then use a medium to dark gray grout. It won't show dirt as easily as the lighter grout. I don't understand why you're agonizing.

good points - I do not like l grout that is darker than the tile so the tiles should be dark but my husband is not so enthused about darker tile. Thanks for the response.

a nice medium gray, or even a light to medium gray, shouldn't be too much of a contrast, even w/a light tile. In grout, Gray is one of those colors that the eye really doesn't 'notice' as much as the other colors.

What is the flooring in the rest of the adjacent areas? If it's hardwood? I wouldn't do tile in the kitchen. Harder on your back and as far as I'm concerned hardwood is far easier to maintain. And no grout to agonize over.