IMO the honeycomb pattern would be strange with square shaker cabinets and the swirls in the marble. I would keep looking. Or... is the Carrera Marble a possible choice?

I think it's beautiful and unusual and not your typical subway tile which is a HUGE plus in my book.

I actually have this tile saved to my pics, in this kitchen below. I absolutely love it, and agree with dc, it's not what you typically see and I loved that about it. I believe they have a "slight" modern bent though, maybe? I think they "could" go, depending on what the overall style/theme/flavor of your kitchen is. I think they look fabulous in this kitchen. (they are also set horizontally)

Looks great in both pictures.

I think it's fine. It's still a regular "grid", so it's only a subtle difference from a rectangular tile. It's much less "risky" I think, than the more common backsplashes with accent strips and "features" over the range.

I think it's lovely and would be beautiful with your other choices.

Thanks for the reassurances. We wanted a little modern touch to the house and think the backsplash would be nice. Do you think it is more prudent to lay it horizontally?

I think it would be great, based on the photos above. I hope you'll show us!

We also are considering this pattern but it is 3 x 3 and thought it might be too small as opposed to the other 3 x 6.

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I love both of your choices. I actually have the second one saved for the backsplash. I do think the first will read more modern and the second would fit better with a Spanish style house. We also have a bit of a Spanish style house with Saltillo floor in so cal.

I love both choices & prefer the first one, vertically, if you are going for a "slightly" modern touch.

I like the arabesque tiles in the second photo- they are beautiful! I first ones are pretty too, but I prefer them in a horizontal orientation, as you would see a 3x6 subway.

Vertical...it just has that "something special" look to me and maybe I don't know what I'm talking about but it has a slightly modern moorish-ish look which kinda echoes spanish tile.

For a slightly modern bent I would go with the first honey comb style tile. And I think they would look great either way, but for most modern look would say vertically.

What are your floors ?

I must say I do fine your first photo's BS marvelous!

Floors are 2 inch oak in a dark ebony/chocolate matte stain

Yum!

I like to keep within architectural style so personally I would not choose either of those. Spanish influence is colorful, and intricate. I don't think of a blah white kitchen in a Spanish style home.

How about something like this cement tile pattern? It's still not TOO colorful, but it has character you are lacking with a white on white on white...

http://www.granadatile.com/blog/tag/cluny/page/2/

I'm with Mama Rachel - so far I'm not hearing anything that makes me think of a 1929 Spanish style home. Does anything in your home, either furnishings, colour, anything, speak to the style of your home. If so, have you considered doing a tile with spanish influence. That's the nice thing about how you've described your kitchen is that it can be a backdrop for the colours of the spanish influence.

If there is nothing that speaks to the architectural style of your home, actually in your home, then chose away for your backsplash.

A 1929 Spanish House in Southern California has Spanish lines, arches and clay roof tile etc ... However, the interior of the house is similar to other 1920s houses, color tile in the bathroom (black and yellow in our original bathroom) and white kitchen with black soapstone or similar counters. To keep the Josie original to the time would not be putting in brown cabs and color as you suggest. We are putting a modern touch to how the house would look when purchase in 1929. That's why I thought the backsplashes we are thinking of would add the modern kick to the kitchen.

Meant to keep "the House" original to the time

I think both of your choices are beautiful. The first example is definitely more modern looking to me. I do love the subtle varigated colors in the second one though. I don't think you could go wrong on either choice.

I'm falling hard for shapes like the first one you posted, along with the large hex tiles and the elongated hex patterns.... Personally, I find it refreshing to see something besides subways. And, I'm in a little '52 ranch and these other patterns just seem like they would work well here. I like the idea of a touch of modern...currently, though, I'm having trouble keeping it to a mere touch...

Hm, something bothers me about the elongated shape. I guess I'm more into symmetrical shapes, especially with the squareness of shaker doors. Circular?

Personally, I prefer the arabesque, but if you love the picket tile, by all means use it. The picket, especially in handmade tile, looks messy to me. If you're trending a little more modern, you might consider the wave shape from Fireclay Tile. Here it is in a dark grey glaze,

not the color you're looking for. But speaking of color, with white cabs and Carrara counters, mightn't you want a skosh more color in there? If you love a neutral palette, you can still choose a glaze that enlivens the space. The one you've posted in your top image is unlikely to do that. Look how lifeless a space can be in white/Carrara. The materials are so beautiful but the end result below would make me cry, not in a good way.

The best advice I can offer is to wait until you find a tile you absolutely love (and possibly wait until your counters are installed so you can see everything in your space and in your light), and search inspiration images with the materials you've already chosen to give you an idea of the look that will make you love your kitchen. Good luck!

When you ask if it is too risky, do you mean for future resale, or "will I get tired of this in 5 years?", or "will this look outdated in 10 years?", or all of the above? If you want to reduce those kinds of risk factors I personally wouldn't ignore the architectural style of your home, especially one so significant and charming as yours. Not that you have to be a slave to it of course, but just don't ignore it--compliment it and coordinate with it, incorporating good, modern-day design aesthetics and lifestyles, of course (a modern day reinterpretation or "nod" to the past, if you will). You want to compliment the charm of your older home, not something that doesn't relate to the rest of the house at all. If you go with a classic style, beautiful, tile (that you really love) you will reduce the risk of "all of the above". After all, they are considered "classics" for a reason--they have stood the test of time! And if you get a tile that you truly love, you will like it still even after it is not the latest trend.

By the way, Spain is filled with beautiful Moorish architecture, (think of the Alhambra) so the "Morrocan" or arabesque tiles (your second photo) would seem at "home" in a Spanish style house. It is a timeless style that could go with traditional as well as contemporary. I love the color (especially the subtle variations--they look handmade and expensive!) of those tiles.

I also think eam44 above has given you some very good advice!

(Correction to my above post: I shouldn't have said that Spain is "filled" with Moorish architecture (I don't know how much has actually survived), but it is "known" for its beautiful examples Moorish architecture and those are some of its biggest tourist attractions today. (I went there years ago and was really impressed, anyway!)--Just wanted to get the record straight!