It sounds as if the less expensive white will look better from a distance, and with your open layout, I would think that would be more important than a perfect blend with the granite.

I don't think white is the answer. Way too blah. Dark would be fine. It would be dramatic and suit the kitchen. A smoky taupe perhaps, and yes, it works just fine with brown. :)

{{!gwi}}

Mission Stone Tile

Any way you could do some sort of accent to tie in the floor, chocolate walls, and the rich, deep tones in the granite? You currently have a plain white BS and it looks a little stark. Or how about using the granite for the BS as well? Then the granite becomes the star of the kitchen...your kitchen is lovely btw....

What about a strip of 1x2 stainless bricks running horizontally along the same plane where the counters will be for the peninsula and pass-through? Does anyone think that would be too busy? Unfortunately there's not enough granite for a backsplash.

My vote is the white with the hue (green cast)
that goes with the granite.

I love Hollysprings idea but.... will you always decorate
with taupe, browns and dark chocolates?
If taupe is something you love than consider it,
because it is pretty.

I had to choose something white because I change the
colors in my kitchen and I did not want to have to change
the backsplash every time.

~boxer

Boxerpups, that's one of the reasons we decided to stick with white as well. I love the brown walls now, but the brown has only been up for a year. I may tire of it eventually so I would prefer to be able to change things out in the future (to the extent that it matches the granite of course). I think taupe would be lovely and it was one of the glass colors we tried, but my husband really didn't want it dark and I want both of us to be happy. And thanks, joaniepoanie, for the complement!

I love your granite and chocolate walls with the white cabinets! If you are deciding between the whites, personally I think that the one with the greenish undertones would work better with the granite you selected. I was looking at white glass tiles, so I know the "undertone" thing that you are speaking of quite well. And you have to keep in mind that while it is just a hint of a hue on a smallish single tile, it will be quite pronounced when it spans the feet of your backsplash. The only one that we found that was a "true" white was out of our price range! I also like the idea of something a bit darker like joanie suggested. Or if you decide to do an accent tile of some sort, I am so in love with the Sonoma tantrum crushed glass tiles. They have a whole mix of colors, so many that would look so beautiful with your granite, and you have lots of colors that you could choose to draw from. You have to see them in person to fully appreciate them, but I'll link anyway.

One other question, I love that clock. We have an awkward half pony wall between our kitchen and family room, and that clock would probably look just perfect, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get it?

Here is a link that might be useful: Sonoma Tantrum Glass Tiles

Kellienoelle, thanks! My clock is actually pretty old now. I've had it for about eight years and think I got it at the old Bombay Company. I don't know if they still exist anymore. I have seen others that are similar since then. Maybe Ballard Designs? I love that clock and bought it for a similar wall at my old house so I was very pleased to find the perfect spot for it in the new house.

I love those Sonoma crushed glass tiles and have seen them in person, but am pretty sure my husband wouldn't like them. He has pretty simple tastes, but he usually has good instincts.

Go with the white with the green undertones. The backsplash will be more in direct contact with the granite rather than the cabinets. Especially when you consider the distance between the upper cabinets and the backsplash - 12+'' and the granite is right there. Just MHO.

Your granite is beautiful. What's it called?

Something like the taupe shown matches the granite, and when you match the granite, it will work with the walls. Even if you paint the walls orange, it will still have to be an orange that works with the granite. The white is too washed out and doesn't bring a thing to the party. It actually detracts from the pretty white cabinets because it allows them to fade into the background too much.

Debrak, thanks! The granite is supposedly called "Minsk" but apparently our slabs are pretty unique for that granite. None of the others had as much gray or any of the bluish gray swirl that ours has. Most of the other slabs were sort of cream with brown. Sort of a creamy bianco antico.