Wait. Subway tile is "out of style" for backsplashes now? I'm curious-- what simpler materials are now being used?

You have a busy granite, so I agree with your husband to do a subway tile. Cream ceramic, then use your kitchen accessories such as fruit bowl and tea kettle to add colour. Ceramic Subway is classic and does not go out of style. beautiful kitchen!

Think sstar meant the complex texture / color of the Jerusalem Gold

Yes, subway tile is out of style. That doesn't mean that people aren't still advocating for it (and I have been on numerous threads where this has been discussed) or installing it. Solid materials in larger pieces are going to replace the overworked backsplash materials that have been in use for the last 20 years.
Metals, porcelain, stone, in larger, simpler pieces.
The exceptions IMHO are these: retro mini-mosaics like modwalls, done for a particular overall design reason, old-school black and white mosaic tile, done for design consistency in a period house.
The glass tiles are kind of a meeting point between old and new; they are simpler in appearance.

Hey sstarr-- well, that's a stunner. I always think of subway tile as timeless. On the other hand, I'm happy to hear this. We have large plain limestone pieces as our backsplash (again, 20 years old), but that look like they were put in yesterday. Only the countertop has suffered. So we're keeping the backsplash and replacing the countertop. I love being able to keep stuff that's 20+ years old, but now suddenly on the cutting edge of what's "in style." I guess if you wait long enough . . . ;)

I'm not the arbiter of style of course .... just an observer. Now the subway defenders will descend.
I did like the Paris subway when I was there...

Do the bigger subway look. Anything else would be too busy. Love what you have picked out. Good job.

You could do a more tan travertine look. Hard to tell true color on a computer. On mind it's looks yellow, if it is, tone dn a bit.

I do like subway tile and really like the look of the glass subway tile, though I sense that might be a little trendy.

HOLD ON NELLY- I will go toe to toe with sstarr on this one LOL. Cream ceramic subway tile should be the way to go here. Where does this *out of style * stuff come from??? We are in a time of *anything goes* for pity sake the MCM is even hot right now, if that can come back, there is no holds barred.

Back painted glass would look nice ... cream color:

Another option might be using a glass interlocking tile in a subdued neutral color. In lieu of installing horizontally have installed vertical. Color in photos is "Creme Soda" from Daltile "Caprice" collection. Meant to show one vertical and one horizontal.......sorry both loaded as vertical.

How about these cream subway tiles with a glaze on them;)

I think the long glass tiles will be to busy. Go simple.

Hi Margo ;-)

Hi sstarr- I am sure you knew I would come out of the woodwork for this topic LOL

Subway tile == Margo... yes..
Well, I mostly don't comment on the backsplash dilemmas... I'm thinking of starting a "dated backsplash demo" company... should be a growth industry!

My bet your new company will be pulling out those large piece backsplashes long before the classic subway tile installs;)))))

Don't say that, Margo. I'm really excited that my large piece limestone backsplash is suddenly back in style.

When did backsplash styles become like hemlines. Seems like if you cement something in it should be "in style" longer than 90 seconds. Isn't that called a fad? Just wondering....

My point dianahb- they are ALL in style, we can't ALL BUNDLE :)

If they are all in style, then somebody should be suggesting stacked stone, delft, majolica, and figurative mosaics....

Well, I admit it. I do like majolica, and now that you mention it-- stacked stone.

I'll add that when I go into kitchens-- anybody's kitchen-- I barely look at them anymore, mainly because I can tell exactly what they'll look like even before I walk into them. They all seem to be exact replicas of each other. And, seemingly, no one will stand up and say, "I do not want granite-- high end or low end-- I just don't want it." So many equally good options seem to abound out there (and, to my eye, far far more interesting visually, than granite). So if anything ought to have worn out its welcome by now-- it's the ubiquitous granite. You could not pay me to put granite in my kitchen. I don't care how well it wears.

I see the top designers in California using subway in showers and kitchens. They are classic and timeless. Everyone's opinion on Houzz is valid. It's up to the home owner to decide what their preference is based on personal style, home style and most important - budget.

Cat, I never thought it was up to me.... ;-)

Thanks everyone! Back to the store I go to try your ideas with my samples. I appreciate your thoughts!

Don't say that, dianahb, I love that my granite countertops are still in style ;)

Well, they're most definitely still in style, Margo, so you got that. ;) I'm thinking they'll never go out of style at this point. :)

;)))))

The 4x4 look you like would be appropriate to the style of your kitchen. I suggest porcelain tiles w stone-like mottling, and interjecting the occasional decorative square to break the length. A sit-down at your local showroom w an in-house design expert should be able to hook you up w the right colours - and may have options you like even more, avaiable.

I don't know. I think if you're gonna have granite, the granite should be allowed to take center stage. I can't imagine putting in something else (whether a complicated backsplash, and/or another stone -- man-made or natural-- that has its own mottling thing going on-- and then decorative squares to boot?). That sounds really busy-- and an awful lot of competition going on-- with no real focus. As others have suggested, something fairly neutral and an uncomplicated design for the backsplash would allow your granite to shine (so to speak). Just my 2 cents.

Mottling, when done tonally, reduces the contrast made by combining plain tiles vs. granite - which can be more strident looking. I maintain that backsplashes needn't have a 'real focus' - and certainly neutral and uncomplicated ones wouldn't? - because, as dianeahb points out, the granite takes center stage. Supporting the overall look seems enough to ask of a backsplash, and I believe the requested design does.
Subway does fine w some kitchen styles, but here I think it would draw attention to itself as an incomplete update- bringing us back to 'real focus'.

Compared w Margo's example of mottled subway w sq. accents above, this treatment is softer, and less competitive, yes?

Your kitchen looks great, a contemporary/traditional style. Since you have opted for natural materials for your cabinets and counter top, your backsplash should also be a natural material. Your granite is quite stunning and should be the focal point of your kitchen, therefore, I would suggest either the stone you have picked out or a larger travertine tile. Travertine is readily available at an economical price and comes in a variety of sizes. Keep in mind though, it is a very porous stone and may need to be filled and honed. I would use a larger tile for two reasons, first, less grout equals less labour to install, and second, fewer grout lines do not detract from the beauty of the stone backsplash or counter top. However, should you use the tile you have already listed, I would suggest keeping them horizontally stacked rather than diagonal.
On another note, I would also suggest a crown molding on the top of your cabinets and a small valance on the bottom. This addition makes your kitchen look custom designed and built and adds a little more to the traditional look.

I do love travertine. Just need to find one that does not have a busy pattern. What size do you recommend?

Also I wonder if it would be hard to find matching stain for crown molding. These are 16 year old cabinets that just aged over time and have a clear varnish.

If you didn't see the latest houzz newsletter and poll of people's favorite tile subway is by far the winner, so while it's not "in style" you're saying who cares?! The new "style" is keep things simple elsewhere and doing a bright color back splash...not my style, I like where your kitchen is going and I'm sure it's going to come out gorgeous!!!

Also I think you could do the subway title and a focal point like this over your stove if you'd like to :) http://houzz.com/photos/216321

Take a look at Daltile BE 10 tumbled stone 3x6 subway tile for your backsplash installed in brick lay pattern. Color will be good. Looks good with your granite choice.

With your backsplash area, I would use a 16" tile, thus having only vertical grout lines.
As for the cabinets, WOW, they look great for their age. Since you will never be able to match the stain and aging of the cabinets with any new materials, I would forego the crown molding. I would still consider a small valance to allow for under cabinet lighting. You already have good lighting in your kitchen but under cabinet lighting will eliminated the shadows and is excellent for task lighting.

When we renovated the kitchen several years ago, I actually didn't install any backsplash other than a stainless backsplash next to cooktop area. Only simple painting like any wall area. I noticed that the most dated part of any kitchen is often the tiles on the backsplash and replacing these requires dusty demolition work.

If I had chosen to install a backsplash all over kitchen counters, I would have preferred a stainless steel panel or a glass panel with minimal joint lines that can easily be replaced without dusty demolition work or can be easily cleaned.

A tiled backsplash with grout lines is generally not easy to clean, especially over the cooking area.

We had beige/warm white-- minimal movement-- limestone tiles, installed on both countertop and backsplash 20 years ago. They were 16 inch tiles and, on backsplash, strategically cut to make a visually interesting design. Now, 20 years later, the backsplash (with off-white grout lines) looks like it could have been put in yesterday. It is truly pristine. The countertop, on the other hand, has seriously suffered. But I never had any trouble at all with that backsplash. You're right about the demolition, so I'm keeping the backsplash and just replacing the countertop. But we do have a large stainless steel backsplash that runs up behind the stainless stove. Had it been the limestone instead of the stainless- you are absolutely correct-- it would have been a real mess.

So I agree with bellesum above. Since you're replacing the backsplash anyway, I'd get someone to install stainless to go the rest of the way up behind your stove-- which will look like a natural fit (all of a piece, meeting what looks like the microwave above).

I must be a neat cook LOL white subway with white grout behind the stove, 5 years later looks like new...don't hate LOL :))))))

Margo-- you are obviously not cooking enough. And, clearly, you are not living in the South; otherwise, you'd be breaking out the butter and lard more frequently-- and then you'd see a major difference in that backsplash. :)

*hanging head*;)

Hello. I thought I would post the "almost done" update. I chose a beveled travertine tile, Jinshan Carmel Monterrey, for the subway tiles with a 4x4 square border and a thin pencil separator between the two. Thank you for all of your suggestions!

You've got to go simpler with the backsplash. Select something solid. Colonial gold granite and cherry have enough color and enough pattern.

Looks really nice

Have not read all the post. My first reaction is Backsplash very 2005. Dated.