Sande--so jealous! Have fun! Have never been to Hawaii. Calimama, thanks for the info.Belladom--thank you! I don't think that should be a problem with this tile. However, I did not research crackle tile cracking more and falling apart. Your tile people should be able to advise you. It's pretty tough stuff so I am not anticipating any problems. Muspic, thanks. I like the way the long piece (pictured above) looks, too, but when he started cutting the really short pieces for next to my "window" to the DR, I didn't like it so I told him to stop and let me think about it. The whole area around the window has me stressed out. It is different on each side, there is no symmetry and I'm really wondering if the guys know what they are doing!! What is up w/all the oddly shaped sizes? I plan to make him redo it until I am happy with how it looks. I realize that the tile is cut to a certain size if it is going to have a pencil liner next to it and it will need to be cut to a different size (wider) if it is not. I don't think this area by the window is wide enough for tile and liner. Do y'all? The white on top is where he took it off. It started looking too busy for me. This is the right side. This is the left side. I like the simplicity of the below pic better. He will have to take this down though and recut new 3x6s to cover the area--if I decide not to do a pencil liner. He said they can put grout on the edges to "finish" it. Does this work??

Hi Rita, I'm not Bill V., nor do I count myself among the Tile Cherubim, but I can offer a bit of insight on grout selections, especially with natural materials; "It's a physical experience". You need to see the grout next to the stone, and preferably in the same lighting conditions. Most grout suppliers, including the Orange and Blue warehouses, have convenient color charts which you can take home with you to make side-by-side comparisons easier. Also, one manufacturer's color palette might be much more attractive to you than anothers. Of the five grout sample boxes I carry in my truck, there are five completely different interpretations of simple "Natural Gray". While "Noce" is a widely common distinction of travertine, I don't believe that anyone will be able to offer a credible recommendation over the internet. Watch out also when considering Custom Building Products grouts. Among professionals, this manufacturer's grouts stand out almost universally as not proving to cure true to the samples. "Lighter than the sample" and "blotchy" are the most common complaints I hear. Best of luck, Shaughnn

Thanks barncatz, this is the first and probably last kitchen I’ll ever do myself. While rewarding once done, building my own cabinets prolly took a few years off my life from the stresses of doing it! The tiles are cheap enough, maybe I will make a couple grout boards. My original thought was just finding a premixed grout that was close to the tile color.

Honestly, I would only paint the uppers white, as close as possible to your tile color. Wait to grout...make small samples of your 2 top choices and hold them up against the backsplash once your paint is done. I have a very similar white herringbone with a creamy stone, I used light gray grout...a creamy grout was going to give it a dirty look. Ps. I would remove the side splash if possible...it's not needed.