Sally, I actually like that silver leaf arabesque I posted. While I also like that brick look, I just wonder about cleaning behind the stove. What about these terra cotta tiles from Ann Sacks? I'm sure you can get them in diff colors. I also love the herringbone.

i also love this color blue w/your cabinets and wood.

mother of pearl hex

No brick. However, the basic problem with this kitchen is lack of warmth. I would change out the hardware to aged gold, to tie in with the3 pendants, then add some gold accessories and some cobalt blue accessories. A tea kettle or some other pieces on your countertop, especially the island. It looks new and I wouldn't mess with it, except for a hardware change out, for now. Too much cost and effort. 3-4 years from now there will be another "great backsplash" concept, so wait for that. It isn't awful and with the few touches it will work beautifully. It is very traditional overall look, but you can make it work. I will post some photos to help you with the gold hardware concept.

1. Are your undercabinet lights casting a blue hue? Perhaps change the bulbs first and reassess before ripping out the tiles.

The gold hardware here is brighter than the aged gold, but gives you the idea. So for a couple hundred dollars you can change the look without big investment, tie in the pendants and with some accents give it more "life". Even black accessories would help. Notice the black light over the breakfast nook.

Thank you so much !

I love those tile ideas Beth. Thank you for your help!

I have to respond here again as yes Flo your hardware would do some look but they don't have the look and cabinetry like the photo you have shown. If you have the money to change something in your kitchen to make your family happy, do the back splash as don't skimp and try to get by on little things as it will not make you happy and if resale value others will like it also. Do the right thing what you want! If you don't have the ability to do this then do go with the hardware change.

Ken

I vote to change the back splash.

If it's bothering you a lot and you are able to change it, do it. Yes its a messy job. But clearly it's really bothering you. If your staying in this home for quite awhile it will ultimately be worth it.

Perhaps you could look into changing the color temperature of your under cabinet lighting. In the pictures it looks blueish. If it was warmer it would make the backsplash look creamier as well.

If you change the backsplash, then the island top will be only only white thing in the kitchen, and you will need to change that also. The reason your cabinets look grungy is due to the cabinet finish. At this point, I would just live with it. It will be less noticeable when you have stools and accessories to look at. I think your pendants are great.

No as that great looking island matches the cabinets!! If you do change the back splash the Island can stay the same!

Little things like lighting and stools will not help the resale and value of the home. Take out them that you bought and what does a new buyer SEE???

Ken

Did you just move in? If so, you'll find a number of annoying things in the beginning. Some will fade with time and some will become even more annoying. While the backsplash could be better, it's not actually bad. Change the bulbs, add some accessories, wait two months and see if it still annoys you.

Perhaps changing the grout color would help. The grout seems too grey/blue.

Here's another picture of the other side of the kitchen. I know the lighting makes it hard to tell, but the island and other dark cabinets are charcoal gray. The grout is the same color
Along with the counters. The white counter has a small bit of gray lines throughout.

For me it's the dark grout lines in the tile making it not all flow together. Your kitchen is beautiful though I love the mix of gray cabinets.

For me, it's not only the color of the tile it's the style. The subway pattern is just not working with the cabinet style. Subway is fine for shaker and flat panel cabinets but these cabinets are calling for a different pattern.. Your kitchen is beautiful why go so standard?

Sally, now that most of the majority have confirmed your thoughts, perhaps you might consider getting some samples of different colors and shapes and see if you like it better. Post your favorites here and we can help you (and maybe confuse you more-lol.). I'd look at Mother of Pearl as it will have the gray in it, (as Beth's hex's photo shows) too, and pull all your other colors together.

Out of curiosity, did you pick out the back splash before the cabinets and counters were in or after?

If you decide to replace that backsplash you will spend at least another couple thousand dollars. I would at least try other solutions I mentioned before I did another backsplash. Up to you of course. On the topic of the subway tiles and your style cabinets, of course it is done and looks fine. Done it many, many times. We can always "Monday quarterback" all our decisions on a new home build, but it just makes you crazy. Do some small things first, and wait a couple months and then decide if a new backsplash is where you want to put your dollars at this time. Just my humble opinion.

Here are some examples of kitchens with subway tiles and traditional or transitional cabinetry.

You are going to be fine.

I am so glad to get your thoughts. I am going to sleep on it and then make a decision. We did pick the tile out after. It was a rush decision and I've never been sold on it. I guess my biggest struggle is the fear that a tile layer will mess up my counter tops or cabinets. I know it will be pricey, but I'm willing to spend the money if I love it, and I just don't!

Sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease! Good to be cautious. But if every-time you go into the kitchen you hate it, then I think your decision is made. What if you first tried painting out the grout lines? There are products that do this. Beth knows of some I believe (Beth can you help here?). Well, good luck on your decisions. It is a very nice kitchen with a lot of good quality, so I hope things work out for the best.

Hello, I think your kitchen is pretty nice ,but the subway tile I don't like it all,I will put some sparkle..

Hello, I think your kitchen is pretty nice ,but the subway tile I don't like it all,I will put some sparkle..

I like your back splash. the bevel and the dark grout lines both appeal to me. I agree if anything the antique finish on cabinets is what gives a grungy look. but that is the style and it's OK. what I don't get is why put modern style hardware with this type of cabinetry. I think the suggestion to get some antique gold hardware with a style that goes with cabinets was a good one.

I am in agreement with most Houzzers here that you'd be better off changing the backsplash. Its really difficult when 2 whites "fight" in the kitchen, or bath for that matter. bringing in a color might be nice, if you stick with a subway. Here are a couple ideas--nothing crazy!

Looks fine in the photo...I like a variety of white shades. However, I understand it may be discordant in person.

Glazed cabinet with an Arabesque back splash. This visual may help you with deciding if it is the the style and/or color of your current tile or the lack of accessories in your space that is making you unhappy.

Just throwing this out there, since you're thinking about it. I was also looking for similar cabinet styles, a la ted's example. I think the subway looks pretty here, and it did make me wonder if some accessories might help in your kitchen. I would change the hardware as Flo suggested, a style change for sure.

Really, best of luck with your decision. The more I looked at your backsplash, the more I liked it. But if you really don't like it, I don't think you'll change your mind.

I think your lighting is throwing it off. Try changing the lighting type and see if that helps before ripping out the backsplash.

You can have a good lighting person show you the difference before you do anything at all.

Perhaps try changing the grout color, this might help with your dilemma. Below is a kitchen design of ours to show you how our all white kitchen for a client looked.

I think it looks great as is!! I would give it a little time and decide how much it still bothers you. There are some things I would do differently in my kitchen...but after some time, I decided I can definitely live with the imperfections for a few years until it's time to spruce things up. BTW I love, love, love your sunken family room. Enjoy your beautiful home!

Okay I couldn't take it anymore, I chose a new backsplash. Would you do a creamy white or gray grout?

Do whatever will disappear the most. You definitely do not want the grout to show with that tile. I'm glad you're changing it - you're right that the white subway just wasn't working.

You already have two different countertops two different cabinet colors. Are you sure you want to add another completely different color and pattern? Have you tried a creamy tile like your cabinets? Maybe a crackle type. You have beautiful traditional cabinets. Just saying I don't know if another busy element is called for.

Sally, I like it. do a nice light-med gray grout. gray will visually 'disappear' to the eye. Are those on a mesh sheet or individual? if individual, your tile guy is going to hate your!

Mapei:

pearl gray, gray, Pewter,,,,(I have light gray and it's really light. almost an off white)

Polyblend

Platinum, natural gray, Delorean gray (delorean has a slight lavender undertone)

PLEASE, please, please look at changing the lights in your under-cabinet lighting before making any other decisions! It looks to me like you have LED's. LED and CFL's come in warm and cool colors rated on a scale called a "Kelvin" scale. Lower numbers give a warmer light, and higher number give a cooler light. Your under-cabinet lights look to be on the very cool end. Choose bulbs labeled "2500." Change those lights and you may be very surprised at how good your backsplash really looks!

Sally Johnson, how did it turn out? We all get caught up in the thread, even though it was from months ago, but it should be MANDATORY to post your 'after' photos for all us to enjoy! ;-)

Following.

Here’s the finished product. The glass tile turned out really nice. I’m much happier!

Looks nice. If you have time, could you post a photo of it from afar? Give us a better sense of the before and after.

Sally Johnson it's GORGEOUS!! Love your style! Congrats!

Here’s a view further out.

Sally, I'm just seeing your post and I'm going through a similar dilemma. I put in white subway tiles in a stacked pattern that didn't turn out the way I envisioned it. I'm seriously considering changing it. As far as the process went for you, did removing the old tile cause considerable damage to your sheetrock? Were they able to save any of the tiles to reuse somewhere else? Your new tile looks gorgeous!

Looking at the photos on here the second one is darker!? Go with a darker backsplash to have the look!

Ken

Hey Sara! We actually tiled on top of the subway tile. It was a lot cheaper than tearing it all out and doing Sheetrock work. We did use a professional. I get several different opinions. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Sally, you were able to lay that right over that subway? no base? just thinset and tile?

Hey Beth! Yes , it is right over the tile. I’m not sure what type of adhesive they layered on top of the subway tile.

Your new backsplash looks great, good choice.

Thanks, Sally! Did you have any issues finding an installer willing to tile over tile? I feel like my tile guy would tell me not to do it, but I'm sure I could find someone who would. Do you notice any visual difference as far as thickness of the backsplash with the additional layer underneath?

I had originally picked out a thin oyster shell tile and he told me that it couldn’t be done on top. I picked this one out next which was a glass tile and he agreed. He gave me prices for tearing it out or laying it on top. He came highly recommended and there were no issues. No one would ever know that there is a layer under there if I didn’t tell them. The good thing was that I only have one exposed end which he was able to line with a stainless edge piece to hide the layers. I’ll try to get a picture of that tonight so you can see it better.