Good luck! If you really do not like the tiles going all the way around when you see them today, then have the tile guy remove them before grouting. Post pictures of course so we can give you moral support :)

Thanks ellendi- Knew I could count on you to post:) Job is supposed to take two days so hopefully there will be no grout when I go home. I told DH to make sure that I look at it first.
Of course my DH will kill me if I change my mind since this tile was EXPENSIVE! As it is, I think my contractor mismeasured since I laid out the majority of the tile and still have tons left. DH is not happy about that OR the bill he just got for the undercab lighting I added at the last minute. DH is soooo NOT a happy camper right now:(

Does DH like wine? :)

DH will love it in the end : ) Can't wait to see!

Fears were unfounded! It looks great:) a little more traditional than I wanted but marriage is all about compromise:)

Here is a link that might be useful:

It looks great CKGM, it's so pretty. You did well. It will even be more fabulous when it's all grouted and finished.

CKGM
Wow!
Love the tile and will check it out for our kitchen as very similar colors.(You posted it before and I am working on it!)
What is your wall color?
Thanks!!

CKGM your BS looks wonderful! I effort you put into the BS shows off, it's beautiful!

I like it too! It looks great!

looks great!

do you know what size spacers were used? my tile guy shows up tomorrow and i should know what to ask for.

were there spacers put on lower edge where granite is so it can be caulked - not sure how to do that edge?

Hmmm- I have to admit that I have no idea? I asked for the tightest grout lines possible-1/16 maybe? And yes, there are spacers on the bottom. The spacers look like tiny little x's.

It looks great! Very pretty with granite and cabinets!

Thanks again- I will take all the reassurance I can get! Starting to not love it again and worried it is fighting with the granite. Still can "unblend" more of the tile if others agree- it's not grouted yet. I know- dumb to buy blended tile only to unblend but I want this to look perfect:(

CKGM, relax. It looks great. I got all upset because my hand-made tile has irregular edges and it bothered me. I picked the tile! My tile guy came back and reassured me for one hour and then offered to replace any tile I desired. He was so reasonable I felt like an idiot. Sleep on it. Look at it in the morning. Nothing in this life is perfect. I understand the feeling, but all will be well.

Thanks Linelle:) I just stress over every decision in this kitchen other than the cabs:) love them when I picked them out and love them more now. All the rest- way too much for me! You guys are so helpful and reassuring.

I agree with Linelle. It is understandable to be focused on whatever point we are up to in the reno.
CK, don't worry about unblending. Do what looks good to your eye. Pictures are not that accurate. We see a nice backsplash in general, but you see the intimate details. And, you are the one to live with this kitchen.
Maybe I am repeating myself with you and you heard this story but I removed my first backsplash a day after it was grouted. It was clear that it was a mistake as the white tiles turned greyish after grouting. My husband looked at me, I looked at him and he called the tile guy back.
Worse case, you can replace the backsplash down the road. IMHO, I think your eye just needs to now get used to the newest element in your kitchen.

From the pic, it looks great. Is there anyway to send another picture from another angle? So far, so good!

Coming out of my usual lurker status to say it looks fantastic. CKGM, do you mind telling us what cabinets you're using - the whole mix is really lovely!

Thanks everybody- I really am starting to hate it:( too shiny, clashing with granite-and I know you are all being super nice but it looks awful. I can't change it- tile was a fortune, DH likes it but I am miserable right now. I guess you are right though ellendi- I will live with it for a bit and wait for it all to come together. But for the moment I wish I picked a different choice:(

One more question? Once the grout is in will it change the look at all? Went with a very plain sand color.

CKGM, I understand how you feel. Grout will change the look, depending on its color. I chose the wrong color initially--totally my fault, I should have done all the sample boards everyone here recommends. It was hideous and came out immediately, like 10 minutes after it went in.

Remember you are going to have stuff on your counters (unless you're one of those people that has to hide everything in a special little hidden place like no one lives there). Life will resume and the backsplash will not be the One Thing.

If I had it to do over, I would pick a different tile and probably a different color and use different trim. I had no experience before and now I do. But to take it out now would be to cave to my anxiety about imperfection. As expensive as a new backsplash is, down the road I can afford another one. Maybe next year or the next. Maybe by then I won't care. I'm already not caring that much. It's not like an awful counter or, God forbid, a $4K+ paint job (my situation).

I think it's beautiful!

These things really are a matter of taste. You do have one thing on your side and that is that your DH likes it. That's a plus.
Going back to my kitchen saga, when I chose the Dove White cabinets from EXAMPLES in the showroom, I thought it was a win/win situation. Here they were right in front of me. When they were installed they looked much more white and stark. Lesson learned: the show room had very little natural light. My DD1 said, "This looks like a hospital operating room."
Try stay calm. Let's see how things look with everything in place. Give it time. And if you walk into your kitchen upset everyday then you and DH are going to have to have a talk.

Aww - I didn't read down far enough to see how unhappy you are before I posted. Sorry.

I do think the grout will change the look a lot.

You are the best support group ever! I am not loving it but I am not hating it if that makes sense. More just feeling let down and concerned I made a bad choice. A few things I realized- when I looked at it again this morning, the harsh morning light from the uncovered window did not help matters. This will not be an issue once the curtains are up and the lighting is corrected. Two- I should never have considered putting tile all the way around the window no matter how simple my splash was. It makes my galley kitchen even narrower. So I will just have to eat the extra 100 in tile- no biggie.
I think once it is all together and now that I changed my mind about tiling around the window, I am feeling much better. Plus I called my amazing sister, got great feedback and support from all of you. Too bad it was too early for the wine though:)
Pic below to show the window area which will be plain, lovely paint now and the tile in the morning light so you don't think I am so crazy:)

Here is a link that might be useful:

Here is the window picture(I think). I can't check these images on my work computer since they block this site for some reason?

Here is a link that might be useful:

"I am not loving it but I am not hating it if that makes sense."

Makes total sense...and you're making progress. Once you get hate off the table, you can start coming to terms with things.

Aren't you glad you didn't get a big old neck tattoo? (no offense to those who have one and love it)

I don't love anything about my kitchen, except maybe the hidden soft-close thingies I installed myself that I proudly show everyone. Whenever there's time and money and a lot of yourself put into things, I think a certain let-down is normal, kinda like post-partum depression.

Thanks Linelle- it does help to put it in perspective.

I love your BS! I love how it frames your granite ledge. When friends ooh and ahh over it, maybe your DH will forget the sticker price...in time?

I appreciate your candor about doubting your choices, and everyone's assurances that this is a common phase...everyday I'm doing the same...ESPECIALLY whenever I see a piece of Super White quartzite! :-)

Can't wait to see the finished pic.

Thanks again Anna:) Everyone who posts makes my heart feel a bit lighter:)

I only saw one pic and I liked it. I wanted to do something somewhat similar, yet with more grays, so we are kitchen sisters from another mister!

Honestly, I found the tile and grout situation the MOST agonizing of the entire process. It tormented me night and day. I did countless sample boards and still was not sure. Installed, grouted, and sealed the tile myself in the last week or two and I can finally say that I am happy about my choices. Next time, I think I will start with a tile that I love and make all my other choices at that point.

Once you get more stuff in your kitchen and get to use it, you will really come to appreciate it. I am sending you falling-in-love sugar dust for you and your tiles, because they really look great!

Love you guys! Other side done today and I really like it. Again, I think I had a modern kitchen in mind that my house and DH's taste didn't support! I slowly switched my choices and ended up with a totally different kitchen than I pictured! I think this is the problem. It looks fine and actually much better on the side that doesn't get the current harsh unfiltered window light. Plus I did unblend it a bit;)
Hardware was fully installed too and that helped a lot- one of the few "modern" touches I had left! Love them:)Now I just have to break it to my DH that the demo guys threw out our three month old insinkarator:(

Happy for you :) And,you will like it even better once everything is in place and everyday life takes over.
Post more pictures. I would like to see the other wall too.

Thanks Ellendi- waiting for grout to go in today and will post more. It is definitely a little clash of styles here- granite edge, cab style, and pulls say modern and backsplash says hey I am Tuscan/ tradional. I will get over it but totally see why it's bothering me. I doubt anyone but a GW person and me will notice that though! Lol

Thanks Ellendi- waiting for grout to go in today and will post more. It is definitely a little clash of styles here- granite edge, cab style, and pulls say modern and backsplash says hey I am Tuscan/ tradional. I will get over it but totally see why it's bothering me. I doubt anyone but a GW person and me will notice that though! Lol