love the green tile, and hate to say it but love the whitish paint for walls-the sample strip to the right of oak sample . Try some different greens for the tile-that one is good saturation -seems about right... and the whiter walls as a backdrop sets it off. You could stop looking I think.

I agree with herbflavor.

I find the white tile rather jarring to my eye. Love the green tile though! I also love colour on my walls, so maybe a not-so-white backsplash? Sorry I'm not more helpful. I know it's a tough choice.

I also prefer the shade of green in the tile over the 1st picture's green paint, and like both of the paint samples with a hint of blue and a hint of yellow. White walls will work, of course, but I tend to like more color. One option could be to use white on the wall and a hint of color on the ceiling. Or one of the colors on the wall with the white trim -- just match the shade of white to the white in your stone if you can, as long as it also looks right with your other color undertones.

I picked all of the warmer whites that I could find; the ones that weren't stark white. Other than that, the tiles go into cream or beige, or gray. I also have some Seneca tile pavers for a very rustic look. I thought I would love it, but I like the "regular" tile better.

That bottom green tile is Trikeenan in Leaf Peeper, and is a matte crackle. It's very bright in person, but I really like it so far. I have Winchester tile samples on order, but those now look blah next to the Trikeenan.

I'm not feeling either of these looks really. Sorry. It looks too harsh to me. The white is way to cold against the black, then you have the warmer cabinets. It just doesn't blend well to me. Have you looked at light grey crackle subway? Or an off white? I think light gray crackle subway with light sage green walls would look nice.

I'm with mark_rachel on the gray crackle subway tile. love that with your cabinets and counters

I like the green tiles and the paint swatch on the bottom left of the tile sample. On my monitor they appear to be in harmony.

I am a big chicken when it comes to committing to color, like in cabinets or tile, but I always seem drawn to it.

You'd have some good neutrals to balance out the green tiles in your walls, cabs & countertops.

I'm with amck2. I love the green tile. Of the paint chips in the photo, the bottom left seems to go the best. What is that color?

For the trim maybe one of the lightest of the warm whites on the paint strip just to the right of the wood sample.

I'll pile on and add my vote for the green tile. We often hear advice to go neutral on everything in case we should "tire" of it, but I believe if you love color, you love color, and won't tire of it.

I have some gray tile, so I staged a bunch more shots. I've had a darker gray tile from Lowe's for a couple of months, and when I pulled it out the other day, I was surprised that my husband said he liked it. I also brought home two bluish/grayish samples (one full board, the other just a tile). Will post the rustic brick shots next. These might actually work as a not-quite-white. Though I'll have to see if they look more blue when it gets dark.

Here is the greenish tile I ordered samples of, but they will take a week to get here:

And a different Winchester tile that is grayish/greenish, but very wavy-looking:

And... the rustic tile. I love this one, but am not sure it would like right in this house, which was built in the 70's. Also, might be too dark. However, if we used this one, we'd probably add dragonfly or ginko leaf accent tiles in one of the glazes in the photos.

Hi Pip! I think nancyjwb is right on! I've often wondered how many people get neutrals in colors they really don't want because they're so worried about ROI (which certainly may be a legitimate concern) or because the conventional wisdom is to play it safe in case you get tired of the color down the road? If you don't like the neutrals in the first place, you're already tired of it from the get-go! I'm not necessarily talking about you in particular, Pip, just making a general observation.

None of the samples you've shown us are crazy wild or way out there. In my opinion, they're closer to neutral than to Wow! COLOR! Lol! :-). I'm not going to add to the mix by telling you my favorite, because the other posters, imo, are more qualified than I when it comes to kitchen design, color palette included. I'll just say I really like those dragonfly accent tiles! I know that whatever you choose will be beautiful, and I can't wait for the reveal!

Have a great day! :-)

I really the color of this last tile - it makes your countertop pop & the tone of the green looks good with your wood. The tile hunt can be sooo frustrating but you will find the right one.

You are on the right track with the green. I would stay away from the grayish greens as they really don't complement your cabinet color.

You don't have to rule out green for the walls if you have a green backsplash.

Oh, that last one would have me doing my happy dance! I'd never get tired of looking at it. I love that a lot! More then the first green crackle. Please tell us what brand that is. I love the way some of the edges even have the brownish color that matches the QS oak. With oak, I prefer the more rustic almost handmade pottery look of that tile. I didn't care for the really shiny, wavy one with it at all.

I think the second green tile is the right tone. I have all cherry in my kitchen and living room and sampled dozens of green paint. I found that an olive paint with a little yellow undertone looks best with red toned woods. I have some black accessories--lamps and pottery--and they look really good with a brighter green. I also needed the yellow base to brighten the room since it faces north. I didn't like the blue based greens or anything too grayed down. I really wouldn't like them with your dark oak and black counters.

rebunky -- it's SenecaBrick Blends in Little Pine. We both love it. But we're worried it will make our kitchen much too dark. It was really dark tonight. We'll be adding a lot of light to the room, including under cab, so maybe it would be OK.

I'm going to see if I can get the next color down from the bright green tile...though it doesn't have the gorgeous texture and general feeling of the Seneca.

I like the first grey tile you posted. I actually think it goes well with the tone of the counter. It's definitely a less traditional look, but I guess I find myself being drawn to a more transitional style personally. I also like a light palate generally so the greens with the dark counter and cabinets are more dark than I'd like, but agree with others who found the white too stark.

Here's a picture I had saved in your color palate that has a sort of off white subway tile.

And here is one I found with gray, but green does seem to be a very popular choice.

I would match the walls to the tile color. The green tile is terrific in your first sample.

Pip, remind us of your style. QS oak usually leans more traditional or craftsmen, but with modern finishes and shaker or slab doors I think it can be transistional too. Can you post your inspiration kitchen?

I found jaymielo's kitchen reveal. It was from a while back, but I still love it. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2700233/infinite-thanks-we-are-finished?n=70

Here I did a mockup of your two green tiles next to eachother with more of the oak. I put BM white dove at the very top as a possible trim color. Hard to see it. The light green was that one swatch in the lower left of that photo above. I like it next to the Seneca but not the Leaf Pepper.

I can completely understand your concern with kitchen being too dark. That is a good idea to get the next lighter shade to compare. Like in jaymielo's, they look to have a ton of natural light and the cabinets are a little lighter then yours.

I think I remember you said you would most likely wait to order the backsplash until after your cabs are installed. I cannot stress enough the wisdom in that. I would definitely wait until you can see the whole picture.

randomgirl1 -- I love that first picture! It's especially helpful because I pictured moving the dark green color from the upper glass doors to the backsplash, and think it would be a completely different look and feel. Dark and gloomy.

rebunky -- I'm aiming for transitional. We have a lot of mission-style furniture, but keep things bright and airy. Knowing this, the dark green tile is just too dark (Seneca). The next ligter one is minty; I have that sample and don't like it. I'll try to get the next darker from the bright green one (Trikeenan).

I still do like the original choice, but now my husband thinks it's "blah" after seeing the others, LOL. It's a taupe-ish green, but all online photos show it as just tan. Meanwhile, the Winchester PDF shows it as quite green (second pic).

This is one of my inspiration kitchens:

I also really love the recent reveal:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3733633/finished-the-kitchen-craftsman-style-quartersawn-oak

I had oak in our last house and it really does go so well with the green family - IMO - and I am not a color savvy girl so that is my disclaimer. Even note that in randomgirl1's pics that first one has a green kettle on the stove it just looks like it belongs there and not really in a pop of color sort of way. They have a harmony about them or something - color but it's still warm and soothing.

If I had to vote I'd go with your more green selections vs the gray/green and the white would be a distant third based upon the pics you have posted as inspirations and what you have written about your likes/dislikes. I don't think the white does much for the quarter sawn oak or your counter. The green however I feel more harmonizes the space in a complimentary way without yelling at you.

My husband asked a few days ago whether we should consider natural stone. I found a falling water lineal slate photo that looks nice... But would it be too much with the wood grain and veining in the granite?

When I said the second green tile was better, I meant the green tile in the second photo in your original post. Side by side in rebunky's mock-up, I still prefer that one over the rustic one, which has more blue in it.

I haven't read all the responses, so I may end up repeating someone's opinion.

First, I much prefer the green tile to the white (or other neutrals).

Second, why does colorful tile mean you need to have a neutral wall (or vice versa). Why can't you have BOTH? Not that I'm suggesting you go crazy. Pick your tile, and then look at green paints a few shades lighter, and maybe a bit more grayed out. Not totally matchy-matchy to the tile, because you want some contrast, but still something that clearly reads green and not beige, greige, or gray.

I'm not good enough with color to give you advise. I just wanted to emphasize that be careful taking advise over the internet like this. Different monitors show color differently. A green tile on Rebunky's monitor will look different than on cawap's than one mine, yada yada. For best color selection, you really should wait until your cabinets and counters are in, get samples, than view them in person in all different types of lighting in your kitchen (morning, afternoon, evening, all artificial lights on, just with all natural light) and note how each tile looks in different lighting conditions. We can't see your tile choices in your actual lighting conditions so the best folks can do here is pick the tile and color that looks best on their monitor. This doesn't mean advice from here is going to be bad. I think a lot of people have given you great tips to consider for choosing but, in the end, the choice really needs to be done by people who can see it in person.

If the backsplash isn't done for some weeks or months after the kitchen is finished in order to give you time to make the best choice, no big deal. We even have an acronym here: ABB (All But Backsplash) because so many people do a reveal without backsplash and then come back and show what they'e chosen later. And sometimes it is months later.

So don't pressure yourself for a quick decision.

After a day with it, my husband really loves the bright green tile! I still want to see one shade darker, and I ordered some Vermeere samples because they have a wide array of greens. But I think I'd be happy with this green. I love the finish, too. Not quite glossy, not quite matte.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/crocus-hill-kitchen-craftsman-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~3317777

I like the first tile in the Friday 1:51 pm post. So many good choices. You are going to have a beautiful kitchen.

I figured out that the green Trikeenan tile is a near-perfect match for Benjamin Moore Agave. I ordered some large color sheets so I can tape them up like a backsplash.

The bright one that we really like is Leaf Peeper, but the tile shop had another sample of it that was granny smith yellow-green. I ordered my own sample, and it matches the granny smith one (not the more-green grouted one I have in the pics above).

I was also able to get the next shade darker, and like it a lot. It's the color that I was hoping the Lavenham would be. My husband still needs to see it. I also love the Basil and Kelp samples from Fireclay, but they are so much more expensive. Here's what I have so far:

LilyPad looks nice.

I like the lily pad color also. I also wondered if there was some way to design in the oak leaf small square insert and maybe a liner or some type of accent tile in that basil color. The color of the oak leaf and basil subway seem to match perfect on my screen. Also the lighter color in the oak leaf square seems to match well with the lily pad. Just a thought....don't ask me how to pull it off! :-)

Another vote for the Lily Pad, and I agree it would work with the green oak leaves (which I like better than the bronze).

You said: "I was also able to get the next shade darker, and like it a lot. It's the color that I was hoping the Lavenham would be." Not sure I understand -- which was "the next shade darker?" I assume you mean darker than the Leaf Peeper (which had turned out to be granny smith apple green), but which one is the "next shade?"

Lily Pad is the next shade darker from Leaf Peeper.

My husband is open to expanding our budget for the Fireclay Basil, too. This is all making my head spin!

I would do the lily pad with the dark green leaf inserts. It will be absolutely smashing.

My husband wants to go for the Fireclay in Basil! It's stunning IRL...but the frugal person in me wants to find a less expensive alternative...

I like the Basil. It's got a touch of olive like Lily Pad. I liked the bronze deco but now that I see it with the black counter, I don't like it. I'd skip the deco unless you're doing a traditional A&C kitchen.

I have to agree AGAIN with May. The Basil is perfect with both the cabinet color & your countertop. I love the slight color pooling on the edges. You don't need the decos. The tile will be interesting enough on its own. Don't be frugal - you have found the perfect tile. Congratulations!

That is one gorgeous tile.

I love that last photo of the Fireclay basil even better then the one before. I like how it seems to be a tad lighter. It's perfect, perfect, perfect! Please go for it. I know that Fireclay is spendy, but it really will make the whole kitchen.

While I don't mind the bronze ginkgo, I'm going to side with the others in that there is something I don't love about it with the granite. If you want an accent tile, I would try that green oak leaf and just do one here and there randomly. In the photo above it seemed to match the basil perfectly. Does it irl?

I would prefer any accent relief tile to not draw the eye so much as that bronze. If it's mostly the same green color, you would still see the design for a fun surprise, but it wouldn't distract away from admiring the subtle variations in that gorgeous green Fireclay. I either like that idea, or else doing just all the green field. It really is the perfect color with your cabinets.

Did I post this photo on your other thread? I had saved it for you, but I cannot remember if I did.

Looks pretty close right? Oh I'm so excited for you. Are you and hubby doing the happy dance?

I love the Basil, too, probably just by itself. Fireclay tile is so beautiful. What a lovely kitchen!

You may have to bite the bullet and go for the Basil. It just looks so much more sophisticated, timeless, classy.

However, I'd probably skip the accent as pretty as it is. Based on my experience, every time I went for accent tiles, I regretted it after a few years. I wonder if there's a way to get a separate board or, e.g. for behind your range with those accent tiles, which you could remove once you don't like the accents anymore.