I like Daltile Modern Dimension 4x8 subway tiles in Biscuit. It's an off-white color without being too creamy. The cheapest I can find is $6 per sq ft online. I need 200 sq ft, so the cost adds up quickly. Are there other places or brands I should try?

Looking at these samples, it's my preference that "random" be in smaller formats. The patterns in larger tiles that best fit my aesthetic sense are the ones that have a pattern that I can say in words somehow: "each row moves X farther to the left", or something like that. It would seem that to me generally the larger the tile in these samples, the less formal and more in-your-face the wall becomes. The tiles in the nearly-same colorways are less aggressive and stay more in the background. But that's also true of tile in general--there is aggressive color and there is gentle color. At one time I had my heart set on a set of 4" square tiles from HD: off-red, off-green, light blue, golden yellow, and maybe a couple more. (Colors in last year's stock.) I wanted to do a pattern in these of some kind. But then, this was only to be under-cab for two sides of the room and behind the range, one of the decor ideas I enjoyed and then abandoned while waiting impatiently for months of construction to end. You see this kind of effect occasionally and it's always marked "not for the faint of heart." I had samples here and I arranged and rearranged them, but usually came back to a single line and not a whole wall of the multi-pattern. There's a great wall of strong assorted colors in square tiles in the Modest and Quirky thread that many posters really love. Wish you well. Let us see your finished wall?

mtnrdux, I think you could really tell the difference between the Subway Ceramics version and newer subway tile if you had them installed side by side. The American Olean 3x5 I have from Lowes in my bath are perfectly nice, but they aren't quite authentic in terms of flatness - they have a bevel to them that reflects the edges and makes them look more modern. Schnauzer, both Emser and Lanka Tile make a nice white subway that's slightly less $$ than the Subway Ceramics version. You could also try Iron Gate tile.

Adex has gorgeous ones in plain, beveled, and crackle and they are even mounted on mesh for easy installation. Two white shades and many colors. Not too expensive, and good quality. Do a search with the word "mesh" and you will see them. Here is a link that might be useful: Adex Tile