Up in the Air

Significant guy and I have been working on remodeling our kitchen for quite some time. Coming up on two years of construction, to be exact. You're in it for the long haul when doing everything yourself, and that's a fact.

We have made much headway, and now are down to the final build-out and decor. Here's where I become truly indecisive. We live a beautiful late '20s/early '30s Moorish-design stucco home and very much desire to continue a similar style into our kitchen.

Exterior of our home (minus the latest trim work & landscaping)

Exterior entrance (photo via the amazing "London Calling." See her blog post here.)

We knocked out the wall to the right to open the kitchen up to the living and dining area. Significant guy (pictured here) has vaulted the ceiling and installed recessed lighting where the original portion of the ceiling was. We scored this amazing Arts & Crafts-style window at a building re-supply store. The walls will be painted Restoration Hardware's "Stone" paint color. 

I'm enlisting help from all of you amazing minds out there on some differing backsplash styles I've been deliberating over.

White subway tile has been a great friend of ours for years and is fairly inexpensive and above all--timeless. I am in love with this soft green glass and cracked ceramic subway tile as seen here with Country Living.

Although modern in nature, and more of a devil's advocate choice, this geometric glass tile catches light and draws the eye by way of uniqueness. I could see this tile in white or green in our kitchen, followed by a chocolate-stained grout. (photo via www.decodir.com)

And for a more organic spin to the previous idea, I have always loved the pebbled backsplash. And what goes better with "stone" paint color than...stones? (Image via www.islandstone.com)

I can't seem to get penny tile out of my head. Couldn't find an exact example in action, but think both photos above, combined along with black grout. I love the illusion of depth. (Image via www.flickr.com/photos/peachheights & www.mosaictilesupplies.com)

We are leaning more toward this idea by duplicating this look.  Inexpensive ceramic square tiles balance pricey Art Nouveau hand-painted tiles to achieve this look. This is my favorite by far. (Image via www.flickr.com/photos/samjudson)


All over the map and up in the air. What's your opinion?