I like glass subway tile for a bit of color with matching grout is is not too busy. You have a simple white kitchen so might just be the perfect choice . I love backpainted glas for a backsplash but can be quite expensive compared to the glass subway tile.Bottom pic back painted so not grout lines at all

There are probably hundreds of tiles that would look good in the space! Go to some good local independent tile stores, not big box stores, and bring samples home to see in your space. The best samples are the larger grouted boards. Most tile shops will let you borrow them for 1-2 days.

Hard to imagine anything being too busy. You can do super busy and it'll be exciting. Or super serene and keep the current vibe of calm.

Do you want to feel energized when you're in there or soothed? It's about YOU, not your kitchen, which is happy to do either. :)

Since your counter is not busy you can do something busy on the backsplash. I also love the classic subway shape. You can get it in many different colors and finishes.

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Subway tile is fine, but go for some color!

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Or you could do some patterned tile, too:

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You’re kitchen is lovely, but I must caution you on your cutting board display. They look nice but please remove them while cooking. You don’t want to burn down that beautiful kitchen.

All-
Thank you!

You’ve all helped me feel more confident about straying for standard subway!

@Patricia Colwell Consulting I brought home some glass subway tile to try-good idea-thanks!

@chispa I feel like I’ve seen thousands of tiles so now I’m decision paralyzed! Haha. I like the idea of bringing home big boards, thanks!

@darbuka thank you. I definitely want it to feel more lively just not too overwhelming with my big pendant lights too.

@fori we tend to like subdued and mellow. My last backsplash was a bit more busy and I regretted it a few years later so I’m trying to find something that blends in and will let artwork and other pieces be more “outspoken.”

@kandrewspa thank you for the pictures! I’ll keep looking and will try glass too.

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors the pictures are awesome. I picked up glass subway and a pattern too!

@Gerry that would possibly be something I would do…thank you!!

I like the idea of subway tile in any pale color. You kitchen is lovely!

Colored glass, pale tiles will give some color but not get too busy for you. All the examples above are subway shapes - which can be laid out several ways. You can’t lose with them.

I’m partial to a herringbone pattern, but colored glass is classic, soothing and will look great with your kitchen.

You have white on plain white. how could anything be busy??

(btw, I keep my wood cutting boards up behind my stovetop at ALL times while cooking. Good lord. They don't spontaneous combust! Unless you're roasting marshmallows over a huge flame, the cutting boards aren't going to catch fire. There's 5" between the grate and the back wall. )

Back to your tile.

Here's white on white w/white! you can't even tell this is a herringbone layout because of all the dang white! snoozefest.

I would never do a plain white subway in your kitchen. it's just too much white and too basic.

But if you insist, get this size tile, a gray grout, and bring in some color and depth w/countertop accessories

Or, this Casa Calif white glass subway in the satin finish is gorgeous.

Here are a few pics w/Cloe. (Tilebar Portmore/IvyHill Kingston is a close match)

quick photoshop w/the Portmore tile (more on it below) and adding some wood accent trim to your vent hood. (do the same wood and stain color as your floors)

Cloe w/gray grout (and gray cabs)

Cloe in a herringbone w/white grout. (I think you should add a piece of wood to your hood! )

This one is very pretty.

Cloe in the 5x5 size (again, the wood accents are so pretty w/this tile)

I mentioned Portmore/Kingston tile. it's close to cloe. here it is in the white. it's a 3x8. comes in the subway or the 5x5 size.

How about something like the Montauk Gin tile? comes in diff shades (again, think about adding a wood accent strip to the lower part of your hood)

This is also a TON of white in this kitchen, but at least it's broken up w/the wood hood, the contrasting hardware AND a very nice runner. (do you have a runner? check out the Loloi rugs on Wayfair)

How about the picket tile in a soft color? blue, sage, blue/gray?

Some type of marble mosaic would be gorgeous w/all your white.

your handles too! look how pretty this marble basketweave tile is w/the wood elements.

how about this white marble chevron? comes in 3 textures.

If I were you I would get a bunch of samples. Tilebar has 5 for $5. I would get their Nabi Jewel (comes in two diff whites. a matte white and a glacier white)

https://www.tilebar.com/nabi-jewel-glacier-white-polished-ceramic-tile.html

I'd get the Portmore, maybe the Nabi Harlequin

https://www.tilebar.com/nabi-harlequin-natural-white-ceramic-tile.html

and a few of the mosaic marble samples.

https://www.tilebar.com/collection/stone-mosaics.html?filtercolor=White&filtertileuse=Backsplash

You have a lovely kitchen. don't be afraid to add a little personality to it w/a bit of color or pattern. It's NOT going to be too much.

I have a bright green backsplash. But I love the look of these white on white kitchens. They aren't boring at all! They are just different. I'd look at lumpy...I mean handmade...white tile to blend in color but have some texture.

If you like Cloe, go with that. It is simple, not boring.

Montauk Gin is also nice. https://www.tilebar.com/montauk-gin-4x4-ceramic-wall-tile.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organicshopping

All-The counter isn’t completely white. It has light veining. See pic below

@kculbers and @RedRyder thank you!

@BethH. You not only made me laugh but you sent some great pictures too. Seeing the pictures makes me like Cloe again. I’ve thought about the wood around the hood but thought it might be too farmhouse looking but your photoshop version looks good!

@fori I like lumpy tiles too! 😀

@freedomplace1 thanks for the pictures. I thought I liked Cloe until I read there are actually 8 different colors in the tiles. That’s why I thought it might end up looking busy.

what about the montauk gin?

if you like the handmade look tile, try this one.

Newport (IvyHill has it under another name)

also comes in this color

@Freedomplace1 -just ordered samples from tile bar! Thank you again.

Personally I am so done with subway tile. To me it's the glass block of the 2010s because it was so overused. I would only use it if the budget was really tight or in a room that I didn't really care that much about, like a laundry room or something. Many reasonably priced options.

"rectangles -- nobody does that anymore!"

yeesh.

@C Kasp thanks for weighing in!

@acm help-I can’t tell if you’re kidding or not.

Cloe tile is simple and beautiful. I say do the cloe. You will not be disappointed.

@masteme thank you. Do you know how many color variations there are? I’ve read 4-6 and also 8. They’re closed today or is call Bedrosians and ask them myself.

They have 8 colors. And then each color has tiles that all have sight color variations in each box it seems.

Ohhh I thought there were 8 colors (variations) in each color group. For example, I thought white had 8 different tones of white,cream, grey.

I love subway tile it’s classic

I can only add that you have white with white with white.

In all sincerity how could any tile - however colorful be busy. A standard white subway tile - at least in my opinion - would look like a medical dispenary of some kind.

There are so many gorgeous tiles available for every taste that aren't white subway tiles. And while taste is subjective I doubt that most choice would qualify as "too busy" in a kitchen with white Shaker cabinets, white counter and stainless appliances. IMO the kitchen is begging for something that breaks up the sterility in some way.

You've gotten many great suggestions - I just want to go back to your original post: you said that you were "drawn to" subway but were afraid that would be "boring".

So, my question is, boring to whom? Yourself= valid concern. Anyone else= not so much.

"Drawn to" is a very important element of your decision!

Helen: good point. I think because it’s an open concept house I’m worried about the tile competing with colors from other rooms.
Raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio: you’re right. I think I need to see more than 4 pieces of Cloe. I wish it were on display near me.

I have colored hand fired tiles as my backsplash and have an open concept home. Whlle my color scheme is not monolithic I chose colors that complement and work together. It is not "matched" but it is harmonic - but not white or beige.

My experience as someone who is NOT a design expert except in the sense that I have stuff that I like and stuff I don't like is that a very good designer is critical in helping one achieve the best result both aesthetically as well as functionally. Without my designer I would have erred in two directions - making choices that were too safe because I was afraid of making a discordant mess and also making choices that didn't work in some way either because of color, proportion, shape. In working with my designer I got a sense of how a good designer puts elements together because she would explain why one choice would work - and when we reaslly got to know each other she would "test" me by bringing multiple choices and not telling me which one she would recommend and then I would go through them to pick mine - which generally was hers as well and for the same reasons.

Thanks Helen. You described exactly me-I generally make choices that are either too safe or just don’t belong. I could use some help in having someone pull it all together for me. I guess that’s why we all turn to Houzz!

I was making fun of those (esp C Kasp) dismissing subway as So Over. I

'm with those who would argue adding a little color, but some texture can do it too. You have a lot of directions that would be lovely, most of which have already been covered. :)

lynn, you mentioned the wood trim and farmhouse. It depends on the wood, the color and how it's cut.

here's a quick photoshop using the wood that I have on mine

Since I was doing walnut shelving and walnut trim around my window in my kitchen, I went with a bit more walnut around my vent hood.

The floor is a lighter oak, but it all works. I don't think it's farmy looking lol. I do have a busy marble tile splash. (woo-eeee! you should see the cement tile around my coffee bar off to the left! more pattern.)

Beth-your kitchen is very pretty and it all comes together well! Is your island black-love it!
Helen-post some pictures-I’m intrigued!
Acm-I can understand how some people are tired of subway when there are so many beautiful options available. I’ve never had it and my tastes have become much “quieter” so I still like it too! I agree that texture will help.

Thanks everyone!

White subway tile still reminds me of dormitory bathrooms. If you do subway, add some dolor to it.

Artemis_ma I’m leaning towards the Cloe tile which has lots of variation.