pics

the top picture (with my son) is daytime and the upper cabinets actually look darker than IRL (lower cabs are closer to color). the next two are at night. The wall color is BM Gray Wisp chosen instead of RH Silver Sage. it can be pale green or pale blue depending on the light. the house faces south/southwest and has a covered porch (which darkens our poorly lit kitchen). the granite has more taupe/brown than gray in it though the pictures don't really seem to show that. the bottom picture has from left to right encore silver (first two tiles), Sky, smoke, storm and Bali. the samples of Sky and Bali behave the same way my paint does

First, allow me to swoon over your counters. Fantasy Brown is one of my all time favorites... *swoons*

Now that I've got that out of the way... I'm continually drawn to Bali. I think it brings out all the lovely green/blue-gray hints in the counters. Sky and Storm probably tie for second place. I think Bali and Sky will give you a brighter/lighter/more airy feel and Storm will create more of a "comfy and warm" feeling.

Thanks BobbinsNLye, swoon awayI still can't believe she's mine! I've always been partial to stones with movement and this granite delivers. Which definitely makes it harder to pick out tile. I wish there was a color between Sky and Bali. Although from what I've read, this particular tile has plenty of variation in it, so perhaps the Bali sample is one of the " bluer" tiles out of the group of five and my Sky sample is the one with the least amount of color?

The HD and Lowes in my area has very little tile to actually see IRL. I just saw a nice photo of a white JC subway tile in another thread that may work as well. I like it better than the white tiles in photo #2

All of your samples look pretty:)

When I could not decide on which color tile for my wood cabinets, I color matched the tile to paint, got a sample jar and tested the different colors - which actually weren't colors at all - I was deciding between white and cream - not an earthshaking decision:) I had though I would do white, but then thought it might be too stark - thus the indecision. Anyway, the white paint was too stark, the cream much better, so I went with "Alabaster". This also worked well with my wall paint color. I do not know how it would work with your walls though:

H-Line "Alabaster"

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~57088087

This is what I went with.

Jhmarie, that's a clever idea and the color marries perfectly with your beautiful granite. I was thinking if I go white subway ( and who knew there were so many shades of white) that I would use a grout color that I could match to some of the veining in the stone. Either a medium gray or a deep taupey brown.

Ravencajun, I've been stalking your pictures ;) with great interest. You've done a lovely job with all your choices. Isn't it hard to choose? I have to go back to see where you found the matching tile

Ravencajun - that is so pretty:)

emmie - Because of the amount of grain in my cabinets, I had to be careful of adding too much movement to the backsplash. When your tiles are installed but not grouted, it will give the illusion of a contrasting grout. In my case I could see that contrast would not be the best, though I did use white grout since there is white as well as cream in the countertop - sort of a subtle contrast. You can decide on the grout after the tiles are up and you get more of a visual idea of how it is all going to come together.

Thanks for that tip.

also, you have such a great space there now to "try out" which color you like the best! for a few bucks at the paint store, you could get a paint sample close to the tile you're considering, throw it up there and see how it looks!

You'll you will laugh but I actually am trying to find a tile a little lighter than " Sheetrock". That gray actually doesn't look too bad ;)

Watch out for trying to mix cool grays with warm oak. Small amounts work OK. A gray backsplash would have gone with my countertops - but would have been drab with my warm wood. Warm wood tones and cool grays do not bring out the best in each other which is why the gray is usually paired with white.

Gray is a bit overused right now which means it risks being labeled "dated" in the next 10 years though it will always be an important neutral - like cream and beige. Go ahead and try it in wall color that can be easily changed but be careful of using too much in more permanent surfaces.

The grays in your countertop read warm which is why it is working with your cabinets. Consider your wall color last as it is the least permanent surface and easy to change.