My eye went directly to the chevron! It’s beautiful and brings in the color of the island. Very lovely kitchen!

I prefer the subway. I think the doors and chevron would fight over who is boss. Gorgeous kitchen!

Agree . Subway tile is preferred

Can you use your countertop material? Both with the small patterns seem busy with your cabinets. Very nice kitchen!

The chevron competes with the cabinet doors for attention. Cabinets will pop more with subway.

Def- Chevron. Or Large Subway but not the small subway.

Need more samples- love the Nabi Harlequin that Beth H suggested!! Def need a subtle pattern and please no boring white subway. Beautiful kitchen!!

I'm going to throw out a completely different idea than what everyone else has suggested. I would think about a large format tile in a solid color that compliments your dark gray island. I think the subway tile and the chevron tile fight with the pattern in your cupboard doors. A robin egg blue color could be really pretty. If you decide to go with a subway or chevron, I would suggest you match the grout to the color of the tile.

@Beth H - can you tell me what tile the calacatta in chevron pattern is? Thx

https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-eclectic-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~121535371. I’m no pro but your glass doors remind me of the fish-scale tiles. Maybe if you laid them sideways? Not this color, of course😊, maybe white or blue?

@ I. Reno, as a side note, can you tell us which cabinets and counters you used in your gorgeous kitchen? Thank you!

Hi,
The white subway is nice, but blends into the cabinets. If I had to pick between these two choices only, I would pick the chevron. I think more samples maybe?

The subway you have chosen is too small in my opinion.

what about something like this? to celebrate your cabinet front.

IMO you need some color.

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/transitional-kitchen-and-laundry-room-killdeer-remodel-naperville-transitional-kitchen-chicago-phvw-vp~137382596

I absolutely love the suggestion by CC and would go with that color. I would tire quickly using a "Pleasantville" palette.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, and apologies to anyone who has chevron tile, but I think the height of the chevron trend was a few years ago and it is not entirely “on trend” anymore. I say this as someone who has chevron wallpaper (Serena & Lily Feather) in her powder room and loves it, but if I were installing today would probably go in a different direction. I feel like if you’re going to go with a “trendy” style on your backsplash you should at least be on the front end of the trend to avoid your brand new kitchen looking dated faster. If I had to choose between those two I would choose the subway (and I actually do like the smaller subway unlike some of the other commenters). Please don’t shoot the messenger :)

https://www.hunker.com/13724264/pattern-2020-google-trends

Monica, I've been trying to find it, but there is no link to the actual tile.

what I think they did is get regular calacatta subways and cut each one to lay in the chevron pattern.

this one, yes?

My tile place actually carries a 2x8 calacatta subway tile very similar to this. although this looks like a 2x12 or more length.

You'd prob have to find a this length tile, and set a jig on the tile saw to clip off the ends in order to do this pattern. Not difficult, just time consuming.

This isn't as overdone as the chevron mosaic sheets.

Thanks Beth!

I like both, but both too much white for my taste, I would pick either in a color that matches the island more, not necessarily the same shade, but in the same family. I like these https://www.houzz.com/products/6x24-brazilian-gray-montauk-blue-cleft-slate-herringbone-tile-set-of-20-prvw-vr~118235580 if the island is black or dark gray. If it is a dark blue maybe something like this https://www.houzz.com/products/cloe-2-5x8-artisan-ceramic-subway-tile-blue-prvw-vr~151304725. https://www.houzz.com/products/11-75x12-wesminster-glossy-glass-tile-blue-jubilee-prvw-vr~123632437 https://www.houzz.com/products/black-oak-12x24-polished-marble-prvw-vr~45131025

If you do want to stick with white, I like something with a little more character, like the glass or ceramic tiles that have the hand made antique look to them to go with the classic styling of the kitchen. https://www.houzz.com/products/11-63x11-88-iglu-convex-subway-glass-mosaic-wall-tile-glacier-white-prvw-vr~48522268 https://www.houzz.com/products/pier-4x12-ceramic-subway-tile-gray-prvw-vr~138617042?lid=102156816 https://www.houzz.com/products/2x8-marble-wood-look-tile-gray-prvw-vr~138615857

daniel,,you can post the picture of the item instead of the link. click on Houzz Photo and paste the URL under the Houzz heading.

However, this first tile you posted is a 6x24. It's meant for floor tile. It's far too long for a backsplash tile. yes, they could cut it in half, but it's a lot of cutting.

6"x24" Brazilian Gray, Montauk Blue, Cleft Slate Herringbone Tile, Set of 20 · More Info

This is what a montauk blue slate tile color actually looks like (I think it's better suited for the floor than a backsplash)

This Cloe Tile is actually available at Home Depot and Lowes. It is a nice color. comes in a 5x5 too

Cloe 2.5"x8" Artisan Ceramic Subway Tile, Blue · More Info

looks like this once installed. (comes in all sorts of colors:

The 5x5 shape looks like this one

the last one, the white glass tile, can also be found all over.

11.63"x11.88" Iglu Convex Subway Glass Mosaic Wall Tile, Glacier White · More Info

But doing a white glass backsplash tile can lead to a very cool and minty looking color. White glass, once all installed, gives off a greenish hue.

Thanks so much everyone for your comments and ideas! So many great choices, this is why it's hard to pick just one. Going to get more samples tomorrow.

@HU-121936772 Thank you! The doors are double shaker style and counter is Quartz Statuario Octavia by Quorastone. The island is dark gray but looks blue on the sun. I think it was Anchor Gray by Benjamin Moore.

I think you should go with subway. Your doors are beautiful and too much pattern on backsplash will compete. I do like the idea of an unorthodox subway tile with a wavy edge.

It is a really lovely kitchen. Congrats.

Man oh man I wish people would quit focusing on your glass doors. They aren't going to compete with a backsplash. There is no need to settle for a plain white subway tile that everyone and their mother currently has.

Is this overpowering to you?

I think it looks fine w/their glass doors.

what about this one? (this blue glass circular pattern actually would look great in your kitchen. the shape mimics your glasswork door insets.

this would be stunning w/your island color

another blue option by Walker Zanger

if you want your chevron/herringbone, go w/the white and blue marble option. It would look killer w/your island color

You could splurge on a cool marble water jet tile behind the stove, and do the white subway elsewhere, But I'd still prefer you do the entire splash area w/something interesting.

lots of blue/white marble mosaic designs that work w/the glass doors and your blue island.

don't know what the budge is (but you don't have a large area to do), this blue/white marble water jet tile w/the circles would also look great

then bring in some island chairs like these:

My point is, look at all of the beautiful tiles that are available. why would you settle for a plain white subway tile? If you really like a white subway, fine. But I think you'd be doing a disservice to your kitchen by picking that option. Besides, it will end up looking like this. It's perfectly fine if you like safe and sedate. and being somewhat overused and blah.

@Beth, thanks! I see what you mean. Subway tile is a safest choice, it could look too plain. I've been looking at so many beautiful patterns, many of them would work with the kitchen. I really like blue/white marble water jet tile w/the circles and the marble herringbone in pic.7 in your last post. Is that 1 x 4 tile or larger?

This one was my first choice but i thought it might be too busy. It also comes in white and a mother of pearl. Very pretty!

Thanks again for so many great ideas.

It seems to me that the second option is more suitable for this style of kitchen.

Love that one!

I actually like that marble/mother of pearl. (and that combo comes in tons of patterns and styles)

(someone commented that it looks like a voluptuous woman w/an hourglass figure. now everytime I look at it, that's all I see! I'm sure I just ruined it for you too! lol)

This is from my tile place

i think its a white thassos marble and the MOP.

I don't think it's the least bit busy looking and actually compliments your glass doors.

And so does the 'woman figure' in your picture too. I think either one would look classic and very well suited to your kitchen. So much better than a white subway!

As for the 'blue' and white marble chevron, the pic was from TileDaily, and you'd have to contact them for prices

https://tiledaily.com/2016/09/13/two-tone-chevron-marble-mosaic/

they have it in this style too:

https://tiledaily.com/2016/05/09/chevron-mix-blue-marble-mosaic/

I did find this other blue/gray and carrara tile mosaic.

https://mosaictileoutlet.com/products/mto0307-modern-diamond-grey-white-stone-mosaic-tile

this one is Thassos marble and a blue marble. very pretty. I like the one above too.

https://mosaictileoutlet.com/products/mtow0014-classic-polished-marble-with-blue-stone-mosaic-tile?_pos=1&_sid=05cff5c50&_ss=r

oh, and that other one you asked about, I believe is from AnnSacks. they used it here on this kitchen makeover

https://www.annsacks.com/products/tile-stone-mosaic/beau-monde-glass-mosaics#/beau-monde-glass-polly

(you can pick your own glass colors and blends, or have diff shapes made. It's on the link)

for instance, here it is made with white and very pale blue glass instead of the bright blue.

I still think this one could be a contender in the bolder blue or the pale colors. It really goes well w/your glass doors.

some other color/shape options

this shape is similar to the marble/MOP one you like.

These might help you.

Eastside Estate · More Info

Eastside Estate · More Info

Eastside Estate · More Info

That Ann Sacks tile that Beth posted would be incredible! Either the bolder blue or the more muted, either one would be fantastic in your kitchen! Go for the incredible instead of boring 3x6 white subway... yawn....

I like your MOP choice as well, not busy at all, to my eye, very pretty!

clt3 (or anyone else) have the source for the photo clt3 posted above? i also love the 3rd to last photo in beth's last post? I have white dove cabinets, a walnut island and plainish white quartz so looking for a little interest! thanks!

A little colour would make the backsplash pop without contrasting too much with the circular design on the cabinets. I would choose a blue or grey penny round simple design.with white grout. Good luck with your project!

If you have any blue in living room, the dark blue is beautiful and timeless. The blue rectangular tiles show first with the sheen.