I've done 18"x24" no pics, but looked great! I say go for it

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Most backsplashes I do are more decorative and use smaller tile. Most of my clients really want it to pop as a decorative feature.

If you're going for a more modern, streamlined look and you like it though, then why not?

Thanks! I'm definitely going for a sleek, modern look. But I can't find any pictures so I don't know if I would like it or if I will think it looks like floor tile on the wall.

Here's a link to an old thread with some photos.http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2697940/kitchen-reveal-with-river-rock-granite

For some pictures, check out [this link[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/large-tile-backsplash-phbr0lbl-bl~l_38695).

For the most "slab" like look keep these tips in mind:

The wall behind the tile needs to be really flat when using large tile. You can use thinset to fix uneven walls. Go to the tile forum for advice on achieving a flat surface.

Choose tiles with uniform, even color/shade throughout the tile and little or no variation from tile to tile.

Use high quality rectified tile. This insures that the tile is uniformly and exactly sized which allows for very narrow (1/16th) grout lines. Check all tiles for flatness (this is especially important with oversized tile. Cheap tile from HD and Lowes are not rectified. Get tile from a tile store and check the specification for your tile of choice. They'll be marked on the box.

Make drawing of the backsplash (to scale) showing where the grout lines will fall. Place tiles in such a way that you don't end up with "slivers" at the ends. Be aware that 18" tile is often not exactly 18". Measure your tile and account for the difference in your drawing.

Match the color of the grout to the tile, so the grout lines disappear as much as possible. Use epoxy grout (it won't stain). When mixing the epoxy grout leave off up to 10% of part C (the sand part), this makes very narrow grout lines possible. Visit John Bridge's tile forum advice board for more help. They're very friendly over there.

Thank you pippabean. You just confirmed my suspicions that it would have to be laid very carefully to look right. This is a marble tile, so a lot of variation. And though it is good quality from a tile store, it is not rectified. We are building a house and I don't trust our builder's tile guy to be that careful when there are so many other projects going on in the house too. I am dead set on marble. Any suggestions for getting the cleanest look for marble in a modern kitchen, without using a slab? I'm afraid subways are going to be too traditional. Would an elongated subway (maybe 4x12) or stacked subway be more modern?

I would do what Pippabean suggested: visit John Bridge's Tile forum. Sign up and start a new thread on the advice board. They were a great help with our hall bathroom project. They'll be able to help you with everything related to tile and stone.

Yes, elongated subway tile, or stacked subways have a very modern look, but look busier than a bs done in oversized uniform tile.

I like the look of the marble look. I agree with modellie that stacked or elongated subway tile has a modern vibe too, but looks more decorative than oversized tile. I'm not sure that they're easier to install though. Imho, all tile needs to be very carefully installed to look good.

I believe there are now porcelain tiles that very successfully imitate the look of marble. These should be available rectified.

If you ask for help on the GW bathroom forum you might get better help with tile/stone questions. At least one pro from the tile forum gives advice there too, ask for Paul (Cabot & Rowe).

Pippabean - Small world. I remember Paul from our time at the tile forum, he was a great help to us on the Tile Forum when we remodeled our kid's bathroom. If I remember correctly, much of his work is very modern too. With his and other pros help, our hall bathroom turned out great, despite us being total newbies to tiling at the time. You can see pictures of our finished project here.

Modellie, that bathroom is fabulous!

I cross-posted on the bath forum. Thanks! There was a gorgeous porcelain lookalike tile that I could consider if it could truly get me the look I want so I'll check into it further.

Holy crackers, modellie! That is some gorgeous tiling. I've been dead set on a traditional look for the two bathrooms we are redoing in our 100 year old house, but your pictures have me reconsidering. If only I could be sure our tilers could do as nice a job as you did.

we used large tiles and i'm pleased with how it turned out, but it's not
1000% perfect. there is some lippage and seams that are visible to me
regularly, but others never seem to notice. we struggled because our walls are very uneven - 100+ year old house meeting new addition and things were way out of plumb. however, the backsplash is still usually
the first thing people notice / comment on when they visit and see the
newly finished kitchen. i wanted a seamless look and I guess we (almost,
sort of, nearly, to-an-outsiders-eye) achieved it.

namarie, daisychain01 - thanks so much for your kind remarks.

The thing with tiling is that even beginners can do a great looking job as long as they do their research and most importantly, take their time and get good guidance along the way (Watch some youtube videos for getting a feel of how its done too). Pros of course have the advantage of lots of experience, but are under pressure to finish within a limited amount of time in order to make a profit. So, some tile setters cut corners and rush through jobs, not bothering with layouts and leaving uneven grout lines, lippage and so forth. namarie - tiling a backsplash ought to be quite a bit easier than tiling a whole bathroom (i.e. no waterproofing needed behind the tile). You might look at doing the work yourself, slow and steady will do the trick and result in a flawless backsplash.

Imgch - very nice! Give it another couple of months, and you'll have forgotten the grout lines exist at all :-) I hope.

Modellie we are considering doing the full wall of tile that I want behind the vanity in the master bath and powder room ourselves just to cut down on building costs, so I appreciate the words of encouragement! My husband is very handy so I have no doubt he could do it (with my help) but the desire isnt really there so I worry it will take us forever to finish. I think he would be wary of doing the kitchen as well since it's going to be so prominent.

namarie, which project are you planning to work on first?

If it's the bathroom, I would bet after gaining a ton of skills tiling the vanity wall, you won't think twice about doing your own backsplash - piece of pie.

Good luck too you, however you do it or have it done.