Sorry about your project difficulties but painting a tile backsplash will look cheap.

If you really, really hate it, you can always paint it later. Try living with it first. Once you have a few objects on the counter, it's going to change the way the backsplash reads to the eye. Black will make the grey look lighter. A dark green may bring a richness to the grey. And pretty much anything in front of the backsplash will make the grey look less stark than it does now.

SashaDog - even if I am just picking and choosing some tiles here and there and transitioning them from grey to cream/tan?

Thank you jupidupi!

I do not plan to do anything immediately, just searching out options

It will look even worse if you only do some. If your backsplash is grey, painting some cream/tan will make them stick out and they won’t go with anything. Live with it until it makes sense financially to replace it. It’s not that bad :)

Agree with jupidupi. Don't do anything now. On my screen, the grey is not standing out in any unpleasant way. Obviously, you may feel different in the actual space but still, live with it a while. Backsplashes take up a lot of space in our heads when designing a kitchen. Way less once we actually start using the kitchen and have "stuff" on the counter. Painting a few tiles might be a lot of trouble for a risky outcome.

Chalk paint does not wear well, can scratch off and there will also be an obvious difference in the finish.

Here is an article to help if you decide to paint, but I still think there will be an obvious texture difference.

https://www.hunker.com/13413124/how-to-paint-marble-tile

I'm sorry, but I don't think that backsplash goes with your counters at all, none of it. If you are unhappy with it now, I don't think it is going to grow on you. I'd start over with a simpler tile choice that doesn't have variation. It looks like your counter has lots of variation already, no need to add to that.

What is your counter? Is it Quartz? If you share pictures of just the counter or advise what brand/name it is, then someone will be able to offer good tile choices. Beth H is the best at that IMO.

Once you have everything set up, and you have your appliances installed, and the counters have your toaster, your coffee maker, etc., and the kitchen looks lived-in, you will see that the backsplash is fine. Do not paint, that will indeed be a worse choice.

The counter top is now Fantasy Brown. The example backsplash tiles o bought had little variation mad were primarily a creamy white with hints of color. Hence my upset for not going through the boxes I bought. I would have seen then a LOT of grey

Try leaning some wood cutting boards and placing a large wooden bowl in front of the marble it might help bring the brown from the counters vertically up so your eye sees it with the marble. Marble and rich wood( browns) are a classic combo.

Oh dear....that's a shame. I think you can do a grey, it just has to be a warm grey.....the grey in what you've got is more blue grey. Best to get some samples and see what works best.

This might work with the lightest colour in the veining. There is some colour variation in these.

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

These read a bit on the pink side.....maybe not in person...

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Personally, I like the picket to run horizontally, but it can go either way.

New Tile Products & Designs | TileBar.com · More Info

Ivy Hill Tile | Wayfair.ca · More Info

Bedrosians Cloe 5" x 5" Ceramic Field Tile | Wayfair.ca · More Info

Hello everyone - I really appreciate the help! I had an interior designer out to the house on Friday and I have decided to rip out my backsplash and replace it. I don't love it, I don't like it and I don't think it will grow on me. It is easier to bite the bullet now than to re-do it after all of my appliances are in. After much discussion, I am looking at these simple, sage green subway tiles w/ a pewter grout. I can also get a sage green grout blended. Should I go that route instead?

Can you show the sample with your counters? Are you able to get more than one piece of that tile? While a sage green tile sounds lovely in isolation, I'm not sure if it is something I'd choose with your counters. I assume the interior designer helped you choose the replacement tile?

What shape and size is the sage tile?

@Leslie Laws I love your fantasy brown slabs BEAUTIFUL!!!

Which tile do you feel goes best with the stone? Each one of us looking from our monitors are going to see something different. Since you first started this post wanting more creamy tiles are you sure you want to lean on the gray green sage side? I am sure it will look nice in creamy or sage. I love what you have done so far.

here are some gray and green backsplashs with fantasy brown

Kitchen Countertops · More Info

Menlo Park New Construction · More Info

Brown Fantasy marble home bar · More Info

Fantasy Brown Marble White Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Fantasy Brown Marble Countertops Leather Finish · More Info

@mvcanada - I have Fantasy Brown countertops with beautiful sage green quartzite accents going through it. There are some pics of my slabs above in this thread. And yes, I hired a professional interior designer who brought the sage green tiles (along with some others) to choose from. They are 3" x 12" subway type tiles

Hi Leslie, given the time you're investing to love your BS you could try photocopying an actual sage tile (another important question: are they uniform color or is there variation?). You could then tape the rectangles up to cover a large area.

Before grouting, order extra tiles and make a sample board with the tiles grouted.

It would be a shame to not get the result you love.

Fantasy Brown has so many colors in it, and varies from slab to slab. If the designer thinks sage green works, then it could be very striking AND complement the countertop. It’s hard for us to “see” what you see in person even with great close up shots. And yes, get extra tiles to try out different grouts.

The two materials are competing and that fantasy brown wins hands down. Beautiful stone you picked. Sorry about BS, but you counters are gorgeous.

I redid my backsplash in a soft sage green handmade tile and I love it!

I regret that I did not do something different with electrical outlets - but the backsplash really looks great and I am happy! Perhaps there is a place I can get custom colored outlets - but the Palladium looks good with the sage (but can't tell so much in the photo)

Glad to read you're happy with your result. On my screen, the colour is lovely and looks harmonious with both cabinets and counter. As for outlets, I believe some can be painted? Might be an option.