Of your two choices, the one on the left (end, abutting the door moulding).

You can probably do better. Show pics from farther away and more of the kitchen to get suggestions.

I don't like either with your counters.

I don’t like either choice - same as Clyde says. Left one is too bright white with counter & right one is too creamy, Get more samples. You’re going to be living & looking at this for a long time. Take your time to get it right.

Go to your local independently owned tile stores for more options, not big box stores. They will let you borrow the larger grouted sample boards to bring to your kitchen. Much easier to make a decision with a grouted sample board than just one tile.

You definitely need more samples - I agree that neither of the two options works well with the background color of your new countertop.

It would be better to show samples close up + another one from farther away in order to see a full view of your cabinets + your flooring.

Thank you all for excellent suggestions! We are going back to the drawing board and will come back with more!

Do you have any suggestions for us as far as colors that we should look at

Here is a wider look

Try a very pale gray. Your counter reads gray in my view of your pictures, you have dark gray on walls & ebony cabs. A very pale gray with the same sheen as counter might be perfect. Grout should match tile. Do you have under cab lights?

i dont see gray at all..except for the dreary wall color which I would change immediately. the cabinets are java/espresso/ the counter has creams and dark taupe veins. a beautiful taupe or putty shade tile will work........more samples brought in is necessary.......as thousands of people do all the time w the same situation you are in.

I’d look for something softer and quieter than both samples. The counter already has movement, so a pale putty/taupe or very soft warm gray could work better than a bright white tile.

I’d bring home a few larger samples and look at them from across the room, not just close up.