I like the second one much better. Beautiful backsplash!

First off, your "mock up skills" are fantastic. I couldn't even tell that I was not looking at the real thing in the 2nd photo.

I like the 2nd one best. I think you do too. Follow your gut, especially now while the installer is there, able and willing to fix it to your liking.

The second one makes more sense. I would have him change it.

Ditto on the mockup skills!

I think they're different, both OK. So no need to panic! That's not meant snarkily, it's meant as in: whatever you do will be good; there's no potential mistake in play here. That's my 0.02

first photo with fewer internal spots - I think it's more elegant, calmer, stately. I like it. But it depends on your mood and intention of what you want to convey:

second photo with fuller, more internal spots - this is more consistent with the 'spottiness' of the accent strip you've got going. I think it continues the jumpiness. Which is nice, too - wakes you up; raises an eyebrow, perks you up; gets you to pay attention. It adds a lilt.

I just don't, personally, think there's a mistake to be made here. It would depend, therefore, to me, whether you wanted to put a spring in your backsplash or a lilt of calm and poise. Plus, there's probably some money involved in redoing things, but perhaps that's negotiable.

Good luck! Either will be terrific.

I like the 2nd one better too. And FWIW, here is a mockup with no small tiles on the inside, just to show you how that would look. I really like the border made of the frame tiles, rectangular tiles and pencil tiles, so I did this mockup to see how it would look with those as the primary focus.

{{!gwi}}

Oooh, that one is nice,too. I think I like it best, followed by choice two. As it is now, my eye sees a rectangle inside the square, which adds one shape too many for me. But I like things simple.

It took me a few times before I could tell the difference. Vote for #2.

I *maybe* would have picked the second option before the tile was up on the wall. Knowing that option 1 is already installed, though, I think it is beautiful and if it were me I would keep it. The slight preference I personally have for 2 over 1 would not be worth the time, cost, and effort of redoing everything for not even a completely different design, just a few additional dots added to the current look/design.

I had to go back and forth a few times till I realized the difference. I honestly don't think it's worth a re-do. I like #1 just fine and in fact; think all the accents in #2 might be overkill.

Minority here, but I actually prefer #1. #2 looks buy to me. You have to live with it, though, so only you can decide if it's worth the hassle to change it.

I like the simplicity of #1. Plus, the mock up makes the space look bigger, but the tile work will actually take up more space. Too busy for me.

Beautiful BS! For me it is #1. I like the simple, clean lines though. I don't really like #3 - for me it's almost as if something was forgotten. Just my 2 little cents though :)

I really like #1 better, but I don't think you can make a mistake. I say leave it and save the time and expense of a re-do for something barely noticeable.

I like the first one because it is more elegant and understated. It's like a frame enclosing a calm picture.
The second one jumps all over the place and your eye is darting from the edge to the middle and back.

I like the one that has no small tiles in the center done by chicagoans.

I like #2 better but, I think you are splitting hairs here. They are so similar that I think whichever one you have will be beautiful.

I think if he can change it without messing the "integrity" of the backsplash (sorry I'm not handy in any way) and you want it the other way, you should change it. It's a focal point so you will be spending a lot of time focusing on it...

Thank you so much for your votes!

chicagoans - thank you for taking the time to show an alternative possibility.

So far the votes seem kind of split!

What's *your* vote? Take a second, sit quietly and remove our cacophany -- doesn't really matter after all -- and try to hear what *you* like. It's subtle, you'll have to listen carefully! ;)

Also, if it's so close how about your SO? I always think asking when it doesn't really actually make all that much difference to you, is like getting free "points". You magnanimously give away the decision, and it's no skin off your nose. Course under such circumstances you also don't really get many points either, but hey...

NO

If this were my kitchen, and I had to spend ANY extra money to redo the backsplash, I would not change a thing. I think #1 and #2 and #3 all look very good.

Sometimes a detail is not worth wasting money on... I am simply answering your original question.

I like #1.

After looking at them both a couple times today, #2 is making me think of a chair with an upholstered back, that diamond shape pillowy pattern with tacks.

#1 has an appealing simplicity to it, calm and elegant.

As some of the previous posters wrote, I had to go back and forth between photos #1 and #2 a bunch of times before I could even tell the difference. #3 is clearly different, of course. I honestly don't think any one is strongly superior - they all look good - but if I had to list in order of preference it would be #2, #3, #1.

I like 2 or 3, and think 1 has too few. The second and last one look intentional and the first one looks like you threw a few extra leftover tiles in it.

It's really close for me but I believe it's number one. Now that Kode brought up the chair with upholstery that's what I'm seeing in number two. I will say it's not that much of a difference in the overall effect but if you really want two don't be afraid of having the backsplash redone. We had to have ours taken down after the installer used the wrong grout and scratched the stainless tiles. No big deal in the end.

I like number 2. Both are beautiful, and you can live with either choice.

That's my two cents

I don't think it is worth redoing. #2 is my least favourite - too fussy. I like it without the accent tiles but I would consider it a waste of money and time to re-do it. It looks great the way it is.

I am really appreciate that so many of you have taken the time to help here!!!

I'm with the 'not worth the money' crowd. If given a choice from the start, I would pick #3 (no small tiles) but don't feel strongly enough that I would make a change now.

I like #2, but I also like all of them. aliris19 made the point that you can't go wrong with any choice... I agree completely. It's annoying when a contractor talks you out of something you wanted/obsessed about (it happened to me during my build) .....some of those decisions created a bit of resentment for me....... but they aren't big deals in the long run.

I like #2 best - exciting, fun, asymmetrical, more interesting that the standard #1 (which is more typical and problably why the tile guy suggested it). I totally agree with lolauren and think you designed it a certain way originally b/c that is what you wanted. He talked you out of it but clearly you still have doubts. I would TOTALLY have it re-done. Now or never. It would annoy me to no end to settle for something that wasn't quite right and not what I originally wanted. Sure, if the tile guy made the change and you ended up loving it, that's be one thing but that's just not the case here. (Can you tell I'm a little opinionated and picky for that matter.) Follow your gut.

While I do prefer #2 I agree with those that think the amount of impact does not equal the dollars that will be spent to change it.

I like number 1 -- the way it is right now. I you were going to change it I would choose number 3 -- no small tile design. I have a bias toward simple, plain, static, so take it from whence it comes. You need to understand whether you want something calming or something more dynamic, like #2. I have gone through the same thing -- the doubts, the last minute hesitations, changes, changes back. I think you should leave #1 -- it is good.

Valley - you have probably already made a decision but I saw this on Houzz tonight and the backsplash immediately reminding me of the one you originally designed. I guess I am posting the link so you can take a look at it and see if it is in fact what you want, and perhaps encourage you to go ahead and make them re-do it.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Upscale Kitchen Backsplash Similar to Yours[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/holden-estates-rustic-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~115456)

Thank you all so much for your help!!! I tend to be a slow decision maker (you probably can tell this) so I haven't decided what to do yet.

NewSouthernBell- Thank you for sending the link. The backsplash in the picture is beautiful.

my first choice would be no accent tiles.