I like those! Can't wait to see how they'll work with your cabinets. BTW: Your kitchen is gorgeous!

It does wear you down. Choosing a backsplash is hard & it's one of the last decisions & you're tired by that point. Your kitchen IS gorgeous. I love that door going into the dining room? Beautiful floors, hood & cabinets. Take your time on your backsplash until you know "that's the one." Looking forward to seeing the sample. Maybe Eam44 will chime in. She always has great backsplash advice.

I like them. They seem to suit your kitchen which is a mix of traditional and more modern elements. With our backsplash, we made a bunch of photocopies of the sample board and taped them to the wall to get an idea of how busy, etc. the pattern would be. Could you do this?

personally, I feel your kitchen has more traditional vibe...very high quality....the tile [is it ribbed texture??] looks too modern. Maybe a crackle, if you want a subtle effect , would be more in keeping. Sometimes just the right glazing on a really beautiful ceramic speaks volumes. A really light gray would be nice with the counter and island. I'm seeing painted white beadboard over on the left side-as a contrast to tile on the other two walls.....I think the traditional can be accentuated with this super nice kitchen.

Can you show a closeup of the island top? Any of that available? The tile pic isn't in focus for me.

Maybe the issue is that you don't want tile? Tile tends to have a slightly busy look. Is it possible for you to put some kind of sheet-quartz, back painted glass or granite as the backsplash?

Practigal, in a sense you are right. I was originally going to put the quartzite behind the range, but I thought it would be too cold and take away from the WOW of the island/table. In retrospect, I probably should have done it, but it's too late now. We used the rest of the stone on top of a linen cabinet upstairs and I'm not about to buy another slab at this point. DH hates backpainted glass so I'm not traveling down that path. I think an interesting white would look good or a gray that doesn't read green, blue or taupe. I'm heading back to Walker Zanger tomorrow for another look. I need a backsplash that will pull this all together and add a bit of warmth and interest. Funny, after ordering samples from Fireclay at $20 each, I'm now wondering if all those lines will complete with the island. DH is mad that this isn't decided, he want every single thing done and life to resume sans workers. I do too but don't want to rush into something I'll hate.

Maybe a tile with some color, or are you set on a white or grey?

The 8x8 Stream tile from the Contemp Collection is $62/sqft. Plus install and grout could make a slab an option when the total cost is calculated.

I was going to comment on the lines last night - thinking that it might compete with all the doors. I was going to suggest a crackle but I am so biased toward crackle. My crackle backsplash softened my very white kitchen & pulled it together.

Consider using larger subway tiles in Carrera marble. I bought mine from <http://www.carraratiles.com>; They were a pleasure to work with, my tiles all came in matching well - we did not have to discard a single tile. I went with the 4" x 12" HONED tiles as they were the whitest they had in stock at that time. We used a white grout and a very thin grout line and they look great. Price was great, too, and shipping very reasonable. I highly recommend!

I have not seen Stream in real life, but it looks like an incredibly beautiful tile, and I think it will be wonderful in your space. The lines are so subtle that they won't compete with the island at all, from the distance at which you see them both. How have you imagined the installation? Will all of the wall between the counter and uppers be covered in tile?

I like what you have selected above. Perhaps it comes in some other shapes or sizes. The tile finish is only one element. How it is shaped and how the pattern is installed are additional decisions. I think a herringbone would be pretty with your otherwise quiet overall design. Lots of options. Rather than go to the store, maybe find a few pictures of what appeals to you would be more efficient and helpful. Run them past DH so you aren't spinning your wheels.

The tile looks very pretty, but I think that you really need to see them in your space to see how the coloring looks and if the "line" end up reading too busy.

Thanks for the many responses. I think the slab is out at this point. Even at $62 a square foot+installation the tile will be less than another slab. Money aside, the stone yard I got my slab from is over 4 hours away and my fabricator/installer books up months in advance. I feel like it's not meant to be. I am considering crackle tile if I find the right color. Romy- I think the tile I posted will either look fabulous or too busy and the only way to know is when I get those samples and see them In the kitchen. I had an appointment in West Hollywood today and managed to pop into a tile store and get a few more samples. I'll post them if there's any possibility that one will work.

Sooooo, I tried to let this go but it's driving me nuts. An 8" x 8" tile (8 inches squared, insq) costs $35 per the web site. How did you come up with $62/SF?

8 insq : $35

12 insq : $x

(12 insq x $35) / 8 insq

x= $52.50

I'm pretty sure I'm right, but if I'm wrong, could you let me know where I've gone wrong?

Back to tile.... crackle? I don't think it's going to give you the look you're going for. Maybe it's time to look through your inspiration images again? What do you find beautiful? How far up the wall are you expecting to tile? It would be helpful to see more images of your space as well.

I get $78.75

You can either multiply35x1.5x1.5

or

It takes 3 across and 3 down to make a 2x2 square, which is 4 sqft. So it takes 9 tiles to make 4sqft. So (35x9)/4

8 inches square isn't the same as 8 square inches. 8 inches square is 8 inches x 8 inches = 64 square inches. 12 inches square = 144 square inches, more than twice as much.

Or think about it this way: start with an 8x8 tile and then start cutting up another 8x8 tile to fill up a 12x12 square. One 8x8 tile plus 1/2 of an 8x8 tile fills up 8x12. Slap the other 1/2 on the side and you still have a 4x4 corner to fill in. So it takes 2.25 8x8 tiles to cover the same area as the 12x12 tile.

About the tile choice. I know you want calm, but I think the stream is too timid for your space. Would you consider something from Fireclay's Sakura collection?

So

64 sqin : $35

144 sqin : $x

(144 sqin x $35)/64 sqin = $78.75

perhaps because it's late.... Thanks.

It is $78.75

Those tiles from the Sakura collection are beautiful and may work. I will order a few more samples today and also go to Walker Zanger and get some more samples. My contractor wants me to find something in stock so we can do the backsplash next week. As much as I want this finished, I'm not rushing this decision.

I love your kitchen. I think it might benefit from some non linear pattern. Curves or circles or something. Although I like the tile you are considering. Like others have said, this isn't a must do and maybe you can save that until you're less burned out with decision making.

Good for you. Take your time. What I have been thinking and not expressing, and the reason I keep asking you how much of the wall you're going to cover, is that I like your paint choice. If you were to cover everything from counter to upper, you'd only see it over the doors and window.

The whole point of the handpainted collection, is that they will make your tile however you want it, meaning that they will hand paint whatever glaze you ask for. If you are ordering more samples, perhaps you might consider asking for the Halite matte glaze with a white line, if you like the look, something like this.

You can do without a backsplash. Take your time. Don't let anyone push you into a decision that you will regret.

Of the samples I picked up in the city yesterday, this is the only semi-possibility. It's a light gray. I'm not sure if it's too glossy and boring or if it should be considered.

Yes I am covering everything so the only wall (paint) that will show is over the doorway and above the window. The FR and hall are painted the same color so I will still see the paint color while in the kitchen.

Nice texture and scale. It's a contender.

I love your kitchen. I think it might benefit from some non linear pattern. Curves or circles or something.

Agree with Annette. What jumped out at me immediately is that the kitchen has an abundance of linear shapes with all that cabinetry and the glass panels. Soften it up with a different shape.

Okay, I am now focusing on different shapes. While I did give a lot of thought to every decision, I can't believe how difficult this last decision is!

We too struggled with the back splash. DS has an aversion to "grout lines." We eventually picked an elongated hex tile.

If I had to do it over again. I probably would have used a darker grout inside the "frame."

We used the Walker Zanger (Studio Moderne) tile in our powder room. I loved the paramount pattern, but DS did not like the grout line intruding on the pattern. This is the Fretwork pattern.

The problem is how much of a beautiful statement you have with the island material. Something matte or not shiny in a color close to the cabs in handmade herringbone or diamond on poin(glass)t from Fireclay may work. A smaller scale for the height of the space. 1x6 herringbone are Sheeted.

Percy. Your kitchen is beautiful! It's a good example of taking a very neutral space and warming it up with rugs and accessories, which is what I hope to do. Your backsplash is lovely and the WZ tile in your powder room looks amazing. I am heading back to WZ today or tomorrow morning. We do have the 48" Miele range and I am dying to start using it. So far we have only used the mw in the smaller oven. Even though it's not quite finished, I've just started moving some of my stuff back in. Tonight I'm making dinner on that range! We also have a Wolf cso, DH preferred it over the Miele so I let him have it.

I still like the light gray wave tile I posted above. It's neutral yet the wave adds a touch of interest. It's also in-stock and I'm getting impatient. My only concern is that it's very glossy.

i agree with dan1888, i think a matte tile would be more appropriate in your space... that tile, while beautiful, is just too shiny....

There's an old Greek saying, "now that you've eaten the donkey, don't leave its tail." You are tired of this, but you're so close. Just wait for the tiles you ordered to be made and sent out to you. There's no comparison between the handpainted tiles and this subway tile. I really don't think you need something rounded to balance out the rectilinear scheme. Having lines that go in different directions will be kind of cool. And if you don't love it, you'll find something else to make you swoon. Hang in there!

All so pretty.

Hi Melis,

Wow! Your kitchen turned out amazing!

So I see you are now ABB huh? Welcome to the club. Glad to hear you won't allow that decision to be rushed. No! No! No! You went thru HE-double hockey sticks to order the cabinets. I remember! So I agree, don't settle until the bs tile makes your heart sing.

I still have not installed my backsplash...don't ask...but at least I did purchase and decide on the layout, thanks to the awesome people on GW.

I will have to do a search of my own thread to tell you exactly what my tile is if you are interested.

I know computer monitors colors vary, but I think the tile is very close to the paint color you have which eam44 pointed out looked nice. I totally agree. It goes really nice with your soapstone, cabs, and the island slab.

Here is a close up photo of my tile. It shows the slight linen texture. It's subtle. Ignore the spider vein, oh whoops, I mean the "coral" patterned tile at the bottom. Ha! You'll have to read my ABB thread to understand about the spider vein tile. :-)

Anyways, whatever you choose I'm sure will be as perfect as the rest of your kitchen choices. Big congrats!

eam- you are 100% right. I am very pleased with how my kitchen has turned out and I don't want to ruin the whole thing by compromising on the tile. I just sent my GC an email saying that I am waiting indefinitely on the backsplash, and he can finish the electrical and some other things and deduct the tiling and potfiller install from the final balance. I will wait to get the fireclay samples and if they don't work I'll keep searching. DH slightly freaked out about the cost of those hand-painted tiles, but agreed it would be worth it if they look great.

Rebunky! Your tiles are beautiful and I can see why you feel the need to pet them! Every time I walk in the kitchen I pet my soapstone! We tried out the Miele range last night and it was so exciting to finally use it. I have almost everything put away and am still rearranging the stuff in the drawers. I still need to order drawer organizers from Wood Hollow. I

hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Enjoy your beautiful new space (that is almost finished!) in the best of health this holiday season! And if anything splashes onto your walls, remember, you're tiling over them soon!

Have you chosen your tile? How were the samples?

This is an idea.

Ann Sack Stampino in grey. Also a white. Honed matte surface in plain, linear and crosshatch.