What manufacturer is it again? I'd like to look on their website to see what the options are for you. I still say it looks lovely though... but YOU must LOVE it.

It's Somona Tile. Thanks for your help.

Lissa, if you're removing that design, my suggestion (as usual) is to continue the subway all the way across and then use a variety of hanging items, changed out as it pleases you, for decorative accents over the stove. Maybe an antique cream platter with a trout swimming across it for instance. :)

You could perhaps pick up the floral accents you have elsewhere in the wall? I really like the classiness of those; not sure how to work that in, but perhaps there's something to be done along the lines of finding a larger version of a similar stylized tonal floral in a brighter color?

What I would do: a line of that red(?) pencil tile inside the frame and then a pattern using the tonal textured tiles (perhaps bigger ones) like what you have in the field tiles. Maybe use some of the tiles that you like in the Butler's pantry for accents. (BTW I like that one better too - love that red bubbly light fixture.)

A thicker liner like you have then lined inside with a pencil liner like the liner you have on the bottom. I'd maybe do 4x4's diamond pattern like you have but obviously larger and in a color combination you love. I love those Tanturm crushed glass looking tiles they have but it may too modern a look for your style. My thought was you could intersperse them. Does the Canyon Red somewhat match your pencil liner? Too busy?

i didn't comment on your other thread because everyone loved it so much and i didn't want to rain on the parade. but the mosaic is what i'm not that wild about too. (sorry!)

i think pbrisjar's red pencil line is a good idea. I also think in such an orderly kitchen, the randomness of the pattern doesn't work for me. i'd like to see more of the red and less of the gray i think, or else a more consistent red in the pattern. the center left has none. and there are areas where 2 greys touch...a pattern would help i think. your little fluer de lis tiles are the perfect random touch.

but then again, i know nothing about decor!

I still think it's perfect. In fact, I saved your pictures to my inspiration folder when I saw your other post.

Laurie

I'm sorry I can't remember whose backsplash this is, but it kind of reminds me of yours. Maybe you would be happy with it if it had a more prominant border like this one.

{{!gwi}}

Laurie

Instead of a mosaic, what about just installing a nice stainless steel shelf and using your regular tile all the way across, maybe with the narrow red band above the shelf? Mine is not tiled yet, but you can sort of get an idea of what I am doing in this picture. the shelf is IKEA, stainless steel for only $14.99. I don't like the brackets on it, so I dig out a little sheetrock and the brackets are going under the tile. Here's a picture.

I did something very similar to yours, which I love. If you don't like the rhomboid shape, it is probably not going to appeal to you, but I will describe it. Sorry, no working digital camera at the moment. My insert behind the cooktop is all glass rhomboids (same Tantrum from Sonoma). I used the same burgundy and khaki colors that you selected, and I also used green. Those three colors are randomly arranged. The field tile is a yellowish limestone 3X6, which provides a nice contrast to the sparkly niche. As you have done with the small decorative squares in your field tile, I used the 1X1 tantrum glass squares in the same khaki, green and burgundy colors, to spread the color and sparkle around the room.

I remember that the tantrum glass tiles also came in larger squares (2X2). Maybe you could use those in burgundy in some kind of simple pattern behind the cooktop. Of the three class colors you've chosen, the burgundy stands out. I love the burgundy liner and how it looks with your field tiles. Definitely keep some color or sparkle there for a bit of contrast.

Good luck. Tile options are endless, making it tough to decide.

I am sorry you still are not happy with the mosaic. In looking at it with the rest of the backsplash in this picture, it might not be wide enough for the area. However, I agree with Rosie and continue the same subway tiles across. Then you can add decorative plates and swap them out as you wish. I don't know if any of these might fit the bill. They may not be to your taste or fit in your kitchen but here they are. They are Italian Majolica plates.

I would keep the diamonds but change the colors. Use the color of the subways for one third, a lighter color for 1/3 and a darker color for 1/3. But all three colors should be very close, all ecru/bone (whatever the backsplash color is). The space inside the border was sized to fit the diamonds perfectly and I don't know if another size tile would work without having little slivers or something.

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate your taking the time to help me through this! I have to mull the different suggestions over a bit so they can fit into my vision of how I wanted the kitchen to look.

Not sure that I'm ready to get rid of the mosaic entirely -as in just doing the subway tile w/ a shelf or hanging accent. My last kitchen I did have a tiled niche in back of the range and I didn't love the oil and dirt that settled onto the items I kept there.

I definitely think adding the garnet pencil tile may be in order. I also really like somehow incorporating a larger verstion of the accent tiles into the mosaic. See below pic.

My husband agreed w/ one of the posters that the mosaic might be undersized for the space. Not sure if I'm willing to resize that though as it impacts all the field tile around it.

There were a couple of pictures on the Sonoma website that are along the lines of what I'm thinking. My concern is fitting into the frame w/o creating tile slivers as someone mentioned.

I agree with Sue. I would get rid of the reds and the greens in the pattern. Try covering the darker colors with some tan or beige diamond shape bits of paper and see if you like your mosaic better.

I ripped out a newly installed granite fireplace surround so I totally relate.

lissa - Why don't you just live with it for awhile instead of rushing into anything. I like what you currently have better than what's on the Sonoma website. It looks great with the style of your kitchen and I really don't see anything boring about it.

Laurie

I know exactly what it is that is so disconcerting to you. I think it hits you like it hits me. You probably realize that you like more symmetry. I do believe that if you popped out every single one of the green and red colored stones and left only ivory, grey, and taupe, and kept those colors there...and kept them more balanced application, then you would be more happy. I especially don't like the top right four stones in a straight line....
Once, you get it a more tone on tone coloring, then do a bone colored grout, then it will be more soothing to look upon.

Anyway, I love msrose's suggestion... and other's, too.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Lissa:
I've been away from this site for a while because I was obsessing too much and needed a break, but I couldn't resist seeing what was up with everyone and your post caught my eye since I have planned something similar. I am doing a honed calacatta marble mosaic behind my range and all of the colors are very muted, as you know since your island has the same tones. My mosaic will not be on the diagonal, since I thought that was a little modern. Maybe if you omit the darker tiles, as others have suggested and placed them straight and added just a little more flourish to the border in a neutral tone, it would appeal to you more. The other thought I had was if you made sure to have a bold accessory, maybe flowers in a vase that were in the burgundy tone, it would draw your eye away just a bit and enhance that color in your backsplash. But in any case, don't fret-it's really a small piece of your very pretty kitchen puzzle. (This from someone who has been stressing out over every detail!!) It's true that it's always easier to make decisions when you're talking about someone else's kitchen.....

I didn't mention it before, but since you're working on developing your inset to what you need it to be, and since it's been brought up, the one thing that bugs me about an otherwise very attractive design is that it seems just too small for the space to me also. Width-wise, I'd be inclined to start with most of the area under the bottom front line of the hood and see what working with that space would produce.