Wow! Your kitchen looks great-- I literally gasped when I saw it.

Of the two tiles, I prefer the lower one.

I would tile up to the cabinets on the range wall. Is it too late to do a granite backsplash as high as the window trim on the sink wall? I would run the granite under the center windows of the bay only (leave out the angled windows). If you can't do a granite splash, I would tile as high as the window trim there, and take the tile that high all through the bay. So, there would be no tile behind the coffemaker, or at the peninsula.

I wouldn't tile the entire window area, up to the soffit.

Thank you Morton - if you don't mind me asking, why not tile all the way around, even on the peninsula and other wall? Our windows are up like 5 .75 inches from the countertops in the middle and 4 inches up from the two perimeter windows. Because of that, I'll probably have to widen the window casing to fill the middle window gap left over. Anyway, it seems like I need at least two rows of subway (at least) down there, followed by some type of trim piece to at least give the tiles a chance to let people know they are there? I appreciate your thoughts.

first off, the compliments! love your kitchen so far! The cup pulls are adorable, the floor looks so warm and pretty and that granite is so pretty. I don't think I've ever seen it!

where to tile: my first gut response was to start it at the bay window area, leaving the peninsula wall barren. that would help the stopage point concerns and you shouldn't need a backsplash there for clean up/messes. In some ways I can see tiling the whole window area - there's so little wall space it wouldn't require too much more tile. but I also see morton's suggestion about ending it at the trim as certainly adequate enough.

tile choice: I like the second/lower tile best. seems warmer and better match with the countertops, as long as this looks right against your cabs. I like the idea of the thicker frame around your herringbone pattern. the thicker framing might provide the attention-grabbing factor for your cooktop.

Mairin, thank you...as you know, it feels like you "birth" these remodel- there is that much work. This configuration is hard to visualize with the backsplash!

Beautiful. Great granite, too--it really should go into the thread about marble substitutes.

My vote: Lower tile, for creamier color, at least on my monitor. Top is too blue/gray.

Where to stop? To the cabs on the range wall, then up to the line created by where the window sashes meet. If you stop at the bottom of the window trim, it's wimpy and invisible. Go all the way up on the window, and you'll get a choppy effect of vertical stripes. Seems to me that tiling just up to the sashes visually ties in with them, and creates a nice horizontal consistent line across the window wall. Stop before turning the corner to the peninsula, or you'll end up making an accidental feature of a nothing wall.

I like the second one best too. I think your choices are beautiful! I would tile up and around the 45 degree turn on either side of the window. I ADORE the idea of a tantrum tile liner and a herringbone above the range. I think it's going to look fantastic!

Wow, I love the way your kitchen is looking! Could you post more pictures of your oven area and your island (you may be my inspiration).

As for the tiles, I like the lower one. I'm no expert, but I think if I were you I would tile the least amount of space and then ponder if you needed more elsewhere.

Marcolo, remodelfla and missmuffet: thank you for your kind words. I Had no idea how stressful this would be. Egads it takes the patience of a saint and sadly, I am no saint!

When you say take it up to the sash do you mean the middle of the lower sink window in the photo where the cross pieces meet? Why do you all seem to recommend not coming across anywhere there is counter? I thought there was supposed to besomething there, no?

If I just tiled to where the 45 degree turn occured I guess I would use one of those corner pieces there? I think the rixi line has such a piece.

Thank you again for any and all comments.

Is Rixi the brand of the tile? I've seen people mention it before and I love those crackle tiles, but wasn't sure if it was the brand or style. Also, will you have to order it or is it something you found locally?

Laurie

Msrose- the manufacturer is Grazia and the tile line (they have many) is called Rixi. The good news is there are many wonderful choices. The bad news there are many wonderful choices!

Hi there onelady1dog2girls. What a beautiful kitchen! I love everything you've done. I sure like those pendants and love the hood shelf (is that what you call it?)with the silver accessories. Your countertops are gorgeous too!

I saw this post this morning and was a bit stumped myself. I was definately leaning in the direction of marcolo's suggestions and after reading what marcolo mentioned I agree. I too like the creamier tile but it would help to have more pics of your kitchen in brighter lighting.

Marcolo-when you say bring the tile up to the window sashes do you mean up to one of the horizontal grids in the window? I agree with this because it is visually consitent: basically tiling up to the cabinet and then carring that line over to the windows at about the same height is visually appealing. I should go back to college because I'm sure I could have used less words to describe this! I sure hope what I've said makes sense.
I also agree with marcolo that if you carry the tile to the peninsula you will be adding attention to a nothing wall. It just doen't make sense to have tile there. I think that wall would better suit pictures or a mirror.

I love herringbone! A small pencil liner would be fine but I would be inclined to go with a width about the same as the width of the framing around the cabinet doors and no larger. I just think your kitchen could pull off something a little bit larger than 3/4 of an inch.

Take a look at the kitchen third down. I know it's not exactly like yours but look at how the tile ends. The breaking point is a little different than yours but I think you could end your tile at the corner and it would look great.

Here is a link that might be useful: peninsula

onelady, you asked why I would only tile to the trim beneath the window, and not by the peninsula and behind the coffee maker. Reason is I like the delicate look of your paint and cabinets, and don't think you want to encase the whole thing in tile. Especially in the window, you may get too many distracting grout lines. If you wrap the corners, the whole tiling job becomes more complex and busy. I guess I could be accused of punting on the tough decisions, but I like the simplicity of what you have going on now. I don't think you need to make a statement behind the sink, just protect the wall in the wet area.

Given that the windows are different heights off the counter, I think I would just tile beneath the center windows down to the counter. And, as I said, I think a piece of matching granite there would be the least distracting, and easiest to keep clean. But, I'm not sure you'd have clearance to operate your faucet if you did that.

onelady, I can't comment on your backsplash as I am clueless and will soon be asking for help also, but I do think that Rixi tile is beautiful and will look great. But I just wanted to tell you how gorgeous I think your granite is. Rarely do I see a granite that I wish I had, but this is it! Beautiful kitchen.

Oh wow...those tiles sure are pretty. Like crackle tiles but even better, almost pearlescent. Sigh...I love living vicariously through other people's renos. And your kitchen is a stunner.

I immediately think of mamadadapaige's kitchen when I hear "herringbone accent above the kitchen". She had 2x6s I believe, and did a thinnish pencil rail that's flush with the backsplash. I liked how she did hers. I think you should do a simple pencil liner because to me, the whole point of using the same tile for your herringbone accent is to do a subtle change, which calls for a subtle frame. If you did your thick picture frame it's like "look at me!! i'm different than the other tile" which makes sense if you did an accent with a totally different tile size. But you're doing the same 3x6s but in a herringbone pattern, instead of the subway pattern which goes everywhere else. So after my long explanation I say - do the thin one.

For the backsplash on the peninsula/window wall, you know what I'd do? I would only put the backsplash on the three walls within the bay window cubby area and stop them there. I'd take them to just under the window trim. To the right of the bay window, carry it the same height (to the bottom of the window trim) on the little piece of wall under your outlet (the outlet to the left of your coffee maker), then pull the backsplash up to below your cabinets on that sliver of wall above the coffeemaker. That, to me, would accomplish several things: It would keep that nice blue paint showing on that window wall as I personally wouldn't want to cover it up, give you the backsplash you need to visually relate/connect that window wall to the range wall, and of course provide the protection you need above the sink from water splashage. To the left, I don't think you need to put any backsplash past that left bay window. Just keep it all bare and painted. I don't know if I explained that right...hopefully it makes sense.

By the way, that Mont Blanc granite looks like marble to me, I can hardly believe it's granite because of the subtle colouration and veining. It's gorgeous!

Woops, just read through the other posts. I have a habit of doing that as I get all excited to respond and ideas flow as I'm reading an original post, so I need to write it down before I forget it.

I totally agree with Morton5 - if you can do a small granite splash, then do it. If not, do the tile. The only part I'm not sure about is that sliver of wall above the coffeemaker. What does the other side of the cooktop look like?

I like Marcolo's idea of tiling up to the horizontal window sashes, but only if you want to attract attention to the tiling on that wall. I think tiling up to below the window trim is subtle and keeps your view as the focal point. Tiling up highlights it even more, but makes things a bit busier.

Did you want us to choose one tile over the other? I thought you were doing a 75%/25% split of both colours, the crema and the manderla? I like them both...but I think you should choose one over the other, not do a mix of both colours (if that's what you were thinking of doing).

Thanks for the information! I just reread your post. Are you talking about using both colors of tile? I'm not sure I would like that as much as just one. I like the bottom tile better with the granite, but I'd like to see them both next to the cabinets. Is there any way you can take a picture of the tiles next to the cabinet and the granite?

Laurie

Megpie77, Morton5, Squigs and Redroze- all of you continue to amaze me. You take the time to really analyze the issues and offer your experienced insights. It is just an amazing forum. I am still shaking my head with your helpful comments. I think my kitchen would look like an absolute yawn if I hadn't stumbled upon this forum many moons ago. It is funny when you can visualize mamadadapaige's kitchen (or let's face it any other in a desired genre) just upon hearing their name. Such spot on insightful replies. Thank you.