And I should say that I did already do a search here and found the "beautiful backsplashes" thread (among others), but many links are old and therefore broken.

Hi there!

I am also in the process of figuring out a backsplash. I am thinking of using this cream colored tumbled stone with a strip of glass tile going through it. The glass tiles I want to use are the lighter blue ones in the center of the picture. They really bring out the blue flecks in my blue pearl granite. Maybe you could do something similar with your subway tiles?
{{!gwi}}

good example. subway tile doesn't really lend itself to random 'dots' thrown in like you mention. it does much better with horizontal strips of accent tile like the one pictured above. another thing people often do is to use a strip or two of 'pencil' molding, which you could do in a color as your accent, or you can use pencil to delineate and then do a strip of a different kind of tile, or the same color tile but laid in a different pattern.

hard to explain without the visual....hope this helps.

If you want a visual for edlakin's suggestion, go to the bathrooms thread where sombreuil mongrel has an example of the pencil trim in cobalt blue on a white subway tile wall -- the bathroom is drop dead gorgeous and I will shamelessly copy it for mine.

Classic subway tile is a very traditional look. IMO it's hard to go too far away from it without looking strange. However, I really like mcps' idea, which is a relatively untraditional interpretation with interesting color accent.

For another idea, have you considered glass subway tiles, either multicolored or one-colored?

GREAT ideas, thank you!!! I think you are all probably right that my idea for random accents wouldn't come off well. I did find online an exact example of what I was imagining, and I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. If I do an accent, your idea to use a LINE rather than random bits is much better.

But I did find something that I think will look just perfect--two related shades of 1x4 or 1x3 tiles randomly mixed in a brickbond pattern. It gives more of a wash look than an accent look, which I think will better complement my kitchen. I found an example at Trikeenan's web site. Now, if only I can find the right color.... I need just the right off-white, and just the right light brown....

Here is a link that might be useful: randomly mixed brickbond