What Julia Allen said i agree but also the cream subway tiles are nice too . You also have to take in consideration on resale in the future and the focal point of the kitchen ,is it the counter tops,cabinets,floor ect

I like the cream subway tile.

We have similar granite and we agonized for months. Decided on walnut travertine 4 rows then 3 rows of black/white.grey 1" glass tile then 2 more travertine. We LOVE it!

Travertine subways I meant. I think the tiles you chose with a thin strip of the pennies would be very nice!

I'd keep it very simple. Our kitchen has a decorative strip within the splash and I wish it was plain and simple instead. It looks a little dated.

I agree that decorative strips are usually what people get tired of first in a backsplash. Simpler back splashes are usually more timeless.

Choice number one is a more custom look. If you are looking to resell, I would not choose it. How ever I do love it. It is playful. If it suits your personality and you are not selling any time soon, I would go with that one. I also think it is the best colour choice and once it is grouted it won't look too busy.

Thank you all for taking the time to give your suggestions and expertise. I am leaning towards either the cream or the latte although I like the uniqueness of the penny, it is a difficult decision. My husband prefers the latte. Yes it would look simple and pretty stacking the tiles rather than the brick look. I wish I could return the granite and get a simpler quartz but its too late now. Even the kitchen was not a first choice . Anyway, anymore suggestions and feedback is still appreciated , I am looking forward to a great finish.

If anyone has a picture similar to my granite which is Baltic brown with a simpler backsplash that would be great. I guess it is better to have something visual , I don't have any styling experience nor very good at interior styling although very keen to learn and interested. Thank you all.

Late also...lewlew made some great points. I like the cream subway tiles the best.

Studio one. I think some zebra would look good. Only kidding inside joke.

Here are some Baltic brown countertops with different backsplashes

one more

i have the exact same problem as you. I have a dark sapphire brown counter top and can't find a light tile to match. Be careful of using flat subway tile as I have been warned that they only look best with a flat cabinet door. I think I will have to go with Mark's suggestion. Keep it simple in one light beige colour for best results. If I had it to do over again, I would pick a light or white counter top as it allows you so much more in selecting any number of colours and types of back splashes.

I agree with Mark and others. With a busy granite, you need a quiet, light coloured backsplash

Well, okay. Here's one more push for those beautiful penny rounds you initially chose. I think you would be very surprised at how well those penny rounds blend and fade-- especially if you use a grout that matches. It will look like a soft beige wall, but with depth. And they're just so much more fun that the ubiquitous subway tile. And of the 5 images shown above, the first two would be fine-- but the penny rounds would be so much less busy than any of those last 3 choices. Those kitchens are so busy, I don't know where to rest my eyes. The first two backslashes, with the subway tiles, do recede-- much like the penny rounds would. Either choice would work fine and not be busy. I just think the penny rounds are more unexpected and so more interesting. Okay, so that's my last 2 cents on the subject. ;)

Here are penny rounds in cream tones much like the ones you chose on quite a bit of wall surface. This is not busy at all. It looks gorgeous. Penny rounds could look busy if you used dark grout because then you see the outline of all those little circles. The key is to use a grout that matches the lightest shade of the penny rounds and then it's just a wall of beautiful soft texture. If I were you I would pay for a square foot or so put them on a scrap board and grout them and then hold them up to your cupboards so you can get a better idea of what they look like with grout. If you don't like it then your not out that much and can eliminate them from your choices.

Go with 3 to minimize contrasting patterns

After seeing Mark's pictures, I still say cream subway tile. I love his first picture.

Ok..penny rounds look great but now you need to consider your cooking style. Do you rarely cook? Or are you an avid cook or just somewhere in between? Are you worried about staining all that grout with sauces and oils? That's the next dilemma. How much cooking splatter are you willing to clean up from the penny round grout lines?

If you are worried about cleaning the grout, use epoxy grout. It's suppose to be non-staining and doesn't need to be sealed. Read http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/a-fearless-approach-to-epoxy-grout.aspx?ac=ts&ra=fp

Definitely don't just pick something to get it complete, you will be sorry (just paint for now until you find something you are sure about).

Suggest you read LewLew again.

Since your style is contemporary, I would go with the lighter subway installed STACKED (installing it in a brick pattern is way too traditional), or the penny rounds. Go for a quiet backsplash, anything busy I will bet you will hate it in a few years.

Please update with photos.

Thank you very much everyone, especially Mark who made sure I get each and every pictures . I didn't realise I will get all these attention and help and we don't even know each other. I will definitely post some pictures once finished. I will have to get back to the supplier and get samples so I can place them along the wall. by now the countertops should have been finished , yes Lewlew that is a good point and you hit it right, I do not like oil stains and cleaning grouts thus I made sure I have the smallest gaps on all of the shower tiles.

sid62 - backsplash discussions always tend to get many responses:) It's an important aspect of the kitchen - if done right you'll have a perfect kitchen. All too often though, backsplashes are overdone. Can't wait to see your finished kitchen.

Right after I said I wouldn't comment again-- here I am-- but this is just a follow-up to lew-lew's comment above. We put limestone (pale) in our kitchen nearly 20 years ago-- backsplash and countertops. We cook a lot. The backsplash (again, pale limestone with light, almost white grout) looks like it was put in yesterday. The countertops are another story. The grout lines are fine, but the countertop limestone definitely has a "patina" to it.

However, as far as the backsplash-- our stainless stove does have a stainless back that goes right up to the hood (so no limestone directly behind the stove)-- but we just never had an issue with grease or any dirt on the surrounding backsplash. So I just don't think that's an issue-- unless the backsplash has to go directly behind the stove/burners (as shown in picture above, with penny rounds-- and in a lot of these pictures that are shown here). If that's the case with your kitchen-- then I would not use the penny rounds (grout is larger). I would use the subway tile where those grout lines can be 1/16" of an inch or close to it. (I also suggest not using beveled subway tile.) And if you haven't put in your stove yet, I'd think about a back that goes with the stove itself, rather than having to tile directly behind the stove-- Hope that makes sense. Good luck!

I still love, love, love the beautiful and soft-colored penny rounds. I have never liked subway tiles––that would discourage me as a potential buyer. They are boring in my opinion and remind me of the subways, having grown up in New York. I cook a lot and have never had a problem with grout because I have a 12" stainless steel backsplash behind the burners with tiles above that as you can see in my photo above. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions. We are having the matching granite tiles installed tomorrow - cant wait. Will post pics of the completed backsplash.

The pennies are cool. But too much grout to be practical for a kitchen. I like the slab idea for simplicity. Color-wise....trust your gut.

I like this choice.

dianahb,

You may want to try using a steam clean on your countertop. It probably won't hurt. I'd have a cloth or two to wipe up the excess water but ig steam cleaning can get soot out of brick above a fireplace, it should be able to get cooking residue out of a countertop.

getting1: Thanks so much for that tip. We're actually thinking of changing out our sink to a farmhouse sink, so we'll probably end up keeping our backsplash all around and just replace the countertops with a porcelain that will go well with the limestone. That will make the sink easier to install, too. The kitchen is not big, and the countertop space is relatively small (about 20 sq feet)-- and I don't want to deal with a natural stone countertop anymore. ;)

dianahb, if you do change your sink, make sure the underlying wooden structure is strong enough to support it, and isn't too small to fit the sink in. We made that mistake in a former custom house. I wanted a huge sink, but they'd already built the cabinets. We had to cut some of the new underlying structure out, and it was a mess. Just a thought. :-)

Thanks, bobbi c. I don't want to hijack this thread, but I definitely hear you. Given our constraints (size) with existing cabinetry-- which we have measured, our options are limited for sure. But thanks for the heads-up. We may end up not going with the farmhouse sink-- but I'm definitely replacing those countertops. I love the look, concept, and practicality of a countertop that goes directly over a sink-- no seams.

I like the no seams thing, too. We used butcherblock slabs for our countertops, so had to have joins at the front and back of the sink. But they are well sealed and are barely noticeable. Good luck with your kitchen project! I think mine is done for a while. LOL

Hi, here I am again . The countertop has been placed and I was able to bring back the tiles for sample. hope this would help. The cream on the left and the latte on the right. I need your final vote. They both look good but I am leaning towards the cream. I also have the penny rounds since a number likes it too but my tiler seems to be in doubt of his capability to make it look good. Your vote and thought are much appreciated. Thank you.

I like the small cream, would catch the light.

Final vote ( but only after hearing what you had to say about the tile installer) is cream but in a stacking pattern.

Cream subway tile in a stacked pattern. Remember you can always add colour by painting any adjacent walls, artwork, window treatments, bling from say a stainless steel kettle, fumehood (with good cfms and quiet motor) and lighting.

I agree with lewlew

Oh those penny rounds are great in my opinion but that's just it, an opinion. The shape and texture works so well for the contrast.

I like the third one. It's kind of retro.

Thank you all.

I like the cream.

Can you update with an after picture!

Solid dark charcoal gray
PyramidDG.com

I just caught up on the last few posts. I will say that if you like the penny rounds, you should find an installer who knows how to do that, for sure. I wouldn't give up on them because your tiler can't lay them (or doesn't want to, because they are a pain to install). Find one who can. If my tiler said he wasn't sure he could make them look good, then I would have my doubts about whether he could make anything look good. Call your reputable local tile shop and ask for the name of their most stellar tiler. I still think the penny rounds look the best with the granite.

Old post.

#3 looks the best but why not try rectangular high gloss tiles in a light color from the granite. Maybe a beige...This would lighten it up a bit. Definetly not #1

Two year old post

Em, Can we see a picture of your finished project?