I agree to leave it. Match the grout to the tile.
And then add some accents on your countertops to distract your eye.

I think you’ll get used to it!! Looks good.

No. The only way I see an insert possibly looking right would be if it was a different tile design of the same color. Do a dark grout so the arabesque shape becomes noticeable with a second look, not a "look, look at me" attention grabber. I think that backsplash will be beautiful grouted!

No to the insert (and I’m not opposed to them in general), but for your situation, I don’t think it looks good. As others suggested, go with a grout that matches your tile and it won’t look busy at all.

No to the white tile.

Do you still think the grout should match after seeing the larger picture?

I agree - no insert.

However - I like the lighter grout. What's the point of putting in an interesting shape of tile and then matching the grout so you only really see it close up?

You could also do something in the middle as well . I would keep some sort of contrast.

Is it just me or does the hood seem a little high??

Pretty kitchen !

I think a light gray would be a nice grout color. It will soften it, but not completely make it solid.

Debbi Washburn, thank you for your comment. What would you put in the middle?

Hard to tell but it appears that your hood vent is too far above the counter level. To me that is part of your issue. I like the backsplash. Houzz readers tend to lean towards conservative looks with tons of whites. Perhaps you are in that crowd and it isn’t that it’s “bad” but it’s unfamiliar. Kitchen looks fully of life!

Lovely kitchen! I think you are noticing the stove area so much because the hood is a bit too high. Could you lower it and put a piece of trim there, like the piece above your ovens? The tile with the white is beautiful.

*The tile with white grout would be beautiful!

Backsplash looks gorgeous. I would keep light grout too. We have a dark gray glass backsplash and I wish we would have done a lighter grout…it looks black at times and I wish it was lighter.

You kitchen looks gorgeous and I think the tile is beautiful. I too vote no insert and if you are worried about it looking too busy, go with a darker grout. You may want to give it a few days to get used to it before you make a decision. I ordered two herringbone sofas, that appeared busy and striped when I first got them. I cried, it was all I could focus on, I even got a quote for slipcovers. Once I lived with them for a bit and added some pillows, I grew to love them. Now I can't imagine them plain. Once you add accessories to the counters, you may feel differently.

Your kitchen looks great with just the darker tile. Now all you need is a great runner in front of your sink.

A Light Grace · More Info

( I assume the crown molding above your cupboards isn't quite finished.)

calidesign, thank you!! Yes, you're correct, crown molding is going in next week. And, I love the runner idea, thanks!!

Lovely kitchen - leave as is. What I would do is paint that window trim white.

K R thank you for sharing that. I think your kitchen is very pretty!

Great kitchen. I would grout in white. The hood is way too high.

Didn't notice that. Perhaps could have looked better a little lower and perhaps more efficient.

Mayabe that's why OP has question.

I would love to have your kitchen, just beautiful! I agree with other comment, paint window trim white. Looking at the photos you provided, you can see how nicely the tile with the white grout matches everything and brings it all together because of the lights. Maybe you need some lighting for that side to highlight the tile work, don’t try to blend it away.

In my previous comment, I was referring to the right-hand side of photo compared to the tile above the oven.

Add a pot filler on the wall

I happen to like stainless over the stove. It’s easier to clean and ties In the hood. If you want to try it, you can pick up a sheet at Lowe’s and prop it up to see how it would look.

I like it as is. Maybe find something to hang above the stovetop such as some utensils or a nice sign/plaque or some sort. I realize it is above the burners and you must be careful with material.

It's pretty busy but inserts can look outdated. Choose wisely if you do an insert. Maybe bring in some wood to the look?

Don't listen to people saying the hood is too high. Low hoods are not functional. Hoods should be at the top.

Go with a darker grout so the pattern is not so overwhelming. I get a bit dizzy looking at it now. I had a lightish stone backsplash in old house but I ended up getting double sided tape and sticking a Southern Living black metal embossed tray (Acanthus?) behind the stove area to give it some interest.

I think your right, it's not too high, it's too small for the space.

No insert. Grout on the darker side

No to the insert. Try leaning some wood cutting boards there it will soften the tile and look nice.

I'm no designer, but no insert, white grout, and lower the hood vent. Perfect!

Leave as is and live with it awhile before making that decision. i think it looks great and personally, i would not do the whie insert

Beautiful kitchen. Agree with others, light grout would be busy and dizzying. I’d add a little color, perhaps with pottery in the glass front cabinets and one or two countertop items.

I agree with most of the comments: no insert and mid-range grout color. That said, with the height of the hood the space above the range looks a bit empty. I like Terrie B.'s idea about mounting a metal tray with some sort of relief pattern in that space. If it can be removed to be cleaned occasionally, it is a great solution. You may even find multiple items that can be rotated there - even a piece of wall-mounted sculpture if it isn't too heavy and can be cleaned. I have a rustic lakehome in which I am planning to remodel the kitchen. My design includes a tile backsplash over the stove. I plan to mount an artist made steel fish sculpture in that area. Check etsy for many options you might choose from!

Looks great leave it!!!

What product did you use on your counter tops???

I would love to see the counter tops in a photo? Does it have a vein like appearance? Marble? Quartz?

no insert. put up some wood cutting boards and it will look perfect

I might do a darker wood board, combined w/a marble board. gorgeous

Actually, I'd lose that SS vent hood and get a white one w/wood trim

you see how the wood just pops against the black and the white? don't forget to add some greenery near the wood cutting boards.

I wouldn't touch your backsplash. do the other suggestions and you'll find it looks much better

the wood w/the black will look great.

see? stunning.

I like the tile, I’d go with a dark grout.
Yes, the hood looks too high. We just lowered ours last week, it was up high and I have a center grill on our range and could not use it because I was always setting off the smoke detectors and terrifying my dog! The smoke just rolled up and was nit getting captured. I checked the specs and it was installed 4” above the recommended height.

Needs a larger more elaborate hood

no insert and mid-range grout color

sxb2053 what type of company lowered the hood for you?

I concur that you shouldn’t modify the tile nor use light grout. I also agree that a large vent hood will alleviate the problem and is certainly in vogue. Best of luck!

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6178641/kitchen-backsplash-suggestions#27215338

check out this recent posting. There is a hood that might work for you. It's in one of the postings further down posted by a kitchen designer. Hope this helps.

Just put a beautiful Oversized Stainless Finish TEAPOT !

Try black grout paint. I used it on my bathroom floor which has small black, hexagonal tiles. It looked too busy, with the rest of the bathroom. The grout paint worked beautifully. It's lasted for months now. I love it. Polyblend Grout Renew. Home Depot did not carry the black, but ordered it for me.

Is that a heat/AC vent over the fridge? I would paint it the same white as your cabinets so it blends in, as it isn't something you usually want to highlight.

I’d be happy to discuss a focal mosaic for that space behind your range. Check out the various backsplashes on our website we’ve created and these photos for some ideas. Http://www.AFS mosaics.com

I think it looks great--I'd use a light grout to accentuate the tiles, but no insert.

Regarding the hood, it should be installed at the height the manufacturer specifies--you might verify that it's done correctly.

I could see a solid surface inset to match the counters, but not mosaic. And some wood trim around the bottom of the hood.