Sounds pretty. I'd go with a classic white subway. I don't think you can go wrong with that look.

White subway would be the safe choice. If you post pics of your kitchen people will probably post ideas for you.

With gorgeous Calacatta Gold counters, I would think plain, white subway would be fantastic. You might want to consider Calacatta Gold subway as a possibility too- it looks nice in a slightly larger format than the usual.

This is the kitchen Rita Garces did for the owner of Artistic Tile's son. It's one of my favorite kitchens.

You could go with a different shape, but keep it all white. It would add texture, but not take away from the other elements.

Gray cabinets and white subway tile. Your kitchen will look like every other kitchen remodeled during this last trend. There are so many choices, I would do something better than a white subway tile. It's hard to say anything more without knowing the style of your home so just pointing out that you're doing The Trend Handbook right now which will put a timestamp on your remodel.

Subway tile looks the best to me; it's a classic and is not meant to be the star of the show, but rather to set off the counter stone. Anything fussy is just too much. Subway tile is not trendy; it's a classic and will always look right.

I have a few samples out . The carrera marble tile looks very nice with the gray cabinets, but not sure if it works with the calacatta gold counter.

There was a post recently from someone on here who tried mixing carrera and calacatta marbles in the same kitchen. She was deeply regretting it, and it was likely going to be an expensive mistake to repair. The moral of this story: don't do it.

You cannot mix Calacatta and Carrara.

No, no, no, do not mix Calacatta and Carrara! Instead of plain white subway tile, why not try a white hand made crackle tile?

http://www.stylink.nl/blogs/3-blogs/2490-colour-trends-2016-volgens-akzonobel-okergoud-inspiratie

white subway tile huh? that's really taking a chance there. honestly, your kitchen will look like every other gray/white kitchen on Pinterest. Yawn.

If you want to play it safe, then do the white subway.

Otherwise, step out of the white tile box and look at other tile options. Wait until the countertops are installed so you can see how everything looks in your kitchen w/your lighting. Look at Encore Ceramics, Walker Zanger, Ann Sacks. look at other kitchens with calcutta. and no, do not mix carrara w/calacatta. they are two different marble tones.

you could do a Calacatta subway tile

or use the countertop itself and bring the slab up the back

FYI: NOTHING "classic" about gray. On trend yes, classic never. Choosing white only makes the gray cupboards look dirty/dingy as in Beth's pics.

Decorating is not a contest to see whose home Is the most originally decorated. Who are we supposed to impress if not ourselves? What is boring to one person is not necessarily boring to everyone. I’d do a white subway tile with some texture or even white glass.

I agree oaktonmom. I once heard a contractor say "You're not going to do a white kitchen, are you? I'm so tired of them." Well that's irrelevant--you're doing only one kitchen, and if you want white subway tiles, then you should get them! It doesn't matter if everyone else has them.

the cabinets are a given

the countertop is a given

they sound very pretty

now it's about choosing backsplash that will work with these choices best

so yes, white(or crackle white, or handmate white) sounds like it will be the best choice, both in terms of style and colors chosen. or as Beth and Rita pointed out, same marble used on the backsplash

how many kitchens it'd remind of is currently irrelevant once the style and direction and main elements are chosen already and, it seems so, are installed

it has to be a good, harmonious kitchen that the OP loves every day

PS everything classic about gray. you see the color plenty in the nature around you? then yeah..kinda classic. In a sense that it's there whether you want it or not. You can like it more or prefer it less, you can like it just not in your house, everybody has different associations and tolerance to such and such amount of such and such color. Yet as with every color-it exist in a context, whether in nature, or in the context you create, either physically or with your thoughts and feelings

one can't put on an other person his own associations of a color while expecting at the same time of that person to be sure of his associations, his style, be original, be this and be that

it's a core contradiction right here

one can advice what will work best in partially created context

Just an fyi to all, Classic Gray is actually an official Benjamin Moore color name, not a commentary by the OP on the timelessness of the color. Though I will say, even as someone who thinks gray is very trendy at the moment, it is a lovely color that I'd think of as a more truly classic color.

Who on earth said this was a contest? I believe OP posted this as a question, no? therefore, i'm giving my opinion. if OP doesn't care that white subway is used in every other kitchen, then she can do it to hers. but she did ask. I answered. If you others don't agree with me, there's no need to shoot down my opinion. Just simply state, "I think the white subway would be fine".

I'm not basing my opinion strictly because every other kitchen has this tile. I do like it. It's just boring. Just like that first photo I posted. boring. I don't care if you disagree with me. Maybe some of you don't like to step out of the box, and that's apparent. Maybe some of us do. Maybe OP is asking because she's not sure. That's why I prefaced my statement with, "if you want to play it safe, do the white subway". I gave a few options, which is more than some other people have done.

lets remember, it's only tile. Not a tattoo.

I for one would prefer to not have my kitchen look like everyone else’s. Some people might prefer having the same kitchen as everyone else’s for the sake of safety and validation. No thinking or risks necessary. That is a fine approach. I am not against it. In some areas of my life I choose the easy default answer, in some i spend more time and effort and accept more risk.

I don't see any photos posted by you. :(

It is a new build, not a Reno. Countertops went in today and cabinet doors tomorrow. I will post a picture then.

Sometimes "boring" is just what a kitchen (or any room!) needs. Only one star in a room - the rest are just supporting actors in a minor role. An with marble countertops, the OP has her "star". White subway will be perfect.

It's the kitchens where the owner wanted every single item to be "really special" that end up looking like a dog's breakfast.

Beth, I can't see your previous post, that was indeed full of great suggestions, and that I liked, as in "liked" as far as I remember. I hope you didn't delete it, and it's just Houzz's glitch

I also hope I expressed myself in a way that would suggest pretty much the same thought: no need to shoot down others' opinions. because most people do care, to a different degree. About different things. Too much pressure sometimes.

now I'm not sure I expressed it clearly enough

You aren’t limited to white subway. You have a world of options. Colors and shapes. It just depends on how subtle or bold you want to be.

I’m a fan of color … but not everybody is. It’s all good. Go with what you love. Just don’t be afraid of the unique or unexpected.

Anglo,,no. no room needs boring. lol. I can't believe you actually said that. I don't think anyone said anything about a backsplash upstaging the countertops. Look at my suggestions. how are either of those 'too much' ? Apparently none of you are aware of how jewelry or shoes or a bag, compliments a great dress or outfit. It's called the supporting role and all 'stars' need one.

here is an example of someone who stepped out of the box. I think it's a breath of fresh air. Anglo, you prob think this is 'dogs breakfast'.

this one I like, even though it's bordering on boring. the only thing that keeps this kitchen out of yawnsville is the use of interesting 'supporting roles'. The lighting, the glass cabinets, the faucet, and a much needed color to offset all of that gray.

and nobody needs any kitchen this boring. I dozed off just looking at it.

Are you really going to argue that white subway is the only tile on the planet that goes w/marble countertops? Perfect? for whom? Peruse the beautiful kitchens here on Houzz where, omg, people actually dared to do something besides white subway tile. Tell me they're 'overdone'.

they could have easily used white subway w/this marble countertop. but isn't much more interesting w/this mosaic? you may not like the industrial style light w/the more transitional design, but it's something different. and SS would prob look better than the white appliances, but maybe they ran out of funds. I'll take this kitchen all day over the one directly above.

Yes, some people can overdo it. But I don't think we're talking about doing that here. If the white subway was perfect for OP, then why is she on here asking if it's OK?

I merely said subway tile w/gray/white kitchen is boring. I'm sorry a lot of you are so afraid to add a little pizzazz into your homes. But hey, that's your view, and this is mine.

Thanks for the lesson. I’d love to see a photo your “out of the box”, not boring kitchen. Maybe one of the photos above is it?

angophilia- and sometimes the star is the cook :)

Not everyone has grey, marble, subway tile in their kitchens so adding grey, marble, subway tile to your kitchen doesn’t make it look like everyone else’s. And it’s so easy for rando opinionated people to tell you if you don’t take their risk (which chances are they haven’t even done themselves) then you must be the most boring sheeplike person in the world. Anyone that flatly declares all 1000 shades of grey are a trend that is over is ridiculous.

oh jeez, why does this thread have to get out of hand???

that's why we are all here - to ask questions, get answers, learn for the future..

beth is a great contributor as is anglo. please stop the nastiness. honestly the only one who should have 'something' negative to say is the OP, in a nice way of course :)

of course u can disagree, that's not what i am saying, but please don't do it in a snide, backhanded way... aren't we all bigger than that?

back to the OP's ?... if it were me, i would pull a shade of "gold" out of the marble and use that. i would need some color, subtle as it might be. it would also be a quiet, matte tile, with little or no pattern in it. i am not a fan of shiny especially if your counters are polished.

OP, what are using for your floors? that will also impact your decision.

Thanks so much . That was very helpful. Floors are wood, medium espresso. Counters are polished, not matte.

imo, a "gold" color from the counter would also tie in the wood floor and look Fab!! i would go matte finish since the counters are polished with no matter what u pic. just my opinion, you do what speaks to you.

if you post pics of your kitchen, that would really help as well.

check out tile bar, walker zanger, ann sacks, fire clay tile

scroll through and see if something catches your eye. you don't have to get through them since they are pricey, but at least it will give you some ideas and u might be able to find something similar for less to stay within your budget if that's a concern.

good luck!!

I decided to go with white subway tile and I am very pleased with the result. Thought I would share the result with you. Sorry it is not clearer. Thanks everyone for your comments

Looks beautiful. You made the right choice.

I agree--it's a lovely kitchen, and perfect for YOU!