I like it, so my vote is, use it! :)

This post was edited by cat_mom on Fri, Feb 1, 13 at 18:44

Hmm... tough call! The tumbled marble is beautiful and not at all loud. The subway tile is great, too. I'm kind of in the same position in choosing subway or a smaller pattern. But with your counters I would personally choose the tumbled carrara.

Good luck! It's looks fantastic thus far!

Do the tumbled!

Honestly, I wouldn't go any smaller than a 1" high mosaic tile. If it were me I would go with a 2 X 4 or a 3 x 6 subway instead where you can appreciate some of the veining and beauty of the marble. This just reads as mottled gray. The subway tile is reading a bit pinkish, but maybe its the lighting or my monitor.

Honestly, I wouldn't go any smaller than a 1" high mosaic tile. If it were me I would go with a 2 X 4 or a 3 x 6 subway instead where you can appreciate some of the veining and beauty of the marble. This just reads as mottled gray. The subway tile is reading a bit pinkish, but maybe its the lighting or my monitor.

Honestly, I wouldn't go any smaller than a 1" high mosaic tile. If it were me I would go with a 2 X 4 or a 3 x 6 subway instead where you can appreciate some of the veining and beauty of the marble. This just reads as mottled gray. The subway tile is reading a bit pinkish, but maybe its the lighting or my monitor.

Subway; I think the smaller tiles will get "old" pretty quickly.

I like it and this is coming from someone that doesn't like really busy back splashes.

Honestly, I wouldn't go any smaller than a 1" high mosaic tile. If it were me I would go with a 2 X 4 or a 3 x 6 subway instead where you can appreciate some of the veining and beauty of the marble. This just reads as mottled gray. The subway tile is reading a bit pinkish, but maybe its the lighting or my monitor.

I like it. It gives life to the space.

I like it because it's a wash of neutrals.
If it were a bunch of different colors, oh, yes, it would be obnoxious after a while.
What you're showing is cool and calm. I highly doubt you'll notice it enough after a while to tire of it!

sorry, here is the pic of the whole kitchen. thanks for all of your opinions!

I vote for the tumbled marble - it's soft yet interesting.

Can I vote again?? ;)

After seeing your entire kitchen I definitely vote for the tumbled marble!

I don't think the marble is too busy. But I would look at a larger format in the same marble for comparison. Your kitchen could use a little subtle pattern, and marble of some sort could be it.

Where did you get the tumbled marble? I definitely vote for it.

I love the tumbled marble! I'd also like to know where you found it.

Larger format marble. It reads too small IMO. If you want, post some pictures taken from straight on, with the tile samples there too, and we can photoshop for you.

Photoshop would be great. Does this photo of the tile work?
The tile is Hampton Carrara smooth rectangle tile from The TileShop. its a 12 x 12 sheet.

I'm not a fan, would prefer a larger tile. With the small tiles the backsplash will read busy and be kind of a first-thing-you-see focal point of the kitchen. Not a personal fan of that myself, but many people really love that look and perhaps it's what you're going for. If so, go for it. If not, look for a larger tile in similar color tones.

I love the tumbled marble but also think a larger format would be better.

I looked at marble tile in the subway 3x6 and the smaller thinner size. I ended up with the 3x6, it complimented my counter top. The smaller tiles were to busy and distracting.

Love your space and the tumbled little tiles are p=e=r=f=e=c=t
Really subtile colors so it does not look busy. The subways are a yawn here.

I love the look of the marble but I think it would look prettier in a larger tile. Have you seen Kevin's backsplash?

Here is a link that might be useful: Large marble tile

Too busy for what? Your palette is essentially empty. You have white cabinets, white walls, a black counter, and you are choosing between bs tiles that are white, or white with grey veining. Either one will work. The marble will add a very little bit of visual interest.

But I have to ask, why have you worked so hard to avoid color? Even neutral colors can add warmth and interest to your space. the glazes below are from Fireclay's Vitrail series.

Shell
{{!gwi}}
Antique Bone
{{!gwi}}
Odyssey
{{!gwi}}
Silver Haze
{{!gwi}}

Great picture of the tile, thanks. Now if you could post pictures of the area(s) you would like photoshopped, again please fron straight on, I will get started.

I do not find it busy and agree you could use some visual interest. I love that tile!

It's a strong look and I love it; I really think your space can take it, lovely kitchen by the way.

No need, these were ok.

Version 1:

Version 2, with a larger tile:

Full kitchen:

I'm going to add my $.02 again and hopefully it posts only once this time. Sorry about that. Looking at the tile close up I feel it might be a bit too rustic looking for your kitchen. From the larger photo of your kitchen, even with the beadboard, it has more of a formal look. The tile is a random placement which also makes it more informal. I would prefer something like the tile below. A small herringbone mosaic, a basketweave or a small hex pattern would also be pretty and more in keeping with the look of your kitchen.

Oldbat2be, THANK YOU, that is so cool. I went to bed last night and woke up to find my kitchen "tiled". I'll show my husband but I think I agree with those who think its a bit small and busy. It is a beautiful tile and I love it in the first photoshop pic but I designed the kitchen as a creamy white kitchen and I think when this is on all, it will be darker and busier than my orignal intentions. I also agree though that we need something to finish that backsplash. I have samples of larger carrara but they have much more white white in them which makes the creamy cabinets look more yellow in contrast. Not what I'm going for. Anyone know of a marble that is more creamy and grey? Possible the one blondelle suggested? Thank you for all of your opinions!! The search continues......

A calacatta marble tile would be much less gray and be creamier than the carrara which generally runs towards the gray. It's more expensive than the carrara though. Daltile has a creamy white marble with many mosaic options called First Snow. The link is below. A crema marfil mini mosaic with cream grout would also be pretty in your kitchen. That's on that page too. Here's one that would be creamier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

WHOOPS! Scratch the crema marfil. I didn't realize the counters were soapstone. Any of the First Snow tile should work. Love the one above although it's a smaller 1/2" X 1". They don't have many sizes as they only have larger subway in 3 X 6.

Thanks blondelle -I'll check out the calacatta marble in person if I can find it. I like it too.

None of the above. The small tile is too busy and the plain white is too blah. If you do a white subway, use some type of colored liner with it. But, it would look much better with some type of pattern and color for some warmth. In fact, I think that a wood look ceramic tile would be just the ticket.