Thank you everyone. I want decorating to be fun but it's hard for me and even a little depressing when I feel like I can't get it right so I really needed your advice & encouragement. I appreciate it so much!

You're doing great. Copying a model home can be a great technique. Calm, classic kitchens like yours are beautiful. Please let your backsplash choice keep it calm and beautiful, adding all the accessories you want to for color, just as advira said.

I don't think I've regretted any of the calm, neutral choices I made when our house was built 10 years ago, but I've grown to hate some of the more adventurous choices I made back then (and was so proud of at first).

Granite can be lovely and adding a busy backsplash just takes away from it for me. My eye has a hard time focusing. Ann is spot on...you simply can't go wrong with "calm/classic."

Both are lovely, I prefer the subway because it's less busy. Griege grout would be a lovely contrast -- I assume you're going with the thinnest possible grout line.

How much tile are you planning to install? Just the back wall with the fridge and stove, or will you wrap it onto the wall with the sink? Based on my personal experience, I'd stick with just the back wall.

In my house when the back splash turned the corner it was hard to figure out where to stop the tile & because the installers didn't align the upper and lower cupboards properly, it came to a not so graceful end at the end of the counter and stuck out beyond the upper cabinets in a way that bothered me every single day. If you stop in the corner it will end with a lovely square butt joint that doesn't require bullnose (which is expensive).

One note about glossy ceramic tile -- it reflects images of the under cabinet lights & I used LED, so there were lots of little pinpoints of light that reflected back at me. It made for a light and bright workspace, so that wasn't a bad thing.

I know that the tile council of north america will come to get me for this, but if you already have the 4" granite you really don't even need the tile. :-)

I should have said, I'm having the 4" backsplash removed.;))

Really? Why? When I did my back splash, the lack of the stone upturn meant that I had to buy an extra $300 box of tile because I needed an extra 3 sq ft. Very annoying. Am looking for a place to put the extra tile in my new remodel. :D

I think the subway tile complements your granite much better.

I redid my kitchen 3 years ago and also have Santa Cecelia as a countertop. Attached is a picture showing a travertine brick tile with a solvent base sealer to give it a shining look. This sealant also makes the grout pop as well. I then used all brushed bronze faucets and outlet covers to match the grout. If you do not use the solvent based sealer it will be a lot lighter.

Hey! Did you get a chance to look at a big tile store? Here are my top 3 recommendations:

1. Honed travertine backsplash with existing granite backsplash removed.

2. Single piece of Mirror backsplash (not mirror tiles) keeping existing granite backsplash.

3. Get the same Cecilia granite as a solid full height backsplash.

Best of luck! Other decisions will be easier. That granite color is infamous for being difficult to coordinate with a backsplash.

I always figure your granite is the big money spent so it should be the star. A simple backsplash to complement it, won't take away from the granite. Subway is my favourite here. Also, I feel that when the big box stores start to carry so many of the popular smaller mosaics, they are on their way out......
Your kitchen is going to look fabulous! And will never go out of style!

I agree with Lisa - don't get the backsplash from a big box store. Go to a special tile supplier.

It is interesting that you showed the picture of the counters from across the room. Even from the dining table you will have a view of your new backsplash and not see the counters' horizontal flat plane. That being said, you can use the backsplash area for some thing a little more dramatic than white or creamy subway tile.
Have you considered a darker shade from the granite to provide a contrast to all the lighter colors of cabinetry?

Since your wall is not overly long, it would not be overwhelming to use a darker color. If you are adding under counter lighting, that is even better.

Just the way a designer will mix patterned fabrics together, you can use a "pattern" of backsplash to compliment the pattern of the granite without it being "busy". You have to just figure out what that is.

I think a mosaic does work, but rather than having it be many colors, or mixing stone with glass, it can be more monochromatic, but have different sizes of tiles within the mosaic, or have its own pattern within.

You can also use a larger horizontal glass tile in a stacked pattern, rather than subway style, to give the effect of a solid color. One of the elements has to be decidedly smaller or larger than the pattern of the granite. Also using a same-color grout helps to achieve the balance you want, more than a contrasting grout.

The only two examples I can post are in my own home. The kitchen and the bathroom. Hopefully what I am saying will convey in photos. Enjoy the process!

i wouldnt ding the big box stores for being a bit more fashion forward these days. between tv and internet the style cycle is going so fast that we are saying what we loved yesterday is literally out of date tomorrow. i think its time to turn off the HGTV a few nights and decide the look we like on our own.

but mixing color and pattern has never changed. what goes and what doesnt go hasnt changed. busy with busy was never in fashion. well, over the age of 7, anyway.

As long as I have been on Houzz I have never read a dilemma that said *Help, I hate my subway tile*...it will be the best choice you make;))

lol margo... i give it 5 years... when everyone is moving into a home with a "dated kitchen with white shaker cabinets and subway tiles".

BUY WHAT YOU LIKE. and learn to love it.

Okay skp0001, take a deep breath and relax. Right now this feels like the most important decision of your life. :-) Right?

Your choices of the small tiles or the two subway tiles is bang on. Remember you were going for a certain look at the beginning of your post and just wanted help between those 3.

If you pick the shiny subway it will be a reflective material, some shine coming off it. Because it is a larger tile your grout lines will be less. Less busy with some movement because of the shine.

Pertaining to the matt tile, grout lines will be the same as the shiny subway tiles. Because there is little shine coming of it, it will blend quietly into the background.

The small glass tiles will be the most pronounced, shine and a lot of grout lines.

What look are you going for? There is no right or wrong answer here. Your choice of tiles is great, any will look great. This is an opinion thing. You have to please yourself, not everyone in the room. :-)

So that said, Ha! Ha!, please don't use your leftover travertine tile. It is too orange for your counters. :-p

I see the utility of protecting the wall board behind a stove from grease splatters & applying an easily cleaned surface (with as few grout joints as possible) behind it.

However, even WITH grease splattering, paint with the appropriate gloss level is capable of protecting the wallboard perfectly at a tiny fraction of the cost, can be changed for less than $100 and a bit of sweat equity, and doesn't lock you into something that costs $1,000s in material and labor. WHY are we all buying into this back splash mania?

I have had my dated?? white shaker cabinet, subway tile, granite counter kitchen for 9 years now and if I were redoing the kitchen I would do it all over again;) BUT only time will tell, so Yes, I agree BUY WHAT YOU LIKE ( I did) and I did not have to learn anything;))) Thank heavens, I did it pre-houzz!!

Lynne- the backsplash (given the right one) adds so much ooomph to the kitchen. It just makes the kitchen complete. Plus, it can cover a multitude of sins from wall imperfections as in my case;)

I love the subway tile debates. Much like politics;)) Brings out the passion in people. ;)

Agree that very little is timeless! Someone posted a remark saying that they have backsplash tile installed so that it can be easily changed in a few years. Everything will eventually be dated-trends change constantly. Thank goodness...If not, so many places would go out of business, and we, the homeowners would get very bored. DO what works with your kitchen now and DO something that you love. I do agree that if you can purchase tiles at Big Box Stores, though, the trend could be on its way out. Go to a special tile supplier. Good luck!

My 1963 backsplash with 1963 cabinets. I believe still presentable and timely

Both look good color wise. Depends on if you prefer a soft subtle look (subway) or a busier, but still monochromatic look (mosaic).

Subway tile would be a great choice here

Very nice. What color appliances will you be using?

I like the subway tile, but I might be adventuresome and go with a black subway tile with black grout as long as you have adequate lighting. I think the mosaic is a bit trendy and busy. the porcelain subway tile will be more durable.

for myself, I would never do a black splash that had grout lines to clean.

thus, I like the suggestion of a glass back splash.

Here is a limestone tile you could use as a backsplash. It has a ton of variety with patterns as well. Or for a darker look, this marble tile.

Thanks so much everyone! I am going to venture out again and peek at a couple more subway tile options (maybe a darker shade or two) but it will be subway tile, for sure! You have convinced me! I found this picture, which I think is going to be a pretty close match to my look, if I stick with the light colored subway tile. [https://www.houzz.com/photos/cc-traditional-kitchen-charlotte-phvw-vp~3142644[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/cc-traditional-kitchen-charlotte-phvw-vp~3142644)

Great inspiration photo skp0001! Those tiles, especially on a diagonal would look terrific in your kitchen.

You have such a great kitchen! I would recommend doing the subway tile. You may tire of the busyness of the other. Best of luck!

Too matchy, tile needs to be a bit darker.

subway travertine tile is the best - Model home!!

First pic is def too busy...the countertops are busy, you need something plain to bounce off them. Never put a busy next to a busy.

Too busy. Do subway tile so the countertop is the star.

I would do subway tiles, but not in ceramic like you have, but rather in glass. There are tons of manufacturers out there so you’ll more than the perfect shade of off white/cream/light taupe. When you do, choose the grout closest in color to the tile color be done!

So I finally ventured out and found these 2 subway tiles (and another off white one). They also recommend doing a boarder if I choose off white but I'm not sure about that. The 4" backsplash will be removed. Are any of these keepers or do I need to keep looking?

Tough decision. I think I like the lightest subway tile or the medium colored subway. I'm not sure if I would use the border, though. I feel like it would look so nice if you just kept the backsplash very simple allowing the granite to be the star of the kitchen. I know the granite in this kitchen is very different, but I love how the glass tile backsplash is very simple and clean in this kitchen. The cabinet colors are very similar to yours. If you do the medium toned tile, it would give you some contrast with the cabinets like in the picture. If you do the off white tiles, though, it will still be pretty.

I like the lighter color and agree with Karen Dumont...no boarder.

The sun is shining in a little more now & I agree, the dark one is out.

I love that kitchen, Karen. It was one of my inspirations when choosing the floor & cabinets.

skp0001-was my inspiration too. In fact, we used the same backsplash in our kitchen. It's a glass tile made by Emser in the color morning fog. If you love that kitchen, use the a subway backsplash and pick a grout that matches the tile or is slightly darker. It will be beautiful. I really like the samples you have chosen! Looking at this last picture you posted, your kitchens are really very similar. I think you could easily achieve a very similar look!

Love the one on the left in the first post of today. That will look a lot like the kitchen Karen posted! No border.

Subway for sure

So glad I saw this thread! We are building a house and our kitchen will look very much like yours--white (not off white) cabinets, stainless steel, santa cecelia counters, similar floor. I've been looking into backsplashes and have been leaning toward something like you were suggesting or a white or grey subway tile. Now after seeing your photo of everything together I am leaning towards subway tile. Please post photos when you're done!

Has anyone here had an experience with or have an opinion on those smart tiles? They come in subways tiles and look like they would be so much easier to install...

Larger subway is better. The smaller is too busy. How about a brown subway tile.

My vote is the medium colored subway tile...although I can't tell how closely it pulls out a similar color in the countertop. From afar it looks great!

You really. We'd something contrasting in color *and* texture...rough backsplash finish in darker color...it will really pop!