BTW, the wall colors in the first picture are not the final color. See the smaller picture with the tile in it for final. I am also planning to make a little slip cover for the bar stools. They are fun for a bit, but it seems as though there is not enough color in the room to warrant them as pieces that feel good in the space.
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Thanks Nadia for the input. I'll have to look for the pencils...but I'm thinking that would be too modern. I have a modern look going but I want it to be more transitional. Not too much modern. I was feeling like I needed to bring some warm into the room and some "color" of sorts. It was getting too tone' on tone....if there is such a thing, lol.

I think the tile is lovely and that pewter pencils easily fit within transitional.

I think that tile will be a great backsplash! It's not a teeny-tiny mosaic, so it won't look as busy.

I'm with Nadia on the pencils but maybe in a color similar to pass thru ledge? Or if you want to use wood, how about a wooden external angle moulding around the pass thru and you could use a quarter round or half round ripped down for the far edge. You could stain or paint that any color you like.

Yes i think it will work. Looks great. The colors seem in harmony with the colors of your kitchen

Now the question is which way to orient it....I'm thinking to orient it with the long side left to right. Not horizontally. The cabinets are very linear and horizontal looking. So basically the way I'm holding it in the picture.

AND what color grout with my grey off white cabinets. should I go with color (pull out one of the darker colors in the tile) or neutral (ie; closet match to cabinets. Thanks for all your help!!

I would put the tile up exactly as it appears in your photo .. horizontally.

For the grout, I would go with a gray that closely matches your wall color.

I agree with indianpatti. Put up the tile as it appears in our photo , pick a gray grout that matches paint color and pewter pencil molding that Nadia suggested. It is coming together very well.

Great backsplash selection. Well worth the wait.

So I've figured out the design and now am struggling with install questions! First off I took out the two darkest colors from the pattern and won't use them. The design is softer and not as pulling...And I think is better (see photo). Off course now I am left with very few tiles on the mesh. Do I not use the mesh at all? The tile marked with orange are chipped and need to be replaced as well. To mesh or not to mesh and I'm leaning towards not....is the question.!

The other being where to start the project...we have two open windows and I plan to finish the porcelain tile edge with a ripped wood trim strip as the pencils did not have finished sides. The wood strip will allow a more seamless look wih my angled corner cabinets as we'll. The tile shape (with pointy sides and figuring they need to line up in the corners for a cut inside the rectangle shape of he hexagon) and my 30 degree cornered kitchen and open runs is making this extremely challenging to plan! We r doing the work ourselves and did buy a wet saw. While I have done two other tile projects with my dh, this one is off the charts in difficulty ratings, lol! Help from the houzz masters would be great!

So question recap:
1. mesh or single piece install. And if mesh...do I cut out the mesh where I need to fill in and if so won't this change the depth off the fill in tile? The grout lines are 1/16. Plan on non sanded grout.

2. Where do I start the project?

Thanks so much for your input!!!

Is it typical to have so many chipped tiles in a sheet? Do most sheets in the lot have chipped tiles? That seems off to me. We did hex sheets on our bath floor and they went down quickly and easily. I think the mesh will help keep every tile straight (even with the 1 color taken out) v. hand laying each. Either way, it is going to be beautiful.

Not typical for so many chipped tiles...but I dodger granted a hefty discount making the tile switch out more cost effective:). Here are pics of the Sheet before and after the switch out:). And also of our whole kitchen to get an idea of space and planning.

I like the scheme that you have planned, laying those little tiles straight will be a lot of work but it will be lovely when it is done. I assume you will do the space between the top of the range and the microwave?

I would recommend leaving tile on sheets and filling in individuals. This will be easier and help you keep tiles even and straight. You should lay out the tile so you will get the largest cuts you can at the edges. Keeping in mind bottom, top and sides. You don't want to end up with little sliver pieces that will be hard to cut and can look bad. Your adhesive should come through the mesh while installing so if you just flat butter the back of the individual tiles and press them in with the rest you should get good adhesion. You can get them pretty flat by pressing with a float. Should look really good....love the color and style you have chosen!

in my humble opinion, it is a bad choice....I do like it better with the darks taken out, but take it from someone who made a backsplash mistake. You will hate it in 5 years. Go as classic as you can, and punch up the color with other accessories, You won't be sorry!

Good idea LauraadnJeff! I actually think the color is very flexible and that the shape and movement is necessary to create interest and make it special.

I'm not sure how you're going to be able to line up the "new mosaic" for consistent grout lines without a lot of time-consuming labor.

Oh it will be a ton of labor....I'm sure of that, and I am hoping with a keen eye...it will all work out. Yes, Maria....it will go all the way around...dipping under the ledges above the sink and below the openings. Thanks for the input, Doris....unfortunately with my
Cabinet color being a gray dove...there weren't many neutral classic options that blended well or offered much worth the effort it will take to tile. And I looked for about a year....The colors in the design are actually more subtle in reality than the most recent picture posted, so I'm betting the design will stand the test of time. I considered leaving the wall just be....but it is just a bit too monochromatic in there. Lauraandjeff...thanks for the tip....we have been measuring and laying out tiles and think we have it figured out with very little room to spare. The two 30 degree corners throw some extra excitement into the mix for sure;). Plus it is difficult to lay out this pattern...but we shall see. My goal is by super bowl we will have it up (and if they postpone it....I may have a chance!). Did I mention there are 9 outlets to cut around??

I know what a pain tiling around outlets can be so be patient! I like what you have planned and if it took you a year to find this tile my feeling is that you will be happy with it for a long time. Can't wait to see it complete....curious to know if you have a grout color selected yet? Really like your kitchen...

Thanks so much! No definite grout color and others have suggested to match the wall color....so that would be maybe Mapei warm gray? We shall see...I figure I can make those final decisions when it is up:
The other thing to consider is what color to make the small painted wood trim to finish off the edges.... I really don't want this to look like a craft project. I was at the tile store the other day and one of the designers actually offered up the ripped down painted wood trim as what people in my position have done successfully. my position had done. Without me mentioning it first...a bit reassuring.

Now thinking doing a border just above the countertop in one of these two color options may be the best answer! What do you think? I won't have to deal with the open ends except on the far left a And it would run all the way around and then maybe just do the wall only behind the stove? I would like nothing better than to find a solution. The difficulty in my kitchen are all the angles and not having a bullnose trim with these tiles.

That may be a solution for you. Will you like how it looks.....that's the ? Have you looked to see if schluter has a trim that may work? I know that when we install in angled areas and no trim is wanted we back mitre the tile.

It turns out I couldn't visually rectify the original hexagon tile choice with all of the openings....so I went with a mosaic glass! Here is the progress:).
New question: 1.Look closely at the first picture and let me know if you think it will look better with the tile coming around that angle and to the edge of the opening on the right, just like one on the left.

2. Second picture: there is a small gap that I am going to have to sliver cut pieces for. (1/4 inch...so twice the size of my grout joint) since I ran the backsplash to the opening, the top edge would typically get the sliver tile treatment right to the edge. I am considering leaving the top edge where there is no cabinet above, the same and only fill gaps under cabinet. (Ps. Too two tile at edge are not set yet which is why they look crooked:)

Hope you like the new choice!!!

I am so glad you decided on this!!!!!! great choice! Flip homes for a living and I am so happy you made a different choice. It's chic, classy, and cool!

I also recommend the schleuter trim. It finishes off the edges expertly. We use it all the time. Lowes sells it and it is significantly cheaper than at home depot!

I love it!

I am finished!!! Grouted and caulked:). Yeah! Now to switch out the white outlets...any tips on color? My cabinets are a gray white with a hue of pink, not yellow. So the standard white it too stark ( what I have now) and almond is too yellow. At Lowes. Isn't there another color can use and is there recommendations as to where to buy? Thanks!

JUST BEAUTIFUL! So clean and fresh looking! Are there brushed stainless steel covers to match your appliances and hardware?

It is beautiful, you made a great choice. I think abbey jean is right brushed stainless for the outlet covers. If you don't see them in a home improvement store check the Internet.

Thanks for the idea...but I would still have a white switch....right?

Can I ask the source of the first tile - the hexagonal shape? I am looking at that for my shower?

Thank you!

Sure...pappel.:) It is made by GBI and sold at lowes. GBI Tile & Stone Inc. Porcelain Glazed Porcelain Mosaic Wall Tile (Common: 12-in x 13-in; Actual: 12.3-in x 12.79-in)
Item #: 486890 | Model #: PORP13X13MOS

Let me know if that helps:)

I think a white switch would be ok......forgot about that and pretty sure you will not find silver in those.

I am pretty sure you can get switches in stainless as well.

THAT would be awesome if you could find those switches. It has been awhile since I have shopped for those.

What color and kind of grout did you use? Is the tile white or champagne?

"pearl" by tec. Looks great

the tile is champagne colored:)

is the glass mosaic tile the Cornsilk Mosaic from lowes? If so, did you pop out the gold metallic tiles? Looks great! I am considering this tile for a shower but hesitate with the gold metallic.