I have also posted a sample of the taupe tile and the granite. Just not sure If i should go lighter with the backsplash

It might just be on my monitor but it seems like the tile in the photo might have a different undertone than the countertop. Based on what you've told us already I'd probably choose an off white subway but that tends to be a personal preference of mine.

What are your floors like? I think that could help with the tile choice.

Look at this.......

Here is a link that might be useful: Herringbone pattern

The flooring is going to be hardwood. It will be brown and lighter than the lower cabinet color.

I posted a picture with a darker backsplash and one that has an offwhite color. which do you prefer?

Here is the one with a white backsplash

the darker one

The lighter one. I just replaced my dark bs with a light one and it makes the kitchen feel much bigger and happier. The dark bs stops your eye.

Love your counter stone, gorgeous!

thanks for the comments!

if i do a lighter one, i am thinking something that is more creamy/ivory?

what color grout should I use? I was thinking something darker, it will help the herringbone pattern stand out.

I just did a two tone and went with a light tile that almost matched the cabs. In general, you will see light tile with light uppers - often the idea of a two-tone is that you are trying to keep the space feeling lighter/airier and the light tile helps with that.

I also went with a grout that pretty well matched the tile. With two tone and a busy granite, you've already got two buy elements going on. Herringbone is also busy, but if you did a dark grout it will be too busy, IMO, and take away from the other elements.

This post was edited by KathyNY76 on Tue, Jan 21, 14 at 22:20

Thanks KathyNY76. your kitchen is absolutely lovely!!

I think i will go with a lighter tile and keep the grout similar... the place i am getting the tiles from has a limited selection of subway tile colors unfortunately.

I heard i shouldn't match the tile exactly to the cabinet color, should i go with a white that's a shade or so darker?

I attached a link to a showhome with a herringbone backsplash. it looks nice and suble from far away.

Here is a link that might be useful: See second show home

I prefer the light. It makes the uppers just float away. I have a two-toned kitchen too, which I love! Welcome to the club! My backsplash is not subway tile, but the color does lean towards light.

I also have a two tone kitchen and this was the most difficult decision we had to make. We ended up trying to match as closely as possible the backsplash tile with the upper cabinets. The granite is what it is and there are so many colors in it that we felt it should stand on it's own (and maybe stand out a little bit in the process). This is what it looks like: Sonoma Subway Crackle in Butter and the cabinets are SW Antique White. The granite is leathered - either Typhoon Bordeaux or White Spring. (The whites are creamy, not the golden color in the photo).

BTW, I'm trying to start the TTK club (Two-tone kitchen) to compete with the OTKers (One True Kitchen - all white cabs w/black counters and white subway), so welcome to the 'right' club! ;-)

Majra's kitchen is a great example of using a backsplash with some color/variation in it, while still keeping it light.

I don't know about matching exactly or not. I think it depends on your cab color and your space. Mine match almost exactly off the wall, but up, there is a ton of blue in them and some areas match and some totally don't - and it all depends on the light in the room at any given time. Your best bet is to get a few different samples and have them ready for when the counters go in. Then you can pick the right one. And don't let the contractor/tile people/whomever rush you. Find the one you love!

i think i am finding it difficult because i am getting a new build. so they make you pick everything out 6 months ahead of time, and i just have to hope it all looks good together.

but the advice on the forum really helps.

I just uploaded a picture of my granite slab. i hope its not too busy...

i took the photo with my phone's flash on. the warehouse lighting was kinda dark.

lighter tile and grout to match....

It is so nice to see all these pretty two tone kitchens! I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel and have a two tone kitchen also, still waiting for the wall cabinet to the right of the hood, but it will be cherry. The wall cabinets on the opposite wall haven't been installed yet, but are mushroom like the hood. My flooring is beige travertine, not gold as it appears in the photo, and my countertops are Magma Gold granite(old Ubatuba in the photo), which is on the darker side with a lot of movement. I am leaning towards a simple taupe subway tile also.