I am going to disagree with almost everyone on this thread.

Pami -- I think your backsplash rocks! It's got a lot of visual buzz but you will get accustomed to that. It's original, well integrated with the color scheme and when you finish I hope you'll be able to appreciate what a daring eye you have.

The reason it looks so va-voom is because dark colors come forward visually. So everything dark in there zooms. If you had white cabinets the pattern would pop even more. If the room was larger and walls wider apart it would not seem as intense.

But it's a big statement and -- not trying to offend here -- but at least it doesn't look like the usual formula that magazines put out with mind-numbing frequency. I see dozens and dozens of kitchens each week and even those done by top-name designers have become so generic they are snooze worthy.

I happen to like original kitchens that express a personality -- whatever it might be. There are many here that do that but don't get drooled over because they aren't as conventional as the ones which hit the median taste level.

I say vive la difference! And enjoy your new kitchen.

Wow, so many posts.
Thanks to all for keeping my wife sane and relatively happy about the kitchen.
I am just back from a work trip and now have seen the backsplash 'live' and is quite different to what you see in photos. I was ready to let it be ripped down and start again, but although a little busy, its growing on me.

I know we are going to take advice from many of the posts - so I cannot thank you all enough for your ideas and comments and hope when you see the final photos that you take some pleasure in having had some influence over the final kitchen design.

Hi Peter and Pam,

What a beautiful kitchen. I love your cabs, your hood
and I can't wait to see the floor.

And I love the tile. Keep it.

Right now you are seeing only the backsplash. Once the
right grout color is in, the floors are finished,
and the trim on the top ....you will see an fantastic
difference. It will all come together. Just looking at the
tile you can see how wonderfully it goes with the
countertop. You made an excellent choice there. If you
visit modwalls or search on google for contemporary
kitchens this is the look and style. I think you will be
happy when it is all finished.

the minority tile fan,
~boxerpups

Thank you Boxerpups and Rcocogurl!!!
Your comments are very encouraging :)
.....and I fully agree with you Rococogurl..had the kitchen been bigger, this would not be an issue...the one thing that I think is a plus is our kitchen is south facing- so very bright and sunny...which visually makes it a larger kitchen :)
I can not thank enough to everyone here for their ideas, suggestions and encouragement!!

Don't forget, this is an empty kitchen and the hood isn't completely up (in the photo). If you ever watch the TV show Castle, your splash reminds me of the one in his apartment.

And what boxerpups said. Second minority tile fan also with a dominant patterned 'splash.

Sorry to hijack this post, but Claudia 2010, can you pretty, pretty, please give more info on your tile from Artistic Tile. I visited their website and I can't find it. I spent -- literally -- 8 hours hoofing it in Downtown Chicago yesterday looking for a white backsplash just like yours (although I didn't know it at the time!). I was actually in Artistic Tile's showroom and the Merchandise Mart and don't remember seeing this. If you have any more info, such as item/stock number, I would really appreciat it. Thanks!

Hello Karlau, I purchased it in the Manhattan showroom. The sales person said they had just gotten it in so that's perhaps why you don't see it on the web site. I don't have the receipt anymore but it was just called oval shell. I'm sure if you call NY and ask them they will know just which one it is. Good luck.

Hi Pami, sorry you are disappointed with your backsplash. It is so hard to make all of the zillion decisions, not to mention all of the worrying that goes into each decision about whether it is the right one or not. I think some great suggestions have been made though. I like the stainless steel backsplash idea. I also think once you install the hood and decorate your counters that the backsplash will be toned down. The colors in it are really pretty.

I would love to know what color Caesarstone counters you chose, especially for the island.

Even though I am not a big fan of busy tile I have to pipe in - i usually just lurk - to say I do not think it is a disaster. I would embrace the unintentional horizontal effect. I think the stainless backsplash detracts from the striking tile. Stand proud! It's a great looking kitchen.

It's been a couple of weeks... do you have any more photos? With hood in, doors on, etc?

Sorry, browsed thru all the above comments, but come on..if you don't like it...don't force yourself to live with it. Get over the fact that mistakes happen and chose something your really going to be happy with. Talking about putting appliances on the counter is just trying to hide what you know you don't want to look at. It's better to start again, forget what the mistake cost..and go on with loving your kitchen. Backsplash costs...but not as much as cabinets, appliances and floor...be brave and go get what you want, you'll be looking at this for at least 10 years. DON'T SETTLE !!!!!

I'd love an update too.
I think the tile could be quite nice once the counters are not so bare. I also agree about not tiling above the vent hood's bottom.
You can always rip it out later and change the look, but I would give it a chance before you do that. The tiles themselves are nice and you may just need to put a pretty canister set and coffee maker down so that the expanse is not quite so big and cold. It happens with paint on walls all the time. A color will look too wild at first, but once a picture or 2 is up and the windows are dressed, it takes on a different look.
You chose it, spent the bucks so might as well see if it comes together after all. If it still bothers you in a month, then start making plans to change it. You may even want to keep some of it as a horizontal accent strip amidst plain glass tiles that pick up one of the colors. Or, keep it behind the stove and choose one of the colors to be a more plain backsplash on the rest of the space. Or do both, leave it behind the stove as is, and use it as an accent with one color field tiles for over your counters. You could pick one single color for above and below the middle part and have the edges jagged where they butt together. It does not have to be all or nothing. Try photoshopping some of the tiles to see if that works.
Would love to see current pix to see how this got solved ;)

Ok... did a little messing around. Here is one example:
{{!gwi}}

not great editing, but just so you get the idea...

Pami, How did I miss this thread? I can't wait to hear what you decided, and I really hope you decided to keep it. I love it, and I really think once you get it all finished, you will too. Don't rush anything. You can always remove it later if you're still not happy. But I really think it will look great!

Hi Everyone,
It's been a few weeks now...thought I'd post an update.
Thank you all for your advice, encouragement and suggestions.
We decided to keep the backsplash and I absolutely LOVE my new kitchen..posted below are some of the pictures of the NEW and COMPLETED kitchen..hope you all like them :)
Sorry I don't know how to post them here on this post :( http://picasaweb.google.com/pamisherwin/Kitchen#

Again thanks a lot too all of you who took the time to read, post and provide suggestions/advice and ideas :)

Wow, Pami, that's a sharp looking kitchen! I love your bold backsplash. Congratulations!

now that everything else is where/how it is supposed to be the backsplash looks fabulous

pami123 - I was really surprised and excited about how beautiful your kitchen looks now that it is all together. I was looking through the photos not realizing you were posting an update and though - wow busy and then boom I hit the finished photo and breathed a great sigh of relief and smiled. Not too busy just sharp and gorgeous. I didn't realize you were putting in frosted glass doors - that really pulls it together with a "resting place for the eyes." And the full vent hood makes a huge difference as well.

It is a reminder to me that it is not done until it is done. All the elements work together and if one is not complete the kitchen isn't either. Not a time to panic :)

Enjoy and thanks for the update.

Oh my!!!! It has come together incredibly beautifully. To be perfectly honest, I would have panicked as well. But now with everything installed it looks just simply amazing. I am so glad you didn't change the backsplash. It's a good lesson to me as well.

I was really happy when I saw this thread had popped back up to the top. I had been following it all along and thought it was amazing the way people took the time to make suggestions, which were excellent, even thought I was secretly hoping that the backsplash would stay the way it was. It is sensational, and this thread is just one example of why I love this forum. SO helpful.

Enjoy your new kitchen, pami123!

Oh yay! I am glad you kept the tile up--it looks great! I had a feeling that once it was grouted and all the finishing touches added, it would look totally fine.

I hope you're enjoying your beautiful new kitchen!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: pami123's kitchen

A very efficient and welcoming glam space, pami and family. Hope it's a blast to live and work in it. I envy your efficiency and purpose. And I applaud the whitish glass in doors. Tell us about what it is called and who carries it?

It turned out sooooo good!!! I love it! You must feel so fab when you're in there. Conratz!!

I love it. I hopt by the time you read my message you will have not change a thing. At first I thought it was a bit much but after seeing your accesories and everything put together it looked just beautiful.
You should be proud of all of your choices...they work well.

jterrilynn,

You said you ordered a stainless steel backsplash with
a backing and custom sized.

Do you have a URL for the website you used?

Thanks,
DIY_Mike

Just wanted to chime in and say that the finished product looks absolutely fabulous! Congratulations!

My kitchen is very similar:

Simple to answer.... NO!

I think you taught us all not to panic needlessly, to give time to get used to something new and daring, and to wait for the elements and grout before thinking of scrapping tile.

I think, in the end, your gut told you to give it a chance (if not the thought of spending more and going through rip out and re-install, lol).

It all looks so nice and dare I say, peaceful. For a backsplash that was too busy, it has a serene factor to it now that it is all together.

You all are just AMAZING people...Thanks sooo much!!!!
I love my kitchen and so glad that you all too :)

Florantha - the glass cabinet door inserts are just sandblasted glass inserts.
Discoganya - I like you kitchen :)

Again, thanks for all your help,suggestions and ideas - kept me sane and encouraged to give it a shot!

You all ROCK !!!

Another similar kitchen from houzz.

I like those tiles horizontally. Vertically (when I first saw your pics) it looked like one of those posters you stare until a 3D shape pops up. Echo completely what others have said re: needing something to break it up.

It seems exacerbated by the horizontal seams that pop up between your sheets.

It also seems exacerbated by the reflection of the bold tile pattern on the island. Does the island reflect it as much in person as in the pictures? If so it may help to have something on the island to "soak up" some of that reflection.

And there's always grout, which is kind of like makeup foundation in its magic ability to completely cover our boo-boos. :)

It turned out great! Your kitchen looks terrific - I'm so glad you didn't tear out the tile. And now that the hood has the glass on it, it looks great too. LOVE the glass fronted cabs!

Thanks all..
I've a question, The glass tiles were grouted with unsanded (coz of the glass) grout...my question...should it be sealed, my installer is saying there is no need to seal the unsanded grout...but to me that seems a bit odd?

What are your experiences seal or not to seal the unsanded grout for the glass tiles?

Also, should glass tiles be installed with thin set or mastic?

Any information will be much appreciated. Thank you!

- Glass tile should be installed with thinset. Sure some people will do it with mastic but most will recommend white modified thinset for best results.

- Unsanded grout absorbs stain and moisture just like any other grout. There are some grouts like mapei ultracolor plus that claim not to absorb anything but thats a sanded grout. You can probably get away with not sealing such a grout. Either way it'll cost for $40 for the 511 sealer and the sealer will not harm the glass in anyway but you may want to test in a small area to make sure it doesn't darken the grout just a little. Even if it did, i will still seal it

Simply beautiful! I'm glad that you kept it and that you love it. Yay!!!

Thank you padola07!!

Your new kitchen is beautiful!! And the backsplash combined with the cabs and glass is perfect!! Enjoy!

This was interesting reading. Did you ever seal the grout?

As I was reading through, I wondered if these tiles were from the same maker as Cat_mom's and whether it was the Stilato Mosaic which has Pavarotti Pearl, Mezzanine Mink, and Wolfgang white.

I wonder if Pami is still around?

Still no word from Parmi? Does anyone have her email? I can't get it from her information.

I agree that once you start putting things in your kitchen it will not be so wild. Also the idea of stainless could work, but I would see if you can get a more graphite colored stainless....

Here is mockup of what that might look like:

{{!gwi}}

The mockup looks good!

It turned out beautifully. Glad to see you waited and let it all come together...

I hope you don't mind my posting your final picture here.

Your kitchen really turned out great!

Still trying to find out the make of these tiles. Anyone know?

The tiles turned out gorgeous! Love your kitchen.

oh wow! looks great--congrats!

All I can say is Wow! It looks fantastic. I'm glad it turned out well.

Looking back over all the conversation, I'm beginning to think that this backsplash isn't LOUD enough. You need to tear it all out and start over, wilder than before....:-)

Seriously, you have done a good job and it's looking very very good. Pat yourselves on the back!

I watched this post as it was first unfolding but I couldn't add anything because I don't know squat about design/tile/backsplash.

Each time I came back to this post I marveled at all the pics everyone was posting....just beautiful backsplashes, all of them!

And now I see your final product and...WOW, just WOW!
As I said, I don't know tile backsplash design but I know what I like when I see it and your whole kitchen came together beautifully with the backsplash being the crowning touch!

Hi Everyone!!
Not been back for a while - sorry I left everyone wondering :(

Thanks you all for your loveley comments. We love our new kitchen :)

To answer some of your questions and queries -
@ mariposatraicionera - yes we sealed the grout :) The tiles are Bellavita tiles - cristali blends http://www.bellavitatile.com/products/productList.aspx?catID=587

@Homeagain - thx so much for posting the final picture here :)