PNAAs5ifp2Lu58Mju_LfsJWSPixuERlT37RD2ZUZnGlePQ0KFTXE2PnwHKNONeDIUdyPw0jih0H_vZyfEUJbj6SOKnQ3NHoixB0TpQGTLl-B_NqpNEEn2HqoiiJrxgbqL6fQv/s400/candicekitchen.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simple classic black granite is a popular choice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrEun_TBdYS1RgunR6FfSqmuYfdYqWYTOsdI1IC_niYvAt0t7MOlwX5iKLL7Hqc_yFh7RqNtdm77-sDloNOQPwW7smn2frjxHdRyPIZhpi8AeTDN0PI7lS0gvq_DTyACu0CIwkdxProwW/s1600-h/english.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrEun_TBdYS1RgunR6FfSqmuYfdYqWYTOsdI1IC_niYvAt0t7MOlwX5iKLL7Hqc_yFh7RqNtdm77-sDloNOQPwW7smn2frjxHdRyPIZhpi8AeTDN0PI7lS0gvq_DTyACu0CIwkdxProwW/s400/english.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfRecwUq8g3w6jw8eCJQKMhLK2t48AZDPigAf96e455QSshslKwUBAHiTNBwxXjo4YF60NcCSdf1Zw8-a_Yfq9Qm1I9TcWscNFHAUWU7boA4H5WQon5c18mLtALP2VnWv66DQ3M_8FbBy/s1600-h/granite_countertop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfRecwUq8g3w6jw8eCJQKMhLK2t48AZDPigAf96e455QSshslKwUBAHiTNBwxXjo4YF60NcCSdf1Zw8-a_Yfq9Qm1I9TcWscNFHAUWU7boA4H5WQon5c18mLtALP2VnWv66DQ3M_8FbBy/s400/granite_countertop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGr4Vl-TxR_ituWRNftu7A1LBBhWGe7v1eXdvEkeJdli2acsrfjybL_An4aeu7FYMPZic5tUdTzFy6ITw4UBs8TeLV-9JHUiKLtCo6lF8ZgfgMdbXBU7nWA-Fn8uMy3Z7NkEc11JIgooo/s1600-h/granite-countertops-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGr4Vl-TxR_ituWRNftu7A1LBBhWGe7v1eXdvEkeJdli2acsrfjybL_An4aeu7FYMPZic5tUdTzFy6ITw4UBs8TeLV-9JHUiKLtCo6lF8ZgfgMdbXBU7nWA-Fn8uMy3Z7NkEc11JIgooo/s400/granite-countertops-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80Zt70WvtIaT3W6al2rr2O_TmLKzZefWvUbKQQ2rvnGJjuGWd8RM8mT7jrmu5Ik-i9itVBkeOQ18M3XCv8ib2_TG2UIEq6qWpHULXabZivEq7PzqhGP0xfIHHyQs8NV6CAnxfft-c5aVa/s1600-h/Kitchen_countertops_imperial_green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80Zt70WvtIaT3W6al2rr2O_TmLKzZefWvUbKQQ2rvnGJjuGWd8RM8mT7jrmu5Ik-i9itVBkeOQ18M3XCv8ib2_TG2UIEq6qWpHULXabZivEq7PzqhGP0xfIHHyQs8NV6CAnxfft-c5aVa/s400/Kitchen_countertops_imperial_green.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxIVF3R4uyXQ2_Do2yOaTAhb-Y8ANcGO_WRFuBR_eIgJvhk-lCsi-eFzbCBF45d-NZtPPtaEXQxxVAMH2jjfmEjAm6fMLfLX-LmFLKqW9FpWjV3b1p3dR2z-d0R0X-enQM2bC05Bx8DY7/s1600-h/M-Series+48+x+36+with+acanthus+corbels+and+shelf+painted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxIVF3R4uyXQ2_Do2yOaTAhb-Y8ANcGO_WRFuBR_eIgJvhk-lCsi-eFzbCBF45d-NZtPPtaEXQxxVAMH2jjfmEjAm6fMLfLX-LmFLKqW9FpWjV3b1p3dR2z-d0R0X-enQM2bC05Bx8DY7/s400/M-Series+48+x+36+with+acanthus+corbels+and+shelf+painted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-_uxEr6wxPRFdhHkQ1xdgPlpzxz0qhAgXUTq0GeZru4rYp6Uj537ny1Sn6rYpJ4f5Ta2CXwGaa8-uQJ0R0O0h6SKYEfGDDv9tzOgGh9UGu4eio45ijY_FdmSQYZfuohcxykweZRSWesB/s1600-h/ss_101000190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-_uxEr6wxPRFdhHkQ1xdgPlpzxz0qhAgXUTq0GeZru4rYp6Uj537ny1Sn6rYpJ4f5Ta2CXwGaa8-uQJ0R0O0h6SKYEfGDDv9tzOgGh9UGu4eio45ijY_FdmSQYZfuohcxykweZRSWesB/s320/ss_101000190.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz5K1qaEdUbB-tmmEnn4gHnxS6yENNsqz1MIBQJsAo__Ot3N2slQyxDFUHuvIKl2JDJ_HbgbfmpHj-C6FjNdfkblmQvr4O5eYsRXLkjOQFK07GK1EwY66J0GM8U_6GWNk6cZnJCyu2_CM/s1600-h/ballar.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz5K1qaEdUbB-tmmEnn4gHnxS6yENNsqz1MIBQJsAo__Ot3N2slQyxDFUHuvIKl2JDJ_HbgbfmpHj-C6FjNdfkblmQvr4O5eYsRXLkjOQFK07GK1EwY66J0GM8U_6GWNk6cZnJCyu2_CM/s400/ballar.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This island has a combination of wood, granite and marble at various stations.  Marble is the perfect choice for a pastry counter, but is not recommended for the abuse it can receive as a kitchen countertop.  Marble is a softer stone, and more porous.  It can stain, scratch and break easily and is not heat friendly.  It makes a wonderful choice as a backsplash and as countertops and flooring in other areas of the home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WOOD</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0dUJDHS5_3CA_SV5Vv_koE56hRkG5hiBWUfodUV5g4ZI2sUGX-7qvT_Y6PnYElLpe1Y8KGzLS5LlTZ2FzMq2ggAwyJA97tWwr91Ksc05tcn8kGA-RopVY519A1yBiUl9iKP77-7l-0BF/s1600-h/butcherblock.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0dUJDHS5_3CA_SV5Vv_koE56hRkG5hiBWUfodUV5g4ZI2sUGX-7qvT_Y6PnYElLpe1Y8KGzLS5LlTZ2FzMq2ggAwyJA97tWwr91Ksc05tcn8kGA-RopVY519A1yBiUl9iKP77-7l-0BF/s400/butcherblock.bmp" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Butcher block is another countertop choice - more economical than granite, but more susceptible to cuts, stains and germs (never ever use it for raw poultry preparation) and requiring more maintenance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtL4n0l9tlVy-Z7NwpwozNQcE1NjUHCiw5NequZvfRUWCnRFj2Iu7lVN55iB47IpPcY1Hx_beQ2lW6AiTNQCz66tfcMX9HV0f6QkBqpB_ZKod7S59cfWWV81iwRPNScACaRmAWAUPb7d2/s1600-h/Mesquite%2520Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtL4n0l9tlVy-Z7NwpwozNQcE1NjUHCiw5NequZvfRUWCnRFj2Iu7lVN55iB47IpPcY1Hx_beQ2lW6AiTNQCz66tfcMX9HV0f6QkBqpB_ZKod7S59cfWWV81iwRPNScACaRmAWAUPb7d2/s400/Mesquite%2520Island.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CERAMIC TILE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLWpUgRSQoyxTtzOmgfWML9ysyOvRZKcrYalcMXcNfdKKjixHHtvvJgf3y9XVSnK94FCnutPsma0hSdxMsafiH97sIe0q2hKmg9G7d8CfW-TQZzpjqKjJm7B6i02spOgP_FrtLTlyEUZ2/s1600-h/c8a36ace-0531-4165-b7a2-00eadd7c0726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLWpUgRSQoyxTtzOmgfWML9ysyOvRZKcrYalcMXcNfdKKjixHHtvvJgf3y9XVSnK94FCnutPsma0hSdxMsafiH97sIe0q2hKmg9G7d8CfW-TQZzpjqKjJm7B6i02spOgP_FrtLTlyEUZ2/s400/c8a36ace-0531-4165-b7a2-00eadd7c0726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ceramic tile has always been a popular choice.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8O7g4F3Z_ie1bmMg7rHG0vjunQR12RGLD4MWPpOTnkuuItzcIBbZKgvdOiRU_BcZviPYEfJRo_dGu8SM3WRaPfFk8sdFiLluCBLzVjngibrg8uVFJJ_MAgmRV_BjIlCpmqv2xb7rGIqh/s1600-h/Ceramic1Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8O7g4F3Z_ie1bmMg7rHG0vjunQR12RGLD4MWPpOTnkuuItzcIBbZKgvdOiRU_BcZviPYEfJRo_dGu8SM3WRaPfFk8sdFiLluCBLzVjngibrg8uVFJJ_MAgmRV_BjIlCpmqv2xb7rGIqh/s320/Ceramic1Large.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is economical, has a wide color and pattern variety, and when the grout is properly sealed, is easy care.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnk7T5uw0joI5WP0x9fLz4u13jTWY2FzjmStnsoR9csbfPXj3wTSfdqDDfHoSSWLZYP4oRvHHVaeMy7CEUCNMio5TTbBLOX0AuAib25XjckbLqOoljQAVWs_mQcpl1XWWP8tv3p-V3JK_/s1600-h/123456tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnk7T5uw0joI5WP0x9fLz4u13jTWY2FzjmStnsoR9csbfPXj3wTSfdqDDfHoSSWLZYP4oRvHHVaeMy7CEUCNMio5TTbBLOX0AuAib25XjckbLqOoljQAVWs_mQcpl1XWWP8tv3p-V3JK_/s320/123456tile.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is prone to chipping/breaking so extra care should be taken.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The grout can stain and get dirty over the years</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CONCRETE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0htebXfHG9KDwN8DdSoIYlrsLhF6hPCerF2ImlMSg3ICn5YigzQcTPBV60W5G1ZYwMz0ICIY1AMmyvf6VapejY7Ny_PPNs7pVpYO5-PyCbxBazPvHedC5Rkz1k6AjqARB-ziZ19U4kBmI/s1600-h/20%2520concrete%2520countertop%2520pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0htebXfHG9KDwN8DdSoIYlrsLhF6hPCerF2ImlMSg3ICn5YigzQcTPBV60W5G1ZYwMz0ICIY1AMmyvf6VapejY7Ny_PPNs7pVpYO5-PyCbxBazPvHedC5Rkz1k6AjqARB-ziZ19U4kBmI/s400/20%2520concrete%2520countertop%2520pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A fairly new product for kitchen countertops is concrete.  There are many application choices, even the ability to imbed items.  </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YKoxekgWcoUrZrv6W6MMGAxLAmqz2-PQjsh2FjHwZEkPJJb58qvrCJ77SS3_6l8g5LfO-RktaDk0dFXJb_nDLGf5AIlZGgsMH1xAeWd-qHm-XlhE79Jt5lICdu0KKSALbrjcqtWbAYg8/s1600-h/PersonalizedKitchenCountertops_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YKoxekgWcoUrZrv6W6MMGAxLAmqz2-PQjsh2FjHwZEkPJJb58qvrCJ77SS3_6l8g5LfO-RktaDk0dFXJb_nDLGf5AIlZGgsMH1xAeWd-qHm-XlhE79Jt5lICdu0KKSALbrjcqtWbAYg8/s320/PersonalizedKitchenCountertops_02.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The finished product is sealed and polished and the concrete can be tinted.  </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The materials may appear cheaper, but combined with the labor intensive installation, it can actually end up being more expensive than granite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">STAINLESS STEEL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A staple of the restaurant industry, this hard-wearing, easy to clean surface is become more popular in residential kitchens</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9qZZ7I6FSlO3pNQjfdLbJmAd2r2Ql8Kfz6C_JhXDdR6dlrrQ6eV3geDgNWvnjFoNG76lWyTM957ZHn_ORDPJbYdp_0wdvUajSSh2XMH3g9BcxjP15SB63wPAAEdIKA4x_wZXFAyszojC/s1600-h/P-picture-6-2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9qZZ7I6FSlO3pNQjfdLbJmAd2r2Ql8Kfz6C_JhXDdR6dlrrQ6eV3geDgNWvnjFoNG76lWyTM957ZHn_ORDPJbYdp_0wdvUajSSh2XMH3g9BcxjP15SB63wPAAEdIKA4x_wZXFAyszojC/s400/P-picture-6-2007.jpg" width="287" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-5cy6Mk-UP3KyykK0ylYnAPNrTB_1WNJYaNQAV-fGJzhBgPhLpztxAObdl0bhWbPjdlWahsvQqmzxJwr3snMZ22eRObuYz_h9LvQXv9msVmLSe0xUkl7UyOQy1vmFhB81XH-ozZSy9Io/s1600-h/stainlesscounter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-5cy6Mk-UP3KyykK0ylYnAPNrTB_1WNJYaNQAV-fGJzhBgPhLpztxAObdl0bhWbPjdlWahsvQqmzxJwr3snMZ22eRObuYz_h9LvQXv9msVmLSe0xUkl7UyOQy1vmFhB81XH-ozZSy9Io/s320/stainlesscounter.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Popular in contemporary kitchens,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJeSlqxlOUglw8cTCE-Pf4S36flXVWE9Mvg9m5vwfbvuK0YbpckiBfiv3U854huT54OQ0oA6Lz9Be-6MQRYD_4yJz_yr_n6jDSMKiUBZli5dxBMZfTg5XHtwm4c5U8h-EGB7CXeMqjNTo/s1600-h/sexy_stainless_steel_countertop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJeSlqxlOUglw8cTCE-Pf4S36flXVWE9Mvg9m5vwfbvuK0YbpckiBfiv3U854huT54OQ0oA6Lz9Be-6MQRYD_4yJz_yr_n6jDSMKiUBZli5dxBMZfTg5XHtwm4c5U8h-EGB7CXeMqjNTo/s320/sexy_stainless_steel_countertop.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but lends itself to vintage just as easily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THE BACKSPLASH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The backsplash is one of the few areas in a kitchen were you can get really creative, and if you thought the choices for countertops were intimidating - the choices for your backsplash will astound you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>TRAVERTINE<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBawdtCgajYsabyDPepB4lEvteKEsx59eaU-ms9DvBflDA_9MQHMjbhJkTCF0oDyRWMsu7uOgGppwQoYPHdlmffpLVS1gAQ-AdahgO2SttS2AtWcrol9jMsqnpreOAF9-1Jo1EscY03oEl/s1600-h/687421c0-2480-46b9-9cdb-ee362da7eb4f_player.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBawdtCgajYsabyDPepB4lEvteKEsx59eaU-ms9DvBflDA_9MQHMjbhJkTCF0oDyRWMsu7uOgGppwQoYPHdlmffpLVS1gAQ-AdahgO2SttS2AtWcrol9jMsqnpreOAF9-1Jo1EscY03oEl/s400/687421c0-2480-46b9-9cdb-ee362da7eb4f_player.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A popular choice, and one that pairs beautifully with granite, is travertine.  Travertine actually has quite a wide range of color.  It is formed underwater which produces air bubbles or holes throughout.  These can be filled or left exposed.  The tile can be tumbled for a rustic look, or filled and honed, or polished, for a more refined look.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5dIhk_h-tHjF_lnkIrsmWv5e2-Gu9xCqHtkhdRqJ6kQ1a-BwJtYvGmQJF-SqE48CP27OChfsTTah2AJQgzEUjEONGbd2qMbebeE4fecdwCC32DzGwTrm9DwdFdI2TIfgdS1wANlLz0Bd/s1600-h/backspl.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5dIhk_h-tHjF_lnkIrsmWv5e2-Gu9xCqHtkhdRqJ6kQ1a-BwJtYvGmQJF-SqE48CP27OChfsTTah2AJQgzEUjEONGbd2qMbebeE4fecdwCC32DzGwTrm9DwdFdI2TIfgdS1wANlLz0Bd/s400/backspl.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY1AIdSpoQoRWv1UW0z2huzyy7W8lK1WbkR4669MIHoun4W-AjIX2Ehivh2HdfXnbiarKlhvvW4GKC94MeW4aDuXjPfG54af2uRmEac-FrS_gH41LalhgZTQxWYzkmnRI37-12I0WcNSl/s1600-h/bankofblue.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY1AIdSpoQoRWv1UW0z2huzyy7W8lK1WbkR4669MIHoun4W-AjIX2Ehivh2HdfXnbiarKlhvvW4GKC94MeW4aDuXjPfG54af2uRmEac-FrS_gH41LalhgZTQxWYzkmnRI37-12I0WcNSl/s400/bankofblue.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are moldings and liners available for framing and borders.  Stone mosaics and listeles can be added,</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCm65TonZcIDjTT2aYFMqzU7gJMzySYFsyCMYUlJ4jZ_2mG3LYt6m-BUExczNFOF2LlFz3ipEqTUg30vueHIrPXAgs6pACcw6MWbYjzNiNFSpYZSckdNWcMBHYhF-UA6WxFZsd-EcRhbd3/s1600-h/kitchen%2520backsplash%25202x2%2520tile%2520glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCm65TonZcIDjTT2aYFMqzU7gJMzySYFsyCMYUlJ4jZ_2mG3LYt6m-BUExczNFOF2LlFz3ipEqTUg30vueHIrPXAgs6pACcw6MWbYjzNiNFSpYZSckdNWcMBHYhF-UA6WxFZsd-EcRhbd3/s400/kitchen%2520backsplash%25202x2%2520tile%2520glass.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as well as metallic, glass or marble accents,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS2rg0PW-lpL9UIThIJpCz43MwRKwImxUPoOTt4oIyhknPn1rBRdACqEAhfBmxS1aCPNnLnBYb0s17JsQ3X7qeLWpTUMzoTNX-xjtiowkV09biCtFSZtbaC305N1BjPkqkvGefQsTlG0d/s1600-h/CeramicTileBacksplashWithDedoInlay-main_Full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFS2rg0PW-lpL9UIThIJpCz43MwRKwImxUPoOTt4oIyhknPn1rBRdACqEAhfBmxS1aCPNnLnBYb0s17JsQ3X7qeLWpTUMzoTNX-xjtiowkV09biCtFSZtbaC305N1BjPkqkvGefQsTlG0d/s640/CeramicTileBacksplashWithDedoInlay-main_Full.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqsv0jfGAlsY6cDao7_gsY6jJihZzzR3rteueP_FKGky-CWyE0joj7myhEP9Hx79p2eNhM2zXKZNYUBzvpZ5sULJ7NXtXUHccKNIaPu19T5NYFfzEvuY8T0-0huTgIWbuCirZczIzZ8Qh/s1600-h/Granite%2520Kitchen%2520Countertops%25201229x819-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqsv0jfGAlsY6cDao7_gsY6jJihZzzR3rteueP_FKGky-CWyE0joj7myhEP9Hx79p2eNhM2zXKZNYUBzvpZ5sULJ7NXtXUHccKNIaPu19T5NYFfzEvuY8T0-0huTgIWbuCirZczIzZ8Qh/s640/Granite%2520Kitchen%2520Countertops%25201229x819-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in a variety of shapes and sizes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAbjkLBMErTMz-2aAFOYxITp2FaEBk3J0_Zn5tncS7vZ7uMlLIDzzW2V4jh2LURJd9jId3T5JrhXCDGy93zMmrcGhtwlQEzpKJ94Ztf40idK086skAmFwuu_ubPhe6077IgWI387aMoul/s1600-h/kitchen-tile-backsplash-diamond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAbjkLBMErTMz-2aAFOYxITp2FaEBk3J0_Zn5tncS7vZ7uMlLIDzzW2V4jh2LURJd9jId3T5JrhXCDGy93zMmrcGhtwlQEzpKJ94Ztf40idK086skAmFwuu_ubPhe6077IgWI387aMoul/s400/kitchen-tile-backsplash-diamond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN7a7_EgSrPgizy89hQOw-GD8lPZp48sAV2neibBR5rKOhqPsV0xsHJ8wLMCjql2PJ4yuqnOy5MFxLcECOdoCzYFDvGvmtSVgergWti3_T39a3srq-wLYEsKLtE0GVSisT_avjHLfPdXa/s1600-h/hoodmantle.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN7a7_EgSrPgizy89hQOw-GD8lPZp48sAV2neibBR5rKOhqPsV0xsHJ8wLMCjql2PJ4yuqnOy5MFxLcECOdoCzYFDvGvmtSVgergWti3_T39a3srq-wLYEsKLtE0GVSisT_avjHLfPdXa/s400/hoodmantle.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGxzSb7rYQjKp1-Jz6_gBp5-bsN2iKAKtYf2gaI1pOcUhk2hn4Yh6GjHlB4KA2bi6BEko78j8xo-dFRNjJJXJKzT0LNLEi6fJQDjOkfN1mjlmjOHG7kKx3llKFo00-9ZZNstA6WPhnqPr/s1600-h/kitchen_backsplash_photos_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGxzSb7rYQjKp1-Jz6_gBp5-bsN2iKAKtYf2gaI1pOcUhk2hn4Yh6GjHlB4KA2bi6BEko78j8xo-dFRNjJJXJKzT0LNLEi6fJQDjOkfN1mjlmjOHG7kKx3llKFo00-9ZZNstA6WPhnqPr/s400/kitchen_backsplash_photos_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEb-grQLdH7zAzMQCb9Q9T_FPm9ZkS2mptFmj18q1DrlUDgb1KB65Mpe2FOWzrRctlCgGPb4_hBou1_ygjqclPQgRPuu_DxNEqWVKv-AZnL-QBQ4Ntzm2fiUwXiUQ6cgmvqqABeplfJx0/s1600-h/muralwall.psd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEb-grQLdH7zAzMQCb9Q9T_FPm9ZkS2mptFmj18q1DrlUDgb1KB65Mpe2FOWzrRctlCgGPb4_hBou1_ygjqclPQgRPuu_DxNEqWVKv-AZnL-QBQ4Ntzm2fiUwXiUQ6cgmvqqABeplfJx0/s400/muralwall.psd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Etched or carved reliefs are available for creating a focal point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnaBBn6QNvKN1221GTTS7SjL7ZCgeYRvkBOhTZd7LE7UUZ6hoW-EoXdzMjis-y_w9F4kHHXm20MgxdXj-yzqxBugO6W6V-lQu1DEMmIaqacWCFPHfnKPM3B4wsasSWbejOazRrPtkESLZ/s1600-h/ss_100162528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnaBBn6QNvKN1221GTTS7SjL7ZCgeYRvkBOhTZd7LE7UUZ6hoW-EoXdzMjis-y_w9F4kHHXm20MgxdXj-yzqxBugO6W6V-lQu1DEMmIaqacWCFPHfnKPM3B4wsasSWbejOazRrPtkESLZ/s400/ss_100162528.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Travertine blends beautifully with other stone - here with a marble mosaic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXAmjStjElH7voMTvplHs8wl9_RodnF-kpt9xsPtpVg935bEZA2P1M6ToUhTNZA25bKDiEVW0hDX5NNkX2PVQ6X4ZZ5Hd4BzSav6IuDICxzybXt8dDhtdXtfQL8VtHweTtct4kndU9Cs4/s1600-h/trav.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXAmjStjElH7voMTvplHs8wl9_RodnF-kpt9xsPtpVg935bEZA2P1M6ToUhTNZA25bKDiEVW0hDX5NNkX2PVQ6X4ZZ5Hd4BzSav6IuDICxzybXt8dDhtdXtfQL8VtHweTtct4kndU9Cs4/s400/trav.bmp" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sealing the stone both protects it and brings out the richness of its natural color</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPlm8lmfFUHk1tQn1jBKT1YOpJ_yopGXP-BWBeA5Vl0VlEhx6W99zL4sJXHcQo02w7UKww8WmQfEf-laRVrfm2hwyWj-DEwul6Bu7ZAu2lXlBqppw7nWHCr3wWwi6WTMO-lq1E8LMk6rD/s1600-h/home-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPlm8lmfFUHk1tQn1jBKT1YOpJ_yopGXP-BWBeA5Vl0VlEhx6W99zL4sJXHcQo02w7UKww8WmQfEf-laRVrfm2hwyWj-DEwul6Bu7ZAu2lXlBqppw7nWHCr3wWwi6WTMO-lq1E8LMk6rD/s320/home-kitchen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtbs0d3CT2P5NQUpONFmFrjsHnpPyef7lT82OKcOfBQ4vFzWmAMut2VheWvoUEbsyxO2kGPmC640Xp2cQyrAjJVWzszXM_f6_7D4M48JZqbjMF-ulDotRguFCAaMhmDXrW3zFfC1hJ6RV/s1600-h/lanterns.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtbs0d3CT2P5NQUpONFmFrjsHnpPyef7lT82OKcOfBQ4vFzWmAMut2VheWvoUEbsyxO2kGPmC640Xp2cQyrAjJVWzszXM_f6_7D4M48JZqbjMF-ulDotRguFCAaMhmDXrW3zFfC1hJ6RV/s320/lanterns.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzgmlZfYa8bGvmU3z1st6VypvhqLn8eiiumMKtlwYjq-XzLPU_Xq_a-XeF4z4iiWagH-RCNErCEefT_YvPJTGc8lJ2QlW1z9KFgh2C2QvQlTTT1mej4VZS6A1008RIQbL-wF8jCpCgDhV/s1600-h/symmetry.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzgmlZfYa8bGvmU3z1st6VypvhqLn8eiiumMKtlwYjq-XzLPU_Xq_a-XeF4z4iiWagH-RCNErCEefT_YvPJTGc8lJ2QlW1z9KFgh2C2QvQlTTT1mej4VZS6A1008RIQbL-wF8jCpCgDhV/s400/symmetry.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zJR1DON3fWTLp2LllM4YqzWXQ5HwauKCbh-bqqJoBYBAo9rat2xfIzw5Q39SgDxNE-_AYEgLQM5aiiaHqYFR-CtcxLpK4FAyn9EwAfFKzZ1ezrPqFjD-ykMHCBvCmtCwPycJwpET6rkQ/s1600-h/2007_0921Kitchen50005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zJR1DON3fWTLp2LllM4YqzWXQ5HwauKCbh-bqqJoBYBAo9rat2xfIzw5Q39SgDxNE-_AYEgLQM5aiiaHqYFR-CtcxLpK4FAyn9EwAfFKzZ1ezrPqFjD-ykMHCBvCmtCwPycJwpET6rkQ/s640/2007_0921Kitchen50005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because this is made by mother nature and not manufactured, there is a variety of color within the same color field.  Make sure you have a good stone craftsman to install, as stone is more difficult than tile.  Thicknesses can vary and lines aren't always completely straight.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHOflbDGBMnXav2mqMqDYysvYi6Yy2MX8-GrMSHK2r7r4PWG9xykz2f81Ty2duaUQJ62m1fiEIruKT2NnRxiFgGA3TimYnnjHOtVQ7bHRokaQUNra69EHRW0tD5qaMevc0i2yEPmeIGmw/s1600-h/natural_stone.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHOflbDGBMnXav2mqMqDYysvYi6Yy2MX8-GrMSHK2r7r4PWG9xykz2f81Ty2duaUQJ62m1fiEIruKT2NnRxiFgGA3TimYnnjHOtVQ7bHRokaQUNra69EHRW0tD5qaMevc0i2yEPmeIGmw/s400/natural_stone.gif" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPJvkt6fWc3NzW71paGKA5VYiY_e-UTgTAes20Zl1HZO2oUTYcxZE-dkYVXuy_ytMq66-3xIfe4KjahRm_YWeNuYOiBDKXgKymllD-dPj_OvSTTHCLeTDFjZfexElgqauBjBRUTjJNH8c/s1600-h/a26b712a7ddca3555df91a5ea27957d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPJvkt6fWc3NzW71paGKA5VYiY_e-UTgTAes20Zl1HZO2oUTYcxZE-dkYVXuy_ytMq66-3xIfe4KjahRm_YWeNuYOiBDKXgKymllD-dPj_OvSTTHCLeTDFjZfexElgqauBjBRUTjJNH8c/s400/a26b712a7ddca3555df91a5ea27957d8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this basketweave mosaic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbHjZlxDYi9VLZSMcRErE809QfInMRJNIb_V44zclxq1hIhQIM5QaETseJoepRkPX7OI5wDNt7b1j211osi6mFnMMkGjmvHFWdHFIZOMD4OwrartEfJoS4ie7pIN5yX7s55ss04A66-zw/s1600-h/5636969cc4b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbHjZlxDYi9VLZSMcRErE809QfInMRJNIb_V44zclxq1hIhQIM5QaETseJoepRkPX7OI5wDNt7b1j211osi6mFnMMkGjmvHFWdHFIZOMD4OwrartEfJoS4ie7pIN5yX7s55ss04A66-zw/s400/5636969cc4b2.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The subway shaped tiles on this backsplash are installed so closely together that they look seamless</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzPPkiLDyjyeeVNz_kv3rf0JiAcFGFgYcN-uwxLr8faQV7-P1_DnhKE5VemPATrUGjYppdhUQC3-tJLpC0AdCNY4pjwNxd_yWM0tx0bj_c3AnaK7v5Fr8pccTu8KhHicujYZldXIbyOGg/s1600-h/Backsplash_Honey_Onyx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzPPkiLDyjyeeVNz_kv3rf0JiAcFGFgYcN-uwxLr8faQV7-P1_DnhKE5VemPATrUGjYppdhUQC3-tJLpC0AdCNY4pjwNxd_yWM0tx0bj_c3AnaK7v5Fr8pccTu8KhHicujYZldXIbyOGg/s400/Backsplash_Honey_Onyx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0Rr2SysJLwxc-uY6yJpkYLvHhvCe5bwBvzMHS227nZU4Df-pm3AQSOOcWf-1Tq7Bs6tVdcjWJD7hWZTzswv4U2rCHTHGDNwJxCgmjZ6690brMpMs8xlNON5RjFFFYCUaRPaaAk8V1967/s1600-h/70SRETRO.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0Rr2SysJLwxc-uY6yJpkYLvHhvCe5bwBvzMHS227nZU4Df-pm3AQSOOcWf-1Tq7Bs6tVdcjWJD7hWZTzswv4U2rCHTHGDNwJxCgmjZ6690brMpMs8xlNON5RjFFFYCUaRPaaAk8V1967/s400/70SRETRO.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Etched and patterned travertine add more possibilities.  Way too many possibilities for just one backsplash!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>CERAMIC TILE MAKES A COMEBACK<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KMLpkQ4uPc9jLSO13SzleOq1-P67l_7y5SCJ8PrZfbEDp12uo-PKxW9eWiTFp2P2pIYPDwOBT2NhuOB08XvORGGoWCXhDTGSZ0ZV0V4npezUrHUVTp9au546e25dBs2357D4QmeqQzfY/s1600-h/alcove.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KMLpkQ4uPc9jLSO13SzleOq1-P67l_7y5SCJ8PrZfbEDp12uo-PKxW9eWiTFp2P2pIYPDwOBT2NhuOB08XvORGGoWCXhDTGSZ0ZV0V4npezUrHUVTp9au546e25dBs2357D4QmeqQzfY/s400/alcove.bmp" width="327" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just look at these beautiful tile applications.  Ceramic tile has come a long way since your grandmother or mother's kitchen.  Just look at the texture and color in these backsplashes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5VfhygMwd6xvllzExxEmLlinmIxZ-hCFaE5bBuPSKvsPDwcGrcii4YrPX1PLoXc9nxLwwv96X2BWdSoDWBJtmHQy6vV1pLUWcRZjiwFjAp5k9byqYAzGB0IuzzGHhxOMMvD7PVriApwu/s1600-h/ceramic+backsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5VfhygMwd6xvllzExxEmLlinmIxZ-hCFaE5bBuPSKvsPDwcGrcii4YrPX1PLoXc9nxLwwv96X2BWdSoDWBJtmHQy6vV1pLUWcRZjiwFjAp5k9byqYAzGB0IuzzGHhxOMMvD7PVriApwu/s400/ceramic+backsplash.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEGT5KHJU3L-ev-JnWBaisWBwTPc8dIA6InnRCvIXO1YaivVTBAkln2l37Yyvu2VdZHd_4tofHHikz_ovo3iZ8RCr04z66XLSbNevBKU6zwCt8qurdRaAo2JRjaEPpTNKYpRiO2Vd0oHJ/s1600-h/folio1_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEGT5KHJU3L-ev-JnWBaisWBwTPc8dIA6InnRCvIXO1YaivVTBAkln2l37Yyvu2VdZHd_4tofHHikz_ovo3iZ8RCr04z66XLSbNevBKU6zwCt8qurdRaAo2JRjaEPpTNKYpRiO2Vd0oHJ/s400/folio1_pic.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sMV9RxjqWpDDQZb_ZZWg5jA0b1ts6kDWLRrqf3LF_DN7hyphenhyphenAr8gapCpHHytiWBNap_xhj_XtBaakx2wg8P-Vd93Q8nKcTRNF5Uktgb284J3N06uJ46bBDcoBRbiebGG4J8njzaQFovYp-/s1600-h/maximize-kitchen-1-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sMV9RxjqWpDDQZb_ZZWg5jA0b1ts6kDWLRrqf3LF_DN7hyphenhyphenAr8gapCpHHytiWBNap_xhj_XtBaakx2wg8P-Vd93Q8nKcTRNF5Uktgb284J3N06uJ46bBDcoBRbiebGG4J8njzaQFovYp-/s400/maximize-kitchen-1-de.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the simplicity of this backsplash above</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6M348_4QydwGo1bfl9mg0ecAgd5dt6YtcRjILTlw5QXTY7G_D_lwUXRtrz_Kcv-9m5hvCnzZzN3Pt8dVEgk8aPdqXt7hM4QxEdsvr2P4it4ntFxZUSkJBu3SapEfXJyD9xCrR0IIQiLv/s1600-h/mosuprema_display_r12_c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6M348_4QydwGo1bfl9mg0ecAgd5dt6YtcRjILTlw5QXTY7G_D_lwUXRtrz_Kcv-9m5hvCnzZzN3Pt8dVEgk8aPdqXt7hM4QxEdsvr2P4it4ntFxZUSkJBu3SapEfXJyD9xCrR0IIQiLv/s400/mosuprema_display_r12_c8.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwPeqju7FUuV5fwpZ2OFInNs3Z0lI0qJQhhiQl8rcihP3Yq5uYXkn9gXsyKyAvpOnbyop_HeOhC1957tqEz7grFmrD5KE-M-sLbwjhqszmmrWMFtPFKIVR2_eRrQzR337cR777bvd069k/s1600-h/oceanview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwPeqju7FUuV5fwpZ2OFInNs3Z0lI0qJQhhiQl8rcihP3Yq5uYXkn9gXsyKyAvpOnbyop_HeOhC1957tqEz7grFmrD5KE-M-sLbwjhqszmmrWMFtPFKIVR2_eRrQzR337cR777bvd069k/s400/oceanview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pM7eAZV-hojXyLmynqwBh4tinMZRVYiLTHTLtuGkNsrgePhXV0XiavCAMqM8cd882q6J3dnDIsO483_XejHuw8Q9SgfvOP0lrEsSt0d0tPogd58FkYEa7LVP_oKyDvZlGmQsCmdnOAwL/s1600-h/subway.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pM7eAZV-hojXyLmynqwBh4tinMZRVYiLTHTLtuGkNsrgePhXV0XiavCAMqM8cd882q6J3dnDIsO483_XejHuw8Q9SgfvOP0lrEsSt0d0tPogd58FkYEa7LVP_oKyDvZlGmQsCmdnOAwL/s400/subway.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Subway tile - one of my favorite classic shapes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtGF8veArOr2EFzpzs8cVA7KgQLmE-ngNDWPG79_TSOYMB2OuTajBMq-WbVrJKdmB1dBaGetixZjfMpSpf4su_PG4-44680nXc_z52co_lSxRWdoKB1mEa50QdIw19XW0Dug_EHrJBreS/s1600-h/image16_thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtGF8veArOr2EFzpzs8cVA7KgQLmE-ngNDWPG79_TSOYMB2OuTajBMq-WbVrJKdmB1dBaGetixZjfMpSpf4su_PG4-44680nXc_z52co_lSxRWdoKB1mEa50QdIw19XW0Dug_EHrJBreS/s400/image16_thumb.png" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe3fIadrBp2J-BNcn93cQYiIGVss9mCUcLPKD50vR-7V6QzGX3b1kK2yS4KeSlbjY2X5ODzdKXdPO1PAIgGoOyAswwCHYPeKGKzV1xHIV5aR7Kw8t-tMaDG9x8QnY5l9X_E-qBWWme-7B/s1600-h/white-kitchen-cabinetry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe3fIadrBp2J-BNcn93cQYiIGVss9mCUcLPKD50vR-7V6QzGX3b1kK2yS4KeSlbjY2X5ODzdKXdPO1PAIgGoOyAswwCHYPeKGKzV1xHIV5aR7Kw8t-tMaDG9x8QnY5l9X_E-qBWWme-7B/s400/white-kitchen-cabinetry.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lv6TBECVjvQmyywxKaQfXRcEyN8YmSX0Shlit81p8bpdNcIuaQQozJgGxsRgqSvpaQKyyyRLXLxyjswW2BzQE_QkJCgOecZq-ENl0jwr1IKVfYZgw6SkNsrQxGx8hl2NV7LTWCTgUR4Y/s1600-h/CLX0907Kitchen2656R-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Lv6TBECVjvQmyywxKaQfXRcEyN8YmSX0Shlit81p8bpdNcIuaQQozJgGxsRgqSvpaQKyyyRLXLxyjswW2BzQE_QkJCgOecZq-ENl0jwr1IKVfYZgw6SkNsrQxGx8hl2NV7LTWCTgUR4Y/s640/CLX0907Kitchen2656R-de.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDf-vaNAl_3YP3wCZWWsjXGH-PWbFbayhS5QiFUSk1b7rQOggpnsrSbwdZ2pSRHxZeWPVtlqSrRpxpJzgBqvaSEy-G5hAn5PaVmKoAeD3zPAa3PvMikUwDZYXGxZS6SNaH-Ka7ViFjbSv/s1600-h/herbs_kitchen_backsplash_tile_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDf-vaNAl_3YP3wCZWWsjXGH-PWbFbayhS5QiFUSk1b7rQOggpnsrSbwdZ2pSRHxZeWPVtlqSrRpxpJzgBqvaSEy-G5hAn5PaVmKoAeD3zPAa3PvMikUwDZYXGxZS6SNaH-Ka7ViFjbSv/s400/herbs_kitchen_backsplash_tile_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THE NOT SO COMMON CHOICES:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>BRICK<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkekjs6rkk11bz6i9zGN4auZzgjXXDyN2lX-WHiHYidMbwfU4ZhZBjuI9C37MHZnrZTebAn2mkB6MMccWEePtPyOsI3E3ToyTi43qw9GWECA7-YmMWPmreAonBJ3nLfwcDuM8P-n5IiFp/s1600-h/brick.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkekjs6rkk11bz6i9zGN4auZzgjXXDyN2lX-WHiHYidMbwfU4ZhZBjuI9C37MHZnrZTebAn2mkB6MMccWEePtPyOsI3E3ToyTi43qw9GWECA7-YmMWPmreAonBJ3nLfwcDuM8P-n5IiFp/s400/brick.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BRICK SHAPED STONE</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs0QmUvMvScyd4uP044O3vv-gqbqQ6rrwJ4wzr1N1V0jQo6jHkD447WmZsPx7mqpYuaTTKAiv4glE0fha4FpDH9UuMDiseAR26PQvbJHGPFZ1vTU7nH0t_n_x4LD_46K_y2gipZ99eKAH/s1600-h/63cc77ce462a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs0QmUvMvScyd4uP044O3vv-gqbqQ6rrwJ4wzr1N1V0jQo6jHkD447WmZsPx7mqpYuaTTKAiv4glE0fha4FpDH9UuMDiseAR26PQvbJHGPFZ1vTU7nH0t_n_x4LD_46K_y2gipZ99eKAH/s400/63cc77ce462a.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PEBBLES - well, maybe for a rustic cabin....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb3r96EXyQnhdCn9FdfLC9K0t8phgAyzp0k0ymonXev2uEBAvgDOEXJHf2iijGJFsBmgAH6DsMdXuBzKz_JZUYV7g9ZrR0ybHwUXrsUEMHaEbjOJN3ZRU7C7vz1QwrZGb9n7yCZyzyQm2/s1600-h/00310015_22131247_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb3r96EXyQnhdCn9FdfLC9K0t8phgAyzp0k0ymonXev2uEBAvgDOEXJHf2iijGJFsBmgAH6DsMdXuBzKz_JZUYV7g9ZrR0ybHwUXrsUEMHaEbjOJN3ZRU7C7vz1QwrZGb9n7yCZyzyQm2/s640/00310015_22131247_std.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cultured stone (man made)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMKcETwVJBH3afWwxT4oo426tc3GBE_FU6IvCzn5xZCkCrbUCpNyyOyV-ky3_Hh9B0TbOsO6avvGv9aLFtEtlFCKWawbZCA3yRR47MABa9Bcyafr-nZhfLzDM1Bwq9GHbv9co3G3YAFOB/s1600-h/P9220483-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMKcETwVJBH3afWwxT4oo426tc3GBE_FU6IvCzn5xZCkCrbUCpNyyOyV-ky3_Hh9B0TbOsO6avvGv9aLFtEtlFCKWawbZCA3yRR47MABa9Bcyafr-nZhfLzDM1Bwq9GHbv9co3G3YAFOB/s400/P9220483-L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">POPULAR AND BEAUTIFUL GLASS TILE</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtBN1GlMqVmWDUvlWBO7xhXc4CkBMPGPfViZf5uY3qouaIMUGfhwQtoyT7Y-OQrpfi3RlV7awHjSxXxDMnC7dpBcuL0FJgOLBEhfjwnj5IEnnErDFidSb5AiVES1E_tBZjm5syfVwU2kx/s1600-h/GLASSTILE.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtBN1GlMqVmWDUvlWBO7xhXc4CkBMPGPfViZf5uY3qouaIMUGfhwQtoyT7Y-OQrpfi3RlV7awHjSxXxDMnC7dpBcuL0FJgOLBEhfjwnj5IEnnErDFidSb5AiVES1E_tBZjm5syfVwU2kx/s400/GLASSTILE.bmp" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mosaic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjks7QpIJ8T5Dd4wTmTSiPlZdCHhD6HMwJ0605CugmimxMguG_GTk3wsq8n75zr5jucl0fhEARABkXGUu5SmQqs7EFOAhrK3JTcBW3lP7tpkNOL3OJVnreLjLB5593dMNN7zDXbKlH9Y5eG/s1600-h/green-backsplash-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjks7QpIJ8T5Dd4wTmTSiPlZdCHhD6HMwJ0605CugmimxMguG_GTk3wsq8n75zr5jucl0fhEARABkXGUu5SmQqs7EFOAhrK3JTcBW3lP7tpkNOL3OJVnreLjLB5593dMNN7zDXbKlH9Y5eG/s400/green-backsplash-de.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Glass subway tile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa9ZpGeDL4ClIUwNeb6Lc3ws9BJAdfATPflTU01vC2Yb4OtorO6dTKCYktyluZZX7fq6romF3OSID-qX5kHHas_uGK_JU7sgUPN2YStD-1E5vziIzX7J2TtY2GJM-0a4nkCNCS3asXisl/s1600-h/backpainted+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa9ZpGeDL4ClIUwNeb6Lc3ws9BJAdfATPflTU01vC2Yb4OtorO6dTKCYktyluZZX7fq6romF3OSID-qX5kHHas_uGK_JU7sgUPN2YStD-1E5vziIzX7J2TtY2GJM-0a4nkCNCS3asXisl/s400/backpainted+glass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or, how about backpainted glass!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">METAL - A NEW CHOICE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jmjuZfI8fNQoay-Gr5FZivcdALzYTQEl6NJFfxlD8ctTy0U_MDBd6H5mwZOkbk9S91V5uMj0O4jyyGDcnVqUtj0BXhCE0q7xMD9pn2Jjdy4FTc7qezUBaYtia_1ekjU-kqyn4cNh7TND/s1600-h/0604184M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jmjuZfI8fNQoay-Gr5FZivcdALzYTQEl6NJFfxlD8ctTy0U_MDBd6H5mwZOkbk9S91V5uMj0O4jyyGDcnVqUtj0BXhCE0q7xMD9pn2Jjdy4FTc7qezUBaYtia_1ekjU-kqyn4cNh7TND/s400/0604184M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stainless steel tile - very contemporary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgDN56Q_Kke2ZD1ANHp7Cc7M9-gXAm-eeyDwsiC8SgFiBanTrhBOFLhkgr2Ld0VIdeMFj3saTUfjFYsBXnc1hp-5eXMli6NjRCpO22fe8JDyJxPOjFTuJtsP1wC1aSEwlSwz3DLJU6kWg/s1600-h/black-backsplash-cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgDN56Q_Kke2ZD1ANHp7Cc7M9-gXAm-eeyDwsiC8SgFiBanTrhBOFLhkgr2Ld0VIdeMFj3saTUfjFYsBXnc1hp-5eXMli6NjRCpO22fe8JDyJxPOjFTuJtsP1wC1aSEwlSwz3DLJU6kWg/s400/black-backsplash-cabinets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pressed tin - very old fashioned</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPHOS8x8e08CY_g33kpkQlAfvizFq34kb5P-umMbkCtg0GzbixqliwKzSwp2DJBM3sY1rLNurGJ2Tlon5YIQrFXmu0wvUWgAxM2ve2X1n9WVLri5WXThnxPDuUfaAYKHZsAUNEWElflvj/s1600-h/kitchen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPHOS8x8e08CY_g33kpkQlAfvizFq34kb5P-umMbkCtg0GzbixqliwKzSwp2DJBM3sY1rLNurGJ2Tlon5YIQrFXmu0wvUWgAxM2ve2X1n9WVLri5WXThnxPDuUfaAYKHZsAUNEWElflvj/s400/kitchen2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Painted pressed tin - vintage and shabby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfn63sS3NlxbBuWc0_RIRprgcxDEjWA9lwcS-nd6y0ZW2n33jN0oqmWEnQ5hgGbI4XoqjB3Zf_QYuFluOTHuORFJA38GPvOzwFcsyzw6mOgm9TABfVaaNSiXRyinSZ63qQ0mMthXdk_yN/s1600-h/kitchen-backsplash-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfn63sS3NlxbBuWc0_RIRprgcxDEjWA9lwcS-nd6y0ZW2n33jN0oqmWEnQ5hgGbI4XoqjB3Zf_QYuFluOTHuORFJA38GPvOzwFcsyzw6mOgm9TABfVaaNSiXRyinSZ63qQ0mMthXdk_yN/s400/kitchen-backsplash-full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quilted steel - Elegant!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ALL THE MARBLES</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marble is extremely versatile.  It can go with old world and traditional or be completely contemporary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSUjlCnT9s5o3PPtUh031JAFQbYRkHmNz2CBXdAF-Fl7oQ1qWlMto3AEw5xdFAq_m2hUUB86L2AaALX1JGEeoYSAMCEMuEGCIrWII0ibjsj6R1T8ot6bfN6g7slwfSQ5SN7SLQY4vUS1O/s1600-h/marble-glass-tile-kitchen-backsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSUjlCnT9s5o3PPtUh031JAFQbYRkHmNz2CBXdAF-Fl7oQ1qWlMto3AEw5xdFAq_m2hUUB86L2AaALX1JGEeoYSAMCEMuEGCIrWII0ibjsj6R1T8ot6bfN6g7slwfSQ5SN7SLQY4vUS1O/s320/marble-glass-tile-kitchen-backsplash.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carrera marble with insets</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bA8s-Y6wtAVjxjdy2eYZzIlRfevp8VbSw7zFbghTiqrcnJ64qAjfMPDPZ42CoQRMt4AahIFVqXZbC0E_W0_tckaKSB4W6f_ap1CbQupZ4AfI9TLdBr5JhSJLrQv2Gb3PIevtOzvVbJp-/s1600-h/520af0aa51db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bA8s-Y6wtAVjxjdy2eYZzIlRfevp8VbSw7zFbghTiqrcnJ64qAjfMPDPZ42CoQRMt4AahIFVqXZbC0E_W0_tckaKSB4W6f_ap1CbQupZ4AfI9TLdBr5JhSJLrQv2Gb3PIevtOzvVbJp-/s400/520af0aa51db.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Solid slab marble backsplash</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dn5WzUxPWVVY5kC0nLtZzIfIPqWD50whT8LAzdWBb-nmwcoNmpHZBk246V5WUv7UOSzvUzTpDLowVPTR2qYvJnT051JwCUW7D_fVwo1tqB2J_qyzcUx2MGE2UqRkI98F96aFPiQUdwMa/s1600-h/marblebacksplash.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dn5WzUxPWVVY5kC0nLtZzIfIPqWD50whT8LAzdWBb-nmwcoNmpHZBk246V5WUv7UOSzvUzTpDLowVPTR2qYvJnT051JwCUW7D_fVwo1tqB2J_qyzcUx2MGE2UqRkI98F96aFPiQUdwMa/s400/marblebacksplash.bmp" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Marble mosaic and subway tile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVantiUT9fGsBZYmferiOxfvbqtIcbZVfFYnmoLD3sIuxJ18-nirscBQJ76OQecn5LPCs7IcMmU6iMKOy2OMRBRACMzvnj2pgvkFkAnlOZLc8eth625UEmW8ue-e4AKfMhySSy6Ckv_TVn/s1600-h/kitchen-backsplash5-rs_old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVantiUT9fGsBZYmferiOxfvbqtIcbZVfFYnmoLD3sIuxJ18-nirscBQJ76OQecn5LPCs7IcMmU6iMKOy2OMRBRACMzvnj2pgvkFkAnlOZLc8eth625UEmW8ue-e4AKfMhySSy6Ckv_TVn/s400/kitchen-backsplash5-rs_old.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emperador Dark marble mosaic with granite</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">GRANITE BACKSPLASH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not only for countertops - granite backsplashes create seamless design</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZL1FvZcV46Mvh-F6Yh9pG-rAHy4T4AAwBzB2bsrovOzziaycN0rlfMlTfegEISN0MTlg4U7BwaiAIr8Jt1GHx3Sqc2gdmVs8AR9ukQy67CmdGJQVfh1ONyCz6NKEELGgmNoFu_nFpLpbz/s1600-h/cheryl_house3-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZL1FvZcV46Mvh-F6Yh9pG-rAHy4T4AAwBzB2bsrovOzziaycN0rlfMlTfegEISN0MTlg4U7BwaiAIr8Jt1GHx3Sqc2gdmVs8AR9ukQy67CmdGJQVfh1ONyCz6NKEELGgmNoFu_nFpLpbz/s400/cheryl_house3-16.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc-PYDGqnzB-AYK7AK5sQCsHvzbBYWBnnWSa_uHxWA9abL2qe5J9DWcgiH_sfkVahHQxPCtWsYKO4DfICanJveH09SC-x47WHs_h16hI0urJhBBwWgQdChXnOqswxbHcf7pcxBixiZmXu/s1600-h/ar123709807311147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc-PYDGqnzB-AYK7AK5sQCsHvzbBYWBnnWSa_uHxWA9abL2qe5J9DWcgiH_sfkVahHQxPCtWsYKO4DfICanJveH09SC-x47WHs_h16hI0urJhBBwWgQdChXnOqswxbHcf7pcxBixiZmXu/s400/ar123709807311147.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG-_qPiuenzdBYt5OYIcoSAfXuUX7c97c32GogoGzaq3Jag4Rj2DNfuxcUEGvhaBw11E7M32UzzJX6pKbThp9pgm0x7NnCyS-o-2OeWkhI1T2R4K13So4-woiIWbz8hrWzQ2hyh8Shjqt/s1600-h/HomeKitchenCounter0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG-_qPiuenzdBYt5OYIcoSAfXuUX7c97c32GogoGzaq3Jag4Rj2DNfuxcUEGvhaBw11E7M32UzzJX6pKbThp9pgm0x7NnCyS-o-2OeWkhI1T2R4K13So4-woiIWbz8hrWzQ2hyh8Shjqt/s400/HomeKitchenCounter0051.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNNvo5no-wgtGFa-yUqFGe-G8eXwdMMa19UV76vKNRf_9Bch3FPTo8i3EO58XWPRTOQb1HYLwr_vF-xXGmZD3c3iIh2giIyCLog-IPJPVNtxAd45Nj_Df3axos-1hFzSe9Svi-WpzZmfO/s1600-h/JA04_HoodWall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNNvo5no-wgtGFa-yUqFGe-G8eXwdMMa19UV76vKNRf_9Bch3FPTo8i3EO58XWPRTOQb1HYLwr_vF-xXGmZD3c3iIh2giIyCLog-IPJPVNtxAd45Nj_Df3axos-1hFzSe9Svi-WpzZmfO/s400/JA04_HoodWall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What material would you choose?   I love how simple or creative a backsplash can be and how versatile each material is, lending itself to many design styles.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Next post:  Appliances/Sinks/Hardware

HOME DECOR: KITCHENS - COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASH DESIGN

COUNTERTOPS You probably already have a good idea what product you want to use for your kitchen countertop.  The difficulty comes in the lar...

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