Wherefore art thou Redroze?

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If I recall correctly, Redroze has 2x8 Heath tile, but I don't recall exactly which flavor they have. We have 2x8 (canvas) Heath in a bathroom we just finished. I really like this tile because the edges are soft and the tiles are each slightly different. Here is a picture of our 2x8's. Sorry the photo is so crappy.

Unfortunately Heath tile is pricey. We happen to live about an hour or so south of where they make the tile and so we got about 70 sq feet of 2x8s that were seconds-- you can see the slight imperfections in the tile (these tiles were some of the most imperfect and so they are left overs). I think we paid about $5 a square foot. How much tile do you need? Ever thought about a visit to the Bay Area?

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I'm SO sorry I haven't checked in for awhile. I was actually trying to wean myself off the Kitchen forum and look into other hobbies, but fortunately I keep getting drawn back in. LOL

Here's a pic of uninstalled tiles that are sitting on the counter. The main thing gives these tiles character is they are handmade. So our backsplash guy had to make sure that the grout lines made up for the uneven edges. Also, the actual surface of the tiles itself is uneven - some tiles have areas that pop forward a bit more on the sides. You'll notice the edges of the tiles below are not perfectly straight lines. Tile guy was VERY diligent in adjusting accordingly.

Finally, there is colour variation from tile to tile. So again, gives it a different look that other subways. I think this shot from my blog shows the colour differences quite well. DH says that it looks like a natural stone/marble due to the colour variation.

With that in mind, I think that the non-handmade subway tiles look wonderful but have a different look. More uniform in colour, edges, and surface flatness. I'm assuming the Daltile is a non-handmade tile? I don't think you should be concerned about it looking boring, but it will look different than the Ann Sacks. Why are you worried about going matte? I think it will balance well with your polished Bianco Antico. I can see clearly from your paper template that the 2x8s will look great.

I don't even have to tell you about the hundreds of thousands of kitchens that use the standard subway tile and look hella terrific. What are you concerned about specifically? Perhaps I can help.

Remember that your kitchen is a whole of its individual parts. Not every part has to be glitzy or wow. You've got your pretty chandelier (I'm pretty sure that most people don't have crystal chandys in their kitchens!!), the wow granite...the backsplash will just be a finishing touch. If you wanted it to be wow, you could do a sparkly 1x1 glass mosaic, but the price would be higher and it would take away from other things. I think you're going in the right direction with the Daltiles. You spent all that time and effort getting the backsplash pattern under the hood just right.

Thanks for the calming words. I need to get the backsplash ordered. Once it's ordered, I will not need to think of it again, well, until installation time.

With the white grout, did you have to seal it so it doesn't stain? I want white grout, but I feel as though the tile people don't want to sell it...you need the silver/gray color....ugh

I still haven't decided about the harlequins over the stove area. I guess I need to get to a tile store and make some decisions. It's not like we are sitting around with nothing left to do in the kitchen--there are lots of loose ends. That's why this just keeps getting postponed.

Thanks for posting those pictures, I can't wait to have mine done. Now, get on with your other hobbies!

We did a white grout because there was already colour variation in the backsplash tiles, and we didn't want a coloured grout to make it look even busier. The BA is also busy so we wanted to quiet down the backsplash so the granite was the feature. We didn't seal the grout and it's been perfectly fine.

For you, since your tile will not have colour variation, I'd suggest you do a grout that is an off-white. Did you say your bs tile was Biscuit? What is the colour relationship between your cabinet and backsplash? Any photos you can post of the tile and cab side by side? I think your grout can be slightly darker than your tile...get advice from the tile person maybe.

Everything to do with interior decorating is a hobby of mine...so technically it's not strange that I still stick around. I'll check in...just not daily like I used to. =)

Well, as much as the biscuit matched my cabinets--when the soft undercab lights hit it, it turned it way too creamy, and it looked really odd. I am going with a white, this way when the lights are on, it won't look weird. I'm concerned about the light gray silver grout because I always think that it makes the tiles look like teeth with spaces between them--or chicklets--I know--weird. But I want it to be a seamless blur of white, no teeth.

And have you ever asked a "tile person" what their background is???? One guy was the head of janitorial services at the local university before getting this job. he did a lot of "eye closing visualizations" about my kitchen....And then there was one gal who was so excited looking at my kitchen pictures, asking if I was a designer, at that point I knew I was in trouble...so I don't trust them, I let them bring me ideas, but in the end I think I have to go with my gut.

I don't have the sample boards any longer, so I can't get a photo of the tile next to the cabinet. I'm hoping to get the sample boards again though. The place I want to order from is waiting for the display to be installed....since before Christmas. I want to use them because her prices were so much better than everywhere else. Patience.