I prefer a less busy backsplash so I would pick the wider tile.

the larger linear mosiac works best with the tile countertop; the smaller mosiac is a lilttle to busy for the 6x6 tiles. if you has a slab coutertop it might look nice.

Forgot to ask, is the countertop the small square sitting on the counter?

Yes the small square. It will be laminate, so no more tile counters lol

I am going off the assumption the small piece is your countertop. I agree with printers a that the texture of the thin tile would make it much harder to maintain.

I would have to see the entire room.

CDR: I believe that the tiny rectangular sample on the red tile counter is the new countertop material. I happen not to like the high contrast and busy patterns of either of the tile choices, but I believe they do work with what I can see of the tiny sample.

with the majority, go large . have fun

I think that the size of the space you will be installing the backsplash in is also a factor in this: the scale of the backsplash will be balanced by how much of it there is. Is it a big kitchen?

New England large kitchen

OK- it is interesting that you think of the backsplash in terms of how it goes with the counters. I suppose that it is a very important relationship, but I would strive to look at the kitchen as a whole. How does it integrate with the finishes of your hardware, or your cabinets, or the lighting?

With the larger format tile, you have a larger presence of what looks like a shinier bronze finish in the photograph. If you are trying to emphasize that finish elswhere in the kitchen (say, maybe the cabinet knobs or faucet fixture) then the larger presence of the bronze may be helpful. In the smaller format tile, it blends a bit better. From far away, you won't notice that presence as much, and if you don't have that finish elsewhere it may feel more balanced because it doesn't stick out as much. Both tiles seem to go with the laminate you have selected, so to me it seems a matter of how the scale of it fits in with the larger sense of the kitchen.

I vote for the smaller! Just my preference in general though.....they look more natural to me!

Feeny. Thanks. I noticed after I submitted. I edited my comments (see above). You can't make a decision like this in a vacuum. I need to see photos of the rest of the kitchen.

The kitchen

Can you post a larger pic of the new counter sample?

it depends on what's the color of your floor, wall and cabinets etc. I would like to pick up the thin one.

Will the floor and cabinets remain the same?

New counter

The cabinets yes. The floor is now vinyl strips that look like wood, just a tad darker than cabinets. Walls will be tan

Sinks will be light tan and faucets oil rubbed bronze

HI -- Go with the one that will be the easiest to clean !!

backsplash and granite

I am not seeing either one as working, but it could be my monitor. I see a lot of black in the granite and none in the tile.

If it were me, I'd keep the backsplash very, very simple as you have enough movement in your countertop.

We are Cure would suggest something to compliment the overall design and create a cohesiveness to the space. I like the wider sample, in addition to the stainless tiles, I think it creates some interest and will be easier to clean the the other sample. Good luck!

The larger tiles will look better.

Smaller one.

both are ok - did you consider a single surface texture?

I like the larger ones better, in no small part because the other one looks like a nightmare to clean.

The color may not be correct, but what about something like this?

Larger tile, color and pattern less busy :)

I know you want to change the counter, but I would consider maybe working with the red tile. I'm not familiar with laminate, but I would think that tile is better. You could re-stain the cabinets in a darker shade or maybe paint them white? Here is an idea with the red counter and a backsplash

http://houzz.com/discussions/817556

Thanks for posting updated pics! I think that the smaller tile will end up looking less busy, because the different colors will end up blending together the farther away you are. The larger one may end up looking a little bit busy because there is such a wide range of colors that will all stick out more clearly from a distance (and your kitchen is on the larger side). Your cabinetry is darker, which will pull out the darker finish in them.

I would think about a more homogeneous tile blend than the one you have chosen, it may end up looking more professional.

Good luck! I'm sure that whatever you choose, you will be happy with.

I love the thinner ones but too difficult to keep clean in a kitchen.

If you are not going to change the cabinets, I also would not use either of those choices. I agree that in a couple of years, you will have old looking tile work with even older cabinets. Choose a more classic look that will never go out of style like the example happyasaclam posted.

The backsplash you picked seem a bit busy for your counter choice. if you're sticking with that counter I'd like to reccommend a simpler backsplash

neither go with red tile counter

the red tile is the old countertop........ scroll up to see the new countertop.