Dawn...breathe easy...I promise it will all be fine and look great! :-)

I would do NO accent under the hood, and I would add a pot filler to decorate that space.

Marble subway all the way, no insets. The glass tile destroys your otherwise lovely to be kitchen.

Dawn, I am not a designer at all but I watch lots of HGTV : ) First of all, I don't see any yellow in the marble subway title. I think it looks lovely! I do agree however, that the glass mosaic accent pieces don't work well with the marble subway tile. If they are able to remove the glass mosaic, I think the marble subway tile in a herringbone pattern would look nice. I love the look in the example picture you posted. You would have a beautiful monochromatic look but with some interest with the herringbone accent. The tile installer should be able to tell you if they can do that or not. The area you have designated for the "accent" seems large enough that they should be able to install it in a herringbone pattern. Good luck! Your kitchen is going to be gorgeous! Love the cabinet color combination you selected!

Unfortunately too late in the process to do a pot filler.

So, if they can remove the glass mosaic...

could we do a herringbone mosaic from the same material (Calacatta)???

My husband really wanted that herringbone inset look behind the range.

Also, concerned about how much that is going to cost to remove it all and start over (already over budget)

Agree with all the others, marble is good, glass is not. Stick with all marble.

I don't see why they couldn't do the herringbone with the Calacatta. I'm clueless about the cost, but lots of us have been in the same boat...with worse redo situations, too. Keep us updated!

I would reiterate what others have said; the inset herringbone is dated and competes with the range hood. Don’t do any insert, just the subway tile across the whole backsplash.

Talk with your tile contractor. Have him measure and do mock up with the subway, both herringbone and continuing the pattern as is. See what works and what you like. The sooner you remove the mosaic, the easier and less risk to the surface.

I will be blunt. Your husband is extremely wrong. You have a range on a diagonal with a contrasting hood- you do not need any more interest in this corner. Plus having and accent like that went out of style five years ago at least. So this is like your husband asking for avocado green appliances in 1980- that boat sailed already.

It should not cost much to pull the tile and re-set it in a plain running bond pattern. If you decide to be stubborn and get the herringbone you will have to find a marble that matches what you have in a smaller size. If you attempt to do this with the regular field size you have already, you will have an even choppier look, requiring a lot more work and effort from your tile people.

You can do anything you like of course. Think about how much you should trust yourself, versus the overwhelming consensus on this board.

So, if they can remove the glass mosaic...

could we do a herringbone mosaic from the same material (Calacatta)???

NO HERRINGBONE. Sorry for yelling but it was the only way to make it clear. The herringbone will compete with your gorgeous hood and the rest of your gorgeous kitchen. You don't need to put lipstick on the pig and doing a herringbone, even in the Calacutta, would be the lipstick on the pig.

Less is more.

Skip the inset. The marble backsplash will be enough and breaking up the pattern with an insert is not the clean look you are going for. I’m not a designer but I do know what not to do most of the time.

Just so you can show your husband the numbers, I'll add another vote for no glass and no herringbone marble accent. Keep it simple and classic.

And don't feel bad, most of us have done a similar mistake over the years. I had a large shower ceiling removed right after it went up. It was Oceanside Glass tile so the mistake was costly, but there was no way I could live with it. It looked good with the tiny samples, but did not work on a larger scale. I am now much more careful about trying to see larger samples and visualizing things in the actual scale of the project.

Thank you all!!!

I agree with all of the above - no to the glass and no to the herringbone insert. Your tile has so much movement in it already that adding a diagonal pattern (+grout) is just going to be tooooo busy. The example you posted above looks nice because it's white tile with white grout so the insert pattern is the only pattern.

A rough photoshop of just the calacutta (and this is assuming that you don't end up with a lot of weird colored tiles in the insert which would make it even more chaotic). You have lovely cabinets (in two colors) plus that great hood - the tile is already contributing a lot of look too.

Good luck! I hope you'll share pics when your kitchen is done!

Wow damiarain!!!! Thank you so much for those!!!!!

Love your choices except the insert. You have a very busy corner drawing our eye, making us avoid all the other pretty parts. I vote for one continuous backsplash. A nice, fresh space.

Some advice from someone whose had experience with marble tiles...you really want all your tiles from the same lot, so if your supplier has them, that would be best. If they don’t then go through the tiles you get and pick out the ones that fit in best, color wise and movement wise. You won’t be sorry for taking the time.

Nice work, damiarain! Dawn, I hope those will help. Sure looks NICE with no insert.

I always tell people "no insets and no accent stripes"

Very good example of why you shouldn't go there. Sorry you had to learn the hard way.

While you're at it you might just extend the marble tile to the window frame and below and up a couple of inches and over to the right until it hits the cabinet. There's no reason to tile only on the angled wall.

Also, close the gap under the hood at the top when you remove the herringbone.

I think your backsplash tile looks really good. That herringbone tile is ugly. I agree with some others, it is the elephant in the room and needs to go. The straight backsplash tile would be my preference, but if having the inset would save money, just do it in same like the pic you found.
Correct it now. You will be sick every time you go in the kitchen if you don’t.

Dawn, no inset. At least, not w/the tile you've chosen. that glass tile just does not work w/your beveled tile. they are two different styles and are a complete mismatch.

it has to be the same marble if you insist on doing an inset. do not do two different kinds of tile.

this is similar to what your tile looks like, w/the black granite. (this is calacatta. are you using that or a statuary marble?)

If you want to do the herringbone, then remove all of the tile and start over, doing the entire thing in the herringbone pattern. As was already mentioned, the tile has plenty of movement and veining. switching patterns and doing an inset is just overkill.

stick with one pattern (offset or the herringbone) throughout the entire layout.

I'm trying to find some examples for you of the type of tile that looks the best with each layout.

personally I love this calacatta in the herringbone. it's longer and thinner and really lets the pattern standout. (and calacatta will always be warmer in tone than the carrara)

if you more of a mosaic option, then the 1x4 is a good choice

so this the pattern look over the stove. this herringbone is the 90 degree pattern. this looks fine because it's a solid color tile.

here is your tile with a framed herringbone mosaic in a smaller size tile.

again, calacatta, in the 90 degree herringbone, in your 3x6 subway. Notice that they did the entire space in the pattern. If you like this look, then do that entire wall behind the stove.

calacatta, below, w/a very small mosaic.

I don't mind inset designs, but they have to be done correctly and with the right materials.

Great pictures! Thanks so much!!!

I agree

Rip out all and just subway in marble is my vote.

I agree with Beth. If you do the inset use the same marble subway tile

If you redo, the warm tones in calacatta would look amazing with your beautiful cabinets.

Update:

i just got back from the house. The tile guy was there working on the backsplash. We get possession in less than 2 weeks. The tile guy has other jobs he has booked. So...he is ripping out the glass and tomorrow morning I am going to the tile place and picking out a mosaic in the calacatta marble for an inset. I know a lot of you voted no inset but, we like that look (dated or not). So, will go with something similar to what Beth posted.

So it doesn’t look too busy what shape would you do inside the inset (1x4 herringbone calacatta, 1x3 herringbone, 1 inch hexagon, 3 inch hexagon, lantern shaped arabesque baroque)????

Our grout will be gray (the actual color is shadow).

Again, black granite counters on the perimeter and our Island is called Nuevo. I’ll attach a picture.

You are all awesome and I greatly appreciate all of the feedback.

My concern with your plan is having the right match to your current field tile. Is your tile Carrara?

following..

match your field tile. do not do a different marble.

1x4 or 1x3 herringbone will look fine. again,,use the exact same marble as your subways.

(I think this inset is a 1x3)

these look like 5/8" squares

even the 1" hex could work.

Her subway selection may not offer a 1x4 for a herringbone pattern. But if it does, or other formats as stated, still suggest a good measure and lay out of the insert tile with the surrounding field tile is required. Sounds like a good "tile guy" is involved. Lean on him for advice.

Dawn,

just finishing a whole house renovation and I feel your pain. This may come too late but I agree with everyone, rip out the glass, yes, they can do it and just put in the marble, no herringbone. It looks beautiful. Simple is better, less is more. You have plenty of movement with the grain in the marble. Here is a picture of my new backsplash and I love it.

Subway selection is the Calacatta.

Here is a pic of what is done so far (without the section behind the range that was already pictured). I should say looking for a mosaic in the same Calacatta as the subway (not a different marble...sorry for that confusion).

I also snapped a picture of the box so I have the batch number for the Calacatta subway (not sure if that matters or not but thought it might?)

dawn, did you check w/the company where you purchased your tile to see if they have the smaller mosaics in the same type of marble. You may not get the same batch, but hopefully you can get close.

Beth H -

They did and I looked at a lot of different ones (same company in the Calacatta). Going with the 1x3 herringbone mosaic in the same marble as the subway tiles. They are overnighting it so it will be here tomorrow morning. The rest of the subway tile is up. The tile guy is going to remove the glass section tomorrow and install the new one I picked out today. I will come back and post pics when it is all done. I know many said no inset but we are traditionalists I guess and still wanted one

I am personally picking up the sheets tomorrow and we ordered a couple extra so the tile guy and I can go through them and lay it out the way I want.

Thank you again so much...all of you! Truly appreciate all of the feedback and for assuring me it is fixable.

It will look fabulous. Fashions come and go. I can't wait to see the finished product.

The problem is the marble is warm whites and warm greys while the glass is cool blue greys. The glass doesn't work pattern or color wise. The marble tile is beautiful with you cabinets. Either make it all subway, or use the same marble for a feature insert.

Hi! I'm not seeing the warmth in the marble, if anything, the cool look of it is highlighting the warmth of the cabinets. For me, it's the inset area that is not working, a bit too harsh and graphic. I would go for the same tile as the main area, but different pattern perhaps. That being said, I don't know that the tile is warm enough for the white of the cabinets!

Update:

So much better than the glass.

Thank goodness you ripped out the glass tile! I think it looks great with the small herringbone. It also looks like your tile guy is doing a really good job. I think a light grout would be best.

That looks great! The herringbone titles match the field tile beautifully.

Beautiful!

I’m so glad you switched out the glass. This looks a million times better. So pretty! Congrats!

looks great dawn. u went w/the 1x4. looks like carrara though. still matches well enough.

Thank you all!

It’s the Calacatta Nuevo. The Calacatta gold had too much yellow/golds and this matched the best.

Here we go. All grouted. 36” Wolf Rangetop gets installed on Monday!

Thank you again for all of your help!!!!! Seriously...you helped so much!

looks good dawn. your tiler did a very nice job.

as the water evaporates, the stone will get lighter. hold off sealing it for a few days.