....anyone?

it's a pretty kitchen

I love the paint too,

given the darker tile reminds the paint-you can go with the darker tile, and it should look good. Lighter tile would look equally good:)

yes I believe the size or even more so, the specific layout inflence to a degee size/shape of the tile. Also from practical point of view-if shapes or patterns, you don't want to have many cuts..if the tile is long but space is small you don't want many cuts either. I'm not sure about the mixed tile-it won't be bad, it'll work, but I somehow can see plainer tile working better. In your particular space, It's already charming. What'd be cool-if that simpler tile had very slight tonal variation(maybe it does), so you'll still experience it as being a bit different even if it's same color.

If you want to go with a different shape, like with the mixed tile(oblong, right?)-can it be without mixed pieces of other color? I see the reasoning behind it, it kinda brings your whites and grays together. But they're already fine together. You chose well.

I also love your rug.

what can I say. It's a job well done. You need to try hard to spoil it lol.

I appreciate that feedback. My son had the same reaction, and didn't care for the 'mixed tile'. There are so many tiles out there, that I stop myself from moving forward, thinking that if I'm putting the money into it, it should be something interesting and different. However, I do like the subway tiles. They are crackled and offer slight variation in color. They also come in a larger size which is what I'm thinking I would do in a staggered fashion running longitudinally. I'm a bit reluctant with the grey tile only because I'm afraid it will be a dated color at some point, and that the off-white might have more staying power.

they sound interesting enough to me, being crackled and having variation. larger size might work..what size you consider?

Gray is already considered dated lol. Makes no sense to me personally as all this dated thing is a new concept I'm still struggling with-how a color can be dated?

but in terms of what happens in trends etc-it's on its way out, yes. they move into warmer tones. they're still into greiges for now to bridge between things a bit. white is becoming big as a neutral. wood stains are making a big comeback. this update on trends can go on and on but i'm sure you can find thousand threads here discussing it so i'll make it short. if you're really worried-it might be you're simply are not attached to a color enough. which is okay, really. then pick off-white. off white is pretty. Even very much so.

I like both off whites and grays(I do have preference for much warmer grays though) so I have off whites and warm grays. And many other colors too since I love them too. I commit by choosing something of course,-but it's fine since commitment, paradoxically, is a road to freedom:)

But I admit I was also worrying when choosing..well choosing everything except for stuff like toilets etc. Of course one worries, it's a hassle and an expense and you want to love it in the end.

So. Try to worry less. If you can remove "dated" from the equation- great. Go with your heart's desire. If no-then ok, take it into equation and don't do gray. Worry less.

You did a great job on everything else, so no reason to think your backsplash won't turn out well either. It will.