something with a horizontally inserted contrast tile for interest if you want subway. Mosaic would have been nice up against the smooth dark door style for contrast and texture but could be too difficult to find a mosaic that works with the patterned counter...altho you never know...you just have to look... Square tiles on the diagonal might work , with insertion of contrasting tiles..metallics....color ??

I understand the desire to bring color into a neutral space. But you've chosen a counter surface with a lot of movement and cabinets with a very prominent color - nothing about this space fades into the background. In this case color might best be reserved for accent pieces that can be changed at will, as opposed to a bs that you're mounting with mortar.

Buy a blue KitchenAid mixer, cobalt kitchen towels and vases, Fiestaware dishes, but consider sticking with a more neutral bs.

That said, neutral doesn't have to mean plain! You can choose amazing shapes, and hand glazed tiles with lots of color variation. What is your tile budget in $/SF?

These are Fireclay Tile glazes Sand Dune and Sugar on either side of you counter material. Sand Dune is warmer, but both hues can be found in your counter.

I appreciate the comments.

Eam44, I really like the idea of using the contrasting colors with accent pieces. I was hoping to keep the cost around $15 s/f. I will post a picture of some tile that we got from home depot. I believe it's called heirloom clay. It very much resembles the fireclay tiles sand dune that you recommended.

fopoil1983 -- Those look very similar to the tile I picked up from Lowes: Allen+Roth Pearl, and I absolutely loved them for my kitchen except GWers and I feel subway just isn't right for my kitchen. But it's such a beautiful tile, and you can't beat the price.

I just noticed you and I have the same pulls. :)

ETA: the 4x12s are $1.48 each. So, what's that -- $4.44/sf? Sheesh...

Javiwa, I was hoping you would respond. I wanted to thank you as your kitchen was a big influence!!! Your gray/brown cabinets with the Amerock Candler hardware!!! The cabinets I chose are a good bit darker but the hardware was just what we were looking for. For the hutch area we went with the big appliance pulls. Everytime I walk by I have to open and close the drawers. I think they look fantastic although very expensive.

Whoa...awww, gosh. Never imagine I'd see that day when my accidentally thrown together kitchen inspired anyone. And even down to the Lowes tile, fopoil! Your cabs are perfect with your counters. And, yes, giant pulls! :)

If you plan on painting the walls, please let me know what color you end up with. I'm certain that'll be my next challenge.

And do I spy a sample sf of the Floor N Decor elongated hex?! ;) I'll live vicariously through your reveal/progress pictures as I don't know when ours will be completed.

They are lovely, the color looks good from here, and the size is nice, modern looking. have you googled images of kitchens with your counter and dark cabinets? An inspiration image is worth 1000 words.

Javiwa, there aren't many kitchens that can't use subway tiles. You might have fallen for a different look, but from what little I see, that was a nice field tile. The hex will be lovely too...

quick mock up. The tile was found from a google search. Your tile samples were too hard for me to photoshop.. Beautiful kitchen by the way :)

(fopoil: please pardon the quick hijack)

eam -- Those hexes may present such design/installation challenges that we may end up with the subways. I haven't closed the door to anything yet -- first need to get the tops squared away. TY so much.

Eam---yes I have done searches for similar looking kitchens. I'm thinking that subway tiles will probably look best. Wasn't really crazy about the heirloom clay tiles at first but I've been sitting at my peninsula (for way too long) and they are growing on me and I think they will look very good installed.

Mrsshayne--thank you for the mock up!!!

Javiwa--uhhh, paint color will be next. We have a few colors in mind so far but will be testing a couple out maybe later tonight. And no problem going off topic as I am as well right now.

I recall reading one of your posts about you countertop installation being a disaster with the huge gap between the counter and wall. I had a similar issue although not as bad and my dad fixed it. He ended up opening up the drywall and shimming it out to close in the gap. Not sure if this will work in your situation. I will post pics below.

Before

After

fopoil1983,

You have got beautiful cabinets. Do you mind sharing the series for these DS cabinets ? Are they Alectra or Bria?

Thank you,

Mindy

I like the Heirloom Clay.

What are you going to do about tiling your peninsula countertop past the end of the wall cabinets? Mine ends 12" from the cabinet and I know I don't want a big block of tile extending past that cabinet. Yours looks like it's even more than 12".

That's great Photoshopping! If you have an inspiration image it'd really help to see it. Especially as far as accent tiles go, there are just too many directions to head in otherwise. You also get to think about the area behind the stove, etc... It's all coming together so nicely.

Thanks for the visual & suggestion, fopoil. Looks like yours is a large span of wall to have been able to shim forward. Below is the main area in question. Red represents the 1/2" wide filler stone they glue in, fingers crossed the whole way. The left arrow represents the piece running all along the length of my 5' window: centerpiece of my kitchen! As you can see to the right, there's just no way to pull that section of wall forward -- cabinets are attached top and bottom.

Sahai6-- they are the Bria series

Mayflowers--I think we will be ending the backsplash when the upper cabinets end.

Eam--don't really have an inspiration image. Haven't really found anything that we really love. We will be taking the backsplash up around the range hood.

The safe, conventional thinking says probably white/very light tile would be simplest. If you want some colour, you can throw in some accent tiles interspersed either randomly or symmetrically in the tile picking up some other colour in the kitchen.

Or you could highlight some feature of the kitchen with the coloured or other special tile (behind the sink, range, etc—usual suspects) and then use accents based on that tile. For instance I put red behind my range, white everywhere else, and then stuck a small piece of the red tile in random spots around the wall.

These guys even put red accents in the floor!

Contemporary Kitchen · More Info

Seems like the hutch could be a great place to get more creative, too. I would break it up with either a horizontal (to continue the horizontal shelves) or vertical (to contrast the shelves) direction. I would do broad strokes, though. Vertically divided into thirds with the center swath being the fancy or colored tiles and the sides being more reserved.

But that's just me. I'm more interested in personality these days. Sometimes Houzz seems like the TV show "What not to wear". Everything is certainly tasteful, but everyone seems to be dressed the same.

Joe

Loving the kitchen so far. I rather like the heirloom clay. BTW you are going to love that big sink!

Another one liking the heirloom clay. Can't wait to see your reveal.

Looks good to me! Love it. As for color, it may be best to leave color for pieces that are temporary (mixer, dishes etc.) If permanent materials become too color specific, it could impact resale.

fopoil1983 - do you think your photos accurately capture the color of your cabinets? I am considering the Dura Supreme smoke - but my cabinet place only has the tiny sample ... and I can't find *any* photos online of a finished kitche with the maple. Are the cabinets as dark as they appear in your photos? (lovely kitchen, by the way)

Sharon, yes I would say that the pictures are true to the actual color we see.

We had issues with some of the cabinet doors, crown and light rail not being the same color. I've heard that maple is difficult to stain and if we had to go back would have chosen a different wood.

fopoil1983 thank you so much! Interesting about the colors not matching. Definitely something to consider! I will say that compared to the little 5x5" sample I brought home, the cabinets look a lot darker.

Enjoy your beautiful space in the best of health!

fopoil: I don't know how I missed your post -- your kitchen turned out beautiful! What tile did you end up using under your main cabinets in the pics above? And what undercab lighting (color temp?) did you pair with them? It all looks perfect. We have some Ultra Bright Whites from InspiredLED, tacked up temporarily; but I find they're too bright/glowing -- I always have to dimmer them down to the least bright in the evenings. And I'm trending back towards a white subway or mosaic hex. TIA.