I think it looks fine. You would never find a perfect match between the stone and cabinets. It just looks so shocking because there is nothing else there right now. A white subway tile should look fine, however, you will need to remove that 4-inch piece before putting it in.

I wouldn't put another shade of white in this kitchen. Something other than basic white subway will distract you from the contrast.

you can draw the eye higher with uplighting above the cabinets.

SINA, I didn't know you could remove the 4-inch trim! How difficult would that be?? And would removing it tear off some of the dry wall?

KAYLED: I would love uplighting, but I'm not sure how much that would cost.

I was hoping for an all white kitchen because I love how clean, bright and airy white kitchens look...especially since the kitchen space is a little on the small side. Now I'm not sure how to go about doing that other than painting the space above the cabinets white. I almost feel like the counters break it up too much. But maybe there's a way to go around it? I like the look of glass tile, but what color(s) would you recommend that would still help bring that "clean, bright, and airy" feel to it?

It's unfortunate that your fabricator installed (and charged you for) the 4" splash. Did you deal with him or did the GC make this decision without you? These days, a pro should be aware that most people are going to put in a backsplash and remove the need for that 4" piece.

try changing the bulbs in your kitchen lighting to cooler, "daylight' bulbs (less yellow).

Yes,I don't understand if the fabricator knew you were doing tile, why they put in the 4" piece. was this ever discussed? you don't want to put tile on top of that.

as for more white, unless the subway tile is the exact shade of white as the cabinets, bringing in a 3rd white tone will not help. But then, putting that bright white against the countertop will make it look even more creamier. And doing a tone of white that matches the countertop will look 'off' against the cabinet.

Don't think all white subway tiles are the same. There's probably 30 different shades of white depending on who makes the tiles. you can't tell unless you put them up against one another. some are yellow white, some are gray white, blue white,,off white,,,etc.

do you have to have another white? If you brought in a tile w/a little color or something visual, it would break up the difference between the counter/cabinets tones.

so what you want to do is bridge the gap between the two. bring in a tile that compliments both, without highlighting the different whites.

it may not be your bright white, (but honestly, another all white, sterile kitchen?) but it will certainly look visually appealing.

CHESS and BETH H: The 4in. trim comes "standard", according to the designer at the design center. To keep it off, it would have cost US money....again....because it's a "design change" which makes it a "custom change". The only way we could keep that trim off is if we had ordered a backsplash from them. I'm assuming it's how they make their money one way or another. -_- That's why I'm hoping it's not too hard to remove.

"Bridging the gap" was exactly what I was thinking of earlier today....minus the actual wording because I had no idea how to describe it. lol So that's perfect. I came across a couple pictures online that sort of pulled both colors together. Just wasn't sure what would work since my counters look a little "beige" against the wall. However, with the refrigerator there, I don't think it'll be AS noticeable once it's put in. But you're right. My worry was that adding another shade of white would add more contrast and make the counters look "creamier". Don't want that. Are those two pictures what you'd call a "basket weave" pattern??? I've never put on backsplash before, so this will be a first for us! I'm hoping it's not too difficult; though I expect it to be time consuming. Thank you for your suggestions!

Shame on the design center - if they have done business in the last 10 years they should know better than this. They should be ashamed - seriously. Frankly, if it were me, I would call the design center and ask who the actual fabricator was. I would then call them up and talk to them - just tell them you have an idiot for a designer and the 4" splash should not have been placed. You might get a nice helpful explanation of how to remove it.

I did find this online...worth a shot.

use a hair dryer on high heat or a heat gun to melt the adhesive. Then use a putty knife to cut the old backsplash away.

Nic's,,the 4" piece should come off easy enough. you may tear the paper on the backsplash, which is ok if it's not too deep into the drywall. I guess if you were on scene you could have asked them not to install it. I mean, what difference is it to them whether or not it goes on the wall? to say it would be more money not to have one, is ridiculous. it takes more time to cut one and finish the edges! but, whatever.

as for the design, it's a herringbone. and those I've shown you come on 12" sheets so you don't have to do the actual design (which is very difficult)

the first one is calacatta marble in a 1x2 herringbone (also comes in a 1x4, which I like better). You can find this all over,,,even Houzz carries it.

If you want the marble, then stick w/the Calacatta not the Carrara. carrara is a blue/white and will clash w/your counters. calacatta has a warmer tone to the stone.

the 2nd on is a tumbled travertine which you can get here:

https://www.pebbletileshop.com/products/Cream-Herringbone-Stone-Mosaic-Tile.html#.WhX_BLaZNT4

this will give you an idea of what it looks like installed (you can turn it longways as well)

If you search "herringbone mosaic tile" you should get lots of ideas and places to buy them.

this one is from Lowes, allen and roth. you could buy one and bring it home to see how it looks

this is the basketweave

this would also work. crackle glass by Merola tile. Olean Glass mosaic. I think Home Depot carries these

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Merola-Tile-Chester-Sage-3-in-x-12-in-Ceramic-Wall-Tile-1-sq-ft-pack-WNU32CSG/300341310

these would also look nice,,,they have them in different shades

https://www.mercurymosaics.com/shapes/field-subway-tile/

BETH H: You beat me to the pale blue tile. I was going to ask you what your thoughts were on that. Initially, I had been torn between white subway tile and pale blue/green glass tile. I saw one similar to the last picture you posted, that I really liked....but I think someone said in person the colors were actually more vivid...which I didn't want. I wanted something soft and soothing.

What are your thoughts on Mother of Pearl in the kitchen? A friend also suggested those "tin-looking" backsplashes that I used to see A LOT of in TX. It's not my first choice. But my friend thought that silver would reflect light and thus bring in more light into the kitchen; since the kitchen is facing a wall of windows. I've also never seen those tin things in a white kitchen. Most kitchens I've seen in TX use warm woods and granite countertops with the colored veining.

Marble?

Soft Blue Tile option...

The "Tin Thing" ...

I *think this is Mother of Pearl....?

I'm not sure what this is, but it looks nice. Would this bring your eye down too much?

I was considering the pale blue tile at the bottom...but not sure how it would look against the beige-ish counter now...

I kind of like how this Mother of Pearl has varying shades of white and cream. Not sure where I can find this though...

Yeah, I keep leaning towards some kind of white. Maybe that's why Mother of Pearl caught my attention. Though I can't decide if I like the shimmery effect it gives or not. Would it be tacky to have something shimmery in the kitchen?

I like the variation in color between the cabinets and counters. Adds some depth.

absolutely NO TIN. it's not a farmhouse kitchen, I don't care if you're in Oklahoma.

MOP tiles,,here

[https://www.houzz.com/products/mother-of-pearl-brick-tile-prbr0lbl-pl~l_126817[(https://www.houzz.com/products/mother-of-pearl-brick-tile-prbr0lbl-pl~l_126817) something in these colors w/bridge the white and the cream

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Splashback-Tile-Mother-of-Pearl-Serene-White-Bricks-Seamless-12-in-x-12-in-x-3-mm-Pearl-Shell-Glass-Wall-Mosaic-Tile-MOPWHTBRIKSEAMLESPEARL/206496846

this is white thassos and MOP

https://tilebar.com/alerion-thassos-and-mother-of-pearl-tile.html

I like a pale blue. these are from tilebar.com and are the Byzantine Alice arabesque

for other blues, check Encore Ceramics, DalTile ocean jewels, DiscountGlassTileSTore and Tilebar.com. the latter will send you 5 samples for $5.

This pale sky blue is from Walker Zanger

https://www.cletile.com

Just an FYI - I just removed the 4" strip of quartz that my fabricator insisted on putting at the end of a counter. I let him place it to see how I liked it. But then once I decided to tile the back, the 4" had to go. I took a razor blade and sliced through the silicone, and used a small pry bar to pull it off. NOT easy, and I took out a few small circles of drywall, but I patched it up and will paint it. The hardest thing was getting the darn silicone off the quartz. I still don't have it all off, but got most of it, and all of it at the front. Since the MW sits there, it really won't show so not too big a deal. Point being, yeah, you can remove it. Just takes a bit of work. If you have a long razor knife you can slide down the back, even better. You'll do less damage to the walls.