No problem. You granite is so gorgeous, I could look at it forever!

Let us know what you find today. I definitely think you are on the right tract now. I just wanted to reassure you that I think your sink is beautiful and goes very nice with the granite.

I just remembered a tile I had considered in my endless backsplash search. It is from Lowe's. It was called Allen and Roth, Pearl. It is a grey, but I'd describe it as a chameleon.

In some lighting it is more of a warm taupe-grey. And other times I see a hint of a blue undertone. It is almost impossible to tell if it would work without a sample in your kitchen.

It know it came in several sizes. I liked the tile a lot, but the color was just not quite right with my lighting. It's fairly inexpensive, which I loved. I am curious what it would look like with your granite and sink in your lighting?

If you buy a sample pack of 8, I think you have 2 (or maybe 3) months to return it. I know because I've only returned probably 25 samples for my kitchen. I've been ABB for over two years! Hopefully you find something sooner then that. :-)

Like I said, it's hard to tell by a mockup using other people's photos I find because of the lighting. I'll try it anyways as it is fun for me to play with.

Here are the photos off of the Lowe's website. First one is on your slab from the granite yard. Second is with the more yellowish lighting and your sink in your kitchen. I notice your lighting turns your granite a little more golden color.

I edited out your row of samples so they wouldn't distract. Sorry the tile is taking a bath in the sink!

Here it is installed in Carol.33's kitchen. You'll notice how even in her kitchen, lighting and camera angles seems to change the color.

Here is carol's backsplash in your kitchen.

But check out the Lowe's photo of the same tile next to Carol's. It looks like a completely different color right?

I hope you found some great samples today. Let me know if you want me to mock anything up for you. I am dying to see the WZ pipe smoke. How crazy is it that in mayflowers' photo of the pipe smoke it looks on the greenish side, but in real life she said it didn't have any green! See this is why so many of us are ABB!

We are ABB because there's not a great selection of tiles. Oh, you can find photos of gorgeous tile but try to find it in your local tile shop. I did bring samples home for my kitchen though--one of which is the same Sonoma tile I brought home three years ago!

Are we working on your kitchen next, rebunky? ;)

I too was having a hard time deciding on a blacksplash tile. I wanted my granite to stand out. I ended up getting "Whisper Subway tile" http://www.cobsausa.com/COBSA%20Web%20PDFs/whisper.pdf. ( Nothing like I originally invisioned.) The color is Perla. Depending on the lighting, it looks gray or cream. On my monitor, it would look nice with your beautiful granite. They also have a beautiful gray color, which I loved but it was too dark for my kitchen. My DH is still working on the backsplash so I have not posted my completed kitchen yet. But here are a few pics. It is not grouted yet.

Thanks for asking about my kitchen mayflowers. You are so right about the limited selection and staying in ABB. We have the two big box stores, and two smaller tile shops in town. That's it. It seems they never get anything new in either. I have gone back and forth with more samples then I can count. I am sure I bought and returned one or two boxes of the same tile twice because I forgot I already tried it and ruled it out. I'm completely burnt out!

I've had this polished marble called venatino propped up for over a month now. It is not exactly my dream backsplash, but I do like it better then any thing else I've tried. The price is right at under $6/ft and dh likes it as well. I will probably go for it. Of course, I will always dream of one of the encore crackle colors like Romy has or the Fireclay, but it just more then I can spend.

I look forward to seeing your latest samples when you post them in your thread. And of course can't wait to see what mkuyekawa found.

Keagle that look great! You granite looks real similar to hers.

Pretty much decided. Once I accepted that gray was the way to go, thanks to you, it got easier. Narrowed it down to a crackle tile like the WZ grammercy pipe smoke, (but much cheaper $13), and a beveled subway (even cheaper $5). The more I looked the more I decided I preferred the look of the beveled in my kitchen because it looks less "brick-like". Best of both worlds, Sonoma crackle bevel was beautiful, but too expensive for me. ($25 ft).

keagle - I love your BS. If I wasn't already 80% decided I might try to find a sample. Very similar granite!

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. I was really frustrated yesterday and hating it all. Feeling better and hopeful.

Strong Contender.... crackle.

Winner...... I think. Gotta sleep on it.

Good job! I really like the crackle one! I like the bevel tile also, however when I put them side by side then the beveled one looked a little on the pink side. Idk, what do you think?

I see the pink. I like the crackle better.

This is the pipe smoke - not grouted yet. Love it.

It's very dark. Can you take the pic with more light?

nightowl - what size tiles are those?

crackle is nice-has a little something going on to hold it's own with counter, yet no conflict.

I don't want to hog the thread. If I turn all the lights up, the LEDs are playing havoc with my camera and the tiles look either too grey or too green. The shot above, under the halogen, is more true to the color the eye sees. I will try to take some tomorrow during the daylight if I get home from the office soon enough.

The tiles are 2x6. It is the only subway size offered. I think they have 4x4s too.

Another vote for the crackle --- I think it works with the sink better as well.

Bevels add a layer of busyness that you don't need. I also wouldn't use the granite over the stove. It will chop up that small area and leave little side patches of tile.

I would be concerned about the bevel as well and would reevaluate the contender. But, nice you have a decision either way.

OMG you guys are killing me! But I DO appreciate honesty.

That was my initial thought also - regarding that the beveled might look too busy. I thought of tinker1121's kitchen & how pretty her beveled subway tile is. Here are a couple of pictures. Now, I'm wondering if the beveled is too traditional for your kitchen.

It is more common to get split decisions than consensus around here, but I agree with everyone else that the crackle is a better choice than the bevel - I think the bevel looks more brick-like by drawing attention to its shape. And...I hate to break this to you, but choosing the right grout is another thing which can be harder than it seems. (I think you want as little contrast as possible, and matching caulk where bs meets counter). Looking forward to your reveal!

Decision made. Tile ordered. Thank you all so very much!! Crackle it is.

Which tile is that? I love it!

Looks lovely.

Great choice

Yea! I'm so happy for you. It's going to be gorgeous. I cannot wait to see the reveal.

It is Adex Carnegie Hill Grand Street Gray. (Thanks for the suggestion BirchPoint)

For those of you who can spend a little more but don't have many tile stores nearby, I really loved the Sonoma Tile in person and they have so many options. You can get samples online. Worth looking into.

Heavy sigh. The current die lot came in and it has green/sage undertones. Does not work. I think I just may join the ABB crew.

Is this too busy? I found it on houzz...Somertile Artic Craquelle. Even if you don't like this one, I wondered what would happen if you started looking at blue tile rather than gray? (Because of your blue gray sink color). I thought it might be one way to find the right undertone.

Antic Craquelle Mix Ceramic Wall Tile · More Info

Here's another that showed up with that 'blue' search, $5.99 square foot. Country Cottage glass tile. Just a thought... don't give up yet!

Country Cottage Light Taupe 3x6 Glass Subway Tile, Sample · More Info

Oh nooooo! Not ABB! Just out of curiosity, can you post the new sample to show how different and sage green it is next to your granite? I agree green is not going to work well.

Barncatz, nice! That first one while it a little busy with her wild granite actually does have a nice mix of colors that go well with it. That second one certainly goes and at less then $6, that is my kind of price tag.

I have a similar dilemma, not sure of the perfect backsplash. I, like you, have a granite with quite a bit of movement and is on the darker side. I have been thinking about white mother of pearl, to lighten up the darker areas under the cabinet space or possibly a patterned stainless (brushed) tile. Either backsplash will lighten up the wall but isn't to busy as to compete with the granite. I noticed you have been trending toward white, me too. Also considering white glass with a slight shimmer (trying to keep the area light). Just more ideas to consider.

Sorry, I just noticed that you already decided. I missed your post. I like the crackle, please post when you have finished. I would love to see it.

Barncatz might be on to something suggesting blue. I almost went with a gray-blue glass tile. I feel your pain :)

Fireclay has their Foundations line for $15 sq. ft. in several sizes. Go to Products/Tile/Colors/Price Group to see the Foundations line.

Nickel may be too blue but might be worth checking out.

https://www.fireclaytile.com/tile/colors/detail/nickel/

French Linen is "pale gray with a hint of beige".

https://www.fireclaytile.com/tile/colors/detail/french-linen/

Moonshine is a crackled silvery blue.

https://www.fireclaytile.com/tile/colors/detail/moonshine/

Discouraged to say the least. I have spent the last two days working very hard on this and am close to needed to just walk away from it for a while. The problem is the damn sink! Every gray tile seems to clash.

I am going to try the suggestions of picking up the blue although I really am skeptical. Trying to be positive, cheery and open minded but.... argh. I ordered samples suggested by both barncats and mayflower.

I got a number of glass tile samples as suggested by my KD although I was previously resisting those. But again, no color seems to work.

I even went back to looking at creams, against just about everyone's opinion (hey, I'm desperate). Found a creamy crackle tile that I was about ready to pull the trigger on but my BFF, who has style (I don't) says it doesn't look good with my gray floors.

I almost don't care anymore. As it is this kitchen is not at all what I had envisioned. OK, sorry. Just needed to vent. I know I am extremely lucky to have such dilemmas and should be nothing but grateful.

Thanks, you all, for helping.

Maybe increase the budget & look at Sonoma again. I do believe the backsplash, in many instances, can make or break a kitchen. Just ask the multiple people who have actually taken down an installed backsplash & started over. Also, focus more on the countertop & floor than the sink. Do you look across the kitchen & just see the sink? At this point, you probably do. What about an objective view from BFF? Does she think the sink should drive the decision?

ABB is an illustrious club, no shame in joining that at all. I could spend a lot of time one on one with those counters. You will eventually bond with your kitchen, right now you are still in labor and can't enjoy it. I think the gray glass would be terrific, but if a budget increase is necessary it could wait. Installation is a big expense and you are saving A LOT by not buying that twice.

mkuyekawa, if you'd like, I can send you a tile of my backsplash.

keagle I was actually trying to figure out where I can get a sample of that. I haven't been able to track it down. I hate for you to have to go to the trouble if there is a way for me to get a sample online or at a store. I live in L.A. so there are a ton of stores around.....

I would go with an off white glass subway tile.. It will look great without clashing with the granite.

I bought my tile at Cancos, a local NY store. Cancos: Whisper. There is a PDF that shows the tile. They have an 800 #. Maybe they can give you more info. At the bottom of the PDF they say that this product may be marketed under different names. Here are pictures of the box:

Hi MK

I was wondering if you decided on a backsplash.

Hi There,

Thank you for asking. I did finally choose backsplash. After probably 50 samples, we finally went with a gray glass. Not what I would have envisioned but so many of the samples that I thought would look good, didn't. Here's a quick photo. The kitchen is a mess because I am just starting to put things in the cabinets, YAY!

Perfect choice! Looks great!

It really is the perfect choice. In fact I like it better than the crackle you originally chose because your kitchen feels more transitional than traditional, and the crackle read more traditional. Well done.

Beautiful - it really compliments your granite & cabinetry. I don't remember noticing the granite window ledge - very nice touch.

I love it. It looks great! It's funny, gray glass was my vision for my kitchen and I ended up with something else. Enjoy!

Can you tell me the manufacturing/color of the grey glass that you chose?

Arizona Tile https://www.arizonatile.com/en/products/glass/islandia-glass

Thanks!

Oh Mkuyekawa I love your kitchen and the final tile you choice you made. We just purchase our Amarone slab today for our island (83" x 63").

Did you end up using part of your slab behind your stove top? I'd love to see a picture.

Tayler... it’s so funny, you have me re-living all of this. We didn’t end up using the granite behind the stove, but we still have the piece that would go there. Makes me want to hold it up and see what I think again.