I love glass tile but with what you are describing... I really like the 2nd one. Congrats on your new home!

i like the subway tile - more timeless.

I would be all about photo #2. Totally love it.

Nothing is timeless, but I prefer option 2. It's more soothing, less busy. The backsplash in the model home reminds me of space-dyed fabric.

I vote for the subway! Love that look!

Love 2- I really love that color subway and the look but didn't go in our home. I did pick a similar look in a butter color and love them(well I will once they fix the darn grout but I digress).
LOVE the layout by the way- we are stuck with our long galley kitchen but dream of one just like yours:)

Subway tile. Personal preference but I like the subway tile a lot. That floor in the model isn't acacia is it? Sure looks like my floor!

#2! Beautiful!

Hmm... I love the linear look, in fact have looked at that same tile but the color wasn't right, and I changed everything up again anyway. But, I was looking at it for a bathroom rather than the kitchen. I think in that big an expanse it might get too busy. They did have that same style (same colors and stone etc.) in slightly wider linear pieces which I liked also and wouldn't be as busy. I like that it would pull in the cabs and add some color. But, I agree with others I think it is more "of the moment" than subway.

Love the layout, btw. :)

(Food for thought... over in the "building a home" forum are discussions of the upcharges on things like backsplashes. I've decided to hold off on all of those types of things and have them done after the fact. The builder is charging wayyyy over retail for things and giving no allowances for not getting the standards so anything like that which is easy to add after the fact I'm waiting on. Not only will it be less expensive, then I can really see everything together in the home and see what works. Again, just food for thought.)

+1 to subway... other ones too busy!!!

#2 for sure, it's so much more elegant and easy on the eyes, the other one would be too busy in that large space.

#2. I think w the long tile wall on the left the subway tile is a better proportion. I think the beauty of #1 could get lost.

Beautiful!

You've said what the kitchen finishes will be, but not the "look" you're going for. The linear blend is more contemporary; subways less so. The busy-ness of the model kitchen comes from the grains in the cabinets and flooring and pattern of the granite (lots going on). Painted cabs and the dark granite you are planning will remove some of the busy-ness.

I like the subway kitchen, but which would look better in the house that you're building? Which style suits it better? Like javachik is saying, one is more contemporary, the other is more farmhouse or vintage, I guess

I'll be a dissenter!
"everybody" on this forum does subways, so you'll be hard-pressed for anybody to vote differently.

Here's your cabinet color.

Here's a link to your counter
http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Opalescence_WEB_big.jpg

I think you need a backsplash that will tie together your counters and cabinet colors, instead of introducing a 3rd different solid color.

I vote for the glass and stone, #1.

It's very pretty!

Min- I'm sure you've checked to see if those subway tiles work with your cabinets...so I vote for #2. The other is just too busy with the floors IMHO and I think it will look very dated in a few years.

I can't believe you're already picking out a backsplash! Talk about fast forward, on a project :)

I'd say we're going for a "Hamptons in Minnesota" vibe. Definitely not contemporary, more of a tailored "casual/coastal" look.

lavendar_lass---how do I check to see if subway tiles "work" with my cabinets? I'm confused. :)