Of these two options, I like the lighter one too BUT, BUT, BUT and you didn't ask for this, I think long narrow glass tiles might be too trendy for your kitchen. Are you totally opposed to 3x6 matte or crackle tile that so many people are doing (yes, I know, also trendy but they are a better match for a more traditional cabinet style and color.) Or doing something with a unique shape but all one color - maybe grey? As the photoshop renders show, this backsplash will be very, very busy. All this IMHO. I don't want to hurt feelings. Perhaps I am just being too influenced by a designer's color blog that I have be devouring lately. She posted about this exact thing (linked below) and also a great one about the undertones of beige - which are either yellow, pink or green - that is what Marcolo was getting at, not just are the related beiges. http://colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-everyone-should-know-about-beige.html (I might add, the photo used in this blog post is none other than GW's very own Beekeeperswife's kitchen.) Here is a link that might be useful: Trendy backsplash advice from designer Maria Killam

I think I'm paying NYC prices in Minnesota but didn't know that until I discovered this website! My granite was considered a middle price granite but it still cost $84 a square foot, which I think is a high end price. The sub contractor doing our backsplash also did our granite. Our cabinets, which have been done in hickory, cost about $18,000. I'm not sure if that's high or not. Our KC has a good reputation but I've noticed there's a crack in the wood of the island and a hole where one of the knots fell out during the granite installation. This is our first kitchen remodel and I'm not sure if that should be acceptable or not??

cigi, in our last house the previous owner installed tumbled marble in a mauvish tone which IMO looked awful with the St Cecilia granite. Even though the tile was expensive, I tore them off and left the 4" granite backsplash, patched and painted the rest of the wall. The sink was the only working area as the cooktop was on the island. No problem with water as I used BM Aura, but Pittsburgh Paint's Manor Hall Timeless is just as good with a more flat look and lifetime warranty. I'm pondering the issue for my current redo. In various houses I've had paint, wallpaper, white tile with abalone inserts, plain white tile. Right now I'm weighing white tile with a beautiful insert, just paint with no granite backsplash since this area has only a counter but no cooking/wet functions, paint with granite backsplash, or a simple glass tile backsplash with listello over it a la Chinchette. I'm attaching a photo from Chinchette's beautiful kitchen (hope she doesn't mind seeing hers cited as a great example) which shows the last option. In any event, I echo others' advice to not worry about that decision immediately unless you absolutely love a certain look. Just use good paint. Here is a link that might be useful:

The cabinet placement doesn't allow for a perfect choice of where to end the tile. I'm wondering if it would look better to move the cabinet over a few inches, giving the window some space, and end the tile at the cabinet. Windows shouldn't be crowded by cabinets.