Thank you pllog! According to my admittedly limited research, white subway tiles were primarily what was used during 1913 (not colored tiles just yet), or else white or cream-colored wainscoting. I know the colorful tile was used on fireplace faces though, as is the case on ours - but I think the whole sterile kitchen and bathroom look was going on in 1913 (?). I know my house originally had it cause not only is 2x6 white subway tile in the original bathroom upstairs, but the previous owners, who I am friends with, remember it having been in the house at one time. The previous owner now in her 80's moved in with her parents in the '40's when she was a teenager. There was only one family that lived in the house before them, which is kind of neat to know. I'd love to find out more about them someday if possible. All that said, if I had the time further to obsess (I'm already taking LOADS of time away from my kids to obsess over every detail that I am already!), and the eye/confidence/creativity, or a designer, and the money, I'd do something much more fun and much more "me" in a NY heartbeat. But alas, I don't. Maybe someday. The following cut/paste link is to absolutely inspiring backsplashes, which you'd probably love: http://finishedbacksplashes2.blogspot.com/ It would be impossible for me to do if the tile were to get up to $100/SF. How did you come up w/ that calculation? Oh dear - I'd better do the math again! I was told that by going to a fabricator with big machinery, it wouldn't take that long at all for a back splash my size - but that was just one person who said that; he could have been wrong. One consideration for a backup plan for me has been white or off-white minibrick. I think with a non-matching grout - e.g. a noncommittal but darker sand color (sand having both tan and grey in it?), all those little lines would be more interesting w/ the stainless than the bigger subway tile (or, maybe that would also be the case w/ standard 2x6 tile w/ darker grout?). I wish I could find the link I've lost to ceramic minibrick (if that's the word for it) that's attractive to me. I imagine they didn't have that size in 1913 though (does anyone know?) but it's still a nice classic look. If I find it on my other computer I'll post it! I've looked at Thassos which does seem too white. The in-person samples of calcutta are too grey from a distance (I don't want it to match my stainless counter so precisely) but yes I have time to keep looking. I also still pine for the Walker Zanger lightly crackled and glazed 2x6 tile I was all excited about when I thought I would do a honed black counter. haven't ruled that out completely, but it's $25/SF. Thanks!

I am struggling with the same decision! I am planning white cabinets (with walnut island), and adore the look of Calacatta marble. There really is nothing else like it! I totally "get" your comment about the fluttery feeling-lol. After reading many, many posts in Gardenweb about marble etching, scratching, etc., and getting some samples and testing for myself, I decided that using marble on the countertops was really not the best idea for me, though I still want to use it on my backsplash (Calacatta subways) and solid piece behind the range. I have a butler's pantry and plan to use the marble on the countertop in there. That began my search for something else for the kitchen countertops that would go-with or compliment the Calacatta. I have never liked the look of granite much, as I prefer a more uniform "quieter" look. I looked for a uniform white granite--and there isn't one--I do not think any would look good with the marble. I do not like the man made materials either, (though I have to admit some of the plain white ones do not look too bad!) I found that Madre-Perla quartzite looked pretty good with the sample of Calacatta Gold I have, but was too beige with the Calacatta Classico (which has more grey veining and a whiter background). I also found that in searching on Gardenweb, looking at kitchens with Madre Perla (aka Mother-of-Pearl) the overall effect, seeing it actually in a kitchen as opposed to just a sample piece, while it is very beautiful, was not the look I wanted--or at least not with the Calacatta. I finally decided maybe a dark countertop was the answer, and looked at basalt (grey color would go well with grey veining in marble) but found that while very hard and scratchproof, it is very porus and staining is an issue. Then looked at honed dark granite (Absolute Black, Antique Brown), and thought I found my answer, until I learned (and proved with a test on a sample) that Absolute Black etches just like marble, and all the honed dark marbles show greasy fingerprints like crazy (put some hand lotion on and touch the surface in the stoneyard). Then I went on a soapstone adventure, and it does look really beautiful with marble, but soapstone is not readily available in my area, and always has a slightly greenish-tinge, even when oiled, which does not go with my planned more creamy palette. (Though I think it looks gorgeous with grey veined marble in kitchens with more blue-green palettes.) So what I am pondering now, is using a leathered black granite for my perimeter. I like the look of the Cambrian Black leathered. I am thinking of putting marble on my island and just doing the black on the perimeter so it will not overpower. Some other observations: I was never drawn to Super White, which is often suggested as an alternative to marble, until I saw Bee's recent post of her Super White install. Funny, I think Bee once posted saying she did not like the look of the "blobs" in Super-White, which is the same issue I have with it, but she found some slabs that just have gorgeous, uniform veining, and are so lovely. Wow--that kitchen is one of the prettiest I have ever seen, and could definitely make me a "convert" to Super-White! Those were some super-gorgeous slabs! I would not mix it with marble though, and I have heard that some Super White etches, and some does not, depending on the particular slab's calcite content--so it is not necessarily going to solve the etching problem, unless your particular slab doesn't etch. I think (and I say this having not experienced marble in a kitchen, though I do have it in a bathroom) that how good it looks (regarding etching) depends a lot on how much natural light you have in your kitchen. In some kitchens the etching is not noticeable, and in some it is more so because of the light shining on the countertops. If you like shiny, I would pair shiny on the splash with honed on the counters to minimize the visibility of the etching. I've read a lot in my research where people who had shiny marble countertops ended-up having them honed in place later. Sorry for the long post--let me know what you decide, or if you find any other options that appeal, as I am still thinking about what to use.

Haven't done it, not to say it couldn't be done, but.....I'd be cautious about putting the two next to each other. The pic above looks warm tan-cream on my monitor. What does your Carrera look like? During our countertop journeys, DH and I looked at Carrera (not white Carrera but regular, with lots of gray) and Calacatta Gold. Placed next to each other, the underlying whites in our samples were VERY different in tone, with the Carrera's blue-ish cool undertone up against the CG's warmer cream. We found the same when trying to pick a cabinet white for each: Carrera took a colder, starker white or a blueish-white best, while CG's best match was a yellowy cream.

We found 3 whites that we love together. The cabinets are a dove white, counter top is Viatera Minuet quartz (the smaller sample on the edge) and backsplash is Lansdale Carrera Amalfi from the Tile Shop. The marble is creamy with very subtle warm veining and tiny sparkly flecks. Fingers crossed that when we get the marble in larger quantities it is as uniform as the box they had at the store!!! The color variation on the sample we have is very subtle and diffuse and does not fight with the counter top.