Ah, a topic I may be able to help out with. We recently installed off the shelf (Lowe's) white subway tile. The brand is American Olean (not sure about the spelling!). I remember reading in a magazine that in a white kitchen there should be varying shades of white to keep it from looking sterile, just as someone mentioned above. When my husband installed it he and my mom both liked how it looked: as if it had been grouted with gray grout. I knew I didn't like this look but was almost talked into it. I mention this because of your previous statement "i have always loved the white subway with white grout look, but i donno, with the different shades, i might have to try something else, and that really worries me because i am detouring from what i originally like. " Stick to what you like or you won't be happy. I almost went with gray grout. Perhaps it may look better or more appealing but it is not the look I'm going for. And since you've mentioned that you are worried about the shade of white you've chosen change it now before it's too late. I personally think it will look great but being that you are questioning it makes me think it is not really what you want and are hoping to be talked into liking it. But if you stick with your tile I wouldn't go with a cream grout but rather one that matches the tile and blends nicely. To answer your question In my opinion the color of the grout makes a difference. Just look at kitchens with white subway with gray grout vs white grout and you'll see what I mean. I don't think an off white grout will make it blend with the cabinets better, it could make it look soiled. White will make it look whiter but IMO cleaner. I say keep the backdrop (backsplash) simple. As someone mentioned above you will have things on the counter to break it up. I plan on putting more items on our counters and the gray grout for me would be too busy. Not to mention I'm not the tidiest-so I need everything else to be simple. I sure hope I did't confuse you! Here are pics of our off white cabinet, BM moonlight white, though not quite as creamy as yours, with white subway tile and bright white grout. Below is a link to segbrowns kitchen. I think the pewter grout in this kitchen looks great because of all the other elements. But with such creamy cabinets as yours I'm not sure about gray/pewter grout. Gray grout look (before grouted). My cabinets look quite stark here but are really creamier in person. Hopefully you can see a difference in the shade of the cabinets compared to the white subway-it is hard to capture in a pic! Here is a link that might be useful: segbrowns kitchen

Thank you so much UKAlison and Brianadarnell! I actually had looked at both the Hampton and Cristalli tiles. The Hampton is still a contender, but has a grey undertone that is more noticeable with my white cabinets. While I fell in love with the Cristalli tile in the store, thinking it was the one, it was more creamy when I brought home a sample to try. I actually chose a tile (after a lengthy search) and ordered it, but when the order came in, the tile was a darker shade than the sample I have. I was so disappointed because I really love the sample. It's the Ceramiche Grazia Essenze line in Bianco Crackle. The tile store will allow me to return the order, but I want to see if I can find a good alternative first. Please keep the suggestions coming! There must be a crisp white tile out there that I haven't seen yet!

From what I've learned from Bill Vincent, sanded grout is used for larger grout lines and unsanded for smaller ones or very delicate tile. You might also consider epoxy grout for your kitchen, since it's indestructible, mold-resistant, and doesn't need sealing, although it costs a bit more and your tiler might upcharge a little for the installation. I'm about to tile mine myself and plan on using the same epoxy grout (Laticrete's Spectralock) that I used in the bathroom, which I'm loving for its smoothness and consistent color. Most folks seem to go with 1/16th for a 3x6 subway tile, although some use 1/8th (bluekitobsessed, yours actually look like 1/16th to me?). If you take a stroll through the John Bridge tile forum, you'll see all kinds of examples of the different spacings in grouted tile. Here's one at 1/8th. From what I have read by the experts, it's OK to use your existing kitchen drywall for a backsplash. As long as it's in decent condition, you don't have to replace it with hardibacker, which is meant for places like showers that get lots of serious water exposure. I'm sure Bill V will wander by soon and give you the real skinny from the pro's perspective. Enjoy! Here is a link that might be useful: John Bridge's tile forum

Check the colors of either Lowes or HD subways carefully. They're both not very bright white... I can't remember which is which but one s fairly grey and one is almost pinkish. Lowes has the American Olean "Starter" line and it's NOT the same as AO's normal subway tiles that you'd get at a tile store. With my own Carrara, neither one looked good. I bought some bright white subways from a local tile store (from Architectural Tile, not very common) that looked a lot better with it. But every slab is different. FYI, though, Lowes also has a more expensive subway -about $3.80/sf, I think?- that has a slightly more handmare look, with a slightly rippled surface rather than super flat and plain, and it IS a bright white. Anyway- I'd really recommend testing samples of the tile with YOUR carrara in YOUR lighting... so you won't be disappointed!