The tile is beautiful and so is the sink!

Very pretty. If you figured by 10 years of enjoyment, how much would that be a day? $2000/3650 -- around 60 cents/day... around $4 a week. A cup at Starbucks/week? Is it worth that to you?

That's my dilemna -- that tile would pull the elements of the sink front, the green and copper in the counters...sigh. Maybe if I break down the price into how much it would cost per day over the course of a few years....

nightowl -- lol just what I was typing!

It is pretty tile, however...with your floor tiles and busy granite, it wouldn't actually be my first choice! You could use it behind the range but I would go for sheet copper there and ceramic tile instead of copper tile for the bs field tile.

You've got drama in the stone (which I love) and your floor is not plain. Personally, something simpler would be my preference.

Go for it! It sounds like a lot now but its far cheaper than years of regret. It sounds like everything else in your kitchen is exactly what you wanted and if you do something else that will be the one part that isn't what you really wanted and it will stand out. We spent far more on floor tile than I ever imagine but I am so pleased with the results and knew we would regret it if we didn't get what we really wanted. The only reason I wouldn't do it is if pushed the budget so far that it created financial hardship or prevented you from doing something else that would make the kitchen function better.

I think you do need a feature over the stove because of the size and shape of the opening. That mural is pretty calm compared to others and repeats the tendrils of the sink. I think the problem is the copper field tile. You could use a copper/bronze mural or medallion with plainer field tile. It will make the copper you do have feel more special if copper isn't everywhere. A neutral tile also won't compete with the floor-- you really don't want the walls and floor to match in color and shape.

It probably won't save you any money if you do a copper mural, but even if you use the $90 mural, I'd use a neutral tile.

I am no help, but your floors - what are they and from where? I love them!

It's tile -- Old Chicago brick look. I love it too! It wasn't crazy expensive either!

http://www.mediterranea-usa.com/chicago.html

I love the feature tile and agree that it pulls all your other elements together. Here's what I'd do:

- Pay the money for the feature tile above the rangetop -- what is that? About 6x2' of feature? So at $90/sf you'd be looking at $540 for the over-the-range tile. Maybe even go smaller ... like 48x18" for the focal point tile. I suggest you get some copper-colored paper and tape it up to see how much you need to make an impact.

- Skip the copper subways. Yes, they're nice, but they're also "too much" in the grand scheme of things; and I mean "too much" in terms of design, not cost. Instead, choose a simple, simple white /off white tile to finish off the rest of your backs plash.

+1 for @mrspete -- use a simpler subway tile and use the savings to help pay for the feature wall. For very little money you can blow up a high res photo of the tile and stick it over your range. You can pull a suitable color from the tile, counter, or cabinets. You don't want too many stars in the show -- you do have the great, but highly featured granite and floor, plus the beautiful sink

I have to agree about the copper subway tile. I love your feature tile you want to use, your cabinets, your gorgeous copper sink, your floor and your granite. Let that feature wall behind the cooktop be the feature you see first and let the rest of the backsplash play a supporting role by picking up the white to match the tile inside the feature and the cabinets. You'll have lots of color with those stunning brick floors, the granite and the feature wall.

You might also want to check on overstock.com as they used to have some gorgeous tile murals similar to what you want to use.

lol....I hate to admit it but I already have the copper subway tile. Too late to turn back now. But I am leaning toward the expensive tile. If you break it down into the cost over five years it is really not that expensive. Good idea about putting a large printout of the tile up there for visualizing it. I really don't want to look above the rangetop every single day and think I should have....

It sure is beautiful! You know you are going to regret it now if you don't do it. :) I think it will match nicely with the subway (although just the subway would be fine too).

the busy bs would be too much for me, with the busy granite and floor. the granite, floor and sink are already the stars ...

how about outlining the bs above the stove with the 'outline' tiles in your 'over the stove' pic above?

it looks like you have several busy components that will be competing for 'eye' attention.

I think that tile would make a gorgeous accent tile, used in the right setting. At $90/sq ft, I would have to think long and hard about the decision. I've noticed many interesting tiles, unique light fixtures, cool sinks, etc that I would love to use in a project but just can't justify the added cost.

My eye sees too many accents in that room already. I think the decorative value of the tile would get lost amongst all the other features.

I do love the design of the upper cabinets and the window area over the sink...enough details to be interesting without going overboard.

I'm not clear on how the tiles would be used but I do think you have a bold kitchen that could use something decorative with color over the range to carry the eye up and balance the other strong features. It would seem to fit the style of your kitchen.

The ceilings are so high that I think the kitchen can handle a decorative tile area above the range and be okay with the copper subway tile. We have lived here for four months so I have a good sense of the "feel: of the kitchen...

I hate to admit it but I already have the copper subway tile.

Actually I take back my other comment now that I looked again at that beautiful pattern for behind the cooktop. Because the border around the pattern picks up the color of your copper backsplash tile, I think you'll be fine using both together and I bet it will look absolutely spectacular!

Just for fun....:-)

That is what I was concerned about with the copper tiles. The tones of the copper tile and brick floor clash because the floor appears quite pink. I also think it is too similar to your floor. I think a back splash feature at the range will look great.

The colors we see online could be very different from their actual colors.

Here you go a very rough layout.

You have it....that's OK. It doesn't mean you have to use it. Sell it on Craigslist, unless you really love it. It's not your backsplash until it's installed. If you love it, enjoy it in the best of health!

It could be my iPad screen, but I must agree with snookums that in the mockups it does make the floor look more pink. IMHO, that doesn't go well with the more orangey copper color in the field tile. The copper sink looks great with the floor though as it looks much darker.

I'm no expert, so take please take that with a grain of salt. You can actually see it in real life, so it may look fabulous.

I actually love that copper backsplash and mural! It is beautiful with the cabinets. If your floors were a solid color brown hardwood, then I would be saying wholeheartedly to go for it. But if you want my honest opinion, I am concerned that the orange and pink tones might clash.

Your kitchen is gorgeous though, and you obviously have great taste and style. I'm sure you will make the best choice. :-)

edit to add: I must apologize because I didn't answer your original question on if the mural was worth the money or suggest a less expensive alternative. Oh noooOOoo instead I went off on something you never even asked about...Sheesh, I am sure it is very annoying, so please ignore me and I'm sorry.

This is Fireclay tile's Frost with engobe. It is a crackled white tile available in all their shapes and sizes, goes for $30/sf in 3" x 6" subway, and would look fantastic as your field tile, whether or not you keep your mosaic. You could also look at pale greens for your field tile, but the green in your wall paint is not in the same color range as the greens in the mosaic, so that can be tricky. Again, I would go with a sheet copper bs behind the range, but if you love your mosaic, it could be fine.

Sheet copper for behind the range might look less fussy, and be more impactful, especially if you decide against the copper fired tiles....

The wall tile isn't as orange as the sample photo I posted. Here is an actual photo of the tile -- it is much more in line with the tones of the kitchen sink apron.

Your kitchen is going to overdose on that color and the brick effect. The sink will lose some of its impact, as will the floor.

It's true that contrast drives visual interest and that by using copper as your field tile you diminish its impact. It is no longer an accent, but the color is better than previously shown. Does it coordinate well with your sink in your space? Do the mosaic colors coordinate in real life? Because they clash a bit in these images.

The last image is a close up of the stone on your island. Do you like the complexity of the mosaic edge against the complexity of the stone?

Here I did a (terrible) mockup to show your copper tile in the more accurate color for you. Much better with the flooring!

Here is an idea I just thought of as an alternative to the mosaic. What about doing your granite behind the range with a metal rope pencil liner to tie in the rope island legs and sink cabinet? I see a gunmetal pewter color in the flooring and granite. I just stuck a metal rope liner I found online on the right wall so you could see a close up. Of course it wouldn't be that big framing the granite.

Anyways just a wild thought if you had any more of your stone....:-)

rebunky -- that is a neat idea! But we don't have any more of the granite. I was considering this 2 x 12 oil rubbed bronze damask border by Questech and maybe putting the copper tile inside in a herringbone pattern just to highlight it as an alternative to the other tile. It would be less expensive, but I still really feel like the other tile "fits" the kitchen.

doctorro1 only you know for sure if all the colors of the different tiles work together because photos and computer monitors all read color differently. If they do, put the copper subway tiles in with the gorgeous feature wall behind your cooktop. $90 a square foot while not cheap is well worth it if it's something you love. If you don't do the feature, I'm guessing you're going to regret not doing it. I think it will be fine based on the new photos and I can't wait to see it all tied together!

I wondered if you could get a sample of the mosaic tiles to actually put in your kitchen to make sure all the colors play nice together. I cannot tell you how many tile samples I have brought home only to see them in my lighting turn a total different color. At that pricepoint, I would want to be absolutely positive, seeing it at all times of day and night, artificial or natural light, etc...

One last thought I had was to use only the center part of the mosaic and then use your subways to border it. Maybe frame it all with a pencil liner or some kind or raised border tile in a cordinating color that is in the mosaic?

I just happen to have that silver rope liner saved already, so I used that to give you the idea of a border tile.

Whatever you choose, this is going to be a WOW kitchen! Please show us the reveal when finished okay?

It's not that I don't like all your elements, because individually and in small groupings, I do. I like your field tile and adore the over-the-range tile. Also, I like white cabinets. So only love for all the elements. However, not counting your wall color, everything except the cabinets is of a rust/copper color. Therefore, your cabinets, which seem to be a very bright white, look all the more WHITE. They really stand out, and I don't know if that's what you want. Would you consider something like the tile EAM suggested? Less of the coppery stuff, but would allow your counter, sink, floor and whatever goes behind the stove to stand out.

octorroo1, I feel for you when it comes to the price of tile. I almost backed out from my tile choice when I found out it was $144.00 sq/ft, but I loved it. It was custom color and hand painted but I never dreamed it would be so expensive. My husband convinced me to to ahead with it pointing out that I would be looking at my backsplash every day and he didn't want me to have regrets. I must say that every time I walk into my kitchen the thing that makes me happiest is my tile.

One question to ask is: How much do you and/or your husband love or hate your job? If you really like your job, then I say go for the pattern. If you don't think about how many hours you will have to work to earn the $1600. Looking at your choices, it looks like somebody really likes their job so the $1600 doesn't seem like that much. I personally like the tile, but I don't like my present job that much so at least for now, I wouldn't buy.

Hi doctorroo1! What I can tell you is that you have an amazing kitchen! It is GORGEOUS! And that sink...words can't describe...it's simply stunning.

But, sadly, I can't tell you whether you should spend $1,600 plus installation on your backsplash. I have no idea what your financial situation is, what your worldview is concerning how you use your money, and so forth. I get the impression that you have the money, you are just struggling with the question of whether you can justify the expenditure. Is this a financial struggle or a moral struggle, or something else, like what if my parents (SIL, DB, etc.) found out how much I spent?

Unfortunately, no one here can answer those questions for you, and to try would be the height of arrogance, which is why no commenter has thus far given you much direction to the actual question you posed. We are simply unable and completely unqualified to answer--ultimately, only you can make that decision.

In terms of the design question, I personally love the copper subway tiles and think they would complement, not distract from, your other design elements. I'm one for taking risks in interior design, but I actually don't feel like the copper tiles are that risky. Since they are plain, I think they'd fall much more into the background than some of my fellow commenters here. My main concern would be keeping them clean and shiny, haha! You've already purchased them, and that tells me your "gut" knows they'll look fabulous!

To be perfectly candid, I don't care for the $90 backsplash tile. It's just a personal preference. But who gives a rip what I think? It's not my kitchen and I don't have to live with it. The only person who has to like it is YOU! If YOU love it, no other opinions matter. YOU are also the only person on this thread (as far as I know) who has physically been in your kitchen and has seen the "true colours" of all your beautiful design elements.

Options to the tile could be: find the tile on the Internet for a lower price; use a couple of rows center in your backsplash as an accent, rather than being the entire backsplash; find a similar, but less expensive tile that you would love almost as much; negotiate the price with your tile store; accept that in life we can't always have everything we want; or just get the dang tile already! ;-)

As I have stated elsewhere on this forum, I'm a great believer in doing what will make you HAPPY. While we can't do everything that would make us happy (I'd be eating brunch in Paris right now if we could), if there are things within our reach that would not harm others and would bring joy into our lives, then we should do it. I recently bought a coffee maker to put on my nightstand. I get it all ready before I go to bed, and when I wake up, I need merely extend my arm, push one button, and voila! Morning coffee in bed within three minutes. A silly thing, really, but it makes me so happy to start my day like that. I also like to surround myself with beautiful things. I work from home, unless I'm out in the research field, and so if I'm going to spend the vast majority of my time at home, I want it to be lovely and peaceful and joyous. Lovely, peaceful, and joyous by MY definition, not what anyone else thinks about my home!

What only YOU can decide is whether this backsplash will bring joy into your life, or would whatever struggle you are having regarding spending over $2,000 (including installation) on a backsplash gnaw away at you, diminishing the joy you thought you would derive from the beauty of your kitchen design. I have no dog in this fight. I don't believe there is a right or a wrong answer. I wish for you the clarity of thought as you wrestle with this decision, and I know that whatever you decide will be right for you!

And I second the request that you post pictures of the final outcome! It's truly an elegant kitchen, and I'm dying to see how it all turns out! Happy holidays! :-)

Sincerely,

Debbie

lol Debbie B. -- a coffee maker on the night table. A woman who indeed knows how to enjoy life! I see what you're saying. Maybe I should look around today at a few more tile options at a different store and see if I come up with any other good options. I will definitely post pictures of the final outcome!

reneern99 -- I am thinking along those lines too.

Linelle -- maybe the pictures don't accurately represent the colors, but the cabinets are a soft white, definitely not a white white. I don't think any element stands out more than the other, but it a rather harmonious effect where you appreciate each element but everything works together. I might make a life-sized copy of the tile I like and see what it looks like up there. Also might stop by another tile store today to see what other options I have and if I still gravitate toward this tile, I might take the plunge if the tile store sharpens its pencil a bit. We will see! I appreciate all the suggestions and feedback!

The way I would think of that mural is that it's art. Would you pay $1600 for a piece of art in your home?

The damask border is very pretty. I also thought about framing the copper tile in a herringbone pattern, but you have so many shapes already and the herringbone just adds another, unrelated shape. Does the copper tile come in an arabesque or some other flowing shape that would reference the columns?

I'm not understanding why a mural would be $1600 when the tile is $90/sq ft. You said you have the other tile already so sounds to me like a no brainer if you like it and think it works in the room to use it. Cost seems more like <$500, unless there is something special about the installation about it I'm missing. Of course this assume you have the money to spend.

The tile isn't my style as I don't like fuzzy, so I tried to respond without that bias.

Debbie B you said it so well. Bravo.

doctorroo, if you love it and can afford it then go for it. I guess I am finally at the age where I say, I can afford it, so why shouldn't I enjoy it?

Lyfia -- by the time they factor in the border it adds up! But I am finding that I like the answers that tell me that I will regret not doing it, so I think my gut is telling me to go ahead with it. On the grand scale of things, it's not that much and I picked out everything else based on whether I loved it, not whether it was a good price...

Yay! I can't wait to see it when it's all done. :)

It's beautiful and you need to have it. Can you check other sources for a lower price? The tile I wanted, although only $20 sf, was sold online by another tile store for only $11 a sf so we saved a lot when the local tile store matched the price.

Love love LOVE your granite and copper sink!!! Love your kitchen cabinets! As for the copper backsplash...in my eyes it would detract from the other really awesome features. I think it would dominate and that would be a shame. Can you return the copper tiles? How about a neutral backsplash and use a row of the copper tiles as a liner maybe 10-12" above the counter? Usually a backsplash ties everything together for a cohesive look. I'd want that gorgeous granite and sink front to be the stars :) Having said ALL that, I went against the advice of the majority of replies concerning my husband's bathroom remodel and we absolutely LOVE it! Wouldn't change a thing (except the painter :o)

I would get the tiles you love - but maybe fewer of them. It doesn't have to be the entire backsplash. Perhaps an area in back of the range about 3 x 2 feet would be enough and at 6 square feet, would be $630, expensive but a lot less than $1600.

Your kitchen and the elements you've selected are gorgeous!!!! I would just "Do It". I would hate to have regrets. You know, life is too short and if you are paying for it, you should enjoy/love it since you are the one to live with it and see it everyday.