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I love the marble and I think it's a timeless choice. I think if you use quality products they will always look good, even once they are 'out of style'. If you have to live with it, and you love it, then GO for it!
I think there is so much discussion about what will be ok in 15 years, 20 years- what's the best for resale value, etc. I agree to some extent, but what about living with it and loving it right now! It's your home, enjoy it!

Yes, I was also told when looking for my backsplash that the tumbled marble was on the way out and that glass is really big now. I have seen so many beautful kitchen using the travertine and marble. If you find one that is a good match (some can turn pink or gray in certain lighting, just a warning) then go with it. A backsplash, as you see, is the one thing that can be changed easily in a kitchen. When something looks right, it is right!So, go with what you like!

i did a tumbled marble mosaic in our last house (remodeled in '95) so to me it's dated, but you should really do what you love! beauty is after all, in the eye of the beholder. good luck!

I think it depends on context. The "Tuscan" kitchen is dated. Marble has been used in kitchens for thousands of years. Use a different shape or size than the trend (i.e., not 4"x4"), with different details in the rest of the kitchen and it'll just be what you like rather than a datable look.

To me, "dated" in kitchens means something that you can pin to a particular style that was being shown and installed at a particular time. Kitchens last a long long time. "Dated" in the bad sense is when you can still obtain something that was really popular 10 years ago but isn't being done anymore. That is, that you'd be doing a 2000 kitchen in 2010. It's okay if a 2010 kitchen dates to 2010. Your appliances will give you away anyway. But you want to avoid the near past to keep from being just out of style. There's now, retro, and never was (i.e., unique rather than following a design trend). Dated is the gap between now and retro.

What's a now look? Mini-brick! So go for it, match your fireplace, let it look good with the granite, and be very happy knowing you're in style.

The 4 x 4 was THE thing during our last remodel, circa 2000 as were Tuscan style kitchens as one of the previous posters mentioned. Doing it in the running bond would definitely make it look more up to date. The stone itself is timeless and it's very neutral. I'm of the mind that you keep the surfaces that are hardest to change neutral. Wall color and window dressings can always be changed easily and relatively inexpensively.

Sometimes I cringe when someone puts in a BS in a statement color. Yes, those daring bold hues like bright orange, deep chocolate brown and chartreuse are gorgeous and very hip, but what happens when your tastes change? I saw this a lot when house hunting. Houses in my area were built primarily in the 80's and 90. Peach anyone?, teal, burgandy, hunter green, navy blue...I guess I'm color fickle.

Good luck!

Would love to see some pictures of mini brick BS...

I just had my bs completed in 3x6 tumbled marble. It was the most economical choice. In order to give it more of an updated feel, I had it laid in a brick, or running bond, pattern, then enhanced to tie in with my Jupurana Gold Dark granite.

It's not perfect, but cost many times less than what I would have chosen if I were going for 'perfect'.

Also, I used a tumbled marble mini-brick mosaic in my master bath and absolutely LOVE it! The individual pieces of marble are so varied and interesting and the colors are much richer than my 'inexpensive' marble that I used in the kitchen.

Some glass tiles will catch my eye, but I have such a rustic traditional home that they would not have looked like they fit.

Sandy

If you love marble but not the tumbled look - you might want to look at honed marble - it doesn't have the "holes" and has a sleeker look.