DIY & Home Improvement

Is it visible to anyone standing in the kitchen? Is it only visible when you're working on something? How much is it going to bug you over the course of the next 5 years or so?

If you can say "aw screw it" and ignore it, there's your answer. If it's visible and you can't park the coffee maker or food processor in front of it and it's going to make you annoyed at the contractor every time you see it, then get it replaced.

As for where the tile starts, it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. I agree with the contractor that it would look weirder if it missed the last inch of the countertop but YMMV. It was going to be off kilter no matter what he did. What you can do is get some milled lumber, stain it to match the cabinet, and tack it up so everything looks more even. Some fixes are cheap and dirty, this one is.