I'd recommend checking out Daltile's Continental Slate in Egyptian Beige color. It's a tad lighter than the tile in the photo above appears, but it is very neutral - no orange or yellow. Plus it's through-body porcelain, which IMO is better than a porous travertine or marble for durability and cleaning.

The counter looks different in different light and some of it looks slightly pinkish purple, so any rust/orangish or yellow looks bad. I goofed when we got the counter. I wanted it to be more rust color and didn't realize it had a tint of purple to it until after it was installed and now i am stuck with it. My husband likes slate tile which when enhanced would be too dark. I love the old brick look, but not only do I want something easy to clean, I I haven't found anything that looks right. The only thing that looks ok with it is a lighter cream, but I don't know if that would be boring?

BTW, the room isn't near as dark as in the photo, I just couldn't get a good photo. It just kept coming out dark.

One of the colors suggested above may work. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

That's pretty. My personal preference is not to combine two types/colors/textures of stone, but instead to use a totally different finish. So if it was my kitchen, I'd look for a very uniformly-colored off-white or gray ceramic tile.

That said, it's your kitchen and you should pick what you love... but beware picking things you love individually that might not jive together (not just color-wise).

salex, do you mean besides being careful with the color, that some ,materials (tiles) may not be right? You don't think a travertine or tumbled marble would look right? Our house is a very old rustic log home and we love the tumbled stone. Are you saying it wouldn't look right?

That's what I'm saying, but it's only my personal preference (or lack thereof). I appreciate stone countertops when they're combined with a totally different material. That said, I know lots of people who have beautiful kitchens that include stone countertops and some other kind of stone tile - but to me it looks like two quarries got into a turf war and came to an uneasy truce.

But your opinions are the ones that really matter :). If you love the texture and finish, and the color is the only issue, have you considered hiring someone just for a color consultation on tile choice? (I have done this for paint and flooring, and saved beaucoup $$$ after making decisions I regretted after installation - can't recommend it enough.)

What IS the countertop? It looks like leathered granite? What color?

I had to chuckle a bit at your worry about a "boring" backsplash. You have a very interesting countertop, cabinets and a floor with a ton of detail, and the beams in the ceiling...gosh I think the backspash needs to be on the calm side! One of the most often over-done things I see these days is a crazy busy backspash. You don't want every single element of the kitchen vying for attention. You already have plenty going on. No need for more excitement. :-)

My husband would never spend the $$$. He just wants me to pick something and doesn't see what's wrong with any of the colors. The colors that look horrible, he thinks look fine. Like I said before, he'd pick slate and doesn't see it as being way too dark. I have gotten a couple grey colored tiles which did not look right, but they were a bit busy and not plain. I'very been looking for an off white, but can't find the right one. Any suggestions of one that might work?

Consider beadboard. Then you can paint it any color you like.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4512247/finally-finished-with-kitchen-updating

The countertop is Toasted Hazelnut quartzite. I happened to be looking at granite online and sawin it was on clearance and was very brown with orangish rust-no purplish and really liked it. So, is there any exact tile you think might look good?

My own tile is H-Line Alabaster - not sure how it would look in your space. I have the glossy but it also comes in mat finish:

My pics -work in progress: · More Info

The alabaster looks like it may be too yellow for my countertops. Very pretty in your space though.

If I could do things over, I would pick the backsplash first and then counters to go with it. I wanted the old chicago vintage style in my kitchen with the look of old worn red brick with messy morter. Things went a bit different with my husband picking a lot of things. BTW, my husband did every thing in the kitchen other than the cabinets and counter, so I guess it was only fair to let him pick some things.

If I don't hurry up and pick a backsplash, he will and it will be installed before I can say it's not right. Soooo......that said, any other specific tIle i should look at?

Again, jhmarie, very pretty, but unfortunately might be a bit to yellow to work with the pinky purplish in my countertop.

kathy, I scrolled through Wayfair's website searching for 'Porcelain Brick Tile'. They had quite a few choices. They also had travertine. Might be worth more searches on other internet tile sites.

There are several visualizers out there, but your quartzite is rather unusal so I didn't find too many matches, doing a quick search. But if I were you I would look through all of those sites you can find and play with colors - see what strikes you. I don't like tumbled stone for backspashes due to the difficulty of cleaning. And in your case, I just think it's texture overkill. But - it's your kitchen, so you need to only please yourself. :-) Here is one site, and a couple of combos I did quickly. First two are too much for me, personally, but the colors tie in. I would choose the last one if I had to pick, though. You could also do a solid glass backsplash. I would probably prefer that as it would be the least busy.

https://backsplash.com/designer/

MSI also has one.

https://www.msistone.com/virtual-kitchen-designer/

I've been to a few different visualizers, but they don't have a counter even close to mine and the backsplashes are blury or not close up enough to get a clear picture of it. I've been to the one on backsplash.com and didn't see that counter. Do you know the name of it so I can go back and look at it with other backsplashes?

Also, my husband just said our kitchen is boring because it's all brown and needs some color. I told him the slate is to dark and he said it looks good not enhanced and would not be to dark. I told him slate needs to be enhanced or it ends up chalky. He just kept disagreeing.

This is what he likes.

It was Sunset Red I think. Your kitchen is dark, and yeah it's got a lot of browns, and reds in the counter. I don't see how he would think adding more colors would improve it. If I had to start with what you have, I would want to contrast all that darkness. I agree - that slate will be much darker after sealing...too dark for your kitchen.

I agree, but am having trouble convincing him. What about crema marfil tumbled marble? It's not really tumbled. It's smooth and just has slighty imperfect (tumbled) a bit on the edges.

Tumbled marble can be stunning. I see a lot of variation in that color, and I would stay away from yellowish tints. I think this one looks very nice - but man it is hard to tell unless you have it there in front of you. Order some samples - that is the only way I ever was able to pick.

https://www.marblenthings.com/laundry/3x6-crema-marfil-classic-subway-pattern-tumbled-finish-marble-mosaic-tile.html

That tile looks like a tile they carry at Lowes Del Conca Rialto Beige 6 inch porcelain tile . Look on their website for reviews and pics of the 6 and 12 inch.

If the crema marfil is light, yes. I would be afraid of pink overload if it were my space, with all the red you have going on. The slate is pretty, but dark. If your husband thinks the kitchen is too brown, though, it seems like an odd choice. It's not 'color.'

OK, would he consider a patterned tile? Like this but greens maybe?

I agree with barncatz about the potential for pink overload. The gray examples above (even the gray in the dark slate) are a nice counterbalance to all the pink/warm tones in your kitchen. The off-white/green photo above is nice too.

If he wants color, there are many ways to add color with accessories that are less expensive and less permanent (in case you get tired of it). The tile needs to tie your other elements together and complement them.

If the slate that he likes is too dark, then why would the last one above not be too dark? Plus, that one has a lot of yellow/orange in it which does not go at all with the counter. I don't like glass tile for our space. If I cannot do the old worn brick I love because it won't go and not easy to keep clean, then i'd at least like to stay with something quite rustic (for instance the slightly tumbled marble).

The patterned tile is extremely busy and I thought everyone was saying to stay away from busy and keep it simple and light? Now i'm really confused.

My husband brought a tile home from a friend who installs tile for a living, but didn't get the color name and doesn't know if his friend has the name of it. It was in a box of leftover tiles from a job. Looks like it's tumbled marble. Would anyone have an idea of what color it might be? The photo is a bit dark and the tile is just a tad more cream color(brighter) than in the photo. I'll try to post a better photo of it that's not so dark.

I'm having trouble posting another photo. I'll keep trying.

"The patterned tile is extremely busy and I thought everyone was saying to stay away from busy and keep it simple and light? Now i'm really confused."

Yeah I don't know why that was even suggested. Patterned tile would be kinda bonkers. Stick with a low-key tile. Do you have a Tile Shop near you? They have TONS of this type of tile that you can buy individual samples of to try, and then return what you don't like,

The tile shops we've been to only had one or two and they were either too yellow or grey or had an orangish rust in it. I'd really like to know the color of the tile we got from our friend. Hopefully he has the color name. I just thought if someone could identify it in case he doesn't have it, because he's had it sitting around for a long time and I don't know if he has the original box with the color on it.

No, I meant The Tile Shop. It's a chain, and every location has a HUGE selection. They also have a good website, but I don't know if all of their stock is shown there.

This photo shows the color a bit better. We've been to the tile shop and there was very little. We brought home a couple of them, but one was too yellow and the other was too grey. They didn't have anything else that wasn't too yellow, orange or grey.

I didn't mean for anything I said to come off as aggressive, I just thought everyone was in agreement that the slate was wrong because it was so dark and had pink in it. I also thought everyone agreed that I should do a very plain cream color to lighten up the room. I agree that the slate is pretty, but maybe too dark??? Am I right that the cream colored tile I posted is what I should go with?

Ok, the comment about being passive aggressive that I replied to just disappeared. It made me question the tile. As I just asked above, am I right in going with the light cream tile or ?????

I think the tile in your pics above looks like a good choice.

Thanks Chess! Now to figure out the actual color so I can find it at a tile store! If anyone comes up with what you think may be the color, please let me know. Thanks!

This showed up in a search...I think it's from MarbleTileDepot.com. Edges look sharper though.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1285/7607/products/IMG_6089.jpg?v=1468760523

https://www.tileshop.com/product/legno+monterrey+3+x+6+in.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&from=fn

That looks interesting.

https://www.tileshop.com/product/classico+ivory+matte+4+x+8+in.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&from=fn

That too.

Hi Kathy --

I think you should stick to your original vision -- if any kitchen can pull of a brick backsplash (whitewashed, color-washed, or original) it's yours!

It's definitely a high-texture, high-pattern kitchen but I find sometimes fighting the proverbial fire-with-fire produces a look that's overall calmer than a "plain" element.

I hear you on the easy-to-clean but in case it helps here's a Houzz article on that topic: [Brick in kitchen article -- lots of sources, info etc[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/yes-you-can-use-brick-in-the-kitchen-stsetivw-vs~29398302)

I do really like the options Barncatz suggested above.

Given the trickiness with color, though, I'd also be tempted to buy brick veneer and paint it with a scrubbable shade of whatever works best from test colors.

You could explore slate-y SHADES vs actual slate. [Yes, you can drive yourself wild with paint testing vs tile!]

I actually think a grey or grey-blue on the lighter side would look great with your wood if it works with your counters. Having a single color on the high-texture brick would give you the oomph you're finding smooth tiles lack but keep you out of the "too much variation" danger zone.

What do you think -- would that possibly be a good compromise vision for you and your husband?

House Vixen, I would first need to see photos of what you are talking about with the brick or slate like colors. I know I want something very easy to clean and my husband would never do brick and paint it. I don't think I would like a painted brick because it takes away from what I like about brick. I think I have ruled out brick, because what I like about brick is the old worn looking brick, but not only is it harder to clean, but it wouldn't go with the counters. I wanted a vintage Chicago style look, but have ruled that out since I am giving up on any sort of brick or faux brick (nothing goes with counter).

Also, I'm worried about the grout getting dirty and being hard to clean. I don't need the backsplash to be hard to clean as well.

If you could show me photos of what you are thinking (other than painted brick) since I can't see any of it working. Thanks! :)

Hi again Kathy -- seems like what I suggested won't work for you guys since it was either painted brick or a pre-whitewashed brick.

Of what I've seen upthread I still like Barncatz's suggestions best.

This looks very similar to what you posted in that pic.

https://www.msistone.com/marble-3x6-tumbled/crema-marfil-subway-tile/

There is a huge collection of cream marfil here....

https://www.msistone.com/products/natural-stone-collections/marble/crema-marfil/

Chess, are you still thinking the cream tumbled marble would look best?

I was trying to find something that matched the pic you posted of the leftover tile. The fact that is is crema marfil wasn't the point. I just thought it matched. Does that make sense? In any event, you are going to HAVE to order or buy samples. You really do NOT want to buy a whole crap ton of tile without making sure you like it!! Order some samples! When you get them, post some pics of them against the wall.

I tried taping it to the wall, but some tiles wouldn't stick and the color is slightly off. The second photo shows the color a bit better. It's actually a brighter, more off white, very light cream color. No gray to it at all. If you click on tone of the photos, you can see that there are lighter lines in some tiles. It's not all perfectly plain.

Other than this tile and the slate I posted earlier against the wall, I have a couple others, but don't like them with the counter.

Too close to get a good idea. Take the pic from further away. And do YOU like it? If so, then go online and start looking for a similar tile. Order some samples. Hit up all the local tile shops and Lowe's and HD.

Ok, the color on the box of tile is bottocino, but it comes up online everywhere as botticino. I'm assuming it's the same. I hope so. I looked up that color tumbled marble on GW and found one that said that color coming out of quarries these days is not a pretty creamy white with veining, but dingy dirty grays and browns. Now I'm afraid to go with that color. The samples I have are old and are light cream with white veining. No yellow, pink or orangy rust, so it wouldn't compete with the counter. I haven't seen that color at a tile place, just the leftover we got from our friend.

Anyone know anything about botticino color- is it true about it looking dingy/dirty? Has anyone used that color recently? Or could anyone suggest a similar color that might work? I'd like a very light off-white/cream color that, if possible has some white veining without any other colors in it.(not yellowish etc-maybe a very light neutral tan if anything in it). I can't really tell colors online and it's too far to go to keep going back to tile stores to look.

If anyone could either tell me that it's not true about that color, or recommend one or two other colors, then I could narrow it down and look online to see if any of the tile places I've been to carry it, so I know which tile store I need to go to. The tile places are over an hour drive and are nowhere near each other and if I knew exact colors and which place I need to go to see it, I wouldn't need to go all over looking to see if any of them have anything. Thanks!

Get a sample of your counter, take off a cabinet door, and hit the road. You will have to see the tiles in person. It's impossible for us to see the colors as accurately as you can in person. And honestly, you seem to be so worried about it now, I would be afraid to even advise you about a color at this point.

good suggestion by Chess.. take a sample of your tile, cab door and counter if u have a piece and go to tile store. they might not carry it, but should be able to point u in the right direction!

i also would not give u advise u on color at this point. we cannot see IRL, so very difficult to give suggestions.

i am also in the camp of staying on the simple side due to all the variations in the cabs, counter and floor. u need a spot for your eyes to "rest". plain tile with no variation or very little variations. try this site! wonderful products!

i would pick a color from your counter and go with that for BS.

sprtphntc7a, I can't pick a color from the counter because the main color is a dark brown that has an orange hint in most of it, but parts of it, especially in certain light, have a slight pinkish purplish to it. Anything orangish/rust or even brown doesn't go and I don't want to do anything pinkish or purplish. That's why I'm having trouble. There are thin black lines and a few tiny spots of white. I wouldn't do black and my husband doesn't like pure white. I agree with usually choosing a color in the backsplash, but now you can see why I'm thinking light cream is the only option.

gotcha... i thought i saw a cream color in the counter that's why i suggested that.

did u look at the fireclay website? nice color choices

colors in order: ceres, luna, mercury, cotton, glacier and parakeet. there's more, just pulled a few....

I did look at it actually. Thanks for the suggestion, but Fireclay is painted which I'm not crazy about and looks like it is not smooth. Plus I don't think I want something completely solid in color. :)