My 'counter' argument is it's ugly enough under the upper cabinets - if outlets are "bad" on a backsplash, this would be 100 times worse. That's my argument (which would be following by - we're just not doing it LOL). It would possibly be different if the plugmold were to lay flat, so that it would be flush with the counter, but I don't think that's allowed code.

I can't imagine that would be ideal anyway since you have a lot of moisture on most countertops - if not in the actual prep/cooking process, at the very least during clean up when you are wiping off the counter. I don't think that's a good idea at all, even if it would be allowable per code.

That being said, this photo from Houzz shows a way that might work if you wanted something mounted low and would be particularly helpful if you don't have upper cabinets to hide it under. Still, I think it's significantly more visible (and not terribly attractive) done this way than hiding it under the upper cabinets.

You would need to do custom cabinets AND you need to plan for this during your layout phase...you'll need to talk with the cabinet maker and your electrician to make sure that they are on board and that it's to code.

[Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Decatur Architects & Designers TerraCotta Properties

[Modern Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by San Francisco Architects & Designers Schwartz and Architecture
This blends more because the cabinets are white along with the plugmold:

[Mediterranean Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mediterranean-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2109) by Woodland Interior Designers & Decorators Joyce Hoshall Interiors

Thanks, the white inset gave me the idea of a pullout drawer like what is sometimes done in front of a sink although you couldn't belly up to the bar to use your appliance, maybe drawer is on a hinge that pulls out and slides up and back under the counter. I will post the final solution.

This comes quite some time after the original blog, but for what it's worth, I'm working with our contractor to put two plugs in where 1-2 tiles of the back splash are until the inspection is complete to meet code and then take out the plugs and replace these holes with tile again. We have numerous (hidden) plugs elsewhere in the kitchen to use, we use very few appliances, and it's critical to our minimal modern design that we not see plugs where we don't want them.