During our semi-kitchen- remodel we found finding the right backsplash was the most challenging part of the whole kitchen!

I personally don't think either backsplash (green combo or white) work with your current cabinets or countertop.

I'd keep it super simple (I'm not a fan of subway at all), but maybe glass backsplash in a solid color. :)

Any reason you’re not using the counter material as backsplash too? I’ve seen this with granite, looks sleek and unified, especially in a smaller kitchen where you don’t want to chop it up with too many different surfaces. You already have another pattern in the floor tile and another in the grain of the cabinets. If you can’t continue counter material, go solid, no pattern.

I think the shades of green are a bit of a mismatch between counter and mosaics. The size of the mosaics is not an issue, they provide a different design than the ubiquitous subway tile.

At first glance, the mosaic sample looks pastel and bathroom-y to me. Not at all suited for your countertop nor cabinets.

Too, too busy, a total mismatch in tone. Don't mix two natural stones either. Your challenge is to not flight your flooring, a cool gray. I'd repeat the soap stone and run up the splash to the bottom of hood.

Everything Kudzu9 said above. The overwhelming impression is that the tile you show in your OP is too bathroom-y. But the one thing I do not agree with would be to use the counter material as a backsplash--except for as a panel just behind the range. It's always nice to do away with grout lines behind the range, because that is where the grout will get stained, even if you seal it. But using the counter material as a backsplash everywhere would be too unrelievedly one pattern and color. I would find something simple, and yes, simple cream subway tile would work - there is a reason it has been popular for decades and decades. It goes with everything, is functional, is bright (your counter is dark and to have it everywhere risks taking a fairly light kitchen and making it cave-ish), and allows you to have the counter be the star.

Thanks everyone! Maybe more of a cream would work. I'm just not sure cream would go with the floors. I still like the idea of green but I can't find any examples that I love.

I found this thread and tried to order a sample of this backsplash but they no longer sell it: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/my-new-backsplash-nat-cherry-cabinets-dakota-mahogany-granite-dsvw-vd~2418976?n=38

I'm not categorically opposed to glass, but I think glass generally looks contemporary and that's not the look I'm going for. It would be way too expensive to continue the soapstone as backsplash material. Also, it only comes in 3cm thickness, which would reduce countertop space, not to mention making the small kitchen too dark.

Castle Hazy Trail 3x12 Ceramic Tile | TileBar.com

Castle Wind Chill 3x12 Ceramic Tile | TileBar.com

I like the Castle Hazy Trail kulrn is suggesting

Tile bar has 5 samples for $5. I have a box full of samples!

Have you looked at larger format tiles in gray-green tones? Heath Ceramics has lots of ideas in neutral greens that might harmonize better with your lovely counters.

try fireclay they have lots of colors. you can do 6x6 tiles instead of subway and it will mimic your floors & this won't add another shape to your kitchen

You might check some of the Encore tiles. We have Encore crackle Stream above our soapstone.

Love the Castle Hazy Trail as well. Think the small mosaics look like bathroom tiles, too many grout lines to clean in a kitchen, the color is a mismatch for your lovely countertops.

A solid subway, ceramic or glass would look nice. Can't tell the color of the floor, is it grayish tile?

[https://www.houzz.com/products/3x6-sea-blue-crystal-glass-subway-tile-set-of-40-prvw-vr~109861813[(https://www.houzz.com/products/3x6-sea-blue-crystal-glass-subway-tile-set-of-40-prvw-vr~109861813)

https://www.houzz.com/products/4x12-simply-glass-subway-tile-fog-set-of-15-prvw-vr~92448727

https://www.houzz.com/products/lancaster-dove-3x6-polished-ceramic-tile-set-of-8-prvw-vr~125715680

Thanks for all the suggestions! I've been looking around all the sites you sent. I like the idea of 6x6 tiles to match the shape of the floor tiles. For some reason I'm just not all that excited about subway. The floor tiles are mostly white with some gray swirls and sort of a bluish tint. Maybe you can see them better in this photo.

I don't know if I want to do a totally gray backsplash. Maybe gray with a bit of green in it. Gray would match the soapstone and floors (not sure about the cabinets). But I'm just not a fan of gray and white kitchens. I like color!

Not subway. Just throwing some random ideas out! May be too busy still :-)

Ok back with more samples. Anyone like any of these?

- limestone (still in the package but is beautiful in real life. Best match with cabinets.

- random gray (with hint of green) ceramic square tiles I got at Floor &Decor

- Calacatta marble subway with greenish streaks

- the same green ming marble as before, but in a larger size.

Your countertops are beautiful- every single one of those options compete with it. I’m guessing you spent a fair amount on it. Why detract from it with textures and patterns? Your countertops should be the Star of the show here! Please consider a solid, dark gray, black or even very dark green that will compliment, not compete with it. I Think the best solution here is a slab of solid stone, no grout lines, no pattern, no texture.

Unless you have your heart set on natural stone for the backsplash, I’m not sure I see it here unless you choose to run the soapstone up the wall! Do you have any inspiration pictures?

Your soapstone is gorgeous because of the natural pattern in the stone... and the stain on your cabinets allow the natural wood grain to show through creating yet another beautiful, natural pattern.... So there is natural curvilinear movement in both the cabinetry in and in the countertop. I would look to bring in an element that is simple, not patterned, to give your eye a chance to rest.

This does not mean boring! Check out some of the beautiful had glazed tiles from Heath or Pratt and Larson. Use a subtle green to tie in the countertops with the cabinets. There is variation in hand glazed tiles, but it doesn’t read as extreme as what we would see in a natural stone.

Anyway, both the cabinets and the countertop are beautiful and good luck with the rest of your remodel!

Look toward larger format tile not small mosaic squares, rectangles, etc.....if it is on a sheet, it might be questionable for use. It does not have to be subway or the standard subway size. Your stone is a “star” so a tile needs to “harmonize“ instead of fighting for star status.

I would also avoid most stones like limestone, travertine, slates, etc. It is a look that was popular starting in the 1990s. Plus, many have patterns that are too busy for your stone, I think.

The right tile is out there...but this is not going to be as easy as some backsplashes to get right. I searched qute a while for some inspiration photos with green soapstone with not a lot of success....not a fan of the liner but....

Rantontoo, I like that photo! Do you know what the tile is? I have also been having trouble finding inspiration photos. Maybe whatever I have in my head is something people don't do because it doesn't work. I like the tile in the picture, although I'd prefer just a bit lighter. It's such a small kitchen, with only one small window, I don't want anything too dark.

Second to looking into Fireclay. They have every color you could ever want

Ratontoo, that’s exactly what I was trying to get across!!!! That’s the look!!

CS there are so many glazes, but something with a little green in it will pull your cabinets and countertops together nicely.

However you finalize your decision, you can also accent your cabinets with new hardware (knobs & pulls). Your New York Hardware Team info@nyhardware.com www.nyhardware.com 949.631.0631

The square tiles are interesting in that they echo the floor tile.

Saw this houzz article. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-top-backsplashes-to-pair-with-soapstone-countertops-stsetivw-vs~50427395

Also, look at this tile again. Maybe order a sample. At Tilebar

Based on your samples it looks like you like simple design. I'm personally not excited about some of the samples you have, the marbley look doesn't work with those counters for me. Just a few thoughts from Fireclay (I'm just a big fan of theirs and they have every color under the sun). You can get 5 samples for free, and I think most of their colors come in a ton of different shapes! I don't know if these colors will work well, it's kinda hard to tell the hues from my monitor, but as some ideas :)

.

Driftwood

Salton Sea, this might look nice with the lighter spots in your soapstone if it works with your floor?

Pyrite - this looks similar to what Rantantoo shared, although maybe a scotch more gray.

Lochness comes in a 2x2 sheet, subway, what have you. Could be kinda cool if you are into darker, looks like it has the green undertone you suggestsed. I think this is my second favorite if it would work with your floors.

I thought the tile was glass or ceramic/porcelain since it looked so uniform. You can do a light tile that is not green, but it might need green undertones to it, I think, instead of creamy. [https://www.houzz.com/photos/culinary-craftsman-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~560648?hz_ref=aHR0cDovL3NlYXR0bGVzb2Fwc3RvbmUuY29tL2JsYWNrLXNvYXBzdG9uZS1jb3VudGVycy13aXRoLWNvbG9yZnVsLXN1YndheS10aWxlLWJhY2tzcGxhc2gvfGJhOGMxM2FlLTFmNTYtNDhmMy1iYWY3LWY1MTVmOGFhMjhmZnwxNTUyMzIzOTg2MzU3[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/culinary-craftsman-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~560648?hz_ref=aHR0cDovL3NlYXR0bGVzb2Fwc3RvbmUuY29tL2JsYWNrLXNvYXBzdG9uZS1jb3VudGVycy13aXRoLWNvbG9yZnVsLXN1YndheS10aWxlLWJhY2tzcGxhc2gvfGJhOGMxM2FlLTFmNTYtNDhmMy1iYWY3LWY1MTVmOGFhMjhmZnwxNTUyMzIzOTg2MzU3)

How about my Jeffrey Court green tile? It has a slight gray cast to it but will add some color to your backsplash and would work with your gorgeous soapstone and cabinets.

First a photo from my kitchen:

And from the Jeffrey Court website. Price is under $20/square foot. The color also comes in several other tile shapes but I don't know pricing on those. Color is Spanish Moss.

https://www.jeffreycourt.com/product/4x4-ceramic-green-field-tile-gloss-crackle-finish/

Here's an overall pic. I had the same tile in a different color in my last place. I liked it so much, I just changed colors for my new house.

These could be beautiful too for a lighter splash that has some green!

Silver haze

Celadon

Rosemary

Fireclay tiles come in different shapes/sizes....awesome but pricey.

Or, you could do a back painted glass...in a green color.

Looks like the tile in our master bath. Love it with plain, light quartz, not so sure in this application.

Personally, I think subway tiles look like subways. But I digress. My GC did larger tiles on backsplash (was same surface as countertop), with a strip of tiny matching tiles 3/4 the way up the backsplash. tiny tiles were about 5 rows high. super pretty. IOWs, you might use the tiny tile as an accent on the backsplash. on the other hand my sister put in tiny tile 100% as backsplash. really beautiful.

check out winchester tiles, in stock, reasonably priced, handmade and beautiful.

Winchester Tiles residence

Wow, thank you so much Nicole, Rantontoo, cpartist, isabel98, and kulrn. I'm ordering samples of these right now. Ellen, that picture is gorgeous.

Look forward to seeing how it turns out!

I took y'all's suggestions and ordered samples from Fireclay. Figured I'd start with those. What do you think?

I like the one on the far right! :)

Here are a bunch of greens from CleTile.

Some may not be the right shade of green, but this hopefully gives you some ideas.

Look for a previous posting, I can't put my hands on it, another poster looking for suggestions with her soapstone. Either Beth or Jan maybe, one of the pros had some really beautiful and awesome suggestions. And it had a copper sink which looked awesome as well

I like the one on the far right best, it is a light green without looking minty. Instead, its like a pale lichen you find on rocks out in the woods. It has a very organic feel to it.

I like the far right too, but I'm also liking the dark (black?) one. I'd like to see them from a bit farther away.