I am just beginning to look at affordable tile and I keep going back to subway tile. It seems every tile company carries it. It's simple but a classic look that goes with modern and country themed styles.
BTW, your kitchen is very nice. Looks similar to what mine will look like when we're done!

I just looked up Motowi - gorgeous tile! What about picking one of their patterns and using it as either a stripe mixed in w/field tile, as a medallion above the range, or randomly in the backsplash. See page 20 of their on-line PDF catalog.

Call your local tile showroom and tell them what you like and see if they have something comparable or bring in a photo!

HI -- Check out the clearing stock - good deals to be had there. you don't need much and it could save you a few dollars. But subway tiles are a very good choice.Keep it simple because your cabinets are the feature of the room.

Slate is always a good price and would look great with the colors you have started. Even Home Depot has it in different configurations/mosaics, etc. and is very affordable.
If you want something simple however, a chocolate or terracotta collored horizontal glass mosaic would also work really great.
Good-luck! You have a great start!

Nice kitchen!
I suggest glass subway tiles in white or shade of green. It's clean classic and will add a touch of color.

Virginia Tile carries a product line called Bliss that is a mix of glass and stone that is very attractive and reasonable. It comes in a mosaic and a linear pattern in many different shades. I think it would look great as a backsplash in your kitchen!

You only get one "diva" in the kitchen. With those cabinets, and their prominent molding, don't try to bring another wow factor. You don't need any accent tiles, strips or anything.

I'd do a subway tile (rectangular) in the usual brick pattern, but laid vertically to enhance the prominent vertical cabinet doors. The cabinets have strong chatoyance (iridescent glimmer of the grain) in the pictures, so a glass subway tile that has a bit of a glint to it would be glamorous and subtle, as would a crackle glaze ... Cabinets are light, so you could use a dark rust to pick up the colors of the wood, or a blue or green. If you like the craftsman color pallet, a strong deep blue or green would be great ... but with a plain pattern and no accents.

It's stay away from cream, beige and yellow because unless you get very lucky and match the tone of the cabinets it's going to be one of those awful near-misses.

Hi again maryeshaw1956, the actual counter color is quite important when choosing a splash and hard to tell from the photo. I think horizontal tiles would add more interest to the kitchen. Taking a sample of the wood tone, counter and paint color to the tile store to see what makes a nice ensemble is your best bet. Then take home a sample and check it in the space. Good luck

You know what you dream of. Don't just settle, the Motowi is gorgeous. Two ideas. Just use a strip of Motowi, or blocks of it and the rest much cheaper, or alternately assemble your ideas with good pictures of the tile you most want. Then go to ceramic studios and see if someone would care to make a similar for you, specify how many and find out the price. Sometimes this will work.

I did the subway tile in the kitchen, but did it up and down instead of the side to side, to change it up. I went with black, and love it!

Look at the website www.villalagoontile.com and check out their tiles...pretty awesome!

You might want to look at press-on brushed stainless subway tiles. My son used these in his kitchen, alternating the brushing patterns and it looks really rich. He used a dark Silestone countertop and painted the upper walls an eggplant color. It turned out very well..

Catharipbh, would love to see a picture of that!

I agree w/ the press on mettalic tiles- I have used these & they look great. Look at aspectideas.com- you can get these tiles at Lowe's & put them up in all different patterns. Plus- something you can do yourself & enjoy the results!

Ok, I'm probably the only one but I wish I had used bead board. I used a rough stone like tile but we got it really cheap at an outlet tile building center. We changed up the direction of the stone over the stove for some interest. It isn't enough to be decorative and I find the whole effect to be boring and blah. don't tell my husband because he'll be soooo frustrated with me! There are incredible beautiful styles of unique tile you can use over the stove if you want a different kind of look. Doesn't have to be expensive. If you use all the same tile you might think of one decorative tile pattern that is of a different style for over your stove. Just a thought - good luck to you!!

Hi there.... if you really like the Motowi, you could use it sparingly.... use a basic subway, but incorporate the Motowi. It will take some planning (thickness of tile, for example), but a good tile setter will be able to help you. If you choose to go another direction, I was very surprised the other day to see glass tile at Walmart!! Mosaic square in a neutrals that would look great with your cabinetry for $5 sq ft!!... I'm in SW Ontario.

How about mirroring the back splash, will make room look lighter/brighter. Or use glass with a fabric/wallpaper/paint on the side that goes against the wall...looks like shiny tile

you could also just put a sheet of stainless steel up as the backsplash...
these glass tiles also come in big squares

I just saw a show where the homeowners used marble window ledge as their backsplash- the whole thing cost them $150! thin marble subway look!

I just remodeled my kitchen and used tumbled marble. It looks really good.

I just remodeled my kitchen and used tumbled marble. It looks really good.