One thing to look for is how the tile looks with the lights on and lights off. I tried the MOP shell tile in my current kitchen. It was gorgeous with the lights off and only daylight in the room. As soon as I turned on the ucl or the other lights, it went flat. Someone else mentioned this. I was surprised that it happened. I think Ann Sachs might have an Onyx tile available.

Here are 5 Fireclay color samples: The 1st three: Taken further away: (same exact order) 2 other colors: Further away (same order) From the top picture with the 3 samples, I feel blue spruce is too dark. Foggy morning seems like a good match - perfect shade of gray - not too light or too dark and it's a V3. Not sure what to make of French Linen (V2) - seems like it could work, shade seems not too dark and not too light. Weird thing is when there are no kitchen lights on, it seems gray, but when I turn my under cabinet lights on, it turns white. Out of the picture with the 2 samples, the frost seems to have a little yellow/cream in it which I don't like. White wash could work, but it's very plain, not crackled and is a V1. Just out of curiosity, since I am also considering the sonoma stellar line and if I went with a gray tile, it'd probably be penthouse (I still have to go back to the tile store and look some more), Here's a photo with 2 fireclay colors and 1 sonoma (penthouse) If I did fireclay tiles, should I go gray or white and which specific color? and should I do 2x6 or wave? I still have the hexy in the running; and the sonoma stellar line (which has all kinds of shapes I'm waiting to look at vs 2x6 with mix of gloss/matte)..... Too many choices! Would love other's opinions :) Thanks!

thanks for all the help so far! fireclay and actually and online suppliers are not an option due to the lead time. as far as the bright colors, I looked at some and although I love the idea, I feel it will be too much in my kitchen. I went to a few tile supply places and it seems the main thing I'm drawn to is printed tiles and handmsde ceramics. The first photo is an 8" hex print tile that is has lots of light gray (the one tile looks more beige in the third photo, but it's not beige at all). The second photo, bottom right, is a light gray and pale blue mix and white mix. The last photo shows a bunch of samples: 3 light grays, one dark gray, and the long one is called ash blue. They are all the uneven shiny glazed, some of them are handmade. Any opinion on these? If I go with print mixed tile, is there any concern about how it will look around the window? I have about 10" on either side of the window, but some of that will be covered up by trim. What about the stove, will it look too busy there? Or should I switch to a plain tile there? Most of the light grays read quite close to my paint color (Balboa mist). If I go with one of those, will the texture of the tile add enough dimension and interest to not be as boring as it currently is with just the paint color there?

So what you're saying is that you don't want a plain boring white rectangle offset tile, which is wise since everything else in your room is white. There are SO many choices in many different shapes, textures and colors. You can be creative with pattern--stacked, offset, herringbone. You can do square offset, arabesque, fishtail, in a dizzying array of colors and textures. Texture is a great way to add interest, I like glossy glazed brick, zelig or crackle tile. Try to find hand-made tiles which are much more interesting than the mass-produced ones in the big box stores. Go to a good tile showroom and bring home samples--these stores usually have talented designers on staff who can help you select something you love! And definitely do not rush. You can cook in a kitchen with no backsplash for as long as it takes for you to find your preferred tile. Here are some of my favorites: Zelig tile: Gray-green mottled color: Close up of zelig tile dark navy or black fishtail: Green glossy with accent on top: Another green with varying color: Square and rectangular white tile in an interesting pattern: Bright green glossy: Gray rectangle with smaller rectangles in niche: Gray rectangles with black liner: Large turquoise arabesque: gray crackle with black and beaded liner: