How clever of you to take photos in different lighting. What an amazing difference too. I love dark floors but I would need to see the entire space before a vote. As for the tile options, I am partial to the arabesque but tile options are appearing daily. The glass tile is really pretty too and seems to really blend well with the floors. So much to consider, maybe when I see more elements to your space I can give a better vote.

~boxer

Too much brown. Are your counters set in stone? Everything looks very warm in your pics. You might benefit from some more neutral tones with your lovely wood cabinets and tile floors.

What's wrong with "very warm"? I like warm! But I am open to other opinions.

... I'm not sure how pics of the room are going to help, since we are changing the entire footprint of the kitchen, but OK...

This dysfunctional layout will be changing to an L-shape with sink at the window, fridge at the soon-to-be-closed-up door. We're taking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, but keeping the other wall (where the fridge is now). That wall will be empty (possibly some artwork or a plant wall). There will also be an 8' island with seating.

The floors you see are not tile. They are a hideous tile-look laminate, and I will do a happy dance when they are gone. I hate the floor even more than I hate the pink cabinets.

I've shown what the kitchen looks like at night, and during the day with the sunlight streaming in. The natural light is the ONLY thing I like about the current kitchen, which is why everything else is changing.

Oh, also, we somehow ended up with the arabesque pattern in both our living and dining room rugs and our drapes. Once we knock down the wall, the three rooms will all flow into each other (a semi-open concept, I suppose). If we go with the arabesque tile, will the repetition be too much?

I'm not liking the Dreamy Marfil with that cabinet color. I used DM in 2 of my bathrooms and paired it with dark stained vanities. I also used Oceanside glass tile with the DM in one bathroom!

I have used the arabesque pattern in several rooms and materials in my house ... but I have a Spanish style house!

Neither. Wait until everything is installed and then go simple.

I like the arabesque. The other looks very green and gold to me.

Depending upon the color of your cabinets, I would keep the floor in a natural color, properly sealed. Floors and cabinets look better if they don't match closely. If your cabinets are painted, the floor stain doesn't matter as much. Wood flooring is beautiful. I would not stain it any darker than "medium". We have had hardwood floors in a medium stain for 32 years, and they still are the main feature of our home.

Hi NJ Mom-

How exciting to be redoing your kitchen!

How stressful to be redoing your kitchen!

I like your floors and your cabinets, no need to stain them.

I like the Dreamy Marfil.

What color will your walls be?

Sorry to say, I don't care for either of the backsplashes, they read too busy to me.

Here's what I suggest, spend a little time looking at the threads people put up here asking for help with their kitchens.

In many of these cases, either they or the former owners went overboard in selecting a backsplash that was too, too.*

Remember how your mother told you that when you get all dressed up to go out, when you are done, look in the mirror and then take off one piece of jewelry?

Decorating is a bit like that.

If you are already using the arabesque pattern in rugs and curtains, that is plenty.

After all, would you wear a striped shirt, striped pants, and a striped jacket?

I would go with a simple tile, either square or subway in a very light opaque color or polished glass laid out in a staggered pattern like this-

*https://www.houzz.com/discussions/backsplash-help-dsvw-vd~5376688?n=47

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/another-back-splash-dilemma-dsvw-vd~5374656?n=23

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-kind-of-backsplashif-any-dsvw-vd~5370820?n=38

Of your choices, I'd keep the floor color the same as in your second photo and the glass tile. As someone above said, "it looks very green and gold". Exactly! But to me that is a good thing. :)

Now, if I were picking stuff out for ME, I'd dump that countertop. :)

Dreamy Marfil is too yellow. Try Caesarstone Buttermilk or Pentalquartz Botticino for a better neutral. I have Botticino with natural cherry cabinets.

I wouldn't use either of those tiles.

The floor looks MUCH more pink than the cabinets.

The iridescent tile is dated and too much. The other mix looks fleshy and too broken up. I would pair it with a light beige stone. Real crema marfil if it matches, or a light limestone in a subway.

Have I mentioned that I don't like subway tile, think subway tile is boring and overdone, and will never put in subway tile? What others call "too busy", I call "interesting". I also never understood the idea that something can be "too dated". If I think it's pretty and is a good design, what difference does it make if it's old-fashioned?

I love the look of natural Stone, but between the maintenance and the way I cook, I'm better off with quartz countertops and tile backsplashes.

I really like the Dreamy Marfil, but it is limiting my options for tile. What are some other colors that might work better?

But, your iridescent tile is considered a subway style tile. It sounds like you want affirmation of your choices rather than honest feedback. Look at the MSI porcelain stone looks at wayfair.com. They have lots of brick style stone looks in all colors

I agree that you should finish the kitchen, then make the final decision ... but at this point, I lean towards the arabesque.

The fact that you have arabesque shapes in other rooms is a positive.

I like warm and don't understand all the cold-as-ice gray that's ubiquitous these days.

I also dislike subway tile.

Floor stain selection first. It will set the tone for the whole house.

Arabesque

@blondelle I think the irridescent tile is more of a mosaic than a subway, but that's just splitting hairs. In any case, my husband absolutely hates it, and it looks strange in the house (looked much prettier in the store). I like the arabesque, but I'm not totally sold on it. I looked at the MSI tiles, earlier, I'll give them another look.

Out of the two you posted, I prefer the arabesque. What if you did a different material besides porcelain?

I like these glass ones and white may brighten up your space even more.

https://www.flooranddecor.com/deco-glam/arabesque-fleur-snow-water-jet-cut-glass-mosaic-100032622.html#start=11

I agree with the "wait until everything is in" contingent. I don't dislike either of your choices, but the effect could be very different once everything is pulled together than it looks with your samples. I'm particularly concerned that the glass tile, which color shifted so dramatically in your two pics, might look different yet under whatever lighting you actually install in your kitchen. To a lesser extent, that is true of all tiles, hence the advice to wait.

Keep the oak natural. If you ever need to patch it, it will be easy to match.

I like the arabesque too, but would prefer it in a larger size. It seems okay next to the small samples you have, but once you have full scale everything, it will probably be too petite. Just something I learned on my recent kitchen reno.

Also like the natural oak floor.

I prefer the arabesque tile of these options, but still seems a bit off to me with so much beige and brown. I like warm tones too and think maybe a lighter tile that contrasts more with the counter would be nice.

Do you have inspiration pics?

Prefer the arabesque shape but would wait on making the decision. There are so many options to explore and,in the end, a backsplash is one of those things I want to loooove.

@caligirl, you've described my hesitation exactly. I like it, but it's really an EXACT match for the countertop. I'd like a bit more color variation.

My ideabook is sort of all over the place. The only consistent look is wood cabinets with light countertop. I really like the look of an encaustic backsplash (but in porcelain, not real encaustic), but those kitchens tend to be white.

What door style are you using for your cabinets?

Mostly I don't like how fake it looks. It's a laminate that looks like tile, so those "grout lines" are basically drawn on. If it was real tile, I might have left it alone (color permitting).

NJ Mom, I was reading your other thread about backsplashes....I think if you definitely want a more jazzy backsplash, you're smart to plan it in advance. If you wait until the counter is in, you have fewer choices.

Reason I was asking about your inspiration pics is that it's hard to tell what style your house and kitchen are based on the samples. I think encaustic tile could be neat with stained cabinets.

I found a few examples where I think the wood and tile go well together:

Even Maria "Subway Tile" Killam says you can do encaustic tile. Really agree with her points on making sure it fits the house, color doesn't boss you around, and it's something you'll love when the trend passes.

http://www.mariakillam.com/encaustictiles/

i woud do the floors a little darker since i feel "natural" tends to go yellow over time.

personally i don't either of the b/s samples. for color or shape. i think u can do better....

My point in saying the vinyl floor looks pinker than the cabinets was that it’s hard to decide on tile or to know what the cabinets will look like color wise before you get your new floor in there. Wait for that and then decide on a backsplash.

It appears the existing oak floor is a great contrast, as well as it compliments your cabinet choice. I would stick with that so you don’t have to refinish the existing. Put your money somewhere else.
As far as the splash, waiting until the counters are installed is a great idea. That said, between your only two choices, I would nix both of them, BUT go with a different Oceanside glass tile option. The Harmonia or Muse series has some beautiful blends and sizing/pattern options. I love that they use recycled glass in their line. You can also select color tones that compliment your motif and do a custom pattern—-making it unique and a one-of-kind blend. Have fun with it!

One point. Don’t do as we did and choose your tiles after gazing at them placed horizontally. Place your samples vertically while choosing. The colour change can be immense. We got it very wrong a few years ago and basically managed to install, as my husband sadly said, “the bathroom everyone was ripping out”. Learn from our ineptitude!
Best of luck.

I really like the arabesque tile -- the warm tones really look good with the cabinets and countertop choice! I love those warm tones, too! I'm happy to see they're really coming back. Of course, I never got rid of them! lol

I would vote NO for either. Both are on the brink of being dated. Simple is better.

We took a third option. Countertop will be Cambria Newport, and these adorable 3x3 tiles will be installed diagonally as shown. (The red wood in the back is just the color of the contractor's desk, ignore it.)

That looks dated too, especially on the diagonal. It also doesn't relate to your cabinet color with any of those colors in it. I would try again, as you can do much better.

I don't really care about looking "dated", but I've seen a lot of backsplashes with similar looks lately. The cabinet color does look weird in this picture, but it's a good match in real life.

I like it. Did you decide on a floor color? You'll have to be on top of the tile guy doing the backsplash, making sure the layout of all those patterns makes sense. Don't rely on tile guys judgement! Square tiles and diagonal placement don't get a lot of love here. Personally I find them both classic. But then I never saw a subway tile until HGTV. So everyone saying how classic subway is, I'm like say what??

I far prefer your latest choice. (Can't quite envision the tile on the diagonal though. My problem,not yours ;- ) Hope you post after the space is completed.

I like that counter much better. With encaustic tiles I really love how the patterns repeat together, and for me the patchwork tile loses that. So I would much prefer 1 pattern repeating rather than the patchwork.

@caligirl5, I like the repetition of an encaustic tile too, but my husband thinks it's too big and overpowering. He has a point, our kitchen is not small, but it's also not big enough to carry it off well. We both liked this patchwork tile, though.

Your second choice would look awesome, warm and cozy. You don't have to go Diagonal just go straight. Change the wall color to lighter tones. Send a picture when you're done

have you actually seen your patchwork installed? it's very busy. everything else in the kitchen has to be plain. super plain. And why diagonal? it's a very busy patchwork. turning it diagonal will do nothing for the design.

if you want diagonal, then choose something like these,,monotone color. the layout shouldn't fight w/the design.

if you want encaustic, go w/the larger tile in one pattern

Thanks for the input, Beth. Everything else is very plain... Maple shaker cabinets and light quartz countertops. You're probably right about the diagonal vs. square issue. We liked the way the sample looked on the diagonal, but that might not translate to the entire backsplash. Hmm...

I haven’t read the comments, but I love the arabesque. The right color grout to make it stand out a little would be perfect!
(scrolls up to read comments)

NJ mom,,,take a look over at CleTile. they have some beautiful cement options, but also check out the colors on the Earthenware. they have 4x4's that you could turn diagonal.

or scallops or hex

or, if you like that arabesque color, then do something that doesn't look dated,,,maybe try the scallop

or this type of arabesque. this is a quartz w/mirror from Tilebar.

GlassTileOasis has these

black would actually look very dramatic

or these colors from fireclay tile. do one, two or even three.

One of the issues I always have in selecting backsplashes for clients is this...do you want to be trendy and plan on changing it in 3-4 years? Or do you prefer to go classic and keep it for a while? Do you want to draw attention to the backsplash, making it a statement, or do you want it to blend into the background? The arabesque tile will date itself quickly as well as a glass tile will too. Neutral, clean, perhaps stone, will stay newer looking longer. Good luck! It's always tough to pick.

I really like the patchwork one. I can envision it on a backsplash. It will be busy, though. And some people like that.

I like the Arabesque. Not a pro just my opinion.

What did you do NJmom? I like the encaustic, larger, not patchwork, not diagonal for backsplash. Unless as an accent over stove only, then still 8x and still not diagonal. I did the 8x random in my powder room and love it but I would want something a little tamer for the backsplash.