I like the idea of white subway tiles and a BRIGHT color on the walls. That way it doesn't look sterile, but anyone can make it theirs with color on the wall.

Katherine, we just renovated our kitchen. The color scheme is similar to yours (white cabinets but soapstone instead of granite). We also live in a city and our kitchen is pretty small (60 s.f.) We did white subway tile but instead of the standard 4 x 6 tile, we went with a 2x8 skinny tile. It really made the room feel bigger. Although the individual tile looked so narrow, up on the wall it looked perfectly proportioned.

I think white looks clean and classic and not too cluttered in a small space. If you want to add color I would suggest a bright colored utensil container (I've got my eye on a turquoise one from Anthropologie, Santa) or a a kitchen aid mixer in a bright color. I think this will be better particularly if your planning on selling in the future... what is a lovely light green to you might not be so lovely to the next owner.

I like white subway tiles. The blue or green would go well with lighter colored countertops along with cabinets like white or a light brown/tan.

I love modwalls.com. Even a lot of their neutral stuff is beautiful and unique. Plus, they have some "green" options available.

I've got white subway tile as well, and love it. If you wanted to get "decorative with it, you could always do on row of the "skinny" tile in a different color (similar to the old school bathroom tiling, with the decorative row near the top of the tiles) - perhaps to match your countertops.

You could also do subway tile in an off-white or a really light grey, if you don't want so much white.

ditto to the above: white subway tiles! my nyc apt kitchen was just renovated and i absolutely love the subway tile backsplash. it's a nice neutral that will be appealing to many potential buyers, as opposed to a distinct or bright color scheme that has narrower appeal

While I like subway tiles, I actually prefer the laminate (Formica) we installed. Our walls are red, cabinets waxed wood, counters granite and the laminate is the same color as our cream trim. 10 years on it's apparently bulletproof, and has no grout seams. The bead of silicone between the counter and wall is invisible.

You can always go with white, but the available color variety is amazing. As you can install laminate over laminate, the next owner isn't faced with a major limitation.

Also, it's MUCH less expensive to install.

White subway tiles, paint the walls whatever color you like, and lots of colorful accents. Walls can be painted when ready to sell and subway tiles never go "out"

Personally, I like "cloud" from modwalls:

http://www.modwalls.com/glasstilelush1x4subway.aspx

Can I make an alternative suggestion - because backsplash taste is personal, consider no backsplash and, instead, run three-inch granite up the back.

That way, a new buyer can chose his/her own backsplash.

That might also free up some money to upgrade a bit on the Ikea cabinet door fronts. If you do white, go for the high-gloss abstrakt doors.

I would vote for white subway tiles... a light green sounds odd to me, but that's probably since my kitchen stuff is all red, although a dusty blue isnt that bad. If this is not your forever home, then go with the subway tile and a bright color of paint.

-Ruth

We did just what heypielady did (except they were 3x8) and did a light gray grout to make it look less hospital like. The walls are a gray green. In an older house, it's perfect - it looks new but not weirdly modern. It's also very adaptable for future owners, we hope (we're on the same time table you are, planning to stay here another 4 years).

You can see it here (scroll down):
http://suzeesews.com/2010/08/29/done-and-done/

Good luck!

You've already made really excellent choices. I would say go with the subway tile. It is classic!

Whatever you choose, neutral is what sells. White subway tile is always a classic; it looks great, and you can paint the walls whatever you want, then repaint to a soft grey or sandy beige when you are ready to sell. Just leave the bones a neutral color that will coordinate with anything.

if you anticipate selling soon, stick with the basic subway tile and use color on the walls. lots easier for the next owners to change if their design tastes don't mirror yours

My vote is for 1x2 brick glass tile with color on the walls

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202101794&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=202101794&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D23X-_-202101794&locStoreNum=6210&marketID=10

One of my friends has this huge metal platter (tray?) that they brought back from South America. It's about 34" wide and sits as a backsplash behind their stove. It's perfect for a modern house.

My house is not so modern, so I picked up some vintage tin signs and put three behind my stove as a backsplash. I sprayed them with a matte poly so I could wipe them down.

I'd do white patterned tin ceiling tiles. affordable, lots of patterns to chose from, super easy to clean and more visually interesting than subway tiles. not to mention diy'able

We are only staying in our home for a few years too, and have done everything with an eye toward selling. I recommend you stick with the white subway tile. Future owners can customize the home with paint and accessories as long as the "bones" are neutral. If you want something a little less traditional, try a different pattern with the subway tile. We did a herringbone pattern (but I've seen it in many different patterns and sizes). Here's a link: just scroll down and you'll see pics of my kitchen (there are a few other posts first):

http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Kitchen

Good luck!

I would also vote for the subway tile. If you're planning on living here for 5-7 years, there's a chance you may not be so keen on the green years down the road. With the white you can easily re-accessorize as often as you'd like and still bring it back to neutral when you sell.

subway tiles with dark grouting for the splash back with whatever colour floats your boat on the walls - paint is paint and easily changed.

White subway tile, it's classic and the most appealing for resale. Another option would be carrara marble in subway or penny rounds, but you'd have to really show around to find them at a good price.

I'd go for white subway tiles but maybe in a not so run-of-the-mill pattern like a herringbone or parquet.

I think glass subway tiles in a pretty shade of green or blue would be beautiful and neutral walls, I don't think it would stop someone buying your house because you picked a colored tile. You are going to be there for a while, you may as well pick something that you love living with.

Your kitchen reminded me of this kitchen remodel. So I thought you might take some inspiration from this mixed subway and stainless backsplash.

http://design-4-lessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/stainless-blanco-33.jpg

We're remodeling our kitchen, too. And the advice we are getting is to stay neutral with the tiles and do what you want with the paint. I am wondering what floor tiles you have down, though. They are fantastic.

I too love subway tile, but think a mini version might work in this small space. I would go with a light color, or a transparent tile.

methinks: do your subway tile along the stove wall and a mirror backsplash perpendicular along the other wall in the pic; this will open up the space and give the effect of a galley kitchen. light will bounce around too and brighten the space up.

subway tile is timeless (the minis are a bit more trendy) and mirrors aren't difficult to clean (the backsplash gets spotty only behind the sink anyway).

do post some after pix when you decide... :)

I have a white kitchen, black granite and also plan to sell in 5-7 years. I considered white, pale green, and a dusty blue subway as well - PLEASE don't do the green. I bought green tiles and loved them until I started doing a test layout on the counter, and I freaked out. Even a nice pale green that you researched and saw pictures of in other people's kitchens feels AWFULLY green when it's a giant swath of tile in your own kitchen. To each his own, but considering you had the same thoughts in mind I did, I will say that I hated it despite wanting to love it. I also think the 5-7 year timeframe is hard to pull off something with a lot of personality w/more permanence. Do it with paint and not tile.

We ended up doing carerra marble subways which I love because it gives the backsplash more dimension/interest/"personality" than plain white but in a classic material that can accommodate many color schemes. I'd recommend considering either white subway with a twist (maybe mini-bricks, or more elongated tiles, or less symmetrical layout), or subway in a marble. It'll keep the look classic and appeal to buyers in 5 years, but with some more personality than standard white 3x6 layout which, if you were considering color, might bore you to look at for the next 5 years.

Everything you've chosen is so typical and safe and your cabinets are run of the mill (I hope you're not using IKEA knobs, as that will push the place over the edge of "catalog")
You need a backsplash with personality - and white subway or glass mosaic aren't gonna do it.

I recommend visiting your local Ann Sachs and
looking at Heath Ceramics Tile - http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/tile/

There are so many unusual shapes and colors - even a neutral tone in an unusual shape would take your kitchen from builderspec-blah to unique and desirable.

I have to agree with some of the previous posters. Skinny white subway tile, then brighten it up with colorful walls and colorful utensils/appliances.

I love the floors, btw! Well done :)

I agree with everyone about sticking to white tile. Ann Sacks has a variety of skinny/mini subway tiles, as well as hexagon shapes. I used the 1x2 tiles for my back splash and it looked great. Like you, I have white cabinets and a black (soapstone in my case) countertop. Here's a link to the Ann Sacks tiles: http://www.annsacks.com/onlinecatalog/program.jsp?cat=268004&coll=268104&prg=272004

Flat stainless steel. Easy to take care of (best cleaner is orange oil - its shocking how well it works) and looks great!

Since you have a stainless steel range and sink, and I would assume a stainless steel refrigerator, consider fabricating a backsplash from plain or embossed stainless steel sheet, stainless steel tiles or aluminum sheet. I used this solution with aluminum sheet in my similarly small kitchen with dark countertops and it worked out spectacularly. I especially love how my undercabinet lighting reflects on the aluminum.

Good Luck!

You should consider laying the subway tile in a herringbone pattern. Like this :

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPAaP-d_cY8/TPmMI6f9-fI/AAAAAAAABIE/OH8f6Eny_Go/s1600/herringbone_subway_tile_web.jpg

Wow -- thanks to everyone for their suggestions! Sounds like overwhelming support for white subway tile.

To answer some folks' questions...

heypielady - weirdly enough last time we were at Home Depot the turquoise paint really jumped out at me -- maybe that's what we'll end up with!

david @ 9:33a - unfortunately our kitchen is really oddly shaped (very few right angles -- which is what necessitated the custom cabinets, which is where most of the money went) and when the guys came to install the granite they said the walls bowed way to much to do a granite "lip" -- but it would have been a good idea!

suzee -- beautiful kitchen reno!

greige - love that stainless steel look -- if we had a beautiful hood/vent like that i'd absolutely do it...

thesleepyswan -- thank you! we got them at Nemo Tile in NYC -- they were called "Emporio Nero" and the grout was a color called "Raven."

i'll send in pictures when we finish it -- at this point we may be dreaming if we think we'll get it done before the new year. <sigh>

thanks again!!