@BunsenBurner, here are some images of tile over the counte rtop backsplash. https://www.google.com/search?q=tile+backsplash+over+counter+lip&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWwcff5Y_eAhUExYMKHa6BC7UQ_AUIDygC&biw=1584&bih=741
I’m not really a fan of this, but I guess it depends on the pattern of the counter top. If the counter top is solid white and you use white subway tiles, then that might be okay.
I despise those stone or whatever backsplashes. They don’t look any worse to me with paint or tile on top of them. I’d rip them out. But honestly it’s really just a pet peeve of mine.
If you guys want to see really atrocious “remodels,” I can post a few! Friends are looking at buying a house, and good god… there is nothing in this city under $700k that is not a condo or that is not an ugly flip with the garage turned into a couple of “bedrooms.”
Turning garages into bedrooms thankfully is not a thing around here. You see them now and then, but it’s pretty rare. A lot of houses have detached garages. They tend to be too small for today’s cars. Usually people just store stuff in them, but I worked on one project where we put in a steam shower and massage room.
Too cold in my area to turn a garage into a bedroom, unless you take out the garage door and convert it to a wall.
And it looks really strange to me when you see a house where someone walled in the garage to make more living space. It’s not a good look IMO.
People take out the garage door and put in a house door like NRE’s. Then they call it a MIL apartment. Let me find a couple of examples… And then there are some lazy ones that just put a bed in the garage… 
And then there are 10 bedroom houses with shared 3 bathrooms where every room is apparently rented for $900. OMG, there are so many ugly RE frogs to kiss until one can find something even remotely resembling a princess.
[Rising rents mean 15 roommates isn’t that weird anymore](Full house: Rising rents mean 15 roommates isn't that weird anymore)
Most cities around here have zoning rules preventing 5 or more unrelated people from living in one housing unit, unless it’s a dormitory, hotel,or fraternity/sorority. It’s aimed primarily at landlords, to prevent them from cramming 12 kids into a 4 BR apartment (for example).
@BunsenBurner - Your friends would find things much nicer and more affordable if they’re willing to live 75-90 minutes north of the city.
No more than 2 unrelated folks per bedroom here, as far as I can tell. Hey, Seattle is all for solving housing crisis! We even build “tiny house” villages here where addicts can freely shoot drugs.
Last year, a wealthy woman bought the house next door for her son to live in, while at a local college. Last year, one friend per bedroom. Now seems like one in the sunroom and possibly one in a finished room in the basement. But they’re quiet. All art students, so working at all hours. It’s fine. And the mom is maintaining the house, tending to repairs, lawn, etc.
@sherpa - I know. Sadly, they pretty much need to be in the city. Can’t work remotely or have a long commute. So the frog kissing game is on!
@BunsenBurner - The price differential is insane. Our place would be at least 3 times more valuable if it were 45 minutes closer to the city. A relative recently bought a place in West Seattle similar to what you’re describing. $770k or thereabouts for a fairly ho-hum 2 bedroom. Still 20 minutes to Seattle.
You’re lucky. Some guy bought the house next to my sister for his kids to live in while at school (> $600K! Yikes!), and it’s been party central for 4 years, and a continuous thorn in their sides with noise and garbage tossed over the fence, etc.
It sold again over the summer. The guy lost $40K on it, really closer to $70K+ when you factor in the commission. Don’t know if the inside got trashed.
Ohhh… found one example of perfect (not) garage conversion. Cape Cod, my right leg… lol.
https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/5720-40th-Ave-NE-98105/home/313945
@musicmom1215 - thanks. The patch of the wall I am thinking is about 4-5 feet long and about 1.5 feet tall. That’s all we have. I am thinking about very thin, small, off-white tile.
I want that basement exercise room! 
See if this works. It’s a garage I worked on years ago. It’s a family room, not a bedroom, but same idea. https://www.google.com/maps/place/28+Albert+Pl,+New+Rochelle,+NY+10801,+USA/@40.9215035,-73.798539,3a,75y,254.92h,84.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sU_aRvQp0LXyws_LPwJVrfA!2e0!5s20180601T000000!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c28d7ecef78bd1:0x6dcccf4f1d16f37d!8m2!3d40.9215063!4d-73.7987234
The door guys installed the last “oops” closet door! They remembered that we had a painted kitchen and noticed the change. Mr. said they marveled at the work quality and pointed that our upper drawers were cut from a continuous cherry board, so there is continuity in the pattern. There is also very good match on all other pieces. The only hiccup is that the beautiful panel above the fridge was mis-measured and needs to be remade.
I finished tiling my bathroom floor, have sealed the grout, and my son put the toilet back. Now I need to get in there and clean up all the dust, put the doors back on, and rehang the shower curtain. Today, I did nothing. I love my floor and am proud of myself for accomplishing it by myself, but my arm and shoulder still hurt. Next time I get a great idea to do something myself, please remind me of my age and level of physical fitness!
Musicmom, You Go, Gurl!