It really depends on how busy the tile will look once it's grouted. There are some tile professionals in both the bathroom and kitchen forums. I would pose that question to them, Bill Vincent and Mongo both have a great eye for that sort of stuff.

If you want the subway look, I'd get 3x6.

Here's a pic of mine, same colors as your granite and cabs.

3x6 subway
3.5 x 8" decorative tile
6 x 6 tile underneath..with diamonds Now I'm going to sing Lucy in the Sky...lol

I've seen some walls done with the smaller tiles and it can be a great look, very modern. As lukki said, a lot depends on grout but also the movement in the tiles themselves. And how does that work with your counters which have their own movement? I'd buy a few sheets and tape them up for a visual. It will look busier without grout but you can get an idea.

Can you buy a few tiles or borrow the tile board from the store? If so, I would colour copy them, tape the copies together and tape them up on the wall to get a better idea of how it will look.

Thanks for the replies. This shows how little I know, I was hoping for a traditional look, not a modern look. Will take your advice and will post on Kitchen. I have borrowed enough tiles to probably do my entire back splash a few times over unfortunately I don't even remember shere I bought some of them. I'm attempting to pick back splash before the cabinets and granite are in. Am I doing all of this wrong? GC wants all of this stuff so he can do his work?

Oakleyok your back splash is beautiful, are your tiles lighter or darker than your cabinets? Are you happy with NVG? What hardware did you use? What color appliences do you have? Thanks!

I think that granit is what I have in my bathroom. But, I have the 3x6 subway tiles on my backsplash. I think the combo you suggest would also look good with creamy cabinets.

Remember it is your kitchen not your contractor's kitchen. He is working for you, not the other way around. Personally, I can't pick a backsplash until all the other elements are in and I get a feel for the kitchen. Same with cabinet hardware. The contractor is worried about time (which I understand), but don't choose something just to meet his deadline. You have to live with it for a long time.

ilene-84 - don't let my use of the word *modern* throw you! Modern, in that reference, doesn't necessarily run counter to the traditional look you want. Think more in terms of simple, tailored, clean, not busy. A navy blazer with crisp white shirt and khaki pants is a clean, traditional look.

You'll never know till you do a mock up. If everything else in your kitchen has more detail and sculpted line to it, a simple backsplash may be just what you want and make your other elements the stars.

red_lover the granie in your bathroom is the same as I'm using, hope you like it? Your painted walls are similar to what I want too, only difference is the cabinets. I thought of using a smilar BS, but then became afraid that it was to similar to the cabinets...I'm so confused, did post a question on Kitchens.

dlm2000 don't worry about your choice of words, I appreciate your help. I know what I want it to look like when I'm finished, but have no clue how to get there. The level of stress I feel is horrible, please don't think you added to it, you actually made it easier. I realize I need help picking out the BS. I love the granite slab we picked, and it was with the help of Gardenweb. Thanks!

Well, I don't necessarily agree you that you'll get a modern look whenever you use the smaller brick pattern. Marfil in itself is similar to travertine which is traditional in its look. Regardless of what the cut of the stone is, if traditional stones are used in a traditional setting they will still look traditional.

We used the small brick mosaic in slate for the floor of our shower, back of the niche and around the wall design of our master bath, it's a rustic stone and the finished product is rustic. You have to look at the whole picture and it really depends on what style you surround it with. Glass is generally considered to be more modern or contemporary but when used as an embellishment with a more traditional stone it works beautifully and looks great in a traditional kitchen.

We are in the process of tiling our new back splash with these 3" x 6" honed limestone tiles. Similar colors in the granite.

{{!gwi}}

The red diamonds in my backsplash are glass and I really like the effect.

The other tiles are a bit off-white, and I think they match the cabs, I've never noticed. lol

I have orb for some of the hardwared, and ruby colored pulls and knobs on the hutch which is in the kitchen.

I also have an orb faucet whith white sink. White appliances. The appliances are whiter than the cabs, but its not noticeable.

As far as the granite. That's a hard one to answer. Take every single thing off the countertop and I love my granite. But that color of granite is so hard to accesorize with it's driving me crazy!

However, I recently discovered pale yellow, white, and light vintage green looks wonderful on the granite. My walls are a very pale yellow.

Black accessories are good too, but I want more pastels in my kitchen. It only took me three years to figure out that pastels really look best with the granite and white cabs!

Janealexa I like how you framed your window, your BS is beautiful. I thought 2x4 would work well because of my 80inch window, and after seeing your BS I realize it does work. Are your tiles marble? Now my next concern, does marble have to much movement for my granite? But it has no more movement than travetine, and just a little more than limestone, but I can go for easy to care for porceline. I've decided to stop worrying about my BS this week and come back to it....will try to pick a floor and look at some more lighting to use. I'm happy to put off today what can be looked at again next week. My GC is starting on March 5, if all goes right the countertop will be measured on the 6th, and I really don't want to think about the rest. Thanks again for all the help!

ilene-84 - Thank you! I have AZ Tile tumbled camargo (travertine). What I like about tumbled stone tiles is that they don't need any trim pieces since the edges look nice and finished. I considered AZ Tile tumbled crema marfil (marble) and it did not have much movement to it...it was beautiful but looked too cold in my space. When you are ready post pics of your choices and GWers can help you choose.

I recommend waiting until your cabinets and countertops are in before you make a final decision on your backsplash. Then you can put all your samples up and look at them at different times of day and with artificial lighting. I'm so glad I waited b/c the original backsplash I chose did not work, I would've been so disappointed. The flooring/tile company was pressuring me to choose everything at once, but I insisted on waiting for the backsplash.