I have bianco antico, white perimeter cabinets and a walnut island. I went with your basic white subway tile and I love it. I do love Beekeeper's tile, too, but I ended up keeping it very simple. I think the white could offer enough of a contrast with the cream color it sounds like you have. Otherwise, you could perhaps find a creamy color subway tile. Here is one picture and I've linked to my post with LOTS of pictures below. Have fun tomorrow! Here is a link that might be useful: My almost finished kitchen post

UKAlison--I think that the backsplash sounds pretty. I'm a sucker for marble though. But with that being said, and not seeing a photo, I can tell you from my own experience of testing marble with it, it was just too competitive with my granite. It's hard to explain, especially when you see my backsplash. Even though mine has an "oh wow" factor to it, it is essentially a solid color. And that is what still makes it possible to have the counter be the star of the kitchen. I am a very visual person. This might not make any sense to you. After your counters are in, go to the tile store, bring home some samples and see what you like. Take photos, post them, ask opinions. Make sure to get some plain subways too, even beveled subways. A beveled subway will help give the plain subway a little pizazz, something the BA deserves. You need to bring home all the contenders. Also look at different shape subways, 2x6, or even larger format ones. I hope my response isn't too confusing. Most of us go through what you are going through. Sometimes we find one in the store and are sure that it's the one, but then later realize it's not when we put the two together at home. Looking forward to a post from you later today with the counter reveal. Take photos during installation too.

Lia: Just as a comparison, here's our backsplash with Bianco Romano. Let me warn you about Bianco Romano. Every slab is VERY very different. Some will have more black contrasts, some yellow, some lots of pinkish burgandy, some more white, some more gray/beige. Mine looks much more bluish beige in my kitchen than it did at the granite place. And the sample I had had large black veins throughout. I initially looked at a similar backsplash for our kitchen, and decided it was just too busy for me. I even question my choice of the black marble/glass accent since the slab looks so different in my kitchen. I think I would have liked plain subway better.

You could, but it's a checkerboard for lack of a better word... I don't see it in your space at all. Your kitchen floor/cabinets are warm, your counter is cool even though beautiful. You don't need grout, "jumping" out from the tile.... "popping" out from the tile color. Too busy in my opinion for what I think you want. Herringbone in that size would take a TON of cuts and you would need a person to install that is STELLAR and well versed in doing herringbone with such a large tile. You may want to look for, "herringbone" there is a lot at tile bar. Not going to be as large in scale though. Given the width of the space between your counters and cupboards that size would be a ton of waste going with 12" even if you found a stellar well versed tile person. If you lean herringbone you might look at their samples at tile bar or even a chevron which is not to terribly different. Not just tile bar, but fire clay is another site or Zanger. This is from the Zanger website... it's chevron. Remember, your cupboards and floors are warm and you chose a cool tone counter. I don't know their sample program at Zanger as well. http://www.walkerzanger.com/collections/products.php?view=style&mat=Zen&coll=Shift