How about just a little hint of color but use a charcoal/dark gray shade of grout?

I don't know if it's my monitor or reflections of items on the island ... but on that piece it looks like there are bits that read light smoky tealish.

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The above with charcoal grout.

justerrilynn - It doesn't have smokey tealish - I think those must be shadows? We did consider very close to that same tile though but decided to bring that color in with some accessories or paint instead.

Me, I would do a hint, just a hint of color in the tile and use a dark gray grout and also a matching light off white with color on the walls. To me it would be more soothingly beautiful and less harsh or disjointed.

I’m back! Here is a sample board with three different white to SLIGHTLY gray grout colors. Any thoughts on the left, middle, or right colors? I don’t think I want any darker grout.

Not sure if it will help but I have Tilbar Lancaster Bianca which looks similar to what you're getting with light gray (Rolling Fog to be specific) grout. The gray looks a little darker and very pretty in person. The tile you picked looks perfect, and don't worry if it is slightly off from cabinets, and counters it will all blend in. My whole kitchen is whiter, but you can see how the tile doesn't match exactly my cabinets and the marble but it all looks good together. Did you pick #4 from your first choices by chance?

Oh and if you're doing white I like the middle color based on the photo, but I think it really won't make much of a difference either way

Kimberly J - we went with #2. I think I am leaning towards the middle grout too - the one on the left seems a bit to tanny gray. Whatever one we choose I'm going to make a full sample board before the full wall.

I love your kitchen! And the view, wow!

Your sample board will give you your answer. :-)

This kitchen needs some color . Throw up some subway . Go to ceiling with it. No more neutral

Start the backsplash hunt over again, but let the counter be the star.

You have so much movement in the counters don't try to add color to the grout. That will create a pattern in the backsplash and you don't need that competing with the counters.

You will be able to tell that there are subway tiles on the wall without highlighting them.

Here is a full sample board in daylight with the grout we’ve chosen. Hopefully it looks good and we can get this over with! ;)

Beautiful!!!

Looks great!

I know everyone likes end photos so here you go! Not quite the “end” but so much closer. We like it so if you don’t just leave it be this time ;).
Photo at night with obnoxious pendant lights and with a little haze left on tiles yet.
Thank you everyone for your help. We really would have made a big mistake with the gray tiles.

Now... SS or custom white wood hood?

The backsplash looks great and I love the way it sets off your counter tops. I'm curious about your cook top and your ovens. What are the brands? Thanks!

Bichonfriz- Thanks! The wall ovens are a GE Advantium speed oven (top) and a regular GE wall oven (bottom). Love the speed oven!
The range top is Thor brand. It was the only 36” model we wanted to afford. I do not recommend this brand.

Pretty!

Nice choice! I like it too. I have a stainless hood and am happy with it. I think white or stainless would work, depends on look you are going for. Stainless may look more modern. Enjoy your lovely kitchen.

actually, after looking at pics again, stainless will break up the white.

The tile is gorgeous!!!

I love it! I am in the process and love you counters. Do you have the name?

Looks great! Get the stainless please, for the hood : )

Looks beautiful!! I’d go stainless with the hood. Just curious why you wouldn’t recommend the Thor cooktop?

Beautiful.

No, cream color will be better

Here are some, albeit dreary, daylight pics. Still gotta get the haze off of the tile and caulking.

Thanks Jen! Not long at all. Unfortunately I have had those kinds of experiences and completely understand the frustration and being completely OVER IT. Lol. I appreciate the explanation and info!!

We have an old stainless hood from the previous kitchen that we will hold up there. I really love the look of the wood hoods but think it needs something stainless up there to break it up and bring the other appliances together.

We are trying to go for a modern farmhouse shabby chic vintage clean look ;). See pics. Many of the items are not permanent just old furniture - and walls are all white. We have a paint consultant coming in a week!

We have barn beams in our house, and will have a farmhouse looking hutch in the extended kitchen/sitting room (where the dark dresser and chicken picture is currently). We thought about trying to get some barnwood on the hood at one point to bring in the beams and warm up the kitchen but decided to do that with the counter top of the hutch.

Ignore the sick toddler :(.

I'm curious why you wouldn't recommend the Thor range top? My son is doing a reno of an old house in Philly and looking for a cooktop. I don't think he has room for a 6 burner. I've noticed many cook tops that are not the "professional" looking ones have knobs that are on the top of the cooktop and they interfere with large skillets/frying pans.

The tile is just the wrong gray. I would suggest tile which matches exactly one of the lighter colors in the stone rather than the dark tile you have chosen. The granite is the star of this show. It is beautiful.

felizlady, you can't scroll up two comments and see her finished space? With white subway tiles?

You should know by now that whenever there is a post with over 75 comments, it usually means things have evolved or have been completed, and to read through some of the later comments.

Bichonfrize, if you scroll up a bit you’ll see Jen provided an answer as to why she wouldn’t recommend the Thor cooktop

It looks good. I love to see the successful back splashes. Don't forget we would like to see the room again with hood in place.

Jen, it turned out beautifully! Really pretty tile and that wall looks great with your counters, cabinets and sick toddler.

Jen,
If you still look at your posts, what color of the tongue in chic is that which you used? I am thinking of using that collection as I have off white cabinets and had trouble finding a white that goes. I got a sample of Bisque and Shell but yours appears lighter. Beautiful kitchen!

We used “I Think I’ll Bisque It”. The Shell Out was soooo close to the Bisque but I thought it read a little more gray than the Bisque.
We really love the tile! It has great texture and adds so much class to our kitchen. Good luck!

Thanks so much Jenn! I had wanted white tile but didn’t realize how hard it was to find tile that goes with off white cabinets! I like the Bisque & also thought the Shell read grey. I had been planning on doing a herringbone pattern over the stove but I’m not sure if that collection is too long to look right in a 30” or so square.

Hi Jen,
Just wanted to say we ended up
Using Bisque it also. They just began laying it today. Now just need to
pick grout. From a distance yours looks like the grout is the same as the tile color, but did you actually go with a light grey? I’m trying to decide between an almost matching white, or one a slight bit darker. Without the grout, I kind of like seeing the tile. We still have a ways to go and I can’t wait till finished!!

Hi jlemail3 -- is the picture above bisque? It looks more white so curious. I am looking for an off-white tile to go with off-white cabinets and also taj mahal. Gorgeous kitchen by the way !

Yes Rosa, it is Bisque it tile, an off white. My cabinets are close to Dunn Edwards Swiss Coffee (in a scuffex base paint that changes the color). My cabinets came out creamier than I wanted but go well with the Alyse Edwards Bisque It tile. I get lots of complements on it. After everything was done, it just looks white unless you hold a true white next to it.

Thank you for that info very helpful -- I am having troubles matching up all my whites so very helpful.

I don’t think it is the right gray, either...just a bit off, but off enough it would drive me crazy.

jlemail3 - I'm sorry I just saw this! we didn't go gray grout at all. Our grout basically matched the tile. your kitchen is beautiful. we also get a ton of compliments. It is a beautiful versatile tile. So glad we chose it.

Me too Jen. We ended up using the same color grout as the Bisque tile. What range hood did you end up with? I’m just glad the kitchen is done... it took soo much longer than it was supposed to!

We don't have a hood yet. our cabinet maker is soooooooo. we did so many mock ups and this si what we liked best. it brought the wood from the other parts of the house into the kitchen. First pic is mock up, second was inspiration.

Oh I really like that! My daughter wanted me to do something like that and also to use the same wood in open shelving instead of some of the cabinets I have. I was already too far along in my plans to make those changes. Be sure and put up your photos when your all done!

inspiration

Wow - both your kitchens look great ! What did you and up doing for wall color / trim colors ? I am struggling with what paint colors to do with off white cabinets and a off white backsplash (still looking for tile but plan to look at the bisque now )

My cabinet color was color matched to BM white dove. can't say it's perfect, but close enough. Trim will be White Dove and wall color will be Gossimer Veil SW.