I think the gray grout would like nice with the white subway tile and the gray colored walls. Here are some other pics with similar styles. [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by seattle architect Paul Moon Design [contemporary kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design [kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_709) by chicago general contractor Oakley Home Builders And I found KA's kitchen where you can get an idea of extending the backsplash to the peninsula (KA hope you don't mind me posting this!)

I have eggshell cabinets, soapstone counters and travertine floors. I spent a lot of time picking out 2 backsplash options: an off-white subway tile that was a perfect match to my cabinets & a slate blue crackle subway tile. My husband hated both options & said he wanted honed carrara (which we have on our island). Virginia Tile (where I got my floors & backsplash samples) didn't have any honed carrara subways, so I found some at Ann Sacks for about $12. When I went to return samples to Virgina Tile, I found out they just started carrying a 3x6 honed carrara tile for about $10, so I ordered it sight unseen since they didn't have samples in yet. I was really happy with the color & quality of the tiles when they arrived. Also, I used an enhancing sealer on my backsplash to bring out the color a little more. Here is a pic of my new kitchen:

Irishcreamgirl - thank you for the compliment (curious if you'll still like it now that it's grouted!) and the starting point was being the faucet, between the two windows. Petra - thank you for your kind comments, including about the whole struggle we're having at home with health. :-/ Amity - you are so kind, thank you for following the progress and liking the flavor of the icing. :) Again, WE SHALL SEE if you still like it once you see the grout! Kinda scary! But I'm not afraid of honest feedback so once you see it, be brutally honest! Prill - thank you for the feedback! Sciencechick - thanks for your vote! Francoise - why thank you! Wow - that's quite the compliment!! :) Bmorepanic - thank you for reminding me about the rules for caulking! I looked and looked for that and was so glad to find your comment! Malhgold - how right you were! I should have demanded to see samples on extra tiles or did my homework and done it on my own well ahead of time! I agree about it being one of the more difficult choices. That and the faucet were the two hardest so far! Red Eared Slider - thank you! Dianalo - I'm agreeing with you more and more. ;) Either that or something that truly blends in with the base color of the tile. Ah well, you live you learn! And again, I don't hate it. Just not the picture of blending in I had in mind. But the lightest color I offered any of you so in the end you still gave good advice (the majority of them I mean)! Honorbilkit - thank you for your .02! Cat mom - thanks for liking the kitchen! Jakabedy - that "overall impression" is the problem I'm having at the moment. It's okay when you look at individual pieces but all together it looks nice but not great. Hard to explain. I'll post a pic as soon as I can. Pharao - ding ding ding and we have a winner! ;) No - it's okay the way it is, REALLY IT IS! But anyway, I see your point now that it's a bit too late! hahaha. I just was so afraid of it getting stained! Boxerpups - okay I'm dying for you to see it since you think it's a lovely color. It just doesn't have the overall impression I expected (everything looks gray now, beside a countertop that's gray, so there's just not enough warmth and when the marble wasn't yet grouted, it did indeed look a lot more white, even though the shadows in between the tiles gave the impression of a darker grout!). Also it just doesn't feel very "period" which as you may recall, I get a little hung up on sometimes - especially considering I did something so "out there" by attempting to make stainless look period...so this just adds more modern to an already modern thing happening. But again, this can be lived with and with the right color for the upper cabs and all the nick nacks put back in place, etc., it might look better! Onedogedie - I'm reading you loud and clear! Mtnrdredux - Thanks for loving the kitchen! The uppers are original, from 1913. The lowers are what we just replaced since the ones before were put in in the late '70's we think. I'm glad you don't think it's trying too hard! That's funny cause that's something I work hard at - keeping things balanced and relatively simple while still taking into consideration that it's an old house, etc. I appreciate that - and am curious if you'll still think that after you see the grout (not quite the look I was after but it might still pass for not trying too hard)! As for timeless, I feel this grout makes things look a bit more modern (my kitchen is now starting to look like the loft-style hair salon I go to)!! Thank you...

Theresse, Sweet story! :) And I totally understand how things like what happened in your life/husband can get bottled up until there's no more room. All of a sudden, without warning, the damn breaks. You probably needed it. I hope you are getting some rest and taking care of yourself as much as possible. You want to stay in top shape to be able to take care of your husband and family. A plane, at least when it refers to grouting/caulking; Where an up/down surface meets a flat surface. Like a Backsplash meeting a countertop. That furthest area at the back of your countertop where both meet. THAT's a change of plane. :) Gosh, where's Bill Vincent with the good and understandable terminology when ya need him? lol Better terms: Where a vertical surface meets a horizontal surface. Those are the areas where more movement is going to naturally occur,....house/cabinets/counters settling. Those are 'planes'....the different surfaces or horizontal vs. vertical. We used caulk that had a lot of latex or silicone in it so that if the counter moved, it wouldn't crack at the crease of the counter/backsplash. Silicone or latex is more pliable.....in other words, it will move move with the movement of the cabs/counters/house. More forgiving than grout which will just crumble (don't ask how I know this. lol ) I used it in any areas where the 'planes' changed.