Here are a couple of options I'm considering, but I'm nowhere close to deciding. I'd appreciate any and all feedback!!

Am I on the right track?

Hi Karen! That tile comes in lots of different shapes and sizes so I'll have lots of different options if it's the one. That'll be a whole other decision!!

If you like a tile with iridescence, check out some of the Encore tiles.

pierce, I just looked at Encore's website. Thanks! There's one color I plan to check out (Cinder sheer). Strangely, their factories are in Oregon, but there are no showrooms in the state.

luckybuueeye, I've been looking unsuccessfully for a while for new hardware. I have two different sizes of backplates to cover and that complicates things.

Very, very pretty cabinetry. Love the black handles too, but yeah, they don't go with that light counter. I agree with luckyblueeye's comment.

Actually, I'd want the black counters back... the kitchen could handle them now, with the new skylight letting in a ton more light.

Yeah, sorry but I preferred the black counters too. But what's done is done...

This is one of the rare cases that I would recommend just painting instead of putting up a tile backsplash, only because I don't see how you can marry the warm cabinets and the cool marble. Hopefully one of the pros or someone much better with paint colors can make a suggestion on what color on the walls can help bring the two together.

Otherwise if you *have* to have tile, I like the last one. I just ripped out my 4x4 tiles and replaced them with 3x9 subways, but I've read that the 4x4 is coming back.

I would love to change the hardware. The black isn't the best, and they are very craftsman in a house that definitely isn't craftsman. The hardware came with the house. To replace it, I need to find matches for two different backplate sizes. CB2 had some that I thought could work, but I wasn't crazy about them when I ordered samples. They are good quality and well installed, so I can certainly live with them for a while.

Jeffrey Alexander and TopKnobs both do free samples (you pay $5 for each sample, you get a $5 coupon off an order). They had some backplates.

If you can find a slightly mottled backsplash that has warm and cool colors in it, that could work. I have warmer cabinets and cooler counters and I got a floor that has cool browns and warm greys in it, for instance. It isn't installed yet or I'd share pics. I like the gray you chose, it has some warmth to it. Adding all the extra light made a HUGE difference!

Completely OT, but what did I miss? You and your antique kitchen have always been my GW heroes! While I was working on my kitchen, I had your kitchen on speed dial (so to speak ;).

Back to the present--love the marble. Have you thought about using a carrara mosaic tile for the backsplash? Small subway or hex tiles. You could tailor the grout to a warmer or cooler tone.

I also like the style of the cabinets, especially with the nod to vintage in the open shelves at the window. So, I'm recovering from my shock. ;)

I would use a Carrara backsplash, do not fight the colors in your marble or the tile is going to look off. 3x6 tiles or a hex would be best, I would avoid pencil tiles as it creates so many lines.

Yes another vote to go with gray. I would go lighter though than your choices.

You are not alone. After being pressured to make a quick decision at the granite yard (and the sales rep saying, "Everything goes with white cabinets!" we ordered a Giallo Ornamental granite.

It is the dark version and looks very brown. I decided on a white subway tile. It was a disaster. It had a gray undertone and totally clashed with the counter. We had it ripped out the next day.

It took me months to find just the right cream tile that could tie in the BM Dove White of the cabinet and the browns of the granite. And honestly only one tile worked, and it was Gracia Rixi crema.

This is why I think something lighter might work out better for you.

Although Megs suggestion of Carrara could work, IMHO it might be too busy along with the movement in the counter. Some don't mind this though. Also I think you are realizing too that the counter might not have been the best choice with your cabinet color. But, all is not lost. You will find just the right tile!

I agree about the hardware. Keep looking. A silver would tie things in even more.

This is my backsplash. I think a light gray for you would be a good transition.

Pam, thanks for the hardware site recommendations. I took a quick look and will go back and look more closely later. Since we moved to this house I've spent MANY hours trying to track down hardware that could work. I'm always happy to look somewhere new.

Hi mama goose! Yeah, we've moved on. About 4 years ago DH was offered an early retirement so we jumped on it and moved to the west coast. I always loved your kitchen. The current house and kitchen are completely different than before.

I looked at some marble and glass mosaics in the tile store the other day. There were a couple of glass mini mosaics that I loved thinking they were marble. I think the first one might be too light. The second one has warm tones too, so could possibly be lovely.

megs and mama goose, I have thought about carrara tiles, but I'm worried that the tones won't match what I have. I think that would drive me nuts. My slab had large amounts of darker tones (it reminds me of Portland clouds) and that's what I loved about it.

eld6161, the tile you ended up with is beautiful. I wandered into clayhaus tile a couple of weeks ago and they had some matte tiles that were a beautiful match for my marble, but I fear the lighter gray would completely wash out. I was more than a little tempted by the darker gray, but I mocked it up with paint and poster board and was overwhelmed by the darkness in daylight. It actually looked wonderful at night with under cabinet lighting. The two lower ones are the ones I'm talking about:

I've been looking for mid-tone grays somewhere between the two. I'll also start looking a little at silver tones as eld6161 suggested.

I don't regret the counter choice. During the two years that I lived with the black counters, I disliked them every single day (even after the skylights were installed). In the month that I've had the new counters, I make special trips to the kitchen to admire their beauty. I just need to find that one true backsplash tile!! I'll add another marble photo just for kicks:

I don't have any tile recommendations - I just wanted to say that I LOVE your Doug-fir cabinets! They're absolutely gorgeous. Please post photos when you get a backsplash you love.

OT: Hi, mamagoose!

A lot of backsplash threads focus on the counters. Looking at your kitchen as a whole, I think you need to focus equally on the cabinets and the kitchen as a whole. I think it could go dark/dismal with grey pretty easily, and blah down both your cabinets and counter.

If you're thinking grey, I'd recommend that you do what another poster here did, paint the wall, or sheets of posterboard cut to fit the splash area, a grey close to what you're considering. Live with it for a bit.

I like the second of the small mosaics you looked at because I like the idea of gradations of color here and the intro of white and even some warmer tones to tie counter and cabinet together. The first looks rather blue? But again, it's how they also look against your cabinets and the totality of the result.

I think white is the better choice. Fireclay is lovely tile but the Olympic color does read pink. You can find the right white!

Have you looked at Winchester Tile? I've seen their glazes and they're yummy and they have lots of whites.

It was hard to find a picture... this one looks nice - I think it is a tumbled stone

I would go to a local big box store and just get a whole bunch of single tiles -even if you don't think they will go and bring them home. This way you can try things and return them if you don't unwrap them. It might open up an option for you that you weren't considering.

I would go with something more patterned to bring these together or go the complete opposite and just paint.

Good luck!

What gorgeous counters!! Yes, I'd be hanging out in there a lot just drooling. :) I don't mind your black hardware. But yes, I can understand the backsplash struggle. Get as many samples as you can! You're right: squares are coming back and I think the shape would echo your hardware and be interesting in your kitchen. A warm grey would be a good idea and I could see some iridescence or low lustre on the wall. Have you looked at glass? Your second mosaic has promise. Have you seen nidnay's backsplash thread? So many tiles shared! She has marble counters as well. Marble is so beautiful. It can be difficult to find a backsplash that won't steal its spotlight. Good luck!

I realize that I need to address the cabinet hardware as well as the backsplash. I just started a new thread on hardware following a potentially successful trip to the hardware store today. Please feel free to weigh in on that thread too!!: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5675323/challenging-cabinet-hardware-replacement#n=0

With regard to the backsplash, barncatz, I COMPLETELY agree that I need to focus on both the counter and the cabinets as a whole. I was smitten with a darker gray tile and I did the whole paint on pasteboard thing...decided it was WAY too dark, and I'm now looking a mid tone grays rather than dark. It's probably a good idea to repeat the faux backsplash experiment with any gray I'm considering. I have not looked at Winchester tile, but I definitely will. Thanks!

Debbie Washburn, the tumbled stone backsplash is very pretty! I agree that I need to take my time with this decision. I don't think I want to go with mixed color tiles, although your examples are very nice.

tartanmeup, thank you! The square iridescent tile I like so far actually comes in lots of different sizes and shapes. The square was just the sample I was able to bring home. I will take another look at nidnay's backsplash post. I saw it earlier but her kitchen feels a lot fancier and more formal than mine. I will take another look because I'm sure there is lots of eye candy to consider.

Thanks for everybody's help! It helps to have lots of eyes on a project.

Waving to barncatz! >^-^<