Thanks Bobbi! We do have undercabinet lighting going in as well.

Perfect!

I love the look although are you going to go on the back wall behind your stove? You may want to do something different there. Maybe a thin square about 1 1/2 inches wide. Then fill in with the lighter mosaic. The lights were a major thing for me as well, maybe add some outlets on the wall above your cabinets if there is room, for christmas lights. Good luck.

It would be helpful to see your countertop stone. If there is a lot of movement or color variation, your backsplash mosaic may be too busy.

The granite is Santa Cecilia. Here's a link that shows it pretty well: http://www.granitegurus.com/2012/01/slab-sunday-santa-cecilia-granite.html

I have a similare granite. I am new to this site and wish i could learn how to upload a pic to my account of my kitchen now. I am a bit hesitant on the tile it may be to bold of a border for a smaller kitchen. The colors are there. Maybe if you do a square every 2 feet of the darker in the center of the lighter between the upper and lower cabinets the square being a 4x4 or 5x5 then when you get to the stove take the darker 1 1/2 in wide and do a 2' x 3' rectangle . continue all the way around with the dark square every 2 ft.

just my opinion - I feel you've selected two different mosaics, each with 2 separate visual patterns. What would work better for me is for example - a lighter travertine subway combined with the darker glass mosaic you already have. This way, you have less of 2 competing mosaic patterns. Granted, this may not be an issue for others.

Below are some other ideas that might work. http://tiledaily.com/2012/09/04/random-brick-series-marble-and-glass-mosaic/
http://tiledaily.com/2011/10/23/emperador-dark-marble-and-glass/

When it comes to tile patterns, my opinion is that Sarah Richardson has a good handle on it. Here's a link to some of her more beautiful patterns if you're interested: http://honeyandfitz.blogspot.com/2011/02/creative-tile-patterns-from-sarah.html#axzz26m0bOsjp

Here is a kitchen with dark cabinets, granite similar to the St. Cecilia and a matchstick mosaic paired with glass subway tile. The light mosaic you have selected will have a speckled appearance much like the mottled coloration of the granite.

This has really been helpful. I think we are going to go with just the sand squares along the whole 18" area. It will still add some texture to the backsplash but will break up the dark cabinets.

Great idea! Please post pics when you're done?

Very sleek.

Love it!

i still think you need some pattern behind your stove area. loving the color.

Shelley, the stove area is also only 18 inches, so there isn't a larger area to put in a "statement" tile. The kitchen cabinets are on 2 walls, and the stove is almost at the end of one wall, so it's not really centered in the kitchen. Not sure that makes sense.

Yes that makes sense, but you are talking width not length right How long is the whole counter on each side?

yes, 18" is width. I don't know the length measurement. I'm guessing each wall is about 5 ft?

http://www.tileshowroom.com/product.jhtm?id=432&cid=216
http://www.china-direct-buy.com/v/4/product_detail/8439440/Marble_mix_glass_mosaic_tile_8mm_thickness.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glass-Stone-Mosaic-Tile-Sticks-Kitchen-Backsplash-Honey-/260951074024

Santa Cecilia granite
LOVE This glass-think it's perfect: http://www.homeportfolio.com/catalog/Product.jhtml?prodId=282971

since you are only 5 ft then i only see the lighter of the 2 you chose. I do love the bottom of the 3 that Natalie posted it breaks it up. and I have the same counter Santa Cecilia, the dark random tiles really pull it all together nicely. Post your pics, im gonna click and follow you!! Good luck.

Looks like you have made a great decision in the end. Loved Natalie's tile choice, could beautiful encased in a detail behind your range. Does your range have an elevated back to it? Do you have a microwave exhaust fan or an independent fan unit? You could create a decorative detail by bordering around the decorative field tile. If you were using subway, you could eliminate all rows, except for the singe top row and the single bottom row. Making a square or rectangular detail. You could then omit a single row of subway from your 5' runs, inserting a 3" row of this decorative detail in it's place. Would be stunning and classy!
Cheers!
m.

Thanks Shelley E. and Monique Jacqueline Design
I like that bottom one best too.
The one I absolutely LOVE-Hello LOVE is this one:

http://www.homeportfolio.com/catalog/Product.jhtml?prodId=282971
You may even want to see how it looks with dark grout...
Attaching a color palette that I think would work great with the tile/counters/black cabinets... Have fun!

I prefer your second choice; the first is quite busy for your cabinets and granite. The latter is lighter and more timeless; you will not tire of it. :)

Pmicklin: I just added before and after pics of my kitchen. im going to attempt to upload the tile layout i was speaking about earlier. Monique is thinking along the same lines. Know one could beleive that i could put these mosaic tiles in here with out it being busy. the island is a different pattern but in the same tile board.

love that tile Natalie you linked.

Looks Chic , go for it .

@shelley, that is beautiful!
Since our microwave is above the cooktop (and thankfully the oven is flat -- there isn't a "lip" with the oven controls), then I still only have 18 inches there. I think we're going to keep it simple ($$$!).

http://livebouldercreek.com/images/properties/pdfs/34_steel-ranchdream-floorplan.pdf
This is the house we are building in case anyone is interested. It's a patio home with good accessibility (our daughter is in a wheelchair).

Thanks pmicklin, I think thats a great idea. just wanted to show you the 4 X4 squares as well. Good luck to you and pics please!