Your ideal kitchen is gorgeous! I think you'll lose the effect with the gray as it's more flat. The appeal is in the pearlescent finish and the color. I'd look online and just find the right color.
This isn't exactly the same, but would give you a closer look
http://houzz.com/photos/7698347
Hope you find it soon! Good luck

I just did a quick google search and it looks like tiles can be painted..then add a clear glossy top coat..just a thought. That blue tile is lovely it may an option you could try it on a few tiles.

Don't accept that grey tile. If the tile producer cannot reproduce that same color in another lot, send it back. Now is the time to bring in a professional designer. Since you have done 99% of the work, for a minimal fee a professional can help you source a replacement that you might like better. I would search out a reputable designer in your area. S/he might have connections to tile brands you do not. Don't settle. You picked a beautiful kitchen. Make sure you get that or even better.

I just want to say a few people have said "don't accept the grey" the new tiles are not grey. They are more clear with an iridescent on the top of them. The iridescent does give off reflective color, however, the body of the tile is more clear and translucent, not light blue and opaque like the original sample. There is no way I can tell until they are to be installed if they will show more color. I absolutely cannot bear to start from scratch, especially since I put so much money into replicating this kitchen. Some have said they think if I use a light gray or very pale blue grout, it will come up more blue, but I don't know that for sure. I considered keeping them and asking for a significant discount since the store I got them from would surely pay a lot for ups to take them back. I say that because I cannot be sure at this time if I would even use them. That way if I get a discount and then end up not using them it's not as much of a loss. I also considered asking her if I could keep them until the time comes they are to be installed and then if a few sheets go up it doesn't work perhaps she would buy them back at that time since they are so popular maybe someone else would purchase them.

I feel that you're trying to get this tile to work although you know it won't. It's not at all what you envisioned. The backsplash can be the last thing to be installed in your new kitchen. Stop mourning the loss of your original vision, cut your loss (did I read that you can return the tile?) and get something you will love. There are so many beautiful choices out there.

chloenkitty, I think you have come up with a good plan of action for now. As many have stated the back splash goes in last and once a square is up, you can decide. In the mean time, it will allow you more time to search and inquire to see if you can get the preferred one. If you get the new tiles discounted and you don't care for the look after you try it in your finished kitchen, you could always, as you say see if she will buy them back or even put them on Craig's List. I wish you all the best and let us know how it goes.

I know and appreciate what you are all saying about there are other tiles out there. However, I guess I didn't mention that we were going to build another house before this one, but the land fell through on the owners part. Therefore, I have been looking at tiles for two years, so believe me, I've been there. This was the one over that two-year period that I was in awe over. No other kitchen struck me like this one did. I have liked others but I haven't loved any like I loved this kitchen. Does that help you all understand why I am so attached to this?

Also I know a lot of you say that the backsplash is the last thing. I understand it's the last thing to go in, but I'm not the kind of person that can pick a floor, and then go from the floor to say okay well then I'll go with this cabinetry and then okay let's find a countertop, then a backsplash to go with this countertop. I like to see the whole picture and then do it that way. Please understand I am doing this all by myself, picking every little detail for this home on my own. I only have a Home Depot and lowes here and don't want what they have. I either need to drive 2 hours out of tone to find something nice or spend hours upon hours online finding products. This is hard because I work, care for my ailing mother, my own home, her home, my family, rescue animals, and trying to sell my home. It's daunting and way too much. So you see, it's easier for me to find a completed project I love and go from there. I cannot do one piece at a time, my brain doesn't work that way, I need to see the whole pic. And with having searched already for toe years and this kitchen being the one and with the kitchen being started shortly, you can see why I am panicked. If it took me this long to find what I really wanted, it will be hard for me to start from scratch in a limited time frame. I am considering paying a designer out of tone, but that will be hard as I don't have that in the budget.

This is a backsplash not a brain tumor. Return the tile if it isn't what you want and then do nothing. The world will not end. Come back to this project when you are in a calmer state. You are putting stress on yourself. Once you get a clearer perspective things will fall into place and I'll bet your will find the perfect tile once you stop looking. I know this sounds crazy but things often turn out that way.

Some thing to keep in mind is that a wide variation in colour is allowed in the tile supply business. I have also seen tiles discontinued after a 6 month production run.

I would send the supplied tiles back and watch for something closer to what you want - some times you can get lucky with Habitat or with the returned products that a tile supplier has stored on the shelf.

rainy, I realize it's not a brain tumor and I know many people have a lot more to worry about. There's always someone that makes you feel like you are overstressing about something. HOWEVER, you are not in my shoes. I've had a bad year! My father died a horrible, agonizing death from alzheimers, my mother got very ill and had to be in a hospital several hours out of town that I had to try to get to while working a full time job and caring for my family and other things, a beloved pet got very sick and died, a dear friend since childhood recently died of cancer, another friend before that much too young died of cancer. I myself have a recent health diagnosis. So, that all being said, On top of it all, we are building a home! I just would like something to go right. Yes, I am stressed over it, but when you've spent a lot of money for something to be as you expected it to be and it's not, you have every right to be stressed I think.

Take a moment and breath. Life can be very stressful and renovations too. Put them together and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Good news is that I personally think you can make the tiles you received work. I have done a lovely kitchen with a blue glass mosaic backsplash. Sometimes these set-backs (like the colour being off) provide an opportunity to go in another direction that you will like even more. If it makes life easier for you to keep these tiles, then keep them. It's not going to make or break the kitchen design. Maybe you could go for a robins egg blue for the sink like I did in this project. Or find something else you love to tie in with the backsplash blue. Good luck from Montreal!

Pressed "submit" too quickly. Typo: Take a moment and BREATHE! Here's the other photo!

Rebecca, I wish we could private msg each other on here, I wanted to ask you a question about the pic you posted, but why put everyone else through it. If you have a moment, will you email me at chloenkitty@hotmail.com I'd surely appreciate it. Thank you and thanks everyone too for the kind words and rec's :) xo

I just emailed you :)

Beautiful kitchen Rebecca! It has a peaceful feeling, as did your advice to chloenkitty. Do you mind to share the brand and color of the wall paint, I am gathering paint samples for my kitchen. I too agree with you that the new tiles could work in the kitchen. The woven pattern and pearly finish are both very unique and classic. chloenkitty you have had so much on your plate this year, I hope that things work out for you. Heaven knows you could sure use a break!

Rebecca, thank you. The kitchen is so tranquil and peaceful you posted, I wish I was sitting in it right now with a cup of tea and my cat on my lap :)

Thank you rosecottagehome! I'll get back to you with the colour in this kitchen. Need to look it up in my files. Will be getting professional photographs of this entire home soon and posting them on Houzz. Can't wait as it's such a beautiful space. You can get a sneak peek at my amateur photos on my profile under Main Residence.

It seems to me the tile you have received is much closer to the inspiration picture than the sample you received. Painting the wall behind the backsplash isn't going to help because of the mortar that will be used to install it. If you can't get comfortable with the tile you have received, would it be a consideration to perhaps change the shape of the glass tiles? I see Susan Jablon has penny tiles and oval tiles in the same aqua iridescent glass that perhaps would be closer to the sample tile you received.

The sample is way off. Don't compromise. Get what you want.

Impressive work Rebecca. That particular house project is wonderful, such fine detail everywhere. You are in Montreal?

Yes I'm in Montreal. Thank you:) Where are you?

That was for rosecottagehome...

Rosecottagehome: the paint colour you enquired about in the Main Residence is: Benjamin Moore HC-171 (Wickham Grey)

It sounds like you have had a very rough time of it and that you are not the only one who received the wrong tile from this person. Do yourself a favor and return all of it. If you attempt to compromise and use the tile you don't like EVERY time you walk into your dream kitchen it will (pardon my language here...) PISS YOU OFF. I know. I'm an architect for heaven's sake and should have known better and there are things in my house that aggravate me every time.

The tile is not ugly, it's beautiful, what seems to be, well made tile. The dilemma is it's not in the expected color. I am sure it would be beautiful with white cabinets and a countertop other than what's shown in the inspiration pics. I do think,however, because several people have ordered it and been disappointed, that the supplier should be willing to make more and correct the situation to those of us who purchased it.

Chloenkitty, the tile you received is lovely, but your instinct is correct--it just will not give your kitchen the same feel as the color you wanted. Because it's the most important color in what is otherwise a white kitchen, it's important that it be right. If the correct tile is not available, I'm sorry to say that you will need to find something else.
My impression is that the tile you like is all about the color--a fairly even, warm green/blue/slight grey color, and not about variation in texture so much. (Meaning a tile with a lot of different-colored squares won't have the same feel) It would be a bummer to lose the beautiful rounded pebble texture of the tile you picked, but my money says that the nice smooth, even color is what you need here. (For what it's worth.)

Check out the Heath Ceramics website. They have great colors and finishes, in every size imaginable. And lots of other cool stuff. https://www.heathceramics.com/

Sometimes things are not as they seem.

What does the back of the tile look like?? Sometime glass tiles have a backing or film or painted back - If there is anyway to remove the back of the tile, you could try to paint the backsplash and try to bring the colour through - kind of a shot in the dark but worth a quick check. Also if you ordered a tile and it didn't come in as it was suppose to - return it. Your backsplash is the jewellery of your kitchen - you should get to be happy with all the finishing touches!

Well here's an update. Those I have shown it to (friends, co-workers, lady in kitchen dept at local store and lady in local granite store) all love the tile. I guess if you haven't seen it compared to the sample that is more opaque and saturated with color, you don't know the difference and think it's gorgeous. It honestly is gorgeous, but not what I expected. I have paired it with white cabinetry and with several different countertops besides the one (white princess quartzite) in the inspiration picture and it looks very nice. If I keep it, I just have to find the right countertop with it. A poster here suggested fireclay.com for tiles and they have the closest, prettiest pale blue tiles I've seen to this. I was excited about them until I found out the tiles have to be set individually. Yikes! I am looking at their small tiles to be set in a mini brick pattern. I think the tile guy our builder uses would probably quit or pass out if he had to individually set every one of those tiny tiles in a 20x18 kitchen. As of this point, I just don't like anything better. I am not saying I'm keeping them, but not ready to return them yet. They are beautiful, just much lighter. The woman at the kitchen store said she actually likes them better lighter, that they are more neutral and she doesn't think I'd tire of them. Said she's never seen anything like them before. Also, I have been speaking with a lovely designer who says they are gorgeous and think they will work. I don't know. I stressed and melted down big time for 2 days and am trying to relax. I have a blockage in my LAD artery and one thing I'm not suppose to do is be stressed. Ya right LOL. This is life folks, we all get stressed. I'm trying to make the best of it after my melt down and disappointment. I will keep you updated and am so very grateful to all of you for your comments, good, bad, ugly, positive, negative, etc. I will post a few pics of it with other countertops so you can see what you think. Thank you :)

Here is a pic of the tile with a granite that I think it looks great with. I doubt I'd purchase this one, but it makes me feel a bit better.

Do not underestimate the stress you are under. I had similar stress taking care of my mother and my own health problems. Our culture doesn't want to admit that theses issues are far, far more difficult to deal with than we generally assume. Be gentle with yourself.

You may have been doing this for two years, but new stuff always comes on the market and it is easy to miss things, especially if you are as busy as you describe.

I have to admit the picture of the tiles is not of high enough quality so that I can see the really beauty of either tile.

If you have talked with a designer who thinks they will work and they are gorgeous (like I said the picture we have doesn't seem to do them justice), then call the tile company and confirm you can return them when the time comes to install. I don't think that should be a problem. I can't see why you would need to change your countertops for this subtle variation.

I am looking at the Jablon site and can't seem to find these tiles. Can you give us name/model number?

If the inspiration picture is from Houzz, please give us the link to it. I would think you would be looking for the same countertop in the picture.

When you show the tile by itself and not next to the blue, it looks beautiful. Take care, you're being too hard on yourself! It looks to me like you have great taste so don't sweat it.

chloenkiity thanks for the update. I am sure with all the great advice you are getting and a few alternative plans you are considering, you will find all the items you need to make your kitchen work and you will love it. Take care of yourself, you are almost there!

For whatever this is worth, I completely renovated my home almost two years ago and loved everything I did except the backsplash. I feel as though I was pushed into it a little at the end as time was ticking. I tried to live with it but hated it more every time I saw it. I even put a discussion on Houzz titled, "Backsplash Regret". I agonized (yes I know there are worse problems in life besides a backsplash and I have those too) over changing it. I kept going back to the same huge showroom and couldn't find just the right replacement. That's when I started branching out my search and realized that every tile showroom has different things to offer. I found a beautiful replacement and just had it installed two weeks ago and I love it. The moral of my story, don't settle, keep searching for what you want, even if the whole kitchen has to go in before you find it, which it won't. My contractor tore out backsplash #1 a month before the latest new one was installed, not a big deal. Hope this helps.

sorry to hear of your hard times. Don't settle for the tile you don't like, send it all back and keep looking.

Can you paint something. Similar shade of blue and see if it comes through on what you have to test it a bit? Obviously it won't be a perfect representation but maybe you'll be able to get an idea.

Im sorry the tile is so much lighter. What a disappointment

FYI: Due to a recent demand from Houzzers, starting in June 2014, Rebecca Mitchell Interiors will offer ONLINE INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES to those who need it near and far.

If you are renovating or redecorating and are overwhelmed by all the choices to make, we can demystify the process and help you make the right decisions with concrete information, advice and selection of furniture and materials online (right down to the kitchen sink). All by email too (but there's always time for a chat!).

Email rm@rebeccamitchellinteriors.com for rates (agreed upon up front to match your needs and budget) and information.

I did not read all the comments, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned, have you selected the grout color? Perhaps the proper grout color will have enough influence on the tile to make it's appearance acceptable.

I don't think anyone has mentioned that so it's a very good point to consider. Different grouts can completely change the look of any tile.

Yes, I will definitely use an appropriate grout color. The inspiration kitchen grout color was a light gray. I am not certain what will be used at this point, but I am finding when I put this backsplash next to something tan, the blue pops. So perhaps a light tan or light gray will be the right grout color.

I'd also like to mention that Rebecca has been fabulous with me. We are starting up a relationship and I have no doubt she will be a great help to me in taking some much needed weight off my shoulders. I will have much more as far as testimonials in the future, but as of right now, she has been very kind, insightful, professional and attentive. I look forward to working with her.

I'm blushing. Thank you!

"Sheshore" (on another forum) is absolutely right about not soliciting for business on forums. I should have thought more before posting about my new online interior design services. I don't know where my head was. My sincere apologies to everyone and it won't again. Sincerely, Rebecca Mitchell

Blame me for this one. I didn't know it wasn't allowed, and after speaking with Rebecca, I told her I thought people would love to have the chance to work with someone who was willing to do consulting from out of town over email, phone, etc. for a reasonable fee. Sorry folks.

Chloenkitty, I know you're upset but I honestly think the delivered tile will work better for you and it should go lovely with the countertop pictured in your inspiration kitchen. I'm so sorry you are going through all of this heartbreak with the loss of loved ones, taking care of mom, family and job. For a minute there I thought you were talking about me, I went through similar experiences and thought I would die from the stress of it all. I think I constantly sobbed for 2 full years, it never let up. All I can say is that this too shall pass. You need to take care of yourself, go have a massage and a facial at least once a month, it's called "time out" for Chloenkitty. You're doing a great job, pat yourself on the back, I'm sending hugs.

Everything will work out. The sample tile is very different from the ones you received on order, but I'm sure you will be successful in finding something just as nice. We all have different stress levels, so I'm not going to tell you to put things in perspective. This is your home, you've had a tough year and deserve a break. I would let this rest for a couple of weeks and turn it over to a designer to find the tiles. BTW, return the tiles, they don't have the same beauty. And, you have chosen a gorgeous kitchen design. I wish you the best.

I personally like the sea green glass tile suggested by searching4bliss. Once you find the sea green you really like, I would suggest you paint the ceiling a light sea green to tie all the elements together while making the ceiling especially interesting.