I like this style of tile a lot but keep in mind that it will look busy, which you can't get a feel for from one sample. I know this sounds crazy, but make 10-20 color copies of your sample then tape them up on your longest run..it will give you a better idea of how it will look. I think color-wise it is nice.

Wellll, I'm not one of those "beautiful kitchen experts", just an old**** however, "To Me", your kitchen is beautiful, "AS Is"!!!!!

Your cupboards, which are really beautiful and unique
(Love that tall curved one with the glass)! To me (again), if you add the "Proposed backsplash", it will take the attention away from the beautiful cabinets, that (to me) are the star of your kitchen.

I think the proposed backsplash would be the "Shouter in the Kitchen", "HEY Look at Me!!!!", at the expense of all the other beauty you have going on there!

Gary

I apologize for the photo quality with the iPad- some of them seem brighter than real life. Also, there wasn't a lot of natural light to work with.

Joanie- I agree and am also concerned that it might be too busy. I may try your copy idea...thanks! My hubby is so certain that it will look great that I'm about ready to say do it! And then just hope it looks good.

Gary- Thanks for the compliments- we love the cabinets as well. However, we do need to choose some sort of backsplash, as we did not extend the granite up the wall and there is a small gap there to accomodate a backsplash.

This post was edited by SMPop18 on Sat, Jul 27, 13 at 19:03

SMP, "might be too busy", I can guarantee that it will be too busy. The mosaic is beautiful, and I am assuming the colors go well with the granite.

IMHO, a glass mosaic such as this one goes with a solid counter in a more contemporary kitchen.

Here's what I would do to utilize this tile. Choose the lightest color from your mosaic providing that it blends t with a color in the counter. If you really want to use this glass, you can use it as a border accent. a2Gemini has a really good example of using ceramic tiles with the glass mosaic border.
Joanie's suggestion to make copies of the tile and tape it up is a good one. Oldbat2Be did just that. If you look at her kitchen it is a really busy BS, but her counter is not.
We like to say here, one star in the kitchen. Yours is the granite.

Your kitchen is so serene and earthy, family room too. The colors and cabinetry are so beautiful. I wouldn't jazz things up with a modern, patterned tile. Stay in tune with the look and feel you've got going there.

Love your cabinetry. What line is it?

Ellendi-thanks

SMpops- I tried to copy from photobucket on my phone but it was being stubborn. Hopefully on my computer tomorrow. Feel free to go to a2gemini final reveal to see what I did.

In an earlier rendition, I wanted an all glass mosaic, but based on GW feedback- I modified my plan to use the mosaic as an accent piece- think of jewelry.

Now my SIL has a busy counter plus a 4 inch granite edging and she did a glass mosaic and loves it. So, to each what works.

If you got it locally, try to pick up a few more pieces to get a better view. Also, if Oldbat is online, she is great with photoshop.

And Badgergal put her mosaic just behind her cooktop but vertical.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your insight.

Snookums2- thanks for the nice comments- the cabinets are from Shiloh.

a2gemini- thanks- I'd love to see yours! I tried searching for your final reveal but wasn't able to locate it.

My original thought was to use the mosaic with another tile somehow. When hubby brought home the bigger sample sheet and put it on the wall I started to agree with him that maybe it would look good all mosaic.....and then I doubted it again for the same reasons you are all giving me. So here I am undecided.I have searched and searched for photos of BS using mosaic with a tile pattern and haven't found anything I think will look great. I will try to post photos soon of 6x6 tiles that are same as the floor to give an idea of how that would look with the mosaic.

Thanks again!

SMP- imo the mosaic is just too busy and modern for those beautiful cabinets and granite. Sandesurf posted with a similar tile and when it was photoshopped on the walls it became almost overwhelming. I think her thread was called 2 1/2 years without a backsplash. Maybe that would help visualize it better.

My gosh your cabinets are lovely! They are so different and gorgeous. You have beautiful granite too. Your kitchen is the type of room that people want to spend time in as it is so warm and inviting.

Your kitchen has a classic traditional look and I think the tiles are modern/contemporary. I love an eclectic look but still like things to mesh. IMO the bs is too busy. The colors look okay with it but the style is not complimentary to your space.

I love the rustic vibe you've got going on! Sadly, though that mosaic is nice, I think it's the wrong style -- just too modern. I wish I had a suggestion for an alternative, but (also sadly) I'm not a kitchen visionary.

OMG Pop, I LOVE your floor tile. I've been looking for tile for our mud room, bathroom, hallway and yours it just what I have in my mind (but can't find). Can you let me know, please, what it is?

I love your floor tile too. Specifically, I love your floor tile with your cabinet stain combination.

I think your backsplash should be a quiet one that has mostly the color of your floor tile in it. That would give a zap of needed brightness but still calm because
- it would flow with the floor
- it wouldn't be overall too busy

I love your floors - they look great!! Now to get you out of the ABB club!

Here a couple pictures and a link to our reveal
Link to the reveal http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg121427088941.html
Picture of one side of the kitchen

Light isn't the greatest but a closer picture

Have fun hunting!

I also struggled with the backsplash question and ended up going with a very simple subway tile backsplash (neutral - lightest color of my busy quartz countertop). I have absolutely no regrets 2 years later. I think you have gorgeous cabinets and countertops and they are the stars!

Thank you all for the nice compliments on our floor, cabinets and granite. We are really happy with all of our selections as well :) I totally agree with everything you are all saying about the BS. I've been telling hubby about your comments and I think it's helped him to understand why I haven't jumped at installing all linear mosaic.

Carol- the floors are FlorimUSA Stonefire Beige in 18in and 12in tiles. We used the same tile in our mudroom and adjoining laundry room and bathroom. We love it!

A2gemini- I like what you've done with your BS! We were considering something similar but maybe with more mosaic in the middle. Are they 4x4 tiles in your design?

I'm still working on color copies of the mosaic to tape up and give us a full perspective, lol.

I agree it's too busy and the wrong style. I would do something similar to your floor tile. Something simple not a focal point.
I never like busy granite counter tops with a busy BS.
Your home is lovely.

Smpop, as A2 mentioned above, I have linear mixed glass, stone and stainless mosaic tile in my kitchen so I obviously love the type of tile you are considering. My granite while actually splotchy reads as more of a solid color and I only used the tile behind the cooktop, so I don't think it looks too busy in my kitchen. Here is a look at mine:

For your kitchen, I agree with many of the other posters that the mosaic that you show is great but might not look great in your kitchen. I think you could still go with a linear mosaic tile but I would look for it in a single color or tone on tone color. It is difficult to tell exactly the color that works with your granite but I think something like this glossy linear ceramic might work:

Or maybe a frosted and glossy glass like this

Those two are from Glass Tile Oasis. You can order samples on line.

Good luck with your tile decision. Your kitchen is very nice, so warm and inviting.

This post was edited by badgergal on Mon, Jul 29, 13 at 0:23

Your cabinets are beautiful! What kind of wood and color stain did you use?

I agree with the others that the glass mosaic is too busy with your granite and is too contemporary/modern for your kitchen's warm, homey, cozy vibe. Judging from the peek into the adjacent space, it looks like that's the feel in the rest of your house. I like it myself.

It looks like your kitchen is an interior space with the only natural light coming from other rooms. I think a plain tile (shape to be determined) in the lightest color that can be found in your granite would go a long way to brightening up the space, esp. in the corners. A2's backsplash shows how a lighter b/s can really brighten up a kitchen.

Linelle- the cabinets are knotty alder with caramel stain and mocha glaze.

Badgergal- thanks for your suggestions, however, I'm unable to view the photos and when I click on them it asks for a password to view the album.

This post was edited by SMPop18 on Sun, Jul 28, 13 at 18:36

SMPop - they are 5x5 - I wanted larger but the color was perfect for our kitchen.
I didn't want standard subway as it reminded me of high school...

Grazia Rixi Crema with Beach mosaic.

SMPop, sorry my pictures went missing. I edited the post above to include them once more. If the color of the linear ceramic/porcelain would work with your granite, I think it could be a good choice. The website says the color is white but the picture of it that I posted is from another GWer and is the actual sample, which to me looks cream/ beige. (After getting samples for my son's house I found that the pictures of the tiles on glass tile oasis are not always as they look IRL)
Below is the link for that tile

Here is a link that might be useful: Glossy ceramic/porcelain tile

I think this is a good compliment to your fireplace and tones in your kitchen. It looks great now with the color of paint you have where you will install the backsplash. So, I was thinking in staying in line with that.... something like this would look great.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile