Here are photos:

Because of the drawer configuration, the horizontal fits for me.

Thanks, that's what I thought too! Any thoughts on the tile color?

Here is my kitchen so obviously I love and support your choice of green

Not 100% convinced of your choice. It looks a bit muddy next to your wood. But its hard to say on a computer screen!

I love color + wood.

Personally I would prefer a rather more vibrant green. The soft faded green you have there looks more like an old French farmhouse or another space with age and patina, which your kitchen is not.

Suggestion: place your tile on a color copier, make a bunch of copies, tape them into sheets in different patterns (horizontal staggered, horizontal grid, vertical stagger and grid, herringbone), tape those up to the wall and “live with” these alternatives and see what clicks.

@John Liu I did try a few more vibrant, but it seemed to take away rather than add.

Great ideas on the copier suggestion! Thank you!

@rebasheba Great kitchen!!

Here is one more photo of the tile next to the wood. Still look muddy?

I think an organic green like this looks great with food so it works as a backsplash.

You need a bit of crazy in this kitchen, here's why: Your combo of cabinet paint and stain colors and where you have placed each feels kind of odd. If you go with a white or neutral tile then this space will indeed read kind of odd and off. If you throw a tile with a bit of character then the rest of your choices fall in line and the space then reads as funky sublime instead.

A louder green just reads funky. The tiles you chose read funky sublime. They seem just the right fit for all of these other choices that I find seemingly unusual, but somehow may just look perfect together.

I think you are really on to something with this current tile. The tad bit of rust makes sense with the finish on your faucet.

I like the vertical orientation. I never like vertical, but in your kitchen it works. Horizontal is just too traditional for what you've created in here.

What material are your counters? They look great with the accessible beige.

Hope you post the final results.

On my screen the color is something I'd pick over what I think of as sage. Paler with some variation and more of a yellow green.

I think the tile you've chosen will look great. If it were me, I would go for something a bit more green; not a vibrant green, still muted, but just a bit more green than what you have there. But that's me, and I haven't explored what is actually available to buy.

I generally love green with natural wood. I think horizontal is the way to go. You're definitely not crazy, and it seems like you have a good eye.

Re: direction you could also do a little math and see if the vertical stack would hit in a weird spot at the shelf (or maybe this is not something that would bug you lol)

Also try horizontal stacked not running bond.

Love the horizontal green!!

In the last two kitchens I've redone, I've made the (apparently) bold choice to NOT have a tiled backsplash, painted instead the color of the rest of the rooms walls. So much more harmonious and far less jarring. The confused blank stares from designer types, when I replied, "None. Not doing a backsplash." IMHO it's not the small bit of kitchen real estate I want leaping off a wall and pulling focus. (I wonder about women and men with a pierced nose. Why do they want people focused....there?!? ) And if you feel you absolutely MUST follow the herd, maybe try some wallpaper that can easily be changed when the next trend breaks, and your tile is, oh dear - dated, off-trend. Then ask yourself, "Is this somewhere I need to have wallpaper?" Chances are, probably not. Best advice I ever got: "Fashion comes and goes. But good taste is always in style.

The sage green in the tile you're looking at would be a lovely paint color as well. It's a galley kitchen, possibly partly in view of the living/dining room? You want the walls to receed, not jump out at you and pull focus.

Off-topic, both kitchens had an induction cooktop (with a wall oven underneath.) Such a fabulous device! Efficient, responsive, easy to clean. Try one, you'll never go back.

I just realized you have two completely different sets of tile: 1.) The smaller ones laid in a subway pattern, and 2.) Longer vertical tiles. I thought they had the same finish but now realize they do not. The color on the long vertical tiles is far more interesting with your wood. The smaller ones have a washed out feel.

- I'm with you. I'm not a backsplash person either. I paint the area the color of the walls. There really is no reason for a splash. Paint IS a protective coating on walls and enough in a kitchen.However - I do think @Laurie K 's kitchen does need a little extra something to tie it together. And this tile seems to be it.

@Donovan Cross Yes on the induction!! We had to replace our stove before we started the reno, and we chose induction. We absolutely love it. Beats both gas and radiant! 30sec to boil, and nothing sticks to the stovetop, incredible!

@rebasheba , I did try those shades, but I found they were either too warm for the cabinets, or looked too grey next to the wood.

@Kendrah , I do see what you mean about paint, but it's probably our last kitchen redo, so wanted to do something different. :) I will take another look at the larger tile.

Thanks for all the comments!!

Laurie, I just meant to show vertical vs horizontal install examples!

You could also make a sample board to test the layouts and grout choice before installing

I’m a big fan of the green…earthy/warm, pulls your choices together, unique without saying….look at me. Before you decide on vertical vs horizontal use two-sided tape in a decent size space and live with for a day or two as the pattern will have a big influence.

@rebasheba, gorgeous soapstone counters!

Here are my soapstone counters…with a Celadon green crackle tile backsplash.

I love the idea of green, but would also opt for a punchier green! What does your kitchen open up to? I would carry the green through to the next room for cohesion.

@darbuka I love your green. Very similar, did you paint your outlets the same color, or buy them that way?

@Ashley Bryant | Home Like You Mean It , the other side of the wall is the living room, with 90's pink tile and white trim around the fireplace. I was thinking of replacing the pink using the same green tile. :)

Love seeing your kitchen every time @darbuka !

Hi Laurie,

Your kitchen is beautiful! I like how it is so unique!

When you said you were second guessing your tile choice, I had flash backs from being AAB (All But Backsplash). That is an acronym this forum used to use a lot more back when it was still Gardenweb.

I spent almost two years searching for the perfect sage green tile for my kitchen remodel. I must have brought home hundreds of samples. I would prop them up and move them to different walls throughout the day and night. One tile would look great in the morning on one wall but then looked muddy and ugly grey in the afternoon.

Until one fine day I brought home “the one”. I did my little happy dance at the store, but didn’t get my hopes up. I brought it home, and again, started up with the happy dance. Moved it around to different spots at different times throughout the week, and still did the silly happy dance. I thought could this be happening? Is it ”the one?”

I knew I was in love, but I had to get a vote of confidence from my gardenweb peeps, so I started this thread.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3712054/did-i-finally-find-the-one-am-i-actually-getting-out-of-abb#n=78

Everyone loved the color. I think it might have been unanimous. So then it was a matter of what layout to do. After everyones input, I finally chose, and I have loved it ever since.

So, what’s my point? Please, don’t settle until you do your little happy dance. HAHA!

I do like how your tile has the variations of green and rusty browns. It looks great with your painted and wood cabinets. My concern is it might be a little washed out and muted because then it makes the white countertops look almost too clean and bright if that makes sense. It could be the camera and my Ipad screen though because it is hard to capture what it looks like in reality.

Just for fun, I attemped a similar varigated green/rusty tile but with Ashley’s ”punchier” suggestion…. 🥰

I really liked this horizontal stacked layout with the style of your kitchen.

Eta: This was the photo i used for the mockup.

Here is another try with a similar variegated tile, but maybe slightly less ”punchy”? LOL!

Please ignore the huge squares on the layout. This mockup is definitely not to scale!

Used this photo to mockup

@Ashley Bryant | Home Like You Mean It, I love your (new to me) word… ”punchier”! 💗

I don't think you're "crazy" (your word, not mine) to select a green tile for your backsplash. I love tile backsplashes, they add color and interest to a kitchen. I love green--everyone on Houzz seems to select white or gray for tile backsplashes, but I say go for it! I like the rustic look, and I'm partial to horizontal tiles, but that's just me. It's more classic--vertical looks more modern/contemporary, which your kitchen is not.

We chose green as well and really like it.

This is not the best picture but I did MSI Renzo Jade in my small kitchen. It turned out great! The picture makes it look greay but it's bad lighting and photo angle. Here is a link to the actual product. https://www.msisurfaces.com/ceramic-mosaics/renzo-jade-3x12/ 

I love green, and I have a green backsplash myself. I don't like your choices, though -- they just aren't quite right with the rest of what you've got going on. They're falling flat because they're too muddy. A soft, muted green is fine if that's what you want, but you need a clear tone -- or at least clearer than your current samples.

I love your horizontal green!! Perfect, IMO.

Another green fan here! Like @cynthia charleville I used Renzo Jade, but in the picket shape. I like the green tiles you show in the picture with your faucet, and I love seeing all the green backsplashes as each has a different shade and personality; all beautiful.

Here's the picket, installed vertically. Someday I'll paint the outlet covers to match.

Here is mine.

It is Jeffery Court Chapter 10 Breakwater in the Sea color. It has a linen like texture when you look at it up close. I still love it!

I love everyone’s green backsplashes! Beautiful kitchens!

I wanted soapstone so bad, but where I live, not one fabricator carried it at the time. I settled for the best substitute I could find. It is a granite. It read black overall, but it actually has flecks of green in it when the sun hits. A few blue flecks too. Sometimes it is hard to capture the color on camera, but the tile is very close to SW Sea Salt paint color.

@Laurie K,

Are you still with us? Did you decide on the tile you were leaning towards above? Please update us with your finished kitchen! I sure it will look great!

I'm still here! :)

Thanks so much to everyone for all of your comments!

I have been hands on at our place painting etc. I actually thought they might put me to work drywalling today. :o First time for everything! (It didn't happen! Thank god lol)

I ended up choosing the horizontal, multi-shade sage green tile. Our tiler was installing it today, and will be finishing up grouting this weekend, (I forgot to take photos this afternoon!!) I actually can't believe how good it looks, better than I had hoped. I really love it!! The tiler loves it! The contractor loves it!! So funny how anxious I was about it!

I was going to go with a lighter grout to blend with the cabinets, but when I came back from lunch today, the tiler and contractor were looking at the tiled wall and the really dark grout samples. They were absolutely right. It looks amazing with the dark grout. I ended up choosing a dark chocolate color for the grout, and it ties everything in.

I will definitely post photos on Monday!! Thanks again to everyone!

Looking forward to seeing it!

Woohoo! Thanks for responding with an update. I am so happy you love it. Did you do a little happy dance? 😂🤣🤣

@rebunky I did lol!! I can't wait to see the final grout!