I have seen the Epro sample (Beaver Tile) and their tiles are GORGEOUS. The field tile reminds me so much of Pewabic Tile. Love their crackled glass tile ~ very similar to the Encore Ceramics I used.

The Jeffrey Court French Crema would be a good match for your granite (check your email) ~ it is beige, and I don't see any undertones in it (and I was worried about that).

If you go to either Beaver Tile or Virginia Tile, those salespeople are very good at what they do. I used Beaver Tile in Saginaw for help with the color of the Encore Ceramics and they were spot on with the right color.

jody

Jody - Thanks - I have been to Beaver Tile and plan to go to Virginia Tile. I was surfing on Encore earlier today.
The Epro does look a lot like Pewabic and Motawi tiles - but not quite as expensive.
Jeffrey Court is in the running for the field tile. Glad the crema doesn't have the undertones. I was reviewing your old post today and will check my email. Thanks!

I highly suggest waiting until your cabinets and countertops are in to choose your backsplash. Then you can put samples on your countertop and be able to look at them at different parts of the day. This is what was suggested to me and I'm so glad I did that. The initial tile I chose had pinkish/peach undertones that I did not see at first. I would've been so disappointed!
Good luck!

I agree with janealexa about waiting until the granite is installed ... as much as you want to pick it out now!!!

I had the Jeffrey Court French Crema picked out and was so HOPING it would work with the Delicatus Brown .... but I did wait until it was installed. Then I had the hard part of picking out the 1x1's to go behind the sink. And THAT I could not have chosen ahead of time.

Also, at the Design Center in Troy, besides Beaver Tile and Virginia Tile, is an Ann Sachs store and at least one other tile store. All located in the same part of the center ... there is also a little restaurant there. Have fun tile shopping ;)

jody

Jody and jennealexa - probably a good idea to wait until the countertop is installed before purchasing.
Maybe I can talk DH into shopping if there is a Capital Grille or Mccormick and Schmicks at the end of the rainbow!
Jody - your email didn't make it to me :-( What was your final decision?
DH would be happy if we just replaced the sink and faucet, he is not excited about replacing the cabinets and a backsplash(not to mention the lighting and the new ovens!) At least we can use our fridge and DW which are both under 2 years old....

Sorry you didn't get my email .... I just hit reply to your gmail address and even sent a pix.

I went with the Jeffrey Court Chapter 12 in French Crema, 6x6 set on the diagonal and in the sink area they were set stacked. I did not do the arch, I used a square instead. My husband and the tile setter did not like the idea of having to cut the border tile in 2" & 3" strips to make the curve of the arch; and they had the bottom half done and I did like the simplicity of it.

The french creme goes perfect with the delicatus brown granite. The Encore Ceramics is a 1x1 San Marco series in Morrell. And goes perfect also with the granite.

I will try and put pics up sometime next week.

jody

Thanks Jody
Not sure why your email didn't pop. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.
One month and counting to construction!

Rule of thumb: Only ONE DIVA per room, and the granite is it for the kitchen. The cabinets back it up beautifully, reinforcing the color, but with nothing fancy competing for attention.

For the backsplash, you need something that does NOT compete with the granite ... it's got to be a bit player, with no diva tendencies.

I would do a plain color tile, selected from the lightest tones of the granite. Yes! A dull and boring creamy beige/tan/ivory subway tile that will sit there quietly and let the granite be the uncontested diva.

Hi Gemini,

I totally agree with lazygardens. Your beautiful granite has a lot of movement. I'd go with the less is more rule for the backsplash.

And waiting for the countertop to be installed before selecting backsplash is definitely the best route--but it takes a lot of willpower, especially if it's made to order and the wait will be even longer once you decide. But, you'll live with your choice for years, so unless you're absolutely certain, I'd wait to have everything else finished, and look at your samples in the daylight, evening light, etc, of your own kitchen.

Good luck!!

lazygarden, madeline, Jody, and Janealexa - Thanks for the advice. I will wait til the countertop and cabinets are installed and then look at the samples again (and probably pluck a few more).
I think you are right - only one "diva" per room! I just keep seeing everyone's beautiful backsplashes and then second guess myself.
More to follow downstream.
Jody - can't wait to see your pictures - I know you went through the same issue.

One Diva per room!!! Absolutely right. And I LOVE my BS, and it blends so well with the granite (and it would look GREAT with yours too ~ as the color family looks about the same).

I loved the granite before I got the BS installed; and the BS actually makes the granite look *better* .... can't explain it, it's just that it seems a perfect fit and seems to enhance the granite (while letting the granite be the *star* ;)

Lexanne .... I did email you again, maybe you could check your spam.