Let me add the alternative options I have to add contrast to the kitchen remodel above.

A) Stone/white/grey crackle tile 3x6 for the back-splash, light brown stone like quartz for the table part of the island, and white quartz for the rest of the counter-tops, bench, vanity, and desk.

B) All white counter-tops in every part of the kitchen with a 6x12 glass tile that captures light very nicely, and has blueish hues, for the back-splash.

The crackle better matches the floor, it adds a healthy contrasting effect to the kitchen, and with this option we could add a warmer lighter brown quartz for the table. However, I am not usually a fan of beige or lighter brown colors.

A) The crackle 3x6 is a warmer more matte/subdued/dull color. But, better matches the floor, the cabinets and the counter tops.

b) The 6x12 tiles, are brighter, lighter color, more the cooler tone for design. It does okay with the countertops and the cabinets, but I am not sure it matches the flooring we already put in.

What is your take? cooler vs. warmer tones? and should you never mix them together?

I have pictures below of the samples I am talking about. Please see post above for more pictures of the kitchen.

Need to know by the end of this weekend.

Thanks for you expert advise!

pictures of the kitchen

adding a few more pictures here of the fixtures against the back splash and counter top options. We have one more option for the counter-tops. The question with this option is, are we moving away from a modern look because it is a speckled glass quartz? What I like about this option is this counter top pulls out the blue in the glass back splash and it has some grey and light brown in it to blend into the flooring, the appliances, and cabinets. What do you think of this glass speckled counter top vs. all white vs. the crackle?

Back to the drawing board. The brownish/crackle option is totally out. Now its between 6x24 aqual blue Pental stream tile that shows hues of steel for the back splash or b) 6x24 white stream Pental Stream tile with hues of sky blue. We would use white quartz countertop for both of these back splashes. You can see both tiles play off light, and have hues of blue in them. They both go with the floor, but the green/blue/steel one goes better with the floor. Giving the kitchen a very natural look. Husband is afraid of the room looking sterile. I'm not so much. I think white tile, white counter top, glass handles and blubble lighting will be fun and clean look.

Really? you think I should use the white ribbed glass? not the aqua ribbed glass? the former was my original inspiration. Everyone else seems to think it is too sterile.

Forgot to say, we got the cabinets from Homedepot. They are inner most cabinets in white cap thermafoil. They sold them as indestructable and easy to clean, and my contractor said "Good Luck to 'ya!" he said they scratch very easily. That was after we had ordered them. i hope his intel is out dated :)

You will have to be fairly careful with that finish. I would do the white ribbed glass and test out different colors of the adhesive which can affect the color of the glass. Get what you want that way. Otherwise, you are stuck with that blue. I would prefer to keep my options open. But the blue is fine. Just might get dated looking a bit too fast for my taste. It is a unique space, make it your own. You are the one living with it. Trust your own judgment.

Thank you so much misses Flo! I will. I was told that there were only two colors for thin set; the product to glue the glass to the wall? grey and white?

You will need to use white then. That grey shows through. Or you can get the blue glass, either way it will look really nice. Kind of your personal preference. Nice choice in any case.

I think that the blue could be gorgeous too. Just depends on what you want to get out of the backsplash -- color, texture, highlighting something from the counters, etc.

Angelique, laticrete has the best thinset for glass tiles. Platinum 254. I've used this many times. if you can see through your tiles, make sure the ridges from the trowel are 'knocked smooth' before applying to wall. if you have a good tile setter, he'll know this.

ACM, Beth H., & Flo, I am still at a crux now between installing white counter tops and white/glass back splash OR white back splash with the speckled glass quartz [See pictures above]. Husband likes the Oceana quartz from Arizona Tile which has speckled glass in it, because he says it will hide the dirt.

I have looked at pictures with counter-tops similar to this one with specs of glass, and they do not look contemporary to me. They look like my Grandma's kitchen. I like that it has some shimmer to it, and I like starring at the pieces of glass in it, which have light greens, grays, blues, lavenders, and browns. BUT, I'm afraid to use that in our kitchen, for the sake of moving away from a contemporary look. Is this speckled glass quart "anti-modern/contemporary?" We had one sales person say yes! Don't use it, if you are going for contemporary/modern.

Then again, the speckled quartz shown below is more grey, which could be a nice contrast to the white cabinets?

But isn't a white counter top with a white/glass back splash too sterile? we do have stainless steel appliances, and glass handles. Seating will be white caviar fabric, with chrome bar. lighting fixtures are in the pics above.

I am at a crux. Thank you so so much for your expert advise.

I agree with you. Don't do Grandma's countertop after all this. Don't be afraid of sterile. You can add tablecloths and runners and window treatments and towel sets and appliances and pictures on the wall, etc. to get your colors in. I bought my friend's daughter every single color possible kitchen stuff and color is EASY to add.

Trust me, if part of your brain is telling you those look like your Grandma's counters, you will never like them. Your husband may like them, the colors may be good with the floor, but you will think "It's just not the LOOK I wanted" every time you walk into your kitchen.

As far as the backsplash, either will be great. I agree it's easy to warm up an all white kitchen.

These aren't exactly your kitchen, but just to try and help... White counters, white cabs...

Blue

White

Angelique, I would definitely go with the all-white countertops with the ribbed glass backsplash since you love contemporary/modern styles. The bluish color glass would be stunning BUT would probably be outdated much faster than the classic all white. The speckled glass quartz is pretty in the small sample. However I don't think it would stand out as much in large slabs because the specks are so small. Go for the clean, contemporary look that YOU LOVE ☺️. Judith

I like the the quartz on the right. the sparkly one. the plain white one looks like old Corian from the 90's. yuk.

The recycled glass w/the white ribbed will be great. BTW, have you even looked at recycled glass countertops? Vetrazzo or Icestone? I have the Vetrazzo in my spare bath and love it.

this is one of the Icestone's top

If you think the two white are too sterile, then perhaps a different glass splash? If you like the blue ribbed tile, why not do that w/the sparkle quartz top? And yes, I've seen that top installed and it's very contemporary. It's beautiful.

this gray, longer tiles would also work w/your sparkle quartz.

or this color 4x12

Wow those are some great looking tiles. Thank you so much for your advice. I feel a bit more at ease now about the quartz with sparkle and glass...Yea! I wanted to get a recycled glass counter-top, but I heard about the durability of Quartz, and found the one you said you liked above. I like this one too because it is a bit more subtle than some of the recycled glass ones I have seen. Thanks again for all the pics above. Really appreciate all the help from the experts like you. You have no idea :)

Angelique*** are those tiles you found from floor and decor? be cautious w/those if they are. Their items are inferior quality. issues w/glass chipping and the white paint off the back peeling.

If you don't have too large of an area, go w/good quality. Ann Sacks, Walker-Zanger, etc.

**side note about Walker Zanger tiles, ceramic crackle glass, I had put them in my shower. Apparently they weren't supposed to be in showers. It was their error for not warning customers about the installation. A few years later they all dulled because of water seeping into the cracks. anyway, they reimbursed me for all new tiles plus all of the install. since I did my own tile setting, I pocketed the money for that and got upgraded tile to boot. I actually made money on that shower re-do. You think Floor and Decor would have done that ??***

they have since come out w/better crackle glass. you might check their website and see if you like those. I wouldn't purchase anything glass or natural stone off the other place

Thanks Beth!

All, so the final decision on the counter top is to go with white quartz from Arizona tile, the color name is Denali 40. It's their whitest quartz i could find. It seems to blend well with the white cap thermafoil cabinets. My question to you all now is about the Pental ribbed glass. It is called white stream. However, it has a sky blue hue to it. Do any of you object to that? i wonder if it ties with the rest of the kitchen? the marble like floor, and the ultra white cabinets and counters? i thought it would add texture to the project, but I also don't want to wreck it with a funny backsplash. Plan by the way is to lay it out stacked, not offset. checking the Ann Sacks and Walker-Zanger

Is the white stream that blue tile you have above or the white tile? if it has a bluish cast to it, I don't see it being a problem. do you have pic of the quartz you've chosen? or is it the one above in your samples?

American Olean also carries the glass

http://americanolean.com/series.cfm?series=204

or this one:

http://www.glasstilehome.com/Kitchen-Backsplash-Tile.htm

will you stack it like this?

I think real blue or white-tinged-with-blue are both great choices.

Also, tell your husband that the idea of "hiding dirt" on a kitchen counter has put me off my lunch!! ;)

JAJA! I will tell him :)

Yes, I re-pasted the plain white quartz below. It is the whitest I could find. The pic may make it look dull, but compared to all the others I found, I thought this one was of the best quality. The white ribbed tile is a cut of a 6x24 ribbed white stream by Pental here in Denver.

Sometimes, depending on the light it has a blue hue to it. Do you think this will look okay with our floor? Can't change the floor, now, so making sure I don't screw up the back splash :)

the wife of our contractor apparently said the speckled glass quartz, also pic above, it didn't go with our floor. Apparently it was the "aqua/green" glass specs in it that put her off...that I don't see, but I think since the majority of the pros suggest sticking with white counters, I thought I'd play it safe, and go with the white quartz all around.

What do you think of all this? and the ribbed glass here above with it's white look and its blue hue look? floor pic below:

I don't really see the blue hues fighting with that floor in either backsplash or counter. But opinions will vary. :)

I think it will be fine. and yes, some glass has that natural greenish tint to it. that's why i said make sure and get good quality glass. the blue tint is nice. breaks up all the white. of course the tile setter will make sure and use bright white thin set,,,also advise him to knock down the ridges of the trowel before applying the tile to the wall. if not, you will be able to see them through the glass.

Thanks Beth and ACM...another question is on rounding the edges of that island table top. the counter-top guy and my contractor both are recommending rounding the edges off some because it would be dangerous. However, I want to stay with the contemporary look. I'm not sure how to explain it to them, except to send pictures. I don't want sharp edges, but also don't want them rounded off. How would you describe that?

First, love that "wavy" glass backsplash Beth posted. But the one you have that goes to the slight blue is really beautiful. I would definitely stick with the white countertops. Over time, this will be a lasting good look. As to edges, go to Cambriausa.com and click on the "edges" profiles and download the pdf. It shows all the edge types. I would suggest using what is called the "double pencil edge" if you are getting 3cm thickness. That is where they just barely touch the sharp edge off top and bottom of the slab edges. You still retain the "modern" look, but eliminate sharp edges. If you really want "clean" edge, then you have to specify that and they will resist it. Lots of choices, but that is what I would do. Don't let them talk you into the 1/4" bevel edge. It doesn't work well for modern look.

Also check out the "Seacliff Edge" which is sometimes referred to as an "eased" profile. Even sharper edge. That might be the one you prefer? You have to look. then show them the picture from your smart phone! Picture is worth a thousand words. I tried posting, but it wouldn't let me.

Thanks Flo, this helps a ton :) I can do with the ridge line. You know the table at the end of the island is about 42" off the ground. A bit higher than the rest of the cabinets which are about 34". This tall table at the end of our island, will have about a 9" by 9" overhang on the end facing the furnace and the end facing the desk. The edge facing the back door and the refridgerator will only be about 1.5" away from the cabinets. My husband is worried about impaling himself. the countertop guy instilled this fear in him. My husband is 65yrs old. He's pretty active, but you know how it goes in your 60's, or maybe not :) I'm only 46. Should I be worried about my husband hurting himself with the ridge line edge I picked?

You guys are awesome by the way. I don't know how I could repay you for all the knowledge you are sharing with me. I will put great reviews on your sites at the very least :)

I don't think so, but if you go to the fabricator's shop, they can show you samples and you will have a better idea of the actual edge. There would be too many lawsuits if they produced dangerous edges. Then again, I can't speak for your hubby!

thanks, glad to help. All reviews gladly accepted! :) (good reviews haha)

Experts, one more question on design,

Pental, the tile manufacturer, recommended we go with a dark grey grout, to off-set the tile against the white counter-tops. I'm not sure I could do too dark a grey, but maybe a shade of grey to tie in the tile with the floor and the stainless steel in the handles and the appliances? what do you think? pictures below of the grout option, countertops, appliances, and handles.

Just as a reminder, the tiles have baby blue, light grey, and white hues to them, so that is why I need your expert advice. Not sure a baby blue hue would be good because that won't tie it in with the rest of the room. And grey is sort of in, plus it would tie it with the appliances and the stainless steel on the handles? As you can see there is some grey and brow in the floor tiles. What do you think?

Attaching as many pictures as I can, to show the different hues in the tile, and the counter-tops, as well as the floor and the appliances.

The tile is from Pental Surfaces: Moda Vetro, Super White Stream.

Thank you so much in advance!

Angelique

Stick with the all white and the ridged glass backsplash. It is going to look fantastic. You are definitely at the "OMG, is this going to work" phase of your project. Don't keep second guessing yourself, it will only lead you to trouble. White countertops in quartz are fantastic and you just need that very light touch off the top edge, everything else straight. Keep on that contemporary train and you won't have regrets. When do you see this all being completed? Just wondering. Sometimes, the more "time" you have the worse it is! Stick with your vision. Stay strong!! Make sure the tiler knows to use white adhesive behind the glass tile, so the tone stays light, and light! Best!

Hi Flo, so you think white grout then? Sorry just need clarification?

yes. the same white that matches your countertop and w/the tiles. if you want a very slight delineation of your tiles, then do a very light cool gray. the eyes really don't see the 'gray' color and will just pick out the tiles. if that makes sense. kind of just blends into the background. if you pick a white that's the same as the glass, then it may just look like a solid white sheet. you know? the easiest way to decide is to do a test board. set four tiles on a board and grout. see how you like it. then do it w/the gray.

I would try the white right over the G and maybe the two grays directly right of that one (over the R and O ) the very first white looks a bit warm compared to the bluer white next to it. hard to tell from the pick. but those 4 in a row there would be the ones to choose from.