I love all the selections, but think the pendant might compete with the backsplash.

I like the colors in the tile but the style is wrong with a soapstone and mission look imo. I could see doing a similar idea with 2 x 4 or standard subway tile in a mix of muted colors in a hand-glazed tile. I don't think crackle is right either.

Which muted colors? I'm open to all ideas!

Maybe more like this?

Stained Shaker Kitchen, Lexington, MA · More Info

I like both of the gray blues in your first choice but it would seem you would only want a little blue if hubby doesn't like blue so much. Otherwise you could use both blues and another color--what, I'm not sure. You'd have to go to a tile shop that stocks a few lines with a lot of color choices and play around with tiles. Fireclay Nickel seems close in color.

Are you doing a traditional kitchen or will it have some contemporary elements like the above kitchen, ie chimney hood, bar pulls? My own feeling is that skinny mosaics are on the way out because they appear in every model home, Home Depot, in remodels where nothing is changed but the counter and backsplash. Maybe not "out" but unimaginative. I like your ceramic mosaic though. In general I prefer ceramics and they seem best suited for a soapstone look and Mission elements. If you wanted to go true Mission, you'd use square tiles, but you're probably shooting for updated Mission.

Do you have a layout you can share? It helps to know how much tile your kitchen needs.

He actually really likes the blue. This is not the shade he dislikes (and the one he dislikes is only when paired with brown).

We'll have bar pulls and a taller undercabinet hood (18", I think?).

Too true about skinny mosaics. I might get sick of them in a few months! We both really like the longer subway tiles, other than 3x6.

I like the 2 x 6 or 8 for a less traditional look. Sounds like that will be a good size to focus on to help narrow down your choices. I like the mottled color in that sample too. You'd need a neutral to go with the blues.

If you like accent tile, that mosaic would be nice with a solid field tile. Maybe used under the hood. Are there subways in that tile?

I really like the last pic you posted. That tile is beautiful, and really works with your other choices and the feel you're going for. While I agree that long skinny mosaics seem to be on their way out, this one doesn't quite have that feel to me. Maybe because it's not glass (I think), or because the proportions are a little less elongated. To me, if you're going to do a range of colors, small sizes are actually better, because from a distance they blend into more of a texture, like the one you posted, rather than remaining distinct blotches, which I think a larger subway would do. You could get a similar effect from small square or hex mosaic if you want to stay away from rectangles (maybe that one comes in different shapes.) That tile is a bit dark, though. Whether it's too dark would depend on the lighting in your space and how much of it you would be using.

That mosaic could be slate.

My sister has slate subway tiles with black granite and it's really pretty and homey. It warms up her white cabinets with a natural material. Her island top is cherry. I don't remember her tile having much orange though.

It's probably close to this though it doesn't look this busy in a subway.

Contemporary Kitchen · More Info

I don't like the skinny mosaic look. It's ,I don't of dated IMO and doesn't go with the more classic cherry/soapstone look. I'd do a subway shape. I have 3x9 subways and love the look.

i also worry about how dark the space will be with darker cabs and counters.