Of the two you've shown I like the first one.

I think the tiles in both of the first two pictures are a great match. Both do seem a little busy for the granite. What about using smaller tiles over the range and larger, quieter subway tiles elsewhere?

One looks great!

I like #2, but am with Fleur in that I think a quieter subway, and using #2 as an accent so it doesn't compete with your granite.

disclaimer: opinion from someone who will soon be posting regarding her own backsplash . . . . (i.e. can't make up her own mind but can freely give opinions about someone else's)

I'll start with my disclaimer---it took me a year to find tile for my backsplash. But, I have to agree with those who have said that both look "busy" with the granite. You have a big expanse to tile on that wall behind the range and I think a quieter look will wear better in the long run. Remember, you already have accessories and other items on the counter to fill the visual space well so you don't necessarily have to have tile as the dominate feature in your kitchen. HTH.

Wow! You guys are quick. So the consensus seems to be that either one throughout the backsplash may be too busy. I will keep searching for a coordinating field tile -- maybe I can due a glass accent strip, or something over the range only.

Meanwhile, here's one more picture, this is the smaller 5/8 tile up close. Not sure if this helps.

I agree....but I am another one who can't decide for herself. I have yet to look for a backsplash.
I noticed, though....is that a GE Cafe Stove?? We have the same one (well, sitting in my garage, waiting to be installed)
We are also going to be getting Giallo Ornamental granite.

I think a creme crackled or plain subway tile will look great and glass tile the entire back of the stove area with the first glass tile you have pictured.

ritamay,
Yes it's a GE cafe all gas. I really like it, we've been using it for about a month and am very happy with it. I went from a circa 1989 Thermador cooktop and maytag wall oven to the GE range. The Thermador cooktop boiled water faster (I think it's because the grates were lower so the pots were closer to the burners), but this GE is still pretty quick. The oven is great, very precise, very quick to heat. I haven't really used convection yet and haven't used the lower drawer over for anything other than rolls yet, but so far, it's been great. FYI, I have a Faber hood above it, I was a little worried that the stainless "tone" wouldn't match, but it looks good. Now just the backsplash! I don't know about you, but I've found that the Giallo ornamental has a cool greenish undertone to it, so a lot of the marbles (travertines) look too pinkish next to it.

Full disclosure - I chose simple cream subways in my kitchen. I also think the small tiles are too busy (for my taste) with your granite although the colors coordinate beautifully. I like the idea of an accent of the smaller tiles behind the range and a larger coordinating field tile everywhere else. I also like the idea of a glass accent strip.

Here is another vote for the opinion that both seem a little busy with the granite. The colors are good, but the patterns seem to compete more than complement.

I think your cabinets and granite are beautiful. I vote for a much simpler backsplash to not take away from those elements....Good Luck!

The backsplash was one of the hardest things for me to decide. I also tried glass tiles, but they seemed too busy. My counters have a slight speckling. In the end I went with something quiet. I used a slightly darker grout (another decision where I stood looking at sample boards for hours) on my 2"X4" tiles. I also have the GE Cafe range. Been using for over a year now.

I like choice #1 as an accent and/or behind your range.

Sorry for the hijack.... I am still deciding too on my backsplash and trying to recover a little from all of the remodeling costs. Caligal, I also have white cabinets and a light countertop. I have always thought I wanted a blue backsplash, and still may go in that direction, but it is great to see the subway in your photo. I think our countertops are similar too. What is your countertop? Mine is Caesarstone Nougat.

I have white cabinets and giallo. (Should have had cream color cabinets) But, the Grazia Rixi Crema crackle tiles tied it together. Look into Grazia Rixi!

I agree that the colors go well, but that both tiles seem busy for the granite. I lean more toward the second tile, but would the first tile be easier to incorporate as an accent?

In case it helps... a couple rough mockups.

The one with subways doesn't work well because the subways are too bright; I think it would look much better IRL.

{{!gwi}}
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Now I vote, small glass tiles behind range and subway everywhere else.

fleur, caesarstone is oyster.

For myself both would be just too busy.. I love the idea of subway tile and then over the range making an inset with the subway diagonal.. hmmm not sure if I'm making any sense here LOL I will be picking out my tile this Thursday.. one of the last decisions to be made but an important one I'm sure. I guess it might come down to the look you want.. either you want to set off your countertops or you want them to set off your tile? Good luck to you :)

Learn from my mistakes. I put in a natural stone mosaic 7 years ago that had several different colored stones...all earth tones so it wasn't crazy, but was busy. At the time, we had plain cream formica counters, so it looked pretty good. This past January I put in Giallo Ornamentale granite, thinking that the backsplash would still work b/c all of the tones were the same. Boy, was I wrong! I now hate my backsplash and am tearing it out and redoing the whole thing this summer. There is just way too much going on and it really gets under my skin. This time around I am going for a crackled glazed subway tile. Everyone is different and has their own tastes and styles, but my mosaic and granite, even with the same color pallettes, just didn't work. Good luck!!

Can you get the small glass tile in the first sample with just the medium tan color? I mean, not variegated, just one color. I would do that, and then use the multicolor one in an accent behind the range.

I definitely prefer the small glass tile, but would love to see a mock up of a combo of plain subway or plain small glass tile with the multicolored over the range.
thanks for the info caligal

Wow! Again, thanks to everyone who responded, especially chicagoan for photoshopping the tile across the whole area. That really helped me see how wild it would look everywhere. I still like the glass, but will try to get it in with some sort of accent strip or area over the range. I was so hopeful I'd found the answer -- the small glass tiles are really affordable too. Ah well, back to the tile stores.......

I'm finding that the giallo ornamental is a pain to coordinate with -- I really love how it looks, and it goes well with the cabinets (which are a greyish cream base), but it has no pink undertone to it at all, so a lot of the marbles tend to look pink against it, or make the cabinets the drab and grey.

The search continues :)