What are you countertops going to be. The best rule of thumb before you ever get your backsplash is to have the countertops installs. You can then better see how the stone looks in your own lighting and then pick samples such as the one you suggested above and see how it plays with the counters.

What is your counter top? Did I miss that?

3x12 is a nice size for a subway vs. the usual 4x6 or so. Glass would be fine for a backsplash, but a paper backing is not the norm it would be a web type material if it's on a mat of 12x12... so, a bit confused about that.

All in all, get the counters in first... do you have a sample photo of your countertop to post?

I got a sample of the countertop granite - it's giallo white. The cabinets are a merlot glaze - the glass tile is a gray tone.

This is a picture of the front and back of the tile. The tile has a paper backing in the back.

There should not be paper on the back of a tile under any condition. Can you speak to the person who is selling this. Tile whether porcelain or ceramic the back is a semi waffle look or similar. It generally looks like roughened stone on the back side.

Porter, the tile is from Lowes. I don't know if it's supposed to come off when installing or if it just goes in the way it is.

I've NEVER seen a paper back tile. It probably needs to be removed as it needs to adhere to a surface. For what it's worth ask the ppl at the store... if you get an answer such as, "you don't need to remove". I would move on to another person and ask. Many people in the big box stores are not really stellar. I would never attach a paper to a mud wall if you will.

I know it was common in the old days, but not common in high humidity areas.

I know on occasion Glass tile does have a paper back vs. a ceramic or porcelain. Yet, I've not seen in it ages and I'm very early 50's in age.

It's not a mosaic 12x12?

Glass mosaics are frequently clear and often see-through. Therefore, they cannot be mounted on the mesh used to hold together many other types of mosaic, such as stone or ceramic. Instead, brown craft paper is used to mount the mosaics into sheets. Rather than the paper being on the back of the tiles, like the mesh of other mosaics, it is installed on the front of the tiles. When you hold a sheet of paper-faced glass tiles, you are actually looking at the backs of the tiles, and the part that you will place against the wall.

is it brown paper or white?

appears to be white... yet that is so I believe the glass doesn't get impaired by the mud that holds them to the wall. Glass can be a bit translucent. I believe that is why they put this on the backside. I've only personally seen it on 12x12 mosaic so it's inherent in glass tile.

However, it is slightly transparent depending on the color.

Here is a video to view... again, only seen this with mosaic glass, but who care mosaic or not it's glass. Your installer should know how to install and tell you why paper.

Please view so you have some idea for what it's worth.

It is just about the transparency of glass vs ceramic/porcelain vs. glass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Fn_O8xWi0

Thanks Porter, yes, my husband said its not paper, its finishing on the back so that it holds the surface. Whew! What do u think of the combination?

I'm not certain, yet I think I have the same granite we did a remodel about 6 years ago... appears gray in it. If there is I say it's fine... generally I would suggest going with the lightest color in the granite counter top when there is a lot of color/movement going on in a stone vs. a counter with a lot of off white or white with veins.

Given you have more red/warm tone cabinet going on just for trial I'd try a few other samples even though it appears to look good on my monitor.

I might go with the lightest color in the countertop as a second option trying samples then decide because the cabinets are warm and more red in tone.

Thanks Porter, I was debating whether to go lighter or use this tile with a white grout. When laying flat horizontally, this tile looks off-white/cream. When it's on the wall vertically, it looks darker and more gray toned. The color variation is so interesting. I love the tones of the backsplash in the second picture you posted - looks very pretty.

No problem, I would just try to tie in to the lighter portion of the counter is all and you can see it much better in your kitchen than on a monitor. I prefer to lean toward a neutral more light backsplash with darker cabinets so if they lean off white or cream as in the lighter part of the tile I think that's a good pick. I would get several tones that tie in to the lighter portion of the tile and line them up just to know for sure if this is the only one you have chosen. Yet, I'm sure you have tried a few and this is your favorite?

I did try to get a lot of different samples - the others were darker - this one seemed the lightest but I will see if I can find something lighter. My concern with the white glass is that I don't want it to read greenish - I hope I can find something that reads creamy white. Do you know of any glass tile that would read creamy white?

Contempo Vista Polished Sand Beach Glass Subway Wall Tile - 2 in. x 8 in

Home Depot

Contempo Vista Smokey Taupe 2 in. x 16 in. x 8 mm Frosted Subway Glass Wall Tile

both come in several sizes 2x8, etc.....

Anatolia Tile Studio Mist Glass Wall Tile (Common: 3-in x 12-in; Actual: 11.73-in x 2.87-in)

Lowes

Anatolia Tile Studio Sand Mosaic Glass Wall Tile (Common: 12-in x 12-in; Actual: 11.73-in x 11.73-in)

Lowes

(if they have in store I'd try it even if on the monitor it looks off as you never know on a monitor)

Get samples on line if they don't have any of the above locally.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bedrosians-Manhattan-Pearl-Mosaic-Glass-Wall-Tile-Common-8-in-x-16-in-Actual-8-in-x-16-in/4743389

https://www.lowes.com/pd/American-Olean-Color-Appeal-Cloud-Cream-Glass-Wall-Tile-Common-4-in-x-12-in-Actual-3-87-in-x-11-75-in/50435172

https://www.lowes.com/pd/American-Olean-Color-Appeal-Cloud-Cream-Glass-Wall-Tile-Common-3-in-x-6-in-Actual-2-87-in-x-5-87-in/50435124

https://www.lowes.com/pd/American-Olean-Color-Appeal-Cloudburst-Glass-Wall-Tile-Common-2-in-x-8-in-Actual-1-87-in-x-7-87-in/50435088

This gray appears less saturated in color than the gray you have... worth trying

https://www.lowes.com/pd/American-Olean-Color-Appeal-Silver-Cloud-Glass-Wall-Tile-Common-2-in-x-8-in-Actual-1-87-in-x-7-87-in/50435090

may lean blue, but you don't know until you see it

From the monitor I'm liking best the Contempo Vista Smokey Taupe 2 in. x 16 in. x 8 mm Frosted Subway Glass Wall Tile and it comes in different sizes. All worth a try you never know until it's in your own home in your own lighting.

Anatolia Tile Studio Mist Glass Wall Tile (Common: 3-in x 12-in; Actual: 11.73-in x 2.87-in)

Lowes

looks promising as well??

Omg Thank you Porter, u are amazing :)

The tile in my picture is the studio mist but it looks much darker in person - I will go down with this list and check all the different tiles this afternoon. The granite came in today and I love how it looks. Now if I can find the perfect backsplash to tie it together, I can finally relax.

Looking at the studio mist stacked it looks lighter to me as before above I thought it was porcelain (forgive me I may have skimmed) might you lean the studio mist along the wall leaning on top of your new granite (very pretty) several of them and take a photos with lights and no lights?... do you have under cabinet lighting? Try with lights in the room whether under cabinet or room lighting and see how it changes too.

I have never had much luck cutting glass time. It always chips too easily. That alone would make me wary of doing a more intricate design than 1/3 subway.