I personally don't like it. It looks like flooring to me.

Would you take a picture of it further away so we can see the cabinets & flooring also (similar to your first two pictures without the tile.)

I do think you have to consider the flooring since it's not neutral like the wood floor in your photo. I hadn't thought about that in all your threads, but I think the 6" square is too similar, even laid on the diagonal. Your eye is going to go from the gray squares to the beige squares. I would prefer a different shape.

I know you're drawn to the look of stone-like backsplash with granite, but I feel it's very dated, having been around since the early days of granite countertops. Eam, who is our tile expert, likes to call that look Stonehenge. But if you like it, I'd be careful with the pink or peachy undertones, which I'm sure I've mentioned before. Since you're feeling unsure about the Giallo, trust your gut. I think there is more patterning in that color than the other, and I've noticed you always ask about busyness. It also looks very gold. You do need those warmer gold tones as they dominate in the granite, but you get a more subtle gold from the beige tile.

What granite is your counter? It looks like the one we had in our kitchen but I never knew the name.

Thanks all. I will provide more pictures, including one of the lowly Daltile urban putty sample that came today--wrapped like it was a piece of priceless china. Never saw so much bubble wrap for one piece of tile!

Mayflowers, I don't think I'm particularly drawn to a stone backsplash at all. But perhaps I need to ask you what you mean by the term. I've been looking at porcelain and ceramic. The tile stores are showing me travertine which I haven't really liked. My post on "what's wrong with travertine?" wasn't meant as a defense of travertine, I just really wanted to know since that's what most are showing me. That and subway. Neither of which I care for. And I don't want glass either. Just something classic that won't look out of date in 20 years.

I've been trying to find a ceramic backsplash that is not subway nor white nor off-white. The urban putty from Daltile is a bit dull; hoping the InterCeramics tile colors I've ordered will be better.

Daltile urban putty 6x6

Mayflowers, did you like this one at all from Home Depot? If we did this in 6x6 with matching grout, would it disappear more than the above samples? (Less competition with the floor?) I like the uniformity of it. But as I stated elsewhere, we can't understand why it looks so stark white at home--and even when held in the store horizontally.

Beachem, it's not granite, it's Wilsonart Bella Capri. Looks closest to Giallo Veneziano, I would say.

My thoughts on the mosaic is that the patterns are too similar-- both are splotchy. That tile is a stone look too.

With a laminate counter and vinyl floor, I'd use a ceramic tile. Do you just have those two areas to tile?

I would look for something darker, and very uniform. a charcoal matte ceramic tile or the darker color in your counter. it will be more current and bring your elements together. Just my opinion. I also think what your are looking at is a dated look already. JUST MY opinion. good luck with your search.

i would not do tile at all since you have a very busy counter and floor. how about wilsonart formica in a solid color and then u will have no grout lines, which is easier to keep clean and easier on the eyes. and it will just fade into background and your focus will be on the counters/cabs and floor and whatever u put on your counters. i think with another pattern, its just visual overload. the eye has nowhere to rest.

another option, paint the b/s...

Best of luck. Please come back & share your kitchen photos after the backsplash is installed. This thread reminds me so much of another kitchen backsplash hunt, a couple of months ago. She gave up on us, after many samples that were not quite right. She picked something on her own & it was perfect.

Both would work. (I think I like the beige better) Both would look nice. Your kitchen designer's idea is great, and you like it. Enjoy your kitchen.

I know it is SO frustrating picking a backsplash. It's why I've been w/o one for over 2 years! Were you the one who was originally drawn to the beveled subways?

Anyways, of what you've posted here, I like this one best because it looks nice with your counters, cabs, and your floors. On my iPad anyways.

It doesn't compete with the counters, it doesn't blend in too much with the cabs, yet compliments with the cup pulls, and it does not look like a floor tile.

It comes the 6" size you love in your inspiration and you can do the diamond pattern you love.

I know you are probably gonna not even look at any more responses. I imagine you are to the point of screaming at the computer screen, "Noooooo, leave me aloooooone!"

But I really do not think the two tiles in the original post that have what looks like wavy raised ridges or texture on the surface is right for a backsplash. It definately says floor tile to me. Both are also too close in color tone to the cabinets and counters. It need to contrast at least a little somewhere. I know you hate it too white looking, but those two tiles are just a hint off from the cabs, either darker or lighter. Ugh, I'm sorry! ......:-((((

I really like the simple one I reposted above out of all the choices. Hope this helps and you will return with whatever you decide.

Please take a few days off from thinking about it before making a final decision. I finally love my choice, but trust me it was a hair pulling ordeal. I get it.

I like that one too but hesitated to post. I like how it looks with both your granite, the floor & how it compliments your silver hardware & stainless appliances. I know you have a few other samples coming.

Rebunky - the beveled tile was the GWer that I referenced above. I think she also got frustrated. Very understandable.

You might also keep the mini subway in the running until your new samples come in. I think the color is good and it will give you a different shape and texture than the floor. Yes, it's splotchy but not as busy as some other combos I've seen. With two short runs of wall to tile, a smaller tile would be proportional, so I'd look at more mini subways or something like a 2 x 4".

No one can advise you 100% correctly by looking at colors on a monitor. We can make sure the style, shape, and textures are a good fit but we're all seeing the colors differently. I typically love gray tile but I've also seen where a cool backsplash paired with a warm counter looks off. I see gray in the wide shots of the counter, but in the close-ups, that gray disappears and it's black and gold. The gold reads a little peachy to me. But I would rather see that gray tile than the porcelain tile. I try to work with the OP's tastes even if it's not my own, but I also want to nudge them into what modern kitchens are using, especially since you want to get 20 years out of this tile (which is asking a lot of any tile!).