Netty, firstly thank you for posting your question because we are stuck on splashback ideas also and the only difference between our kitchens is that you have opted for gloss on your cupboards and we have gone satin. We are currently waiting on our shi*take bench tops to be installed.... hopefully within the next week. After much googling, hubby has decided that he likes the glass bullet style in a neutral tone (much like the tile you have gone with but in glass obviously) and I am liking the bullet style tile also, just not sure whether glass or a mix of stone, glass etc would work. At least I know we are on the right track now, so thanks again! Can't wait to see a photo when your done (hint hint ;-) )

@stonesarahj, I agree with the first post but also think the darker colour could look fantastic and tie in real well with your bathroom. I wouldn't be too judgmental about smudges on a darker colour, if you think you'll like it more then go with that. Cheers, Barbara

Love the choice of kitchen - shaker style! I have that style myself and I love it. An interior designer definitely will be able to help you with design and configuration, colour scheme etc. Just letting you know, we had to put 5 structural beams in our ceiling for support and the cost blew us away, it is a very expensive exercise. You'll need an engineer to draw these up. Your draftsman will know of an engineer. Also, as a rule you have to allow for budget blowout. Everyone who has ever done a renovation will tell you. Once you start on the journey, you're emotionally involved and you want it all to be right, and you always add on more changes as you go along. It might be worth pricing things from your kitchen to floorboards to fixtures and fittings, ovens, fridges, lighting choices etc and then draw up your own costings. Builders generally don't do costings, they allow a budget for certain things, like $5 a handle, but then if you choose a $7 handle, then you get hit with a bill at the end of the job with all the extra costs. Make sure you know what the builder has allowed for when it comes to the kitchen, fixtures and fittings etc. I also agree with the others, the oven is too tight in that spot. I would swap that with the sink and put the sink in the island. Hope this is helpful. Good luck with it all, it's very exciting!

Hearty Home. If it ain't broke don't fix it is your best slution. The pressed metal looked the part to moi; subtle character, and not like everyone elses. I've just renovated; all new kitchen has bevelled-edged white subways w' pale grey expoxy grout. Timeless is always timeless. Changing your pressed metal look could make the rest of the kitchen design look odd. I note this article is months old; So now I'm wondering what you did?