I believe that this particular line of tile is outside of their normal line and made exclusively for Lowes. The color is not the same as their normal line of tile and they just don't make some of the pieces. They CAN special order anything you can get at a regular tile store - ie AO's ice white subway tile (with all of the accessory pieces), but at about 6 times the price of their gloss white in stock subway tiles (more expensive than local tile stores). Lowes "gloss white" is not available anywhere but Lowes and only in the pieces they stock. Believe me, I went several rounds with them on this in more than one store. What they have in stock is what they have for their very inexpensive line of tile. kaypeakay, have you priced out just using daltile rittenhouse square for the whole project? I've seen some really great prices on that stuff posted here. For some reason AO (except in stock at Lowes) is much more expensive. Maybe you won't have to mismatch.

I used ADEX subway tiles for my kitchen. The reason I used them is because I wanted something pure and milky white. ADEX tiles are an opaque glaze over terracotta tile and just have a slightly different look to them. You'd think that would be less white than a tile with a white base but it's actually MORE white. I believe these were about $5/sf. IMO (and this is just my opinion) unless you are looking for a specific color or specific trim pieces, there is very little reason to go above generic daltile/AO subways to any of the other subways (and unless you are going for all white, people have successfully mixed and matched less expensive field tile with colored trim pieces from other lines and the results have been beautiful. But as far as the shape and look of the tile - there's a pretty small difference between generic subways of different lines (not counting specialty subways like period reproductions or beveled or handmade looking etc). Like I said, the reason I went for the ADEX was the milky white color that didn't look off next to my appliances and bright white trim. As far as how they look installed though, there's not a huge difference between those and the cheapies. Here is a picture of my far better crafted backsplash (because I did it myself, SOB) This is before the trim was painted white though.

I just want to update for 2019 and say that Marazzi has moved to new ownership recently, and I've seen reviews around the web about people complaining that there is an increased grayish tint to some of the tiles with more recent production beginning around 2018. @bill_vincent stated back in 2009 in a previous comment in this thread that the Marazzi tile he'd used wasn't always square, but we had tile layers this year who recommended it as a good-quality tile, so your mileage may vary. Upon visiting a Marazzi showroom in my area, I was very impressed with the variety and style of the tile on display. Thanks for all the comments here on Florida Tile. I believe I'll avoid it based on these reviews. We used Italian-made Happy Floors tile for a recent master bathroom project and are pleased with it. The installers said it was very square, and the style we chose was a through-body porcelain. Every word-of-mouth recommendation and online review I've read about USA-made Crossville tile has been good. Apparently they have a strict system of quality control. The one complaint is that it can be expensive compared to similar tile in other lines. However, the finish coating on some of Crossville's products is supposedly high-tech to make it more cleanable and long-lasting, so maybe it would be worth it. We've found that our area ProSource seems to offer the best price on Crossville and runs periodic sales on it. Note that there is more than one tile company with the name "Crossville," referencing the location of the city of Crossville, Tennessee, where these companies are located, but I'm talking about Crossville Inc. also known as Crossville Studios. It appears that Dal-Tile's quality is across the board and varies from style to style. Thanks everyone for the input.

Oh palimpset and redroze -- I believe we have some kitchen ESP happening. I was just on Daltile's site in the early evening looking at their subs, wondering if I could interest DH in another color, actually looking at the bisque and then the gray. They have some 4 x 8's available (can't remember the color anymore, since it's been a whole 2 hours ago) And Redroze, I've had your 2 x 8's on my mind, and showed my husband your kitchen on Saturday. He isn't a fan of 3 x 6's, and is attracted to the unique sizes and like yours . . . And I think you hit it on about the "non 3 x 6" size being a focal point itself. I have tomorrow off. I will be running around trying to find some varied color, non 3 x 6 subs. Wish me luck in this wee Southern town. I cannot tell you how much I greatly appreciate this input. My husband is OOT this week, luckily he's used to coming home to changed game plans about the kitchen details. He's learned that the ideas I have been offered here are fabulous!