I think you're smart to keep it simple. I really can't tell the difference between the tiles, but if I were you, I think I'd try to decided which sheen you prefer. The more distinctive veins might make it look more like stone, but the matte might offer more contrast from your granite. Good luck, hope you'll love the one you choose.

Yes, the hood is a Zephyr Tamburo. 400 CFMs. A piece of sculpture! So yesterday I ran around looking at tile. I picked up 8 more of the bumps and kept looking. At one point I had a vision of medium gray glass tiles, medium gray grout, grass green walls. I picked up a quart of grass green, a couple of other paint samples, and came home. Taped a sq. ft to the wall. A resounding NO. They looked brown,which would be ok except that if the soapstone darkens (which it will, I suppose, eventually) the tiles will really not work. It just looked off. Bummer. Last night I was up till all hours doing a glass tile search to find something that was less than the $27-39/sq ft I had been seeing around here. Will report in at the next round. The handles and shelves went in today. The first thing I did was start to fill the bookshelves. that horrible Minidata notebook is full of recipe clippings I will never live long enough to try. Need to organize it and maybe do something with that ugly notebook cover. A shelf of art books and then we'll see. Second thing I did was put the tea tins back on the shelf over the sink where we are used to finding them. That shelf will be usable stuff, the ones above, display for my antique tins: a counterpoint to all the sleekness. I printed out labels for the 5 mailboxes: one each for DH & me, one for my mother - whose bills I take care of, one for outgoing mail, and one for random stuff. I will have to nag DH to sort the mail instead of leaving it in a pile on the island. Grrrrrr. New leaf. Two weekly papers came in today: the one I haven't read yet is in my box. Finally, I picked up the barstools I had ordered at Crate & Barrel. $89 each and they SPIN!! What fun! I can sit and read my cookbooks at the island while I contemplate what I am going to make for dinner, instead of standing at the counter and reading. DH can sit with his laptop or pay bills at the island instead of upstairs in the 2" of space on his cluttered desk. He will do this while I am on my teaching trips, no doubt. The kitchen table will be a while in coming, although we ordered it. Thanks for the input on the tiles; they work en principe - mais pas en réalité. On continue. Tomorrow, if we are lucky, the crown molding goes up and maybe the light rail. Off now to get a decent night's sleep - or what is left of the night.

I can vouch that Kate's kitchen (along with the entire house!) is even more gorgeous in person than it is in the pictures! Her kitchen is my favorite by far (including my own, which I love dearly). And that bathroom....there are no words for how stunning it is. The tile she chose is absolutely perfect for her countertops and the feel of the room and it's going to be a design home run. It is, as bee said, an excellent backup singer. I had never seen that sparkly grout before and it is fascinating. I shouldn't say sparkly because it sounds too My Little Pony and it's not like that at all; it's a hint of sparkle, just enough to intrigue the eye. Anyway, we had a great time; Kate's just as much fun IRL as she is here online. I am looking forward to a return trip to see it all finished!

oh, momo...now I have google ann sacks and found those tiles...I JUST LOVE THEM. $83 per square foot, eh? Ay yi yi! I also found other tiles there that I love. Part of me almost wants to go nuts and ethnic and busy, since the rest of my kitchen is so simple. I am just afraid I will tire of it. Like this... (not this exactly, I just mean a busy, ethnic pattern. Kind of looks 70s to me, also.) cherry-Yes, we addressed the torso issue already! Yet another reason I want the mirror antiqued, and also not flat panes but rather tiles, so the "cuts" will break up the view a bit! I know what you mean, some of these threads get so long and I want to give my 2 cents but I just *know* one of my comments has probably already been made, but I say it anyway. Thanks for the input. You are not the only one with the opinion that with so much stainless and "coolness" I should go with warmth/color/texture. The things is...I see so many finished white kitchens similar to mine that have white tile as a BS, and I like them. I also like those pics that momo posted in her link, and they are white, with SS appliances, and mirrored BS and I think they look good. Well, I am torn and DH really wants me to make a decision so he can install. He wants the tile/color/texture look. I will keep you guys updated! Thanks so much!