Ok, it's not a backsplash but it'll get the same exposure to coffee, rice cooker "spitting" etc. Just no sink on my island. Had custom sides made up to trim out recessed/dropped center on my island. Also need to finish panels over/under fridge cabinet but those will just be exposed to dust, not liquids/food. We'll be doing oak valance and crown too.

Thin piece under plugmold

Sides (before)

After (so you can see what I'm talking about finishing)

3" panel over and under fridge cabinet (yeah, no more gaps!)

I don't know whether to ask carpenter to spray lacquer (I had bad experience trying it on a coffee table in Oct), use brushing lacquer, or just go with water-based poly (DIY). Don't want to use oil-based poly b/c of ambering. Do the water-based polys hold up to liquids?

Thanks