Casa Dolce Casa has some glass tiles. I haven't looked for some time. Wondering if they have any new collections.
Or maybe Sicis.

Builder from Houzz pic emailed me. He's not sure what the tile was but said it was purchased at Thorntree in Houston. Look at the tiles in the link-may be from the nuance collection.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.imolaceramica.com/en/

I don't think it's the Imola Nuance Collection. Did he mention Imola Ceramica?

You can call or email Thorntree. The site is a bit cumbersome.

I love your Houzz inspiration picture, just don't forget the ways in which your cooking wall is different. Your granite movement is fabulously big and I'm afraid of seeing your backsplash become small(er) by getting framed in or overcrowded. The whole inspiration wall is big, the hood is extra wide, perimeter counters are plain, and the tile going all the way up around the high windows give the room a spacious feel which allows room for the action of the backsplash and island granite (which to my eye isn't as lovely nor as dynamic as yours).

Found this pic today. Tantrum, which I know was brought up early in our discussions.
Edit: not sure what is going on, but the pics I post keep changing.

This post was edited by romy718 on Tue, Oct 14, 14 at 14:35

I have sample of that glass here. It's the wrong color--does nothing. I would need to try a different color. What do you think of this?

Or this Queremere

Attaching a link to the Houzz pic. There is some detail on the framed insert that you probably can't see in the pic I posted. Little dots at the tips of the diamond shaped tiles in the insert & it looks like the grout might have some detail.
I like this one. It looks elegant. I like the wider row of Tantrum tiles.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Aston Road Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/aston-road-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~87928)

Ok I can see it in the Houzz pic when I stretch it on my ipad.

Edit: I posted the wron pic last night. Sorry for the confusion.
Rainy laundry day & I've looked at lots of backsplashes today, many crackles in colors similar to the P&L WC 71 & Encore Smoke. I'm not convinced that it's the look for your kitchen, especially trying to amp it up with an insert or liner.
I'm back to white & something like Sonoma Tantrum or Encore Quartz or Jewel accent tiles, similar to the pic I posted at 19:18 today. That design isn't exactly right, the diamond tiles below the hood are too big.
I don't know how you feel about white, since we all tried to talk you out of it. It would lighten up your kitchen & a dark brown jewel accent tile would be pretty with your granite. Encore makes those beautiful Jewel & Quartz tiles & liners.
I'm posting this other pic because the glossy white is so pretty (Waterworks, Glossy Crackle from the Architronics Series). There's only one row of Tantrum liner. I prefer the multiple rows.
Interestingly, this kitchen uses one brand of field tile & another brand of accent tiles.
Edit: I like the metal liner but I like the glitz more

This post was edited by romy718 on Tue, Oct 14, 14 at 10:19

Did see a non-white with a Jewel. I believe this pic is from the Sonoma website.

Something in a milk glass, perhaps, as the field tile (if appropriate color were available 0.

[Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Chappaqua Architects & Building Designers Fivecat Studio : Architecture

Or a P&L metallic glaze?

[Transitional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2112) by Cambridge Architects & Building Designers LDa Architecture & Interiors

Thanks all. This is becoming an obsession. I can't believe how many tiles I've look at and can't visualize this darn thing. My total kitchen renovation (which I planned and gc'd) took less than 10 weeks including planning! Fireclay has some glass-take a look. I love that metallic--is it p&l?
Romy, I don't think you meant pure white, but there is no true white in the kitchen. The cabinets are painted white with a chai(dark brown/black) glaze which you can only see in the bead. A paint color match that's closest to the color would be Sherwin Williams linen.

Just to give a better idea of colors, Here are some tiles I had around my house from other projects. Left is travertine, center is slate, right glass mosaic with marble. Actually I like the glass on bottom right--not bad

Like the brown glass and crackle on the bottom of this pic-fireclay

From Houzz photo comments: Pratt & Larson 3x6 subway tile in a metallic glaze C609.

I'm liking this more and more.

No, I don't mean a pure white. I mean a white that matches your cabinets. The Aston Road kitchen also has a dark glaze on the cabinets. The pic I posted looks kind of blah but on Houzz, you can see the detail of the Tantrum & overall it's an elegant look. The KD is Venegas & Company.
I've come full circle - back to what you were suggesting at the beginning.
I think Mayflowers suggested something similar 100 or so posts back with Jewel/Quartz from Encore.
I looked at a Fireclay last night to see if they had something that would go with your original white tile. I couldn't find anything like Tantrum. Dark glass could be an accent but not excited about that. Maybe one of the jewel liners could be used with the Fireclay. Did Encore have a white that matched?
Sonoma has tons of whites. I corrected my post above. I posted the wrong pic. That was a Waterworks white used with the Sonoma Tantrum, so mixing brands is a possibility.

This post was edited by romy718 on Tue, Oct 14, 14 at 10:29

I contacted Thorntree & found out what the field tile is in this kitchen. It's a glass tile they import. I've attached a PDF catalog. It's called Crystal Glass ARC in the color Oxygen & is on page 4.She is not sure what the diagonal square tiles are & said that is probably the same glass material ordered in a 4"x4" tile.
Maybe I should change my name to KitchenDetective.
Edit: ARC is on page 5. Karen at Thorntree wasn't absolutely sure it was ARC. Looking at the tiles, I wonder if it might be Cultural Brick.
I don't know if this info is useful to Michelle but the mystery is mostly solved.
If Karen had the name of the installer, she could tell us for sure. I emailed Allen Edwards for the installer name.
Okay, maybe TileDetective?

Here is a link that might be useful: Crystal Glass ARC in Oxygen

This post was edited by romy718 on Tue, Oct 14, 14 at 13:48

Okay detective Romy, good work! Lol...thank you so much for doing that! Here's a tone on tone pic you might enjoy while I go check out that catalog.

What shape are you considering for under the hood? Seems that's the big unanswered question that needs solving first.

I don't know if it's GW or my IPad (which has been messed up since IOS 8) but the pics I post have changed to a different picture twice - hours after I post. I'm posting this one again in case Mayflowers didn't see it.

I did see it. I have seen the Tantrum tiles and wasn't wowed by them. I remember Michele saying she didn't like mosaics, but if she goes for that look, Encore has so many really cool mosaics. I've always liked the 1 x 1" for borders.

I just noticed Wyndam. Notice how the squares have beaded edging around them.

This is Encore. Do you like the large diagonal tiles with the Precocious dots for a border? I like it.

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Birmingham Design-Build Firms MainStreet Design Build

More Encore, with a pretty double border. Though I will say I did like the contemporary direction you were headed in with the artichoke tile.

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107)

This post was edited by may_flowers on Tue, Oct 14, 14 at 18:24

Someone likes too many pretty things.....

[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Beverly Hills Tile, Stone & Countertops Westside Tile & Stone, Inc.

Okay, so maybe Encore Smoke would be perfect. I feel so bad for you Michelle. I'm so conflicted & it's not even my kitchen.

17:28 photo-I like it.
At this point I think I'd like nothing under hood...
Pic at 17:28- .could I substitute diagonal squares with half artichoke with dots (all in ceramic)
17:32 pretty- I like it but would like to see it with non contrasting grout-almost too plain
17:35-really?

It should be easy to photoshop another row of subway tile on top of the Silk Road tile.

In my photo, I like the light border sandwiched between the darker tile. The large tile inside the border has a nice clean look. Encore does have a pointed oval field tile that's 6 x 9" called Coronado.

Here's how they built that backsplash:

Encore Precocious [Stunning] 2.125" x 4.25"
Encore Rhapsody Joy Liner Bar [Stunning] .5 x 6.375"
Encore Rhapsody [Chic] 4.25" x 4.25"
Encore Rhapsody Purity [Stunning] 1.2" x 1.2"

I like it too. Where did you find the pic?ill try to photoshop using the app I downloaded.

It's from Houzz. When you click on it, it takes you to Houzz and you can often see more detail and other photos. Not in this case unfortunately.

This is the picture that turned me off on the P&L WC71. Similar color.

This post was edited by romy718 on Wed, Oct 15, 14 at 1:14

Romy-yuk-it doesn't look like that in person.

Here's the other side of that kitchen mayflowers posted. Reminds me of the glass inspiration photo I like. Subways with panel of same tile-diff direction. I think my cooking area is too small for a recess. I wanted to do it originally but my friends said grease would collect there. Now I realize that's not the case since my powerful vent fan pulls it all straight up under the hood.

Here's my attempt...I'd like to see it professionally photoshopped but so far, I like it. What colors? Do you all like it?

I like it very much. Not too busy, breaks up your hood area. I think it's perfect.
Colors, we need samples (eye candy). I actually like the Stunning in the inspiration picture & in your photoshop but you'd obviously need to see it in person. Smoke is an option. The cream border is going to lighten the overall look, which is good.

Wyndam is the tile in the kitchen with the blue framed area under the hood that's been posted once or twice. I didn't realize that till I saw it on the website.

You could give the wide border a more contemporary look by using something like the WZ raised circles. You'll need to find a pattern that fits though, and most of those need a few rows for the repeat. A pattern that runs more horizontally might work. Patterns that felt like too much overall seem just right inside a wide border. I also like how the white tile connects to the cabinets. But they used Chic as the diamond in the Houzz photo, which adds a little depth.

There's a close-up of the large diamond inside a border in this link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Encore

Looks nice! I would start with Smoke.

I like the large diamond (without the large ornate piece).

I like the clean look of the large diamonds without a liner, but the liner adds texture and makes it a little more special. I wouldn't use Joy--not into Q-tip cleaning my kitchen! What about the decos? There wouldn't be too many spaced every two tiles.

Kitchendetective, what would be your spin on something like this? You have a fresh, contemporary perspective.

A bit under the weather, but trying to catch up. What is still in the running?
Michele has said no or only a simple liner as a modern element, right? That means no Imola, correct? I liked some of their glassy-looking liners like Broccato *B, Nuance 1T. I guess the milk glass and metallic glasses are out, too. I like the Wyndam, but it does skew traditional, which goes with the hardware, although is a bit in conflict with the granite. The crushed glass decos (Sonoma at Tues, 10/14@1:34, Encore Precocious, etc.) can go more modern, but I believe they've been ruled out? Plain diagonals work, but aren't much of a statement and I don't see them as looking like the were meant to be rather than a default. As for colors, I'm to the point where I would need to see them IRL before commenting further. I am pretty sure I understand the colors of your granite, but not those of the tiles. Edited to add:
On the Sonoma Tile site, which does not allow photocopying, this may interest you. Please scroll through the link to images 2,3,5, and 11.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sonoma

This post was edited by kitchendetective on Thu, Oct 16, 14 at 13:47

So sorry you're not feeling well.
Is this the one you meant? Image 2 was the very first tile photo I liked when I started out on this journey. I thought it might be too bold for over the range but it is stunning in person. I do think it's important not to go too traditional here but I really like that pic from Houzz: Thanks Mayflowers. Now it's just a matter of making that concept fit in my kitchen. I was looking at Boyce &bean glass for the diamonds today. They have water and light glass tile that looks good on their site. Oh, BTW did I mention TD is useless? ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: http://boyceandbean.quarryc.com/pdf/WaterLight/B&B.W&L.Field.pdf

So, I requested pricing on encore using the Houzz pic with large diamonds as my inspiration... waiting to hear back from TD so she can order samples. I ordered some glass samples online just to see if I would like it anywhere in that scenario. I was thinking of using jewel or metal for those accent pieces.

Thanks for the update. I think I mentioned when I ordered the Encore Silver, I wasn't aware it was available at a lower price point in the Bravo line.

I think that border may look best with a matte tile if you're using crackle or gloss field. Your granite is so shiny and reflective being black. I wouldn't give up on doing the diamonds in Chic. It might just need some depth, and you liked it with Smoke. There's also Capri, which has gold tones on white. Have you seen that tile? Otherwise you might need to go to another line to find a matte.

Finally talked to Td....she suggested a checkerboard set on diamond of chic and smoke with thin smoke liner above stove (sort of like pic posted on October 15, 10:14 but liner instead of recess), bricks for the field in 3x6 (the pic shows 2x4 but in order to use Bravo line sizes are limited). Beverage area: create same scenario as Houzz pic using smoke and chic. I don't know which liner to use or what to do about accent pieces in that area. I'm not sold on checkerboard of chic and smoke either. Any suggestions? I like the photo of the band of large diamonds for both areas-- she said that would be too much of a good thing if we did that in both areas. *Beverage area usually has a lot of stuff on the counter.

Reminder: chic and smoke tiles on my granite-I will get actual samples but for now...
Bottom 4 tiles in photo 2 chic and 2 smoke
I'm going to create another thread ...Michelew90 Backsplash Quest4

Just a quick comment before I'm out out the door for the day. Brave field tiles are 2x6" & 3x8". Checkerboard - no.

Agree with romy but I'll go to the new thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: continue here