I'll be the first to vote. I like #1 the best.

#1 for me too.

The 4x8 works well.

4x8's get my vote, too.

4x8

I like the 4x8 best, and like the 3x12 least.

4x8

If it helps to avoid slivers, I think you can start tiling right under the cabinet. That's what we recommend in kitchens, though you have a slightly different situation with the angled peninsula. But to my eye the strip of painted wall to the counter looks fine.

I like the 4x8 but....your tiling job is neater on that one! I don't know if that fact is swaying me some. The '"grout" lines are way wider on the 3x6 than what they would be IRL. Great visuals though to help you decide.

Thank you all. Unanimous? Has this ever happened in the land of GW?? :)

My DH hasn't seen it yet. He liked the 3x12. This might be a nice classic compromise!

Lol RNmomof2...I did the 3x6 this am before work at 6 am...while cutting the 3x12 'tiles' in half.

4x8

I agree with the rest. The 4 x 8 really does look the best!

My dh..."so this tile is different than the one that was up this morning when I left?"

Do you see why I need help? Lol.

He likes this one too.

Bless his heart (and all of theirs). I like 4x8, too.

I like the 3" x 6" as they are more of a background than a noticeable element. The bigger or more elongated sizes look sort of chunky.

FWIW I think you need even something even smaller, although that was not your question. When selecting fabrics one tries to select patterns with different scales, e.g. small prints, large prints, something in between. The same is true for a kitchen, a balance is needed between the shapes. That's why I like the smaller tiles for your kitchen, you need some contrast between the doors, the stiles, the expanse of counter.

Mmmmmnow Kswl has me on the fence. I love the look of small tiles too! In this case though, the priority is getting the white right.

Ok I think we can all (most) agree that the 3x12 just aren't doing it.

Kswl2...you've given me something to think about.

And tib...I agree. And we diy what we can, but even my dh says.."I'll go to work and make money at what I'm good at doing and pay the expert what he's good at doing." because it would take us 20 x longer to do something like tiling, and look about 1/10th as good as our tile guy could do.

looking at all three., i think it depends on what kind of "feel" u want in the kitchen...to me the 3x12's kind of flow with your cabs, if u know what i mean...4x8's more visual interest and 3x6's even more visual interest. do u want more serene, flowing then 3x12's....somewhat of a statement (busy)....4x8's....more of a statement (busier)then 3x6's.... i prefer the 3x12's, then 4x8's.....3x6's not at all.... it just depends on your vision and what U like best.., that's why there are so many different opinions., its what appeals to each person... i know that sounds like a cop-out but in this case i think it applies....

for other questions on GW, there is a right & a wrong, this case, not so much.... good luck!!!

What are you going to do with the grout? Will you be choosing a color to blend with the tiles so the tile wall will be a texture feature? Or will you be using a contrasting grout? Contrasting grout will make choosing the size and pattern much more important.

I still like the classic 3x6 the best. I don't like the 3x12 at all. The 4x8 i second choice.

ETA: I would use a very light grout to diminish the grout lines. I am having the floor in my powder room done next week at my tile guy recommended the lightest grey as the white often leans to the yellow side.

"And we diy what we can, but even my dh says.."I'll go to work and make money at what I'm good at doing and pay the expert what he's good at doing." because it would take us 20 x longer to do something like tiling, and look about 1/10th as good as our tile guy could do."

Yep. Wait 'til you see my diy jury-rigged, "What the heck happened here?", weaving and wobbing homeowner special brick backsplash. :-(. It shall be referred to as "quaint" and/or "charming" from hereon!

Or I'll just tell people I was drunk when I did it ;-). Yeah, that's it!

Now I greatly prefer the 4x8 tiles!

Wow, this has become quite the discussion! If I were doing it over again, I would stay with the 4x8. BTW, mine is beveled, not flat. As far as the cut at the top, I don't notice it since I have white grout. Here it is at the hood.

This is leaning down and looking under the cabinet.

This is standing up normally. I don't think the trimmed pieces at the top jump out at you.

I used a schluter strip on the end to finish the tile.

Hope this helps. Any of your choices will be fine-it's just personal taste.

3x6

4x8

4 x 8's is my vote (although the 3 x 6's don't look bad), I think the 3 x 12's run too far into MCM territory for your kitchen.

And still waiting for pics of your tile job, Tibb. ;)

4x8.

Aren't husbands wonderful? Mine put my white duvet cover on the bed on Sunday. Upside down. The good side is a tone on tone white stripe. The underside is basically a solid white cotton sheet. He argued with me for 2 days over whether there was such a thing as an up or a down.

Husbands are just so darn special :) Mine tends not to argue too much. There's a saying in my house. "Mom is always right!"

I've really been thinking about scale and kswl2's comment.

I'd like to do a grout in just a touch darker than the tile. Not super contrasting, but being able to differentiate the tiles. I don't just want a white wall.

I came into the house today from the garage/mud room, and the first thing I see are the tiles. I'm thinking the 4x8's might be too clunky.

I need to give it some time. Over the past week I've decided that each of the sizes were perfect, at different times. But no 3x12. That I've decided on. I have a dream house I stare at (been for sale forever...and they have 3x6's in different colours). I wouldn't do that, but 3x6 might be it. I'll cut out new papers and see. My last 3x6s weren't great as RNmomto2 mentioned. I wasn't feeling it. But I'll give it another shot.

Thanks all!!

I'm working on my backsplash too and came across this photo of 4x8 tile. It's in a small area and I think the scale looks fine. I think the more lines you have, the more fussy it gets with your speckled counter. She was able to put this with a beadboard soffit and still not have too much going on.

Transitional Kitchen · More Info

3x12 follows the same dimensions as the wall.

I like the 3x12 best, even though you've ruled it out. The 4x8 is the most boring and looks boxy.

3 x 6.