That's a busy kitchen so I wouldn't use arabesque. Arabeque looks best on its own, not in combination with another tile. I think arabesque was a brief trend a few years ago but I haven't seen anyone use it in quite a while. The Morrocan patterns have waned in design in general. I do like the color of that tile with the granite.

I think you do need a feature under a 48" hood and you'll need to search Houzz for inspiration photos. Typically you'll see subways for the field tile.

Thanks. As I stated, I am still considering subway. I like the classic, clean look of subway tile. I know arabesque is still very trendy, as I see it being sold in every showroom here, but think it's very pretty, and love this color. It may be too much with my granite, though, and as you mentioned, trying to incorporate a focal point above the range makes using it a problem.

Thank you, cpartist. (:
I will have a huge wall of white cabinets, so I'm trying to balance it all. Hard to visualize the bigger scale!

Love the colour combos and also the pattern the arabesque throws into the mix. The curvy edges of the tile sort of soften up the granite in my eye

I have seen that tile at HD. Our local HD has the same color in subway with a few different liners. There is also a Jeffery Court at HD with very similar colors available from HD online. I think the colors matches well. I just don't know if I would like the arabesque. Wait until the granite is in and buy several sheets of whatever you are considering and see if you still feel the same way.

I was considering the same arabesque in antique white, but after realizing that I was spending so much on my granite, I wanted the granite to be the star of the show. The arabesque would be busy and demand more of the attention, even if it was a plain color. I love the arabesque tile and think it really adds a unique touch to a space. If the cabinets and granite is very quiet, it is a very nice touch and highlights a space. If the granite or floor is busy, I think it is a slight distraction.

JMHO

Gayle

My vote is for the subway tile. I think the color combinations you picked are just gorgeous. Less might be more in this case.

A client of ours used arabesque tile in a remodel recently, you can see how they kept the countertops and cabinet color neutral to highlight the backsplash.

www.mrcabinetcare.com

If you have a smartphone you can also use an app to visualize what your kitchen might look like.

Hope that helps!

Personally, I like the arabesque with your granite. I think the muted color would be a nice backsplash that would be noticeable but would not detract from your granite.

I have white arabesque in my kitchen with Carrara marble. I bought them because they seem different and although they are sold in local stores, I hadn't seen them in many kitchens. I've never thought they looked busy, but I never think tiles that are one, soft color look busy.

I knew I wanted the arabesque as soon as I saw them. But, had I not be certain, I would have traced and colored the tiles onto a large piece of paper and taped it to the wall to see how looked. Perhaps, that would help you decide?

I would do arabesque in the hearth area and coordinating subway elsewhere. I don't think arabesque is "out" at all.

Thanks for the input, everyone! I thought I was set on the white subway tile, then I started pondering if a muted- colored subway would look better to tie in the granite and the brown island. Then, having seen the arabesque in showrooms and here on Houzz and loving it's look, I grabbed this piece to bring home and agonize over haha. It's what my husband would call a "High Class Problem". Anyway, here's a couple more pictures, although as a few of you mentioned, seeing it in a larger scale with my cabinet colors, and in my kitchen light sure would make it easier. White cabinet walls' dimensions are 20x14 and brown island is 10'. Thanks, again, and Happy Friday. (-:

^^^ This one is from this morning in natural light.

Try this, I know it's white arabesque, but it's with a granite similar to the one you have chosen.

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-kitchen-with-bianco-antico-granite-contemporary-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~59397[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-kitchen-with-bianco-antico-granite-contemporary-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~59397)

Cory, I love that. So pretty. I got a sample of a sheet of white arabesque a couple of months ago, but they were really small. This scale looks nice! I just noticed this morning in the bright light, that the Fog Arabesque I brought home is my exact wall color. No wonder I was drawn to it. Of course, the backsplash will be completely surrounded by cabinets and countertops, but since this is a great room, having backsplash that "blends" in color like that might make more sense if I'm not really wanting it to compete for attention, but still look pretty.

I love the arabesque (together with your granite) but I wouldn't do a "focal point" in a great room. We also have a great room (literally a huge rectangle, half of which is the living room, 1/4 of which is the kitchen and 1/4 of which is the dining area). We chose to go with small crackle tiles (rectangular). I admire it every time I'm in the kitchen, but it doesn't stand out when I'm not.

If you do the Arabesque, I also don't think you need to do a focal point behind the range. I have 88" of continuous backsplash on my range wall. I used a crackle subway tile that has color variation & color pooling which provides enough interest on it's own. I think the Arabesque can also stand on it's own. Pretty color & crackle.

If you use a grout color that is the same color as your tile it will look nice. Any tile you pick should just add texture to your kitchen, not another focal point. I love the tile you chose, but it needs to be in the background.

Looks very similar to my tile - and my granite (Bianco Antico) is similar too. I love how it turned out - even if it's not trendy anymore. :) (forgive the clutter!)

If you want to use arabesques, I think you need a larger scale than those lantern tiles because of the large hood and island, stacked cabinets, and 10' ceilings. Since your kitchen looks high-end, I would use a high-end ceramic tile, which will be a thicker tile with a richer glaze.

I went a Houzzin' and found a few examples of a bigger scale and beautiful tile.

I didn't realize that your hood cabinets went to the counter, so you could fill the hood area with one tile and use quieter subways for the rest of the kitchen, as shown here.

I would avoid dimensional arabesques like the plague! I think I have a mattress cover that looks like this.

my vote is no arabesque. i agree with mr. cabinet care, less is more. i feel your granite is too busy for a busy B/S like arabesque.

Another vote for the arabesque. And I also like that larger scale tile:

Ha - May -- we posted at the same time!

:)

That is the beveled arabesque, jpmom. It's Beekeeperswife's. When she asked about grout for her second kitchen, with the same arabesque, she almost used the gray grout like in that Brady House photo I posted. Is that ever busy!!

Wow, Mayflowers I love what you found! I wasn't leaning one way or the other but seeing those two middle kitchens especially, is a little swaying. I totally agree about the scale of the sample I picked up. Too small, and I'm not too sure about the crackle, but I love the color. I also think a soft grayish brown would be nice. I like the white, too. Oh, man. I went hog wild making idea boards when I started this project in October, but I have been totally focused on cabinets and design until now, so all of this input is fantastic. Thanks, everyone!!

Both of the smoky tiles are grouted in white yet the shape still looks soft. I just remembered I saved this photo for my kitchen a few days ago and it's the same color with white grout.

arabesque is an old classic design. it's been very trendy now but depending how you apply it and whether it fits your home it be timeless. I would also use a bigger tile given the space and a similar grout color. its will also become a texture as subway tile does and the arabesque will add some softer rounded edges. your colors are perfect..it's going to be really pretty.

Thanks, Isabel. I'm super excited. Mayflowers, that color palate looks so pretty. The grout doesn't look too contrast-y, and flows nicely with the granite. I'm going to save some of those photos you shared earlier and get serious about investigating! I picked my granite slabs out yesterday, and cabinets come next week, so I gotta get moving. (-: