It looks nice! I am not quite sure what bothers you. It is will be interesting to see how others weigh in on this.

I think they could have spread out the colors a little better but don't see any issues with symettry of the piece in relation to the cooktop.

It does look like the colors could be more random, but it still looks good.

Is it that the tiny squares are not symmetric along the vertical dimension? I would NEVER have noticed this in real life, but your post made me really stare and try to figure it out. I think your backsplash is terrific.

Don't see anything wrong either.

took me a few looks.. but are you talking about the color? once I noticed it, it definitely stuck out to me.. one side has more 'reddish' tile.. other side more grey

The bottom corners don't match the top corners but I don't see any way to do it differently without changing the overall dimensions. No one will ever notice.

There are six triangles on the top edge, and five on the bottom edge. Is that what's bothering you?

I think I see what you are talking about. On the top there is a full tile from the top edge to the square inset piece, whereas on the bottom there is only 1/2 tile to the inset piece. It would probably bother me, but I am "funny" about things like that. I would think they could have cut both the tiles on the top edge as well as on the bottom edge so that they were balanced within the area. But that would also have meant cutting every tile instead of every other tile.

I don't get it either. Everything looks great to me.

I think you're talking about the corners being different, but given the dimenstions and the pattern I don't think there's anything to be done.

Tracy, that's as symmetrical as you're going to get. The only way to do it completely symmetrical would be to move the whole layout up, so that you have 3/4 and 1/4 tiles, top and bottom. That means little baby triangles across the top and bottom, and believe me when I tell you- the way your tile guy did it looks a helluvalot better. Leave it as is.

I never would have noticed if you hadn't mentioned it. And I had to do some counting to find the asymmetry. But to make it symmetrical, wouldn't another row have been required? But then it would be less rectangular. Is there a "solution" other than adding an additional row? But if you add another row, will the whole thing be balanced between the counter and the cabinets?

I like symmetry too, but I often forget about it over time. Are you like that? Will it vex you forever, or just until you can focus on something else? (Assuming there is even an easy solution. I can't see one--other than reshaping the rectangle, which isn't easy-- but then I am geometrically challenged.)

I think it is really pretty. If you had just posted a picture and let us all know your backsplash was done I think you would have gotten tons of compliments and no one would have thought twice about it not being perfectly symmetrical. It is wonderful. Enjoy!

Wow, thanks for the replies and the compliments!

Actually, what bothered me in the picture (not IRL while standing there taking the pic) is that I noticed that the little accent tiles are "off" to me. The bottom row of them is closer to the edge than the top row is. I thought they'd be "centered" somehow......either with one right in the center and working out from there, or the 2 rows as they are but equidistant to top/bottom edge (that make sense?). If those pieces couldn't be centered within the frame, I'd just as soon left them out.

And LOL--I hadn't noticed that the colors could've been better placed! Gee, thanks ;-)

Anyway, I guess if you all didn't notice, then maybe I can live with it.

Yes--that's what I thought you meant. I just realized that when I was puzzling about adding another row, I forgot the possibility of removing a row as well. So, I held an index card up to the computer screen to lop off 1/2 of the top row, so that the accent squares are now centered top to bottom. Honestly? Yes, I prefer it that way. Had the choice been presented to me at the beginning, I would certainly have chosen that the squares be centered. But now? I don't know. Can they lop of 1/2 of the top without messing up the position of the whole in relation to the counter and cabinets? It looks very pretty. I don't know if this would be "the hill I'd choose to die on" so to speak. Tough call for me. But then I'm a symmetry person.

Good luck!

:-)

How would you have done it differently? In order to get the regularity of triangles instead of odder shapes on edges, this looks to be the best solution for the rectangle that defines the border. If the perimeter had been a half tile larger top to bottom, the dots could have moved up and there would have been more symmetry. As it is, there's something to look at while you fry bacon. Not asymetrical, not wrong, just interesting.

It is perfect.

I'm a bit anal about this kind of stuff and I still can't find anything wrong with this. I think it looks really nice. I also like the way the colors are laid out, less busy that had they been spread out more.

It looks really nice!!!

You couldn't change that issue without changing the height dimension of the overall mosaic -- or making cuts that would be far less pleasing to the eye, as Bill points out - now you have nicely balanced half-tiles on all edges. If you slid the whole design up 3/4 tile, you'd have pretty bad looking cuts on both top and bottom.

So unless you want to add another full row of diamonds on top with small squares (which would probably throw the dimensions between cooktop and vent off?), I'd leave it as is.

It's virtually unnoticeable, honestly. Gorgeous tile!

The offness would bother me. Agree with bayareafrancy-one option to consider would be to cut off the top half of the top row to make them look like the bottom row. That makes it symmetrical but might entail lots of work-cuts, etc. Another could be to just remove the little tile squares-they call attention to the offness- and then the rest could stay as is.

It really is very pretty and you should end up happy with the finished product. If it needs to be changed do it sooner, rather than later when it gets completely cured.

My builder (actually the wife/decorator) called this morning to see what I wanted done to the backsplash, and I had to check with you guys first to see what you might've said since my post last night :-)

Anyway, I asked about adding 2 more accent "dots" (I think that's what she calls them?)---in the row between the current 2 rows but staggered. I think that creates a "pattern"....and anywhere else they would occur is along the edge, which you wouldn't do (well, I guess you could, but not worth it). Luckily, the tile guy has 2 extra with him today (he's at the house to grout) and extra tile. If this were going to hold things up (getting finished and us in the house), I'd have let it alone, but since he has the materials and can do it today, AND both he and the decorator thinks it'll look better than the current way, this is what we're going to do.

Thanks, though--you sure made me feel better when I didn't think anything could easily be done to make it feel more "right" to me.

I'll post finished pics soon--I've been holding up posting any pics because it just always seemed too messy, raw, unfinished--you know.

Thanks!

OH I see it now, the little accent dots, OK! I wasn't noticing them at all before. Good luck with the outcome!

It is beautiful. No the tiny insignificant microscopic
issue would not concern me in the least. I would be so busy
ooohhh and ahhhh ing (as I am at the lovely tile you have)
I could never even have thought about adding two more dots.

If it makes you love your kitchen more, go for it. But know
that even if they did not the backsplash is still beautiful.
I love it!!!
~boxerpups

What about just removing the dots? I can't quite visualize the new plan, but it seems like putting 2 more in, in between the current rows, would actually draw more attention to the asymmetry, by making the dots themselves a more prominent part of the pattern? Will your eye be drawn upward, looking for 2 more dots above the top row to balance it?

(Oh dear, am I being a troublemaker? I'd better take my OCD symmetry-obsessed brain and tiptoe out of the room. And counting my tiptoes to make sure that each of my feet touch the floor the same number of times...)

:-)

Man, I MUST be getting old!! I never even SAW the "dots" till now!! Once again, I'd leave it completely as is, unless you want to change the overall dimension of the feature.

Tracy,

I think it looks nice, I would just leave it the way it is...by the way, I love your tumbled subway, can you tell me what it is??
I've been looking for a subway stone.
Thanks!!

Your backsplash actually is symmetrical, it just isn't identical top to bottom. Think about a perfectly proportioned human body; symmetrical, yes, and in harmony top to bottom, but certainly not identical.

And I think your stone has a nice color flow. I recently put in a backsplash that looked way too patchworky and blocky. plllog has a nice post about how to get a flow in the appearance of stone in a backsplash, which I think you've done.

Congratulations, it's gorgeous!

I think adding the two extra dots in the middle is the perfect solution.

YEAH! Crisis adverted! It's beautiful and balanced!

--Amy

i like it, colors and all. i think the missing tiles at the top just jolt the eyes thats all.

I can't wait to see it later today (I think it's finished--didn't hear otherwise from anyone).

Ritamay--I'll have to get back to you on the particulars--I don't know the name! I just walked into the tile place and pointed to what I liked. I didn't pay attention to what it's called (guess that means I don't fit the description of TKO?).

Thanks everyone. I'll post some pictures when it's totally finished.