Curious why you didn't take the samples home and stand them up on your counter in your house against the backsplash. That is the correct way to test them - in your house with your lighting and with your cabinets. Tiles are installed perpendicular to counters so that is how you should be viewing them, not laid down on the floor next to everything else.

It might seem picky, but it sounds like you have ended up with buyer's remorse over your counters in the past and looking at tiles the correct way will help prevent you from having more remorse.

Hi, yes, that is a good point. Unfortunately I am away from home. It's a long story.

Then cancel the install.

This feels like another regret in the making. Like counter redux.

If you’re not going to be able to look at and live with the tile, preferably not just one tile but a sample panel, in the location and lighting where it will be installed, then don’t make a decision. Wait until you are (able to).

You’ve been living sans backsplash for years. Why are you suddenly in a rush to pick a tile without even being home?

Bad decision making processes lead to bad decisions.

(My gratuitous opinions. The first tile is soporific and depressing. You said in your other thread you didn’t want a sterile kitchen, but you’ve gone for unrelieved shades of white which have resulted in sterility. In the other thread you were also advised to use color to brighten and warm up the kitchen. Barely-gray is not that. The second tile is interesting, it could be whimsical, but in your other thread you said you wanted to avoid patterns due to a medical issue, and anyway is your decorating style at all whimsical? and finally, yes looking at the tile up close there are tiny bits of muted earth tones, but whether they will have any effect or simply blend into snoozy barely-gray at a normal viewing distance under the shadow of upper cabinets in some lighting conditions . . . you don’t know, because you’re not evaluating it properly.)

I don't think #1 is a snooze fest. I kind of like that it isn't an attention grabbing tile. It is subtle, and the glass reflectivity is interest enough. Still doesn't mean the color will work but it seem appropriate to the space.

neither of those. youre trying too hard . I like the counter but its not a dominant feature. I like the floor the most of your picks so far. I'd pick a color tile...the counter is a worksurface.... yours is simply neutral....it will recede ..... thats not to hate or love / with the all white cabinets/ good floor ..go for a color tile...

.

this med bottle green would be my pick for a tile// maybe not intentional but be thankful you left room for color.....notice the various color used at the backsplash or eye level...you have space to do the same.....get away from the grays..you have no color YET.

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Reading the post, before I looked at your choices, I thought then you've seen how back splash installations have gone in and OUT of style...then I saw your choices and I gulped. Glass tile is not done much anymore and the mosaic well that's run it's course too. I agree cancel the install. How can it be pressing when you've waited this long? You have to bring the samples to your home to decide. They should sit on your cupboard for at least a week as you decide.

I get the feeling you don't love either enough to decide given your dislike of the counter? That said, why not select something that makes you smile when you look at it?

That glass tile is going to look green-ish once it is installed. Lots of examples on these forums.

And that mosaic is going to be a PITA to install.

IMO the wall color is wrong with thecounter and the cabinets not sure about what counter that needs deciding before backspalsh . I think option #1 would be my choice but that wall color is just wrong.

@herbflavor - Apologies for the mess. This is a look into another room. The house is rather traditional. Honestly it comes down to the counters not fitting...The floors are very warm so I find blue tends to clash some.

@arcy_gw - The other week I was at a Marriot and I saw this glass tile and thought it was so pretty! Granted this space is working with this beautiful wood tones so not quite comparable. I love the color variation in zelliege tiles, but I find the "handmade" style and sheen to clash with my home.

Color will bring this kitchen to the next level. It will liven the space and will not try to smooth the mismatch between the cabs and the counters that has been causing stress. I think the shades of white era will be over and color will come back in - but even if it does not "trend" - it's at least happy. Something with muted color would be fab here - like herbflavor shows, perhaps slightly less saturated, but color. You need it. And that mosaic is a hard no - the level of competency required to get it right is high, and an "average" job will look TERRIBLE.

any of these work better? Appreciate any help! Let me see if I can evaluate this weekend

those are all better. you are expanding the options ....good work....trying to work a palette so tight isnt especially fruitful. you can find a beautiful tile with color in a shade/intensity you like. you'll be happy with this. sorry about the 2 year wait..it happens.

Interesting that you liked the set-up at the Marriot. I think it looks off, with the glass tile being too cold/blue for all the other elements.

Is there no local independent tile stores in your area? You need help from a knowledgeable tile sales person and in many the person helping you will be the owner.

I just loved the size and sheen of them. Looked like water or something. And I've been to local shops and haven't received that helpful of suggestions unfortunately.

I like the more colorful direction of your recent photos.

I'm a big believer in testing things out before committing. If you were painting a room, you'd paint big test swatches of various colors on the wall and live with them a while, seeing how they look at different times of the day, lights on/off, w/ your furniture, before deciding on a color.

Yet people commit to an expensive and quasi-permanent backsplash based on looking at a single sample tile under the Home Depot fluorescent lights, or a single tile propped up on their kitchen counter.

Are you going to paint the walls, a la @Patricia Colwell Consulting? Maybe decide on that before the backsplash.

A backspash is not mandatory. The Kitchen-Industrial-Complex wants us to think that a kitchen without a backsplash is like going out with our hair a mess and last night's lipstick smeared down our chin, but its also our money not in their pockets . . . A backsplash can be beautiful, creative, inventive, the cherry on the parfait, but if you're just not feeling inspired, then it is perfectly skippable. Your walls look nice - even, smooth (not like the lumpy century-old walls in my kitchen) and paint would look very nice.

(More gratuitous opinions. I like glass tile, even though it is apparently passe'. Do you have undercabinet lights - if so be sure to see how the tile looks with the lights on, you don't want hot spots on reflective tile. Your kitchen is nicely done but could feel a little confined, with no windows, unrelieved uppers and lowers all around, and compact size. All the more reason to have an interesting treatment for the strip of visible wall. Colorful paint, colorful tile . . . myself, I'd consider mirrors.)

What do we think of something like this - https://www.fireclaytile.com/quick-ship/essentials/quick-ship-3x9-manzanita

i'd choose option 2. I think it's interesting but only enough to give a little touch of interest to the very neutral other options yet, not flashy enough to be tired of it in a month.

The fireclay tile is beautiful.

The fireclay is lovely - it's color without being COLOR, and I am a big fan of a non-subway layout. I also, however, like the first blue in your pics. Buy something you love.

The Fireclay is nice and doesn't look mass produced like the glass tiles.

The fireclay is lovely. It is serene and just a hint of color.

#4 (tea green) and the last one look great and would be interesting. Not blah, not wild, just interesting.

Few updates:

-Ran this through chatgpt... I think I like the neutral one best. Maybe I am boring LOL.

-I think a lot of it has to do with there being so windows nearby. The space is tight.

-Don't plan to repaint. It was recently painted and I actually love it.

-No under cabinet lighting unfortunately.

-I had an online consult w Fireclay tile. They are going to express ship me some samples.

-I think glass tile gets a bad rep and can be really pretty in non-mosiac form.

I think either the light blue or light green could be lovely. The dark green seems a little dark. The white is boring to me, and there’s the issue of will the different whites in the room work together? or will you be back here regretting.

I don't think that your counters and cabinets clash--they look absolutely fine to me.

I'd select a blue or green backsplash--something with texture, like an undulating surface or a crackle effect. No glass, it's too modern and slick looking for your traditional home. Then after the backsplash is installed you can focus on a new wall color. Depending on how much wall you have (usually in a kitchen it's not that much), you might consider painting the walls a similar color to the backsplash.

All your chatgpt pics are lovely. The darkest is my least favorite. It comes down to personal preference at this point. It's your kitchen, your expense. Do what speaks to you the most! I hear what you mean about glass tile but I still think no matter how nice it looks it will get dissed as 'outdated' but that does not mean you can't love it and use it. The only guaranteed tangible pay back for any renovation is your satisfaction and enjoyment!!!

I like the darkest the best. The Manzanita is very plain--it's so neutral it doesn't do anything for the room, might as well be white. The fireclay Rosemary is a bit darker and so pretty.

but yes, in the end, pick what you like, don't worry what everyone here says. We all have conflicting opinions, and if you wait for a unanimous vote, you'll wait another year for your backsplash.

the lighter green works well w the hardware and w no under cab lights and no windows I get the leaning toward white....but the light green is so restful and yet more interesting. if you want a white I'd at least get some grout differentiation when you get to that.

grout to show if white tiles are chosen...

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@Ri Mar, Here’s my bias - I don’t like most glass tile (I don’t like what you chose at all) and I love Fireclay Tile. The thing is, you clearly want glass. This is Fireclay Tile glass tile in 2” x 12” rectangles in Dove Gloss, installed. My preference, should you choose something like this, would be to see it in a mix of gloss and matte tiles, same color, but the difference in reflectivity offers visual texture. Consider ordering samples of both.

Thanks for all the kind words/suggestions. I do not NEED glass. I am also open to other variations. The fire clay rep suggested me this - https://www.fireclaytile.com/tile/colors/detail/feldspar-matte?srsltid=AfmBOopOPvt0HZmieLUfgRhpZgVPz0sSfmAvGpVzmr1KjZ2FLwDEDfUk

what do we think of this one?

I think you're on the right track looking at colored tile. The fireclay tiles are lovely, and I'm a fan of glass tile. I have a Fireclay glass tile in one of my kitchens, a gorgeous teal that they don't make anymore. I love it to this day.

I do think bringing in a color will really make your kitchen look amazing. Another tile to consider, if you're leaning toward the green/blue idea, is Heath Ceramics Ogawa Green. We put that in our new house, paired with a countertop similar to yours. It looks amazing.

maybe tell us what feldspar matte has as a feature that you'd like....I see lots of square inches of white cabinetry....cool hardware that looks good....counters that dont count so much as a feature....so I look at a tile as something to work w the all white cabinets/ cool hardware in the sense of a counterpoint / a bit of contrast or visual detail. the creamy matte vanilla shade looks like a lost orphan and i wouldnt choose that. Your perception of reason to choose it can certainly be valid...I just dont see it. .

sticking w a white..you can achieve something w a herringbone due to pattern ..or mother of pearl for the reflectivity and tonal effect if you like that.

mother of pearl..different tile sizes avail now. Herringbone....below- gives you pattern which could be good with your tall white doors wrapping the walls..

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I agree with herbflavor--go with some contrast! All those neutrals and pale colors are kinda blah.

In your original post you mentioned about wishing your countertops were warmer. I feel like if you can incorporate some beige with the white, you might achieve a warmer look. In your original post, someone suggested this tile. I'm not certain about mixing stones - but this is what I mean about mixing in some beige color.

Did my comment post? I’m not receiving notifications. I posted the comment last night.

Here is the comment I posted last night:

Feldspar (Tusk) is a beautiful glaze, but get the gloss sample as well as the matte, and try a cooler white as well, perhaps Frost. And get a sample of the glass tile as well.

Hi all - update I've decided to go with a green from Fireclay. Not going to put a photo, because I feel very sound in my decision and don't want to second guess myself. Appreciate everyone's help!

hope all goes well to completion !!!!

Great choice to go with green! And Fireclay has such quality tiles. I understand your not posting a photo--you'll get too many naysayers.

Do share a pic when it's done - we'd love to see it.

Very pretty. Choose a grout in a similar shade, like Mapei in Mint. You have to get swatches and bring them home to see them in your space.

The tile is beautiful and works well in your kitchen. Looking at the installations on Fireclay's website, the white or whitish grout looks the nicest to me.

Very light gray would be nice.

Sand back and see if you like the look of the "outlines" if not, then opt for a light grout. I personally don't like dark grout lines.