I agree that they look very similar and they were light gray. Installing "white/light glass tile can usually bring out a green tint, so you are lucky you didn't get that. With most glass tile you also have to realize, that once you install it, the thinset and grout block the light transmission behind and between tile, so there is always a color change.

The only way to avoid this is to use a glass tile that is colored all the way through. Oceanside Glass Tile has some .

Here is a sample of the Oceanside Glass Tiles I used in a bathroom remodel in my previous house. See how that square white tile is a solid white glass tile? The mosaic also has hexagons in the solid white glass. These did not change color at all, when installed.

They are 100% not gray. They are even called SNOW. Maybe the sample picture has bad light but they are absolutely white.

The tile is floor and decor Snow II Brick Glass Mosaic

Did you put the sample next to the finished tile?

Yes! The installed one is definitely
Off :(

Now go put wet thinset behind and between your sample. Glass is transparent on the edge, and translucent on the back. Thinset changes the look because it removes the light that goes through the edge and back.

Glass is tricky, for that reason. If the tiles are sheer (which they seem to be), then certainly the thinset can come through and make them look grayer. A good tile shop will usually advise you on that….sorry you didn’t get that.

Right, I was reading about the thinset.
Is this worth re-doing my backsplash over or do I learn to live with it?

To be honest with you I like the installed tile a little bit better than the sample. There's a little more contrast between your white cabinets and the tile.

Oh @Rachel I like it. I know this is not what you planned but it looks lovely in your kitchen. It's a happy accident.

Rachel, that is something only you can decide.

It looks good as is, and really there is no need to rush a change. Live with it for a couple of years and then you can change it out if you get tired of it or it never grows on you.

There are many posts on Houzz re: white glass tiles not looking white after install. Most of those posts show white glass tiles that have a blue or greenish tint after install - instead of gray.

I believe you that the tiles were white prior to install - but they do look like they have a bit of a gray tint in your last photo (prior to install). I think having less light because of the upper cabinets are part of the issue.

What do the tiles look like when you turn on your under cabinet lighting?

It looks great to me! The glass tile goes perfectly with your kitchen style.

I am sorry it was not as white as you expected. It does have a very, very light grayish tint, but it totally looks like you planned it that way. It ties in the stainless appliances and as other said, this one of those happy mistakes in my book.

I would definitely not spend the money to redo your beautiful backsplash just to get it a tiny hint more white.

At least they're not green lol

I hate glass tile because it always has that green tone to it

Rachel the names of the tile do not always indicate the color snow can look blue depending on lighting....all whites have undertones and maybe these lean cooler so grey/blue

I think it looks fine I would live with it for a bit see how you feel....you could buy peel and stick tile and play around see if you would even enjoy a warmer white more

It takes a while for thinset to cure and finish offgassing behind glass, but when it does, it lightens up. Sometimes that takes a couple of weeks. Wait at least a couple of weeks.

Did your tiler use white thinset or grey thinset? It makes a difference.

Many specialty tiles (glass, marble) usually specify white thinset in the product installation sheet.

I love your kitchen and the slight contrast. It makes your handles stand out. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Your finished product looks better than your sample picture. Enjoy!

Thanks everyone for the comments and help! It really helped me wrap my head around the finished product not being what I envisioned!

Hi, did you end up keeping them or redo? we just purschased white clear subway tiles and about to install 😬. would love to know the outcome!

just bought snow II from floor and decor.

I am in floor decor as we speak replacing these for the same exact reason! I’m glad i’m not the only person who isn’t crazy! total waste of money. are you you or did you replace the.?

ALWAYS use white thinset morter. Looks to Moi like they used gray......

white thinset was used.

If it is a glass tile of course the mortar color will come thru. Hopefully your installer used white mortar instead of gray.. You might also try out different types of bulbs in your lighting fixtures to see if that has any effect on the color.

I’m replacing it with white thassos. I’ll never be happy with this. :( the thinset was white and there was a white backing on the tile. the tiles look gray in all lighting conditions day and night. I think it’s picking up some of the color in the countertops which is a blue calcite and does have a lot of gray and blue in it

We ended up keeping it, I actually like it a lot now, every now and then I catch an angle where it looks more like a glossy grey subway tile than a snow white glass tile but its not often enough to upset me. mind you, this is not our forever home and we wanted to upgrade from our 80’s kitchen so we decided to learn to love it and live with it.

I am going to paint my cabinets to match my Blue calcite counter tops. and then make a decision. I hate settling. But if they dont pop after that i’m using 3x6 white thassos marble. I used 6x12 thassos in my entire master bath and it looks gorgeous and really compliments other natural stone. Thank you for responding.

Here’s an interesting twist, Floor and decor sent me a product satisfaction survey. I filled it out this morning with my satisfaction of the employees but my disappointment in the tile. and I added a video of what the tiles looked like before I hung them and after. Well lo and behold the manager called me and they refunded me for the tiles and they are paying for half of my thassos. So instead of trying to live with it I definitely replacing. Happy ending! :)

Wow - that's hard to believe! Once a tile is installed, there is typically no recourse (even at tile specialty stores - much less at a big box store).

I cannot believe that they not only refunded you for the glass tiles - but they are paying for half of your new Thassos tiles!

Would you mind posting a photo of your kitchen with your glass backsplash? Do your tiles also look gray vs. a blue or green tint?

Well I am extremely grateful that I filled out the survey because I never do. The manager that called me asked me if it was resolved to my satisfaction, if I would revise it. So I guess those things really matter. I also told him about this review and two others I had found on line with the same complaint on snow glass tile. there is nothing whiter than snow lol. It’s still going to cost me a few hundred extra, but the thassos would have cost more to begin with anyway. So i’m happy. Here is a pic with left over thassos from my bathroom in-front of glass so you can see it looks just like yours. I so glad I found this post, it’s was extremely helpful.I think the thassos will look great with a baby blue cabinet and the blue calcite