@chispa, thank you. There aren't other retailers near me. Just the one. So, I'm going with either Sonoma or Maniscalco. I'd love your input on the options. Since I know you're in the know with Sonoma, it's down to Edgecomb crackle in 3x9 tile simply run horizontally...or Bossy Gray in Trestle run horizontally. The designer at the store also recommended Maniscalco in Light Gray. It really is quite pretty with a watery look that gives it a bit of character. As I mentioned in another thread, I think my TM stone is somewhat similar to yours. Although there is obviously gray in it, there is also a lot of warm movement. Also, it's not terribly light as some TM can be. Unlike your home, I won't have glare on the backsplash. Although it is a large, bright room because of a wall of windows, it is north-facing. I want some interest in the tile, and each of these would offer that. Crackle in one; unique shape in another; and cool glazing in the third. I'd love your input.

Maniscalco

Maniscalco sample on my counter

Sonoma: (left to right) Edgecomb, Penthouse, Bossy Gray

That last photo is supposedly of Bossy Gray, but I don't believe that. It looks way too light and creamy for BG. The previous photo is actually of Penthouse crackle Trestle. So, I suppose I could do both the hex Trestle AND crackle with either Penthouse or Edgecomb. Hmm.

My kitchen is also north facing and I still got lots of glare from the large triple window ... maybe because it is FL and even north facing rooms can be quite bright here.

You need to get more tiles of each color you are considering. Tell the store you will pay for the order and shipping. My local stores would order me one tile for free, but that isn't enough to judge the color, so I ordered 3 or 4 tiles of six different colors, after I had narrowed down the colors with their sample tile boards.

Here are photos from when I was narrowing down the colors ...

The sample board is Daydream color

Edgecomb crackle w/ Taj mahal

In my previous house I used Encore Tamara deco field tile with 2 glazes, also with Taj Mahal. That house had stained cabinets and new house has white. Previous house was Spanish style, so this tile worked great.

Hard to tell you what to choose from photos! I used a lot of tile for the current kitchen as I was going all the way around the large windows and have 11 ft ceilings. All of the Sonoma tile colors that went with Taj Mahal just felt like I was going to end up with too much "beige" all the way to the ceiling. So 8 ft of tile from counter to ceiling! Between that, deciding to go with a honed/matte tile and wanting something different, that is how I ended up with the marble mosaic I posted in another thread. It took me 6 months of looking and ordering samples, after we moved in, to decide I had found the right tile and order it. There is no rush. You will know when you find the right one.

Those are great photos. Thank you. Were you at all concerned about using crackle tile behind the range? The tile designer said he would hesitate to do that. I had Encore crackle tile in Cameo in our old home, but I did have accent behind the large range, and that was not crackle. I am torn between going with a lighter tile - like Bossy Gray or Creamy Crackle (the latter is actually just a tad too creamy - unlike Encore's Cameo) - that blends in more with the cabinets but sets off the counters....or a slightly darker tile like Smoke (seemed to have a little too much green undertone), Maniscalco Light Gray, etc. that will be closer in tone to the counters but more of a contrast with the cabinets.

I love the Tamara tiles. I was admiring them at the store. Also the tile in Daydream. Stunning. I don't think they would work well in my home, but they are lovely. I think the Trestle may be just the right aesthetic if I deviate from plain, ol' subway.

I wish my fabricator hadn't tossed all the remnants. It makes this so much more difficult.