Gorgeous tiles!

Could you do a mock up of the first and third? I love the idea of no border. I love the three tantrums top and bottom, and I also love the tantrums snuggled up next to the 6x6 decos. Maybe that will be too much, but WOW I love those tiles. Great choices!

Claybabe. . thank you!! I fell in love with the tile, and it is what is "driving" my whole kitchen reno. Not sure what you mean by a mock up. . .what I did was as "mocked up" as I can get right now. I also really like the tantrums next to the 6 x 6 decos (#3) and I'm thinking that is probably what I will go with. Can't yet bring myself to cut the decos as in #4. Thank you so much for your input. When it's all in, I'll post pics.

I vote for #2 and #4. However, I am not sure what your cabs and counter top material is. That would possibly change which ones I would pick.

Mustbnuts. .thanks!! I should have included that in my first post (:((. .sorry. My countertops are Formica laminate (trip to Italy instead of granite) Rossa Granite. The reason I selected it was because it is almost a perfect match with the colors in the deco tiles on my floor and the ones that will be in the backsplash. My cabs will be painted a cream with a very light brownish red glaze after I get the backsplash in. . .I know that is probably backwards, but I figured it would be easier to "custom" paint than tile. Thanks again. . . I appreciate your vote!!

I like 3 the best. The nice thing about not having a busy exotic granite (like I do) is that you can really go all-out with the back splash and make it the star of the kitchen. I love my granite, but I had to really tone down my first and second back splash ideas. Whatever design you settle on, figure out if it will work with your electrical outlets. How I WISH I had used plug mold instead of outlets right in the center of the wall. I had to make some more serious changes to my design because the focal elements of my design (mosaic tiles mounted on a diagonal) ended up being right smack where the electrical outlets are. Darn it. I love you choices though!!

Sorry I didn't make myself clear! What I was hoping you could do was a combination of the two, with the little tantrums across the top and the bottom and ALSO use them snugged up next to the three-tile one.

ccoombs1... one of the few times I actually managed to think ahead and worked this all out on graph paper. Luckily, all of my outlets are ok.

claybabe. . .now I understand what you meant. Unfortunately I only have 6 of the red tantrums to use in over the back of the cooktop. My first design only used four (for the "corners" of the "frame"), but I got a couple extra in case of breakage. . .now I'm thinking since I have them, I might as well use them! They are special order w/ 7 - 10 day delivery and my tile goes in this Saturday. I suppose I could do the second one, but I really want to use the 3 deco tiles. Guess I'll sleep on it!!

Thanks again to everyone for your input.

Number four is definitely my favourite, and I've been looking at a lot of backsplashes lately.

How exciting! Saturday is almost here!

I guess I vote for...three. Yup. Three. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.