Fire and Ice looks like a match to me! Goes great with all components in photos. Disclaimer: I am not in ABB yet.

Do you have pictures of the other choices? I want to see the turquoise :)

I don't care for it at all. The colors seem to be in the same family, but 1) it looks busy next to your magnificent island granite, and 2) it looks texture-y and a grease catcher.

I love Ecko and the mangoes. :)

I think the jeffrey court tiles look a bit too busy and matchy-matchy color-wise with your swirly granite.

How about a green mango backsplash? (mostly) j/k ;)

mmmm....No. Your island granite is gorgeous. Why do you want to match it? I think you should pick something that sets it off. Kind of like what your perimeter granite does. Do you have a reveal that you can link to so we can see the rest of the kitchen?

And, you can call me ignorant or whatever - (I too, have a tough skin), but when you mentioned the fire and ice I did check the date of the thread to see if it was maybe a couple of years old.

Way too busy.

Yea, have to agree... way too busy. It would deter from the beautiful granite. I think (for what it is worth) some of the gray tones look nice. Maybe stick to those and find a gray-ish subway tile with slight variations in the gray tones?

Again.. what do I know.. lol.. I can't pick MY BS either.. heh

Russ

Thanks everyone so much for your comments. Got it. Too many clowns right!?!

I was afraid that it might be too busy with all the colors and textures. And yes the cleaning aspect bugged me also. My husband likes to fry! In the photos below you will see the grease splatters on the bare drywall!

Here is an example of the greenish crackle tiles that have the subtle variation that I like. I also love the silver crackle that Romy has.

Here is a close up of the perimeter granite and my blanco sink.

Lavender, the one above is an example of when I'm having my wild turquoise cravings!

Here is one of the whole island so you can see all the colors. It really just reads a dark greenish gray over all with the dark rust swirls. This was my Craigslist score!

Think of the Fire and Ice as the first guy you kissed. We need to find the tile you're going to marry. Clearly, ordinary subway tile won't do, crackle or not. But try looking for visual interest in pattern, shape, or texture, not in a multicolored mosaic. My first instinct for you is Fireclay thin brick tile shown below in Cotton and Fog City. Other options follow.

Someone posted this.. looked nice... I forget who and where..

I have seen the fireclay thin brick in person. It is really beautiful. Subtle so it doesn't grab you when you walk in and see all their gorgeous tile. But it kept drawing me back. We don't have the right space, or sadly the budget, for it but I would love to see someone use it.

Here's a picture from the fireclay website

Eam44, I love your first guy kissed analogy! I love those fireclay tiles. I forgot I have had this one saved forever too. It's is called Willow. It almost looks to have a subtle terra cotta colored bumpy texture? Do you think a soft grey green would be okay or should I just stick with more neutral like the Cotton or Fog?

Russ, I did see that reveal. I liked that tile because my husband likes a bigger tile, like a 6x12, but I really don't. That was the 4x12 if I remember correctly, and I actually did like it.

crl, thanks. Would you happen to remember how much the fireclay was a sq foot? Or Maybe I dont want to know??? Haha

Looks like $22 a square foot? Free samples.

Crl, thanks for the link. Ouch, that is pricey, but I am going to order the 5 free samples anyways.

Before I do, is there any one or more colors that I should eliminate? Or any color I should add instead. The other colors seemed to not have enough contrast to my black granite. Here are the ones I picked. Go for it?

I don't know if this helps, but in the picture with the small corner of your island and the family room with the view, I was struck by just how much your island granite essentially matches the colors in your view. Seems a wonderful stroke of luck that that is the piece of granite you found on craigslist.

I would make the view your color inspiration for the whole room. The granite already fits right in. Maybe thinking of things in those terms will naturally suggest what color the backsplash should be. Immediately, white seems wrong because that doesn't really show up in your view or in nature generally.

I do think the color of this that you just posted is headed in the right direction:

Something softer and more earthy.

As a kid I didn't like clowns IRL but I now like them in kitchens. :) Couldn't you have a single row of the clowns as some people did in theirs. Set in large tiles. Or in some design just behind the stove?

Another thought. The granite is striking and I think it would be nice if a piece of it were used behind the stove. Centered in your other tiles. Maybe if some of it is being cut out for a sink or something.

What were your BS inspiration pics?

Your granite was a Craigs List score?! Lucky you - it is so cool and what a pretty view. I agree with whoever mentioned about bringing the view colours into the tile as well. Perhaps there is a colour in your view that is in your granite that might work.

By the way, I like your stools as well.

Those colors look good to me. Fwiw, they sent me extra samples when I emailed to ask a question about colors.

Jillius, I agree 100%. The view is my main "clown", next to my island granite. The bs needs to be a compliment but not distract. I will have to track down the manufacturer of that one elongated hex tile and order a sample. Anyone have a clue? See, you do to have a great esthetic eye!

yeonassky, I thought of doing something like that. There was this one reveal (whose name I cannot recall at the moment) but he did a herringbone pattern behind the stove in Calcutta marble subways with this subtle irridecent tiny glass square accent border. I loved it. I will try and find it.

Blfenton, Yes, can you believe it? I jumped all over that! It was the perfect size 4 1/2 x 7 and had the ogee (?) edge on all four sides already. It was someone's dining table top. The stools were off craigslist too, as is my couch and coffee table. The couch was less then a year old, from an immaculate home, and professionally cleaned. The same one was at the furniture store for almost $4,000. I think I paid $600 for it and the teak coffe table. Pretty much my whole house is CL or else stuff we have scored free from foreclosure remodel projects we do. Well all except my bedroom furniture. So that is why I can rationalize my guilty purchases. Ha!

Crl, placing my order right now. I'll ask for a couple more colors too.

Let me know if anyone has any other tile ideas. I will order samples and then post them all for you to vote on. :-)

Look at fireclay and heath for that hex. I'm pretty sure one of them has that shape.

BTW, lovely kitchen.

@Russ - that Jeffrey Court Limestone BS caught my eye, too. It was posted by 6616 - Kitchen Reveal!!

Thanks Romy, your encore tiles make my heart swoon!

I was concerned too with the shape because my island and hood cabinet have the beadboard stripes. And then my flooring goes at a diagonal. So I do need to watch that.

I have to head out for the evening, but tomorrow I will try and find that tile and see if they have any other shapes.

Will try Heath too, Crl.

yes, javiwa, that's it!

Loving the elongated exagonal option. VERY pretty, classic, yet fun and unexpected. Sweetness with caramel, cotton candy, chocolate ice cream, and red velvet cake. (Sweet enough for you? ;) )

What you are calling an elongated hex is called a picket tile and it is beyond your budget, at least at Fireclay.

I like Willow, and by all means order some color samples if you like the brick look. I think it's gorgeous.

Not always called picket. Heath calls it wide hex.

Dwell pattern wide hex.

That first photo you posted (greenish crackle subway tiles) is my best friend's old kitchen. I can get more details from her if you'd like. :)

Gennifer B, that's too funny that was your best friends kitchen. It is one of my favorites. Tell her she did a great job.

HR, Awwww, you are too sweet! :-) One of my sayings is 'pretty please with sugar on top?'

eam44 and crl, I will check those out, and thank you both for all your help. I will order the fireclay samples tomorrow.

Crl, that's why grammar matters ("at least at Fireclay"). Rebunky, I hope you love them.

https://www.fireclaytile.com/blog/full/introducing-wave-picket-two-new-shapes-for-fall-part-2/

Your kitchen reminds me of my sister's kitchen on Cape Cod. She has black granite, white cabinets, and a cherry island counter. She even has an angled ceiling with the space above the cabs like yours. They covered the ceiling in beadboard. She wanted a touch of a natural element for the backsplash so she used a slate subway tile. It really warms up the kitchen. It's kind of like the Jeffrey Court tile in color and feel but the subway shape keeps it traditional.

I like the fireclay too. I was looking at your pictures thinking, "What's the focus? Where do you want people to look?" Then I saw your view! And thought, "OK I would only be looking out the window!"

You already have lots of visual interest: gorgeous island, glass door uppers, cool pendants, beautiful floors, and amazing view, and the addition of some texture/pattern with the bead board over the hood. So I personally would let the back splash be a very subtle background. I'm no designer, but I think with a swirly island and vertical 'stripes' (bead board), introducing another noticeable shape like the picket might be too much.

yes, that view is amazing. where are you? I agonized over the bs decision as well and in the end realized that when visitors arrive they are drawn to the outside….you have the same scenario. keep it neutral and simple, especially with your special island granite. can't wait to see what you choose.

Mayflowers, I wish I could see your sisters cape cod kitchen!

Isabel, we are on the Big Island, HI. I agree with the neutral and simple advice.

Beth thank you, your another sweetie!

chicagoans, I agree that the picket shape is introducing yet another pattern or shape and might be too much. Too much $ too!

Eam, I did some research on the picket fireclay tile that several people liked. Oh boy are you right on that shape being out of the budget. I am going to still order the brick samples as they are closer in budget. I am trying to find the Fossil color of that tile in a subway shape but it is a bit of a challenge.

I clicked on the link, thanks Romy, Right underneath this photo is the blown up photo of the tile that is supposed to be color Fossil. Doesn't it looks more white? Way different from the photo. I know that happens with different lighting sometimes.

Romy, I also checked out the Encore Tile site. I am still dreaming of the one you have. I played around with mocking up the colors in the Bravo line late last night. I think the Bravo series colors and sizes are lower price, right? Do you happen to know how much?

I tried the silver, smoke, and truffle. And my favorite was surprisingly the Truffle. Tell me what you all think of this? Should I order some samples of the bravo line in the crackle subways?

Encore describes it as a light taupe that bring out rosy and green undertones. Isn't that my greenery and sunset view colors! :-)

it is hard to know if I have the scale right as I pasted these from someone else's backsplash photo of the Truffle.

Whats the vote on this one???

getting samples is key, I like this direction for sure. seems to work in the pics. I like it.

My husband is dying to move to HI, we'll probably be there in the next 2 yrs. your pics are making it enticing!!! it's the big island or Maui:)

can't wait to see what you choose!

What is ABB?

Ha! 12crumbles hopefully you will never be in ABB! I had to ask too...

It stands for "ALL BUT (the) BACKSPLASH"

Oh, thank goodness someone else asked.

rebunky - the mockup of the Truffle, I love it! I'm linking to a 2014 post regarding pricing. A couple of people got the Bravo line for around $22 sq ft. The other colors are in the low to mid $30 range. Marthastoo got Mint during a sale, $28, I believe. Call around to different dealers for pricing. I'd get samples of Truffle, Smoke, Silver, & Mint. There are a couple of new colors, Cerise & Rosemary.

The Big Island - DH & I honeymooned there. Maybe I need to come & help you choose a color.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2570333/cost-of-glazed-ceramic-tile-heath-pratt-and-larsonetc

Romy thank you! I love Marthastoo's mint crackle. That was my #1 first choice that I thought would match perfect for like two years! I was trying to stay in the Bravo line for the price. I will definitely order it as well, juuuussst in case. I remember a while back a thread that mentioned the new rosemary color. I am curious too about it. Might have to add that to the sample mix.

Btw, we are very, very slowly building a 'romantic honeymoon' cottage. The plan is for it to someday be our semi-retirement income. Haha! We are building it as we can afford, so no promises when that will be. But, when it is done, I would love you (ALL of you) to visit. All my GW buds are on VIP status.

I Love the color truffle to begin with, and I think that tile has great potential in your kitchen. It has just a hint of presence, but not enough to distract from every other lovely thing going on.

And please, please put me on that guest list! ;)

Your kitchen is so pretty! That is all the input I have. :).

I like that crackle mock up. Is it rude to ask why your seating areas aren't oriented towards that unbelievable view? I would love to look outside if I was stayng there.

Kiktx, it is not rude to ask that at all. I will probably change my seating orientation around at some point. But the reason I put it that way for now is that wall behind the couch looks really bad as it is still unfinished. That picture I posted above was actually taken before we added the windows. Those were just screens behind the couch! The original house is single wall construction and the only windows were a couple jalousie type in the bathrooms. That's what they call a 'coffee shack' here. Plus, we always hang out on the lanai whenever we want to enjoy the views. Only time we are inside sitting on the couch is after it's dark anyways. :-)

Thanks again everyone for all your help. Once I get the sample tiles, I will ask for advice on which looks the best.

Rebunk.. that granite is freaking awesome. Lots of character. I cannot comment on BSs as I have no clue.. lol.. but the entire package looks like it would be awesome.

Russ

I like the taupe tile as well. Goes very nicely. I'd just do it with a grout that isn't white -- a grout that is very close in color to the tile.

looking forward to seeing the sample against your granite. What I like is that the pattern of the tile doesn't compete with your granite but seems to support the colours of it.