Deep breathe and finish the kitchen before you freak out. It looks like it should be fine. The tops are tough to see with only the corner exposed but it goes well with the cabinets.

The only way to change this is to remove it and replace it. While it's not the look you were going for, is it possible you will get used to it? Or treat it as an accent here and do something else on the rest of backsplash area. But since I don't know what the rest of the kitchen looks like I'm not sure if that is a good idea either. I think it works here.

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A light colored grout will help tone it down some.

I’m sorry it didn’t turn out the way you wanted, but it looks very nice. Only you can decide if it’s worth the expense of redoing it or living with it. It’s unlikely there is another fix..

The problem is that you selected another color way; your chevrons are made from 2 stones to achieve the zig zag. The inspiration is only one marble. You have to decide if you are OK to live with as is or remove.

@Skippack Tile & Stone is there any way I could possibly paint over them or white wash them to lighten the grey up a bit? They are nice marble tiles so I don't want to have to redo.

Well if you wanted that look them you should have chosen a different tile for sure. I do agree wait until the kitchen is finished and you have added your accents go with a very light gray grout that will tone it down and I bet later it will be fine . often something not quite what you had in mind tunsout to be a happy mistake.

It's not something that I would ever suggest, sorry. It looks good as is, but it's your kitchen and you will be staring at it daily. Decide what you are OK living with and then go from there.

It is what it is. Trying to paint/whitewash brand new tile sounds like a bad idea. If you really hate it, remove it and find something else. You won't be the first, or the last, to make a mistake and rip out an expensive tile. In 12 years of remodeling/building I have done it twice and had no regrets. One was an expensive water jet custom cut marble tile backsplash and the other pricey glass tile on a shower ceiling. Even though they were individually expensive items, when calculated as a percentage of all the projects I have done, my errors were a very small percentage of the total cost. Look at the big picture!

It is a strong design element but i think it looks lovely. agree with finishing the kitchen and deciding. once everything is in it may sit better with you. if not you’ll need to rip out and redo unfortunately.

Do you have leftover tiles to expriment with? look at stone dyes or paint like Romabio products and see if you get a result you like. I wouldn’t risk it on the installed tiles though without trying it out on samples. Here’s an older thread that might be helpful https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5642518/travertine-tile-makeover-help-limewash-or-paint

Agreed. Don’t freak out yet.

Definitely do a white grout.

Are they single tiles or sheets?

I think it would look better if you mixed the colors. Like in your inspiration photo. But that’ll be pretty strenuous if the tiles are in sheets.

Best advice mentioned above is finish what you've started. It may be darker than you expected, but you may love it once it's done. I've never done this, but many people swear by BB Frosch.

I would have it grouted and live with it through the holiday season. If it still bothers you, it will cost the same then to rip out and replace as it will now ;) Give it a chance, looks nice to me. Your own look is better always, than a direct copy.

One more thread where someone successfully used watered down chalk paint on travertine. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5430997/countertops-clash-everything-clashes?n=143

What you have doesn't look bad. is there more of a backsplash to do elsewhere? lets see the whole kitchen. what kind of hood are you doing?

you could try a white grout and see how it looks before doing the other section.

photo #2 is a completely diff tile (well it's carrara but its honed, brushed and polished. all 3 finishes).

what you have is a carrara and a bardiglio marble

(or a thassos and carrara)

don't paint it.

if you really don't like it, take it out now before it gets grouted.

(Is that Acrylic Pro specifically meant for marble tile? you should use the Blanco Versabond. or the Laticrete thinset for marble. )

Sell the leftover tile that you have and get the other. I love that other chevron. it's so pretty

No experience with painting tile. But. I just had my backsplash tiled yesterday and I’m freaking out a little because the color is not quite what I expected and I think I may have to repaint the entire recently-painted kitchen to make it work. Then I read somewhere that it’s not unusual to be a little bit put off by the changed look at first, but that it grows on you. I know it’s not what you originally wanted, but maybe if you wait a bit, you will find you like it after all. I hope so. You can always try to paint it later, but maybe give it a chance first? Wish you luck.

I would definitely try putting a light wash over it. Tile can be painted so I am sure that marble can be also. And if you don't like it then you can always replace it later. Don't rip it out without even trying to reduce the contrast with paint.

Especially since this is just a backsplash, not a countertop or floor.

You picked the wrong tile if you wanted the look in your inspiration pic. That said, what has been installed looks beautiful! Leave it alone. It really is lovely and I think you'll eventually see how pretty it is. Because your only other option is to rip it out and buy new tile. I think that would be a waste.