Ok, time to consider a few things.

> lovely granite, lot of movement, some may call busy, but not

> important is how you move forward, since 100 year old house

> great cabinets, white uppers, dark lowers

> why not consider a light grey glass subway tile, to blend with granite

> a very traditional tile, but sleek with the granite

> glass tile has a translucent quality, sophisticated with what you have

Run the tiles horizontal, not vertical. Consider changing the wall color, looks camel/gold tone on my screen, which may fight with the cool tones of the balance of the hardscape. What are the floors? Can you send other pictures of the kitchen?

Sorry, those pebbles look like a shower floor. They are not in keeping with a 100 year old home.

You'd be wise, and less likely to make an expensive mistake, if you used white subway tile over the whole backsplash. No accent stripes or pebbles.

This will give you a clean look that works with the age of your home and the more modern features like the range hood. White will also look fabulous with your counters.

I'm afraid you're heading in the wrong direction. The pebbles and the stone are too busy for your granite. They will detract. They are way too both busy.

its a shame, really, about the pebbles and shower floors. i think the pebbles are really quite attractive for a wall somewhere in an 'antique' kitchen, as my grandmother had a stone wall in her very genuinely old kitchen.

but they do not suit your counter, so that is that, in any case.

Beautiful granite. Stick with subway, very pale gray glass is perfect...be very picky and get a mock-up board to stand on the counter so you can view it for several days before deciding. Are you aware that the range hood will have to be removed before tiling?

Hello again Nancy.....it appears others are re-stating my suggestions. This is a good thing. Good luck but still would like to see pictures of the rest of the kitchen. Happy New Year to All!

I agree that the colour looks like a Tuscan yellow, unfortunately that was the theme I was following 6 years ago when we started this project. Since we got the granite Iam leaning towards a more taupe, brown, ivory and stainless or grey theme. I agree with all the suggestions about the pebble one, that will not be used. The tile in the picture is a mix of ivory, grey and sometimes even brown depending on the tile. I find white is too white. Iam not a grey person so to do a grey subway is not my first choice. Thanks for all the input. Iam going to keep searching!

I think you will be happy with Kendall's suggestion....I think it will be too busy, otherwise Good LucK!

Kendall Parker FTW. Keep it elegant, simple and light. Can't go wrong. The pebbles will make your head spin after awhile.

When you do tile the B/S it would be a huge boost to your kitchen if you could move some or all of the electrical outlets.

Some ideas that could make the kitchen look less cluttered.

Under cabinet lighting and electrical strip.

Charging station hidden in drawer.

Just want to mention one thing. Vertical subway tiles are very modern not transitional or in keeping with a 100 y/o home.

If you wanted a look that was slightly different than subway this is very pretty.

OM Gosh, love the bead board ceiling, in keeping with the 100 year old house. Nancy you have the advantage, since hard to determine colors on screen. If a taupe color for the backsplash as opposed to grey works, do it. Consider the wall paint, and pull a brighter color, but cool contrast. to flow with your current hardscape. Consider a cool blue, periwinkle, or a mellow green.....all depends on what is in the rest of the adjoining space.

I really like the traditional subway tile idea and horizontal not vertical

This tile is the lighter version of the tile I showed earlier

I love the idea of a light blue, even a taupe blue or a grey blue, thanks!!

Too much with counter. Go solid, 1 tile all the way.

Hello Nancy, be very careful here. Although I love the look, the above tile has an iridescent quality. It may "fight" with your granite? If you had a white, grey, or taupe solid quartz color for the countertops, that would be a different story and gorgeous. . Don't overthink this. Simple works and is elegant.

I think the iridescent look is the plastic covering the tile. I will keep looking I promise.

This is so similar to many Houzz Dilemmas. Technically, the tiles match but when you get them on the wall and the busy patterns collide you're going to regret not letting the granite counters be the show-stopper.

That one kind of works for me, but I can't see the colors like you can.

Nancy, Find. A. Plain. Tile. Subway is best. Glass is pretty but may not look best in farm house style.

By adding a patterned backsplash you are wearing striped pants and a checked top. The colors all match, but you should not do it!

Your patterns will compete. Don't do it. Go with plain. Cream or white to match your cabinets. and grout to match the tiles.

Read this blog....

http://mariakillam.com/loveyourinstallation/

Kathi - don't encourage everyone to conform to your limitations. There are many ways to skim a tree. I'm dancing in that outfit right now. IMlLOL!!

I wear that combo many a day, especially on cleaning day. But never (okay, rarely) out in public.

I just want her to love her kitchen. Remember, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts - Aristotle.

nice kitchen. I'm throwing out some dark horses for you. meaning 'different'.

yep! I clean in my robe because once i get dressed, I don't want to.

There is color variation in the countertop. That is why I would do a solid color backsplash.

Houzz is filled with people who don't like their backsplash. Please be aware that most people responding here are not designers. Best to follow the advice of the professionals. Also, I would bring in a kitchen designer to help with this decision. Enjoy!

You guys are so funny. I wanted to go subway tile, but what colour? Please any other colour then grey. I think that would bring me down. I do want to be happy in my kitchen but I also plan on selling in about 6 years so sometimes I just want to make do. So what I am hearing is you think I should stick to a plain, no pattern tile, preferably a subway tile, grey or white- which I think would not work with my kitchen as it is right now, but I am happy to look for an off white one, which I have to say is very difficult to find for some reason, everything today is black, white or grey. Remember I want the kitchen to be somewhat traditional, as it is a 100 year old house. Thanks for all your input! I am back to the drawing board looking for another tile. I promise I will not put up that tile, although, if you were standing in my kitchen with me right now, it looks pretty good up against the wall- it is pretty close to the colour of my countertop but it also looks grey to me it really depends on the light. I have a very bright kitchen.

Nancy, does your granite have cream tones? These two pictures are of white sand granite. Which one does your granite correspond to? Here is an informational article on how to pick a cream tile to go with your counter top. I am not suggesting cream, can't tell what true colors your granite is from my monitor, just the info might help you narrow down a color of tile that works with your counter and upper cabinets. http://mariakillam.com/creamsubwaytile/

yes, your right, these are two different colours, mine is more the one on the top. My uppers are a off white, not a cream colour, more of a bone colour, and my lowers are like an expresso colour. so white tiles are too white, and grey is to blah.

A short history report: Subway tiles originated in 1904. They have become a design staple for well over a 100 years, hence a "classic" for their simple elegance. Their versatility shines through in everything from the "traditional" farmhouse to Uber modern designs. Laying the tiles, chevron, herringbone etc., is a modern twist. Make no mistake, they will be around for probably another century. LOL.....Agree that most comments here are personal opinions, rather than professional counsel. Nancy, you have a great foundation here and confident you will make the right choice. At the end of the day, this is your house, you live there and must be happy. My best to you......

If you think your counters look good with your white cabinets then you can extend that train of thought to include the backsplash tiles. White is the way to go here.

While the granite might have flecks of cream, the overall look is white. There are several variations of white tiles and you should find one that most closely matches your cabinets and it will then also work with the counters.

Ivory above

vs

White below

Well after all of this, I like your original brick tile. It contains all the colors of your granite, marries well with your cabinet colors also. The grout should blend in, not be a statement. I like the use of the counter as a backsplash, cost prohibitive usually, your tile is a close second.

Nancy, you will have to bring home several samples and stand them on the wall. View them as they would be laid. View them at different times of the day and under different lights. All colors have undertones and you will need to see which color is right for you. I personally would go with white, especially if you are selling in 6 years.

Really, really hard to show this to you guys but I think I found a better tile it's called Masia Crackle Blanco it's kind of rustic looking. I have to order a box in order to see it off the board. so now should I go with a grey grout or same colour as tile?

It's the one on the right of the three samples. The one on the left is ivory and too close to the colour of my upper cabinets the one in the middle is grey

This is the sample board lol

i like those. You could go w/a very light gray if you want some definition (which I prefer). have your tile guy do a sample board with the gray and the grout closest to tile and see which one you prefer.

I'm worried about those Nancy. The color may be great and rustic seems good, but maybe not. I've seen so many posts with people unhappy about the imperfections when installed. They aren't always flat. The edges are funky. Be careful.

If you want to be consistent with the age of the house & achieve a more timeless look, go with white subway tile.

I know you don't need another comment bec
I can see you have many. I will. It read them though. The pebbles and brick are to busy related to a busy granite. They look too matchy matchy. Do a contrast or bec the granite is busy do a white or off white subway with the tiles in a pencil frame
On a diagonal under the hood for a pretty but subtle backsplash.

unfortunately, my husband is my contractor, as that is what he does for a living, and he's getting a little frustrated with my indecision, however, he will do whatever I tell him. I always wanted a subway tile look, I like the rustic look as the house is old looking and that is why I looked at the pebbles to begin with. I think that trying to make up a board with all the tiles and grout to pick through is too time consuming and a waste of grout, since you can't buy small boxes of grout. I saw a posting on Houzz that showed this exact look in a kitchen and I fell in love with it, so based on everyone's ideas and all of the input, I will be using the white subway tile which I posted above , the one I found, and I am not sure I will do anything fancy behind the stove area, I will see and I will probably be doing a light grey, or light brown grout as it pulls out that colour in my granite. Thanks for all your input and time, I really appreciate it all.

This is the idea that made me decide white subway tile with darker grout.

It sounds good, please post the finished backsplash. I wouldn't use the brown grout but I defer to the actual professionals.

I love the white subway tile with the darker grout. Great choice.

Here are some white kitchens with dark grout. If that is what you like...

https://www.google.com/search?q=white+kitchen+with+colored+grout&biw=1506&bih=1093&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWzfLr6aXRAhVC44MKHXWACSgQsAQIGQ#imgrc=y_g3qORFIYM4lM%3A

I can't wait to see the final result. Please post a pic when you can.

I really think hand made typical subway tiles will work the best .