I like the one on the right. but I sort of like the one on the left too. sorry. It's just 2 different looks. That being said, you need to do the "squint" test. I think the lighter tile on the left will appear to give you a white-ish color--so stand back, squint your eyes at the painted backsplash area now--do you like what you see or would you want it darker? Maybe do the test again with the tile on the counter--where you have counters so as to get the full effect. If you want it to look really rich, then darker. If you want to keep it light, then the lighter one. I think both will look nice, seriously. I say pour yourself a cup of tea, and sit down and just stare at it. It will come to you. It is sort of like a meditation type of thing. If anybody is home, they will wonder if you are "ok".

I think you made very nice choices in the end. I like the backsplash you picked, because as others posted about the glass.... it brings down the quality of the kitchen..... The flooring...I think it will work out fine. We are having the same problem. I actually like the wider plank but either would work. I do like the color you choose and it was my first choice....then it would have been a brown picked up in your original flooring. I hope you post pics when you are finished! Oh just as an afterthought....did anyone suggest you do the backsplash in the same countertop granite? That might have worked also, but it's a different look and maybe an outdated look also?....I think you chose a good product...bet it's gorgeous! Best wishes on it's completion!!!

>hould I make the mural smaller (20 x 16) and use a wider border/frame or go larger (24 x 18) with the mural and use a thinner border/frame? That depends. Was there a subtle color in the image you could use for the border? I don't think I'd like it with a significant color like purple or green, but if there was a shaded light tone you could get in the mini subways, I'd do the deeper border. Actually, personally, I'd do a smaller image and a deeper border (of some other sort, like double frame effect in your picture but using a plain time in between instead of the leaves if you don't like them) in any case. I don't like the wine bottles, myself--they look too much like a photo transfer rather than a hand painted effect.

Oh no Beth- i would have picked tile next to which this blue fish scale (that i love btw) would look really tame. I'm a tile person. I'm mad about tiles. It just needs to be a tile I really love and these, they happen to be great quality(as this fish scale you show is), and my beloved tile that had pattern on it was 70$ per sq f. After 30% off contractor discount If was smaller remodel we might still swallow that. Small kitchen, tiny backsplah. But with huge remodel-no go. Still in love with it. Couldn't afford. Keep the sample in my drawer, look at it 2 years after. If I love something-I love something. To me, has a staying power. (went with pale green, copper edge. Also not the cheapest. lol. But at least doable) I have lantern tile too (bathroom flooring). Have Pratt and Larson star and cross mosaic-for a step..:) looks amazing, feels amazing. One small box was around half a grand, again after 30% contractor discount. This photo is in major magazine because it's a very high end kitchen with impeccably installed handmade tile. Not because of its color(very nice neutral color) and not because of its shape (great shape too) I bet many people including yours truly would love to install this or other interesting tile. Will they always get the same look though? Same feel? I don't know. Maybe yes. Maybe not. Precisely because I madly love tiles-I want them to be very good tiles. That's all. Everybody and his priorities. But they can stem from many different considerations. My consideration would be- I love something madly. It works with my house, I made sure of that. Can I afford it just as is, or can I find a compromise, or should I drop the idea because compromise wouldn't do? and sometimes I can answer the first positively, and sometimes the second, and sometimes the third. (and some things, I might not care at all. Tiles, I care. Other things, I might not give a damn. So I don't know the level of the OP's emotional involvement, so to say. Can be very deep, or she can be easy-going. I don't know that. But that obviously drives one's decisions too.)