Why do you think we should remove the 4" granite piece? That definitely wasn't in the plans.

The 4" piece is considered a backsplash & putting tile above it doesn't really show. I agree if you are going to tile remove it. I wouldn't use beveled either in a kitchen it's difficult to clean the edges. On my monitor the tile looks too white. I used 4x16 non-beveled in my bathroom & love it

I agree that the granite backsplash should be removed if you're goin with a tile backsplash. Also, I think the tile color is to light/white/bright.

Interesting feedback! Honestly I had never even contemplated removing the granite backsplash, not even a little bit. The thinking with the light cream tile color is that just everything else in the kitchen is so dark, we wanted to lighten things up a bit.

I should maybe mention that the island is cream.

Another shot.

I have beveled tile in the kitchen ...I have no problem cleaning it

I have the granite backsplash like you and I'm going to tile behind my stove only. This is to protect the wall back there from grease splatters and the heat. I think what you have chosen looks good.

Thanks Carol. Well, we haven't chosen it yet, but it's the frontrunner currently.

I think the tile looked nice when you pulled back and the island was in view. On removing the 4" granite strip, we also put one in when we remodeled our kitchen. I initially did not want one, but our contractor said it helps with preventing water damage behind the sink. The thickness of the granite helps keep water from seeping behind the drywall in the event the grout/caulk cracks versus how thin the tile is and the same thing happened. (Does that make sense?)

It does make sense. Thanks for that! Your kitchen is lovely.

You need to remove 4" piece. Sorry. Just doesn't work with stacking more tile on top. Your granite is beautiful. Rainforest? But it is also limiting in terms of backsplash. Since the granite is predominately browns and warm colors you need more creamy look. Or perhaps a metal like copper? You also have a more traditional look so doing a contemporary long tile probably isn't best idea. Let me think about this and I will be back with some ideas for you.

Hi. I agree to remove that granite backsplash OR leave it but don't add a backsplash. Putting tile on top of it is really dated and not a good look. But unlike others you have asked BEFORE you purchased or started tiling!! The tile you e chosen is to white. Pull another color from your granite instead. Bring home more samples and then post more pics.

I am facing the same issue on a similar palate kitchen! Julie- your kitchen is beautiful but the 2 inch (if that) granite looks way better than the 4 inch. We have a 5 inch granite backsplash and I want to remove it, but half of people think I'm crazy and half think I'd be crazy not to!

Hi Flo, I don't know what kind of granite it is because it was here when we moved in. I'm slowing wrapping my head around the possibility of removing the 4" piece....

M, it had never even crossed my mind to remove it! Feels almost wasteful. Haha.

I agree with Dawn Y - either leave the granite backsplash and not add tile or remove it and just tile the backsplash with a complementary color from the granite. The tile that is shown in the pictures is too stark.

Pull a creamy color from that lovely granite. I would consider repainting the island too as it also appears very stark in your pics. I love your idea of larger tiles on the splash. But keep going with that slow head wrapping process as this will look so much better sans the granite strip.

I agree on painting the island a softer off white. White with all the warm colors in your kitchen doesn't work well. I think some backsplash tile that could work well is a pearly, cream. Regular subway shape. I'm looking for the one I have in my mind, but haven't found it yet. It is deeper cream but I think it would be perfect. bbl

The tile looks great! It ties in the island nicely. I would not repaint the island a different color as some have suggested. I think people are being thrown off by the way the camera makes things look.

That said, definitely lose the 4" granite backsplash if you put up tile!!! It will look infinitely better without it.

It is not correct to leave the 4" backsplash. It seems like an after thought to add tile above it. I would remove the entire backsplash if I purchased house that had a 4" and tile above it. It is not needed to protect anything if you have a tile backsplash. It is made as a finish product. I do however like the tile you chose.

I am sorry I like the more rectangle tile.

well, if it ends up you decide not to remove the short backsplash first... (and i think you should... but if you don't....) i think a non-beveled tile would look less hectic. once you have a wall of bevels, you have busy reflections showing above the busy backsplash. a flat tile (with a matching, not contrasting grout) would calm things down.

Definitely do a contrasting grout to help tie the stark contrast of the white in with the counters and cabs!!! I made this mistake in my kitchen (I used white subways with white grout) and regret it quite a bit.

I can't find the one I was thinking of but in looking around I found one I think would be worth getting a sample of. Now don't faint, it is real light, but it has reflective qualities. I will post in a minute for you.

This is from tilebar.com. What I like about it is it has texture which gives it reflective quality without being busy. I think the color would play well with your granite. You can order samples. Just go to their website.

Thanks Flo. It's interesting! My wife says she likes it. Seems like it could be very hit or miss as to whether the colors would work.

I do feel like the pictures of the tile I posted are making it look a lot more white than it looks in person. You can't even tell in the pictures that it's cream, but in person it really looks cream. Maybe because of the espresso cupboards.

Yes, pictures btw are great "insights" because they see the real thing usually. I have a similar granite and have a problem with backsplash too so I can feel your pain. I would order a couple samples from tilebar.com to see what they look like. I think I see under cabinet lighting and these tiles would reflect light really nicely in the space. But you have to see them yourself, of course. We can guide, but ultimately, your choice.

I would get rid of the backsplash you have & tile the whole wall underneath. I love ours after we painted the cabinets white, new granite installed & tiled the wall with travertine. I am including a before & mud & after pic. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Lisa, I like what you did with your kitchen. If I had older cabinets like that, I would paint them too, it does wonders. Your backsplash looks good since your cupboards and counters are pretty simple.

For us, we were thinking that the backsplash is an opportunity to lighten up an otherwise pretty dark kitchen.

Thanks for the idea to paint the island cupboards, but we aren't going to do that. It's beyond the scope of this project, and i don't really think it's worth it.

Really appreciate all of the input!

I LOVE LOVE your long beveled subway tile! It will look amazing with your island & really lighten up your space. Make sure to remove the granite backsplash (the tile will provide the water proofing you need). I am excited to see your after! Please post!

I like your idea of adding a lighter backsplash but I agree with others that it would look better if you removed the granite backsplash. I also think that something a little darker than white would blend better. Perhaps a cream or light taupe. Especially, if you choose to leave the granite backsplash, the tile should blend more.

I think beveled will clean just fine. It's ceramic.

Definitely lose the 4" backsplash.

I would remove the 4” backsplash and I like the size of tile just go w a milky white and no bevel.