Heart attack! Not a big fan. Can you post a pic of what you were going to use?

Too hard to tell. In the picture it looks fine with the cabs but the counter is too blurry. Then I looked up Nimbus, which is a browny taupe. If the marble is Calacatta it might go, if Carrara prolly no.

Not terrible, but from what I can see, the larger gray swirls in your counter might compete with the more subtle swirling in the marble. I do like the thin strips though, so that shape is at least quite pleasing to the eye.

Looks good with the cabinets but does nothing for the counters .

I think it fights with your counter top.

don't know what nimbus is. tried to look up - but different options out there for 'nimbus'.

The tile strips are great. Can't tell if the colors in the granite blend with the colors in the marble tile. If they do, I like the combination.

Nope.

I'm sorry. I decided that my response was rude. The pattern of the counter and that of the backsplash are fighting. They are too similar in size. What were you originally thinking of for the BS.

I think you're doing what I'd do in the same situation. "Can I salvage this situation? Is it really that bad?"

I think the backsplash and the counter are in competition in this photo. What does the tile look like? I'm guessing you picked that tile for a reason.. This doesn't quite look like it was picked on purpose.

Well, fwiw my first reaction upon opening the thread was to think "wow, I love that".... and then read about the problem! And now I think I take others' point about the bs fighting with the countertop. But I love it anyway. Sorry, I'm no help - this is a case where I think a "right" answer might exist and I hope you find it. But I think the "wrong" answer has its charms too.

BTW, the "right" answer will have to involve your personal assessment of how much quirkiness you want to live with. If you're going to spend the rest of your life ruing the concession, then sticking with this isn't a good idea, quirky or amusing or whatever notwithstanding. But if instead it gives you a lilt and a jolt and a smile, even if it's not perfect, that could have its own attraction. That's in the realm of personal tolerance.

Rationally I agree this isn't right. But there's something fun about it all the same.

I need a closeup pic of the tile against each. BTW... from what I can see I love the color/style of your cabs and the granite looks really nice!

I wish you had time to put up another picture or two. The counter is great and the splash is great but I'm not sure they are great together

Awww, sorry. I can see this tile as just an accent over the range, with white subway tiles, or 3x12s, everywhere else, but any more than that is too much w/the granite and cabinets, I think. But, I like the thin strips alot! I, too, would like to see the tile you were originaly going to use and also, were you planning to do something different over the range?

i like it.

The alternative (not shown) would look bad ungrouted too.

When this gets grouted, use a grout that picks up some of the color that is in the countertop. This echoes the countertop, a mild more brown.

Since nobody has seen an image of the alternative tile, it is not possible to say whether that alternative would get lots of yeay yeay yeay or lots of thumb's down. Remember too that a negative introduction will condition the responses. Your OP was not neutral in any way. The narrative was unnecessary to the esthetic question.

I don't know...that may be too much grey at once. Need to see the other tile to decide. But - I am swooning over your granite and your range!

All, thanks for your feedback. Even with a negative bias to my initial post, your feedback as usual was balanced and not overly negative. The grout will make it lighter and perhaps will give it the look that we hope to achieve. Many of you asked for our original selection. Below is an image of what we considered. Calcutta gold on the left, the porcelein tile on the right and the bottom is the persa pearl kitchen counter granite. We decided to go with the porcelein on the right....it turns out that it is back ordered for 6 wks and our contractor decided to cut marble to look like the porcelein tile and I think he has done a very good job...my only worry is whether it is too grey..perhaps the grout will lighten it up.

Thanks to all you!!!

{{!gwi}}

Flatwater - My first reaction was less about competition of patterns and more about the grayness of it all together. It may be my machine, but it looks very gray in the photo. I love gray, the question is do you love gray. Yes the grout might lighten it up, but he tile looks pretty tightly installed (small gaps) so not sure how much it would lighten. Good suggestion to either go light on grout or something that picks up warmth in counter.

I actually think the larger scale "pattern" of the counter is complimented by the smaller scale pattern of the tile - especially because they are similar color/tone (and there is a mono-tone of gray/white going on.) Overall, for me the effect is very serene, but interesting (which is hard to accomplish.) I think it is lovely, if it is the look you are going for.

I would also be curious about the rest of the kitchen - is there an island the same tones - or do you have something else going on? Are the floors gray too? Looking for some places for 'warmth' or contrast with they gray. Hard to tell from the photo, but do the counters read in general white or gray or tan? For me if the counters read white and you don't want an all gray kitchen -- this backsplash could still work.

If you think why you choose the white tile in the first place and compare with the look you have now I think you will come up with an answer you feel good about. Good luck.

only by being there will one know how the hues look.

Monitors warp color. Pictures do too. Hues are not the same. The hues in question here are subtle.

What is the name of the porcelain tile? It is very pretty.

The tile you have installed reads very vary on my monitor. Yes, your guy did a great job cutting and installing. It looks smashing with the Nimbus cabs, but IMHO does not go well with your beautiful granite. The porcelain tile looks much more white and subtle. I remember the other photos you've posted of your kitchen because of how striking they were, and I don't think the tile on the wall works. If you had a white counter it would!

I think your kitchen looks stunning. I like the marble tiles, and think they look nice with the upper cabinets(on my computer anyway). But I agree with others that the pattern in the marble conflicts with the pattern in the granite.

Grout will probably give the marble tiles a more subtle look; but will it be enough to make it work with the granite?

Do you still have the sample board of the porcelain tile? Maybe if you set it up next to the marble tiles and looked at it in your light - it might help you decide which is better.

Good Luck!

My eye is drawn to the tiles. In fact, until it was mentioned, I didn't even notice the counter.

I'm not going to offer any advice about that. I guess what has me floored is that your contractor did this without checking with you first. Who does that? It would raise questions in my mind, what other substitutions were made...

I have nimbus in both of my bathrooms upstairs. It is a great color. I think the tile he is using will look good with it, only you can tell that.

However, it seems to swirly and busy in the photo and looks like it doesn't work with the granite.

This of course is just how it looks on a computer monitor. You know what it looks like in person. What is your gut telling you? Sometimes we have to wait for what we really want. 6 weeks of waiting compared to a long time of always thinking "I should have _________" is really not that long a time to wait.

I can't wait to see more photos, especially since I love Nimbus so much. (I have used a lot of the colors on that strip in my house)

thanks for the comments...here is a picture of the island and the floor so that you have a complete perspective.

{{!gwi}}

Flatwater, if you decide you really like it after the weekend, you've got a winner. On my monitor many, many moons to the...some direction, though, much as I love the depth of marble over plain old ceramic, it's not working as well as simpler tile would. Could you use the marble stripping somewhere else in the house if it came to that? It is very nice.

I am really stuck on: (what kathec already wrote above)

Your contractor should NEVER have done this without asking you!!

It is up to YOU whether to pick an alternative or wait 6 weeks. Not your contractor.

It looks like you are doing a beautiful high end kitchen. Is this the backsplash you want?

Please don't let the fact that it's already done pressure you. You do not have to "get used to" anything-this is your kitchen. You are paying for it!

The contractor did this without your approval, he can take it off and YOU tell him what your backsplash will be. This is all his expense. You did not approve this. If you don't want it, don't settle. Your decision, not his.

Hang in there! Gosh, I have been there!! I'm in the midst of a 1 year+ reno and believe me I know how exhausting it is to just want to try to stay on schedule and if you are at the point where your sanity is more important than a backsplash, please know that 99% of the population (not the 1% of all of us TKO'ers!) will think your kitchen is absolutely fabulous whatever your backsplash is. I just don't want you to settle because you think you have to because it's done. Wishing you the best :)

Here is a picture of calcutta gold..what do you think?

{{!gwi}}

You handled that really well. Kudos to you. I would have had a meltdown, even though I truly like the marble. I really adore the long narrow lengths. It's just that so much goes into deciding on a final choice. My gosh!
They are really doing a great job though.The is a lot of time in their mistake. I do hope you get a discount for your trouble:)

Just saw the calcatta gold pic. Gosh, it is beautiful. Now that I see the comparison up close it's no contest. Calcatta, hands down. Sorry.