I can't stand white subway tile with black grout. I think it looks dirty!

I know your question is more about the aesthetic aspect of the grout color, but I will tell you that dark grout is SO much easier to clean and maintain. I currently have matte black floor tiles and dark grout and it is great. As far as the backsplash goes, that granite bit doesn't bother me. I say keep it and go for some fun glass backsplash tiles.

Grey.

White.

go with the black grout. i just moved into a place with white grout and it is a pain to clean!

I think black would be too graphic. Try a nice grey that would still offer the easy to keep clean benefit, but doesn't overpower the space.

It makes me think about the Graph paper we use here for notes at work. We used to have black lines on the page and then we got a shipment of notepads with blue lines. MUCH EASIER on the eyes!

I have a tiled backsplash not my choice and I hate it. I dislike grout because it is hard to keep clean and its not attractive.

Why don't you just paint the cabinets as you were and paint the wall a glossy color so it will be easy to wipe down. Skip removing the granite piece.

I would think the originally installed backsplash would be better sealed for fewer water problems, and I don't think it looks bad at all. Grout also comes in colors beyond black and white. I think black would look nice, but also wonder if a blue or green tint might look really fun - something that really matches the granite.

Grey.

Another vote for grey.

grey - actually at home depot its called 'silver' something or other but its grey and its the way to go. good luck.

White grout...and if you seal it after the grout has cured for 3 days you shouldn't have a problem with cleaning it. I did this with my bathroom subway tiles and it's been fine. Considering a bathroom would have more dirt than a backsplash, you should be OK. For some reason a lot of people skip the sealing step (probably because it means you can't get the tile wet for yet another few days) but it's really an important step and will save you a lot of cleaning aggravation down the road!

Be careful about removing the granite backsplash. I have tile that goes all the way down to the counter and it's a DISASTER. It not only gets routinely filthy, but any moisture on the counter drains into the crack and flakes away the grout. Yuck.

One decor-related question for you: Are you sure you want white cabinets and white tile? It will make the black granite you dislike even more prominent. If you went with a dark color like slate, the countertop would "disappear."

Our backsplash is off-white, speckled tiles with dove-grey grout. I LOVE the darker grout. Especially for behind the sink, because grout in that place tends to suck up grime so easily.

Unfortunately, our landlord did skip the backsplash piece for the counters, and I can tell you it was a mistake. No backsplash piece means moisture has a great place to hang out and cause damage. The grout in the corner between the tile and counter is beginning to crack and crumble, despite having been sealed.

In sum, go with a grey grout and keep the backsplash piece!

Have you thought about using subway tile in a color instead of white?

Anything that has a strong graphic pattern looks great until you get tired of it, and you will, and then you will hate it and wish you had chosen something more enduring. A more traditional, grey, silver or off white will look better.

Besides it is a kitchen backsplash. It's not like it is being soaked down with water everyday like in a shower. Really how grimey does your kitchen get when you cook?

I Vote White. Seal it. It's as easy to clean as any gloss surface. Definitely not black. I'm thinking gray will look dirty. I'm also thinking with the cabinets painted white, a shot of color in the tiles will probably be a nice balance.

I agree w/ Lisa - Why not paint the lower cabinets a charcoal grey w/ dark green interiors and the uppers a pale grey with charcoal grey or dark green interiors?

Then for the tile, use a greyish hued tile rather than white w/ a darker grey/green grout - and leave the granite backsplash in place.

I love white subway tile with black grout, but it is a very graphic look. Your kitchen looks fairly traditional in style, so would probably be better suited to a more traditional look such as white. Even grey might be a bit too graphic.

I do agree with the grout cleaning comments, though. I'm seeing a lot of back-painted glass backsplashes and walls in shelter mags that look really fabulous. I googled keywords 'glass painted backsplash' (no quotes) and got a lot of hits, including some DIY stuff that looks promising. Just a thought.

I'd go with grey if you want some interest, but IMO, white subway tile is going to clash with that granite no matter what. I'd go with some kind of mosaic instead. I found one recently with smaller than 1" tiles in clear and frosted green glass and marble. Gorgeous.

As for the granite backsplash, I second the warning about taking it off. Aside from the grimey, grouty, caulky seam that you will create, you also have no idea how perfectly the granite slab was cut. You have no idea if there are gaps (which could easily be 1/2 inch) between it and the wall, and you could als conceivably find that there are missing chunks of drywall under there.

I know because in my last kitchen, the granite backsplash covered up all those problems. As for the difficulty - it's something I would pay a pro to come out and do so you have less risk of damaging your counters. The last time I had granite/counters worked on I think it was about $100 minimum for a service call. I can't imagine they'd charge more than that to pop them off for you. (But you might also ask if it can be done without damaging the drywall - I can't remember what happened with ours.)

UWSretreat - My backsplash tiles were completed back end of Ocotber - its still quite white and has not received much dirt yet. Is it okay for me to seal it now?

Oh... AT did a post on back painted glass:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/good-questions/sf-good-questions-backpainted-glass-backsplash-048097

I think you might get really tired og dark grout with white tiles if the impulse to won that combination isn't irresistably strong -- it's a very contrasty look and I think it will become one of those dated looks that peg the tilework as late first decade...

I also have what I THINK your granite is, Verde Butterfly, and I love it -- I think it's beautiful. My backsplash is made from 2 inch slate tiles in a sheet, from Home Depot ($11 a square foot) installed on a diagonal to the counter, with grey grout. I was concerned when we chose them that the rustic look of the slate tiles would conflict with the formal look of the granite, but I think it works well.

I haven't had any problems with too much water hitting the join of the backspash and the counter yet, maybe because it's well sealed with silicon caulk, maybe because I don't toss a lot of water around. (Behind my sink I do have the granite backsplash, though, since it's a peninsula and the wall there is only a few inches above the counter...)

I didn't want the granite backsplash either -- but once installed, it's hard to remove them without destroying the wall. (They use really strong adhesive.)

White. You're kitchen is very trad even if you do paint the cabinets white.

Another vote for light grey. White, even sealed, is a pain. Black would be too harsh and busy. And I would keep the backsplash. Not worth the money to remove and fill the space with new tile. Good luck!

Delorean Grey grout from Home Depot with 2 by 8 matte white subway tile. It looks amazing. White would get dirty.

This is a bit off the subject, but I'm curious: were you planning to paint the window trim white, too, or are you leaving that as is? I have a similar situation in my kitchen (oak cabinets, oak window trim, oak crown molding). I too am planning to paint my cabinets white, and can't decide if I should leave the moldings as is or paint those white, too.

oops, sorry-- I just re-read you post and see that you are painting the trim white!

We used gray-colored grout (called "platinum" in the linked chart) with our white subway tile in the bathroom. It is so much easier to keep clean-looking than white.
http://www.super-tek.com/colorcharts.htm

Black grout would be very dramatic. There's a restaurant in NY that used black grout to give the new renovation an instant aged look.
http://www.schillersny.com/calendar.php

Another vote for grey - I recently put in white subway tile and painted by cabinets white and went with a nice oyster grey grout (it's a little warmer than a straight up grey) from Home Depot.

I'm really happy with the "Biscuit" grout we did in the kitchen and bathroom. Not blindingly white, and warmer than a gray or black grout.

I have an old house with subway tile, and the grout has aged to black in the last 80 years. When I see white grout with subway tile now, it looks a little too builder-y to me. I say go with a black or grey, just so it doesn't look quite so "new."

Maybe, I'm the "odd ball" here. But I'm curious your oak cabinets look fairly new and in their own right (i.e. for what they are) beautiful. Same with your window trim Why do you want to paint them over? It would seem that you if you don't like the counters, it might be worth saving up so you can replace those. Rather than trying to do an inexpensive fix that might look cheap in the end.

I just did a marble mosaic backsplash for a client (basketweave carrara with black marble dots) and we used charcoal grout (from cjt's color chart link). It looks amazing.

white is the way to go--it's a clean look you can build any style around. I have white subway tile/grout in my kitchen and do not have a problem with grime.

I depends on what you are going for... but if you are interested in being historically accurate (since you mentioned "vintage") - you would want white. Way back when, every surface in a kitchen or bathroom was white. They felt it was easier to keep clean and had recently figured out that germs cause illness.

Anyway... Those looking for historical or preservation information on subway tile, I did a write-up here. (I am a historic preservationist)

http://cottageofstone.blogspot.com/2009/01/historic-interiors-subway-tile.html

A general rule of thumb I use:

If you want someone to notice your tile, use grout that matches the tile.
If you want someone to notice your tile pattern, use grout in a contrasting color.

I you feel like the black grout against white tile would make things appear to graphic, why not try black subway tiles? Dal Tile makes them in their Rittenhouse Square line, and they are rather inexpensive.

hi lori,
i recently did white subway tile and white hex tile in my bathroom. i wanted to do a black grout around the white hex because a) my clawfoot tub was black and b) grout usually ends up dark gray or black over time anyway (at least in my experience). i ended up doing one step down from black, called "charcoal." i really like it because it does pick up the other blacks in the room, much like it would with your dark countertop. the main thing i would warn you about though--make sure your tiles are PERFECTLY straight, and use thinner grout lines. my tile guys were terrible, and because i have white tile and dark gray grout, every imperfection shows. so take your time and get everything measured out right, and it'll look beautiful. then you'll have just a thin (1/16 inch) outline of the dark, just enough to tie in your countertop, and you won't have to worry about cleaning/bleaching all the time.

oh yeah, i used oyster gray grout in other tiled places in my house, and i second nicole's comment. that's a great gray too.

I have white tile with gray grout and I agree with those who said that it will be too graphic. It will compete with the pattern in your granite and be quite busy. I would go with matching grout and let the granite take center stage.

White, if it were hex flooring i would agree grey, but for backplash white. Alternately think about color here as you're going to go monochomatic once you have the cabniets and trim done. Especially if this is a bit of a "wait and fix" why don't you think more about the back painted glass option.

grey. and whatever you choose to do definitely put grout sealer over it because any color of grout is tricky to clean.

White grout. Then hand-pick some fabulous counter accessories and let them be the stars. Bright coloured ceramics maybe!

White. As long you seal it well and clean it regularly. You will occasionally have to reseal. I quite like grey as well but if you're setting the tile yourself the contrasting grout will show mistakes.

Backsplash is easy to remove. Just use an olfa blade knife to cut the silicon joints where it meets the counter and the wall then gently pry it away. (Use a small piece of half inch plywood, 6" x 12" or there abouts or something similar between the pry bar and the drywall to minimize damage to the wall.) There will just be a few beads of silicon or construction adhesive adhering it to the wall. If you take your time and don't pry from just one spot it will be fine.

And make sure you don't grout down to the counter top. The bottom should be filled with silicon or sanded silicon. Mapei carries a line that matches their grout colors. That way you won't get water ingress or grout flaking.

Grout should match the tile in almost every case!

You want the tiles to stand out, not the grout.
(Dark grout on light tiles is one of my biggest design pet peeves).

Alternate: leave the granite as-is and do a dark glossy tile above it to make the granite blend seamlessly.
You know, the "find a fault, make it a feature" logic.

Raise your hand if you're bored of subway tile.

Definitely white. I've seen white tiles with black grout and all you see from distance is a large area of black grids. Terribly distracting. I think grey would be an elegant option, too.

1 more vote for white! The clean look will easily transition to another color palette/style in the future, while black grout can tend to look dated if it is not used in the correct setting.

SEAL IT!!

I would use black subway tiles with white grout - far less "bathroom-y" than white subway tiles - they will merge into the counter without you having to remove the slight backsplash currently there and the white grout will look great against them.

Grey or black help the subway tile show up, otherwise you can't see the beauty of the tile. I'm about to do mine (Daltile matte white subway tile) with a dark grey or black. I'm going to use honed black granite countertops with white cabinets. Can't wait. Plus, traditionally, subway tile was done with black. Just saw some on tv!!!