Deep olive, bronze and black!

Love that mosaic blend. Your kitchen already looks great!

You already have both warm (the reddish-orange cabinets) and cool ( the green of the walls)-plus the two colors are contrasting,so you would best served by going with a neutral; since the counter top is dark, I would be worried that it would be too dark if you went with something as dark as the choices you showed (will your kitchen be brighter than it is in the pic? It looks kind of dark); I like the idea of mosaic-it would break things up, but maybe go with more lighter tiles, like a softer, more neutral echo of the wall, floor and cabinets; but no black!

I vote for the mosaic blend -- that's fabulous stuff. If not, maybe recycled glass in greens that include both colors similar to the wall and those of the counter to blend that line?

the yellow isn't technically "warm" but it's close enough here, contrasted to the cabinets; Oh! what about stainless? it would pick up the appliances and handles...

Mosaic blend would be stunningly beautiful, timeless.

If those are your two choices, I'd go with the mosaic blend. Definately not the all-black.

If you have other choices, how about a mosaic blend in browns/golds/creams/whites? Something lighter to lift that counter out of the all-black abyss.

Love the mosaic--however I do agree with some of the others who say that it may be too dark with the black countertop. Perhaps a lighter mosaic blend would be preferable unless the kitchen is extremely bright. Then the pictured mosaic tile would look great. Your kitchen is looking mighty nice already. Please post pics when finished!

Why not turquoise? It would brighten everything up and make the dishwasher seem a part of the whole.

I agree you should do a lighter mosaic....but I would stick with lighter grays, silvers, and creams. Think almost monochromatic...and definitely no more black!

Love your kitchen -- and big props to you for choosing environmentally responsible materials!!! :)

I love the multi colored mosaics, but they do get a bit dark don't they? I immediately thought this concept when I looked at it, but was thinking you should tie in all the colors of the space. The green as well as the rust/amber colors of the wood, maybe a little black (but not much) and...how about some blue?

Check out www.susanjablonmosaics.com You can customize your tile combo and I believe they do recycled glass tiles (sounds like you're doing the green thing).

http://hakatai.com/ImageGallery.aspx?tagid=10

ashland ginger tea(you'll have to go to the image gallery), but not the iridescent......it would repeat the color of the wood cabinets.

love the kitchen........

http://www.stardustglasstile.com/concept_boards.html

http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/tile-products-id/r219

http://www.naturalbuilthome.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=17

more choices.......beautiful ones.

when I was dealing with the very same dilema, I found this great these great ss tiles from Costco, of all places

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=11134760&search=tile&Mo=20&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=tile&Ntt=tile&No=5&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

you can't beat the look, price and quality. Email if if you'd like me to send you a photo of my finished kitchen w/the tiles installed.
Good luck.
-A

First of all, JEALOUS! After that, I agree, go with recycled! If it feels too dark, maybe you could do a top/bottom line in a light non-recycled larger ceramic tile...and fill in the with recycled as accent.

Not the black - there's already enough in the room. The mosaic tiles are lovely - the little bits of purple will be lovely with the green. Love that green. Love your kitchen!

I can't tell: is the dishwasher actually blue, or is stainless steel and reflecting something? If it is blue I'd suggest incorporating more of a similar blue into the mosaic tiles, if possible, instead of the purple.

love the mosaic blend!

CARIBBEAN BLUE, Y'ALL.

http://www.blacklionfurniture.com/Images/attributes/uwharrie/UWC-027-FinishCaribbeanBlue.jpg

what about a mosaic with mixed stone and metal?
like these:

http://www.cooltiles.com/ggmbc116.html

http://www.cooltiles.com/ggmbc104.html

or here is a beautiful stone mosaic...

http://www.cooltiles.com/mrzuf2y.html

I'd go Gold
http://www.CoolTiles.com/vid9.html

First, the photograph made me laugh aloud to see that mid-reno moment: the paint stops partway down the wall, so here comes a backsplash question!

A way to bring light to the counter and tie in your handles and appliances, while maintaining your eco standards, might be recycled metal tile. I've been drooling over this stuff at Eco-Friendly Flooring on-line so check out the backsplash shown in this gallery and see if it turns your crank http://www.ecofriendlyflooring.com/metal.html It looks like they offer several sizes of tile, and both polished and matte finishes.

We want to see After pictures, of course, so we can live vicariously through your decisions!

Aside to other posters: my guess is that the "blue" dishwasher is stainless steel but still wearing its protective plastic skin from shipping.

this one!
http://www.mosaicsource.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=307

Thanks everyone for the comments. For some reason, we just can't commit - frustrating. We can't finish the floor, toe kicks, etc until the tile is done.

Originally I was thinking black, because I don't like a lot of colors and textures fighting with each other. I am not very daring in that way (although I did get a Mibo pendant lamp for the dining room it opens into...and it is funky/dramatic in a good way). The floor is actually a darker green and brown than the attached photo implies. It picks up the color of the cabinets beautifully. The photo just has natural light since we have not finished the recessed lights, but they are a lot of under cabinets lights I didn't turn on.

We really want a recycled tile we can afford. There are some beautiful ones out there, but we can't afford 3k for back splash right now.

Keep the comments coming, I really appreciate your input! The prior kitchen was from 1957 all pink tile and brown lino floor. So, huge improvements so far. And we have done it all ourselves. I will post before and after once it's done.

By the way, the dishwasher is SS (not blue). My partner won't let me take off the protective coating until everything is done!

Thanks!

astauffer - how do I email you? I would love to see your SS tiles. That might be an option. Although we have so much SS with the DW, range, fridge, handles and sink.

With all the suggestions for warm colors, I am wondering what you all think of cork tile for the back splash. Modwalls had penny size tiles that can be stained in any color and then sealed. I was turned on by it initially. Here is a photo...

http://www.modwalls.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=19

Go with a solid so it won't argue with gorgeous counters.

I don't know with being too public.. but here, I uploaded a photo onto flkr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18526259@N00/2506785885/
lmk if you can't see it, 1st time doing this.
I have more photos but can't right now, if you want more and I'll try again tomorrow, just lmk.
-A
ps: I'm impressed you doing it all yourselves, WOW. Looks great so far.

Astauffer: I am with you. Those stainless tiles are fantastic. As is your kitchen.

Have you thought about recycled aluminum:
http://www.strawsticksandbricks.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22_10_25

Another image:
http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/archives/2008/01/recycled_alumin_1.php

And there is recycled wood tile too, check it out here:
http://www.ecohomeimprovement.com/t-wood.html

Here's the gallery for the wood:
http://www.ecohomeimprovement.com/gallery08/tiles/wood/

It's hard to know exactly what the colors are of your place AND of the images shown online, as it depends on our monitors and settings, etc. But this could be a nice look for your place, picking up some colors from the cabinets AND from the flooring:
http://www.ecohomeimprovement.com/gallery08/tiles/wood/pages/Curved_Counter_and_Wine.htm

You want to keep it affordable, but that means different things to different people. How much per sq ft do you want to spend? Maybe folks know of sources that are within your range.

I hate it when I see something I just LOVE LOVE LOVE and find out it is WAY out of my price range. Like I found something for someone online, and then found the same thing on another site that mentions the price and it was $8,000 for a cabinet. Way more than what the person wanted to spend.

Sometimes there is a nice surprise though, if you post your max per sq ft, we might be able to find a source that allows you to have more options. So that you look at it, and instead of not being sure, both you and your partner say "WOW, that's EXACTLY what we want for the kitchen back splash, and it's the right price too!"

astauffer: Wow! Your kitchen is awesome. I love the blue and your back splash is perfect. Can't believe you got it costco. Thanks for uploading the picture. It is really is beautiful.

Hey Robby,

your kitchen looks awesome! Where is the mosaic blend in your picture from? I'd love that for my kitchen.

A few other suggestions for yours:

http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=10601

http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=12046

Both of those use Organiks 100% certified recycled glass tile. You can see more of these blends here:

http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/catalogs/organiks-glass-tile-blends.html

They also sell the Organiks in sheets of solids if you didn't want a blend -- and I believe they're cheaper that way.

Also, something totally different is recycled glass pebbles -- but that wouldn't give you that warm look you might be looking for. Just kind of cool.

http://www.modwalls.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=163&HS=1

P.S. I'd definitely go for something that goes best with the cabinets. Both wall color and floor items are more likely to be changed than a large expanse of good tile work.

Floors get worn, because they're walked on. Kitchen floors can also get stained or damaged. Trends come and go too, with colors for walls and new paint innovations.

But that wall tile will outlast trends in colors and worn flooring. So consider that the most. It's a whole lot easier in 10 years to redo paint colors than it will be to replace the wall tiles and the cabinets!

I would go with an olive glass tile, perhaps with a few charcoal or clear glass tiles interspersed. This would tie in with the colors you have and love and be monochromatic. You won't get tired of it (like you might with the more colorful mosaic tiles) and you can vary the look with accessories that vary from warm copper, stainless, orange, whatevever. You can also create a panel of different tile - stainless, black, the colorful mosaic, a complex pattern, and hang as separate piece over the stove as a changing and less expensive backsplash.

Whatever you do, the kitchen is already beautiful!

Take two...

if what you want is clean and simple, how about recycled glass in opaque/clear or white? Just simple glass without color.

I just would hate to see any more black in that kitchen. It's a personal thing, I'm seriously not a big fan of black. If I came along as a potential housebuyer, it would either kill the deal to have to deal with black in the kitchen or I'd have to be able to afford to rip out all-black tiles (and that countertop too, for that matter).

dblitz1, it's inevitable, someone's "after" is someone else's "before".

What's neat is that we live in a day and age where there is a huge variety of products available. More than ever before. Which undoubtedly creates more problems for buyers and sellers. But allows current homeowners to have just about anything they can dream of.

Personally, I love the tiles from Emery&Cie; they would introduce a handmade textural element in your kitchen.

Here are some options:

I love the Zelliges lines, handmade in Morocco. They allow for extremely narrow grout lines, as they are under-bevelled. This is the colour I would go with too:

http://www.emeryetcie.com/en/what/tiles/zelliges/index.htm

Check out all the other colours --

(press on the "next" button at the bottom)
http://www.emeryetcie.com/en/what/tiles/zelliges/samples/02.htm

http://www.emeryetcie.com/en/what/tiles/zelliges/colours/index.htm

It looks fresh because you have not seen them everywhere yet...

If you are set on glass, they have a glass line too:

http://www.emeryetcie.com/en/what/tiles/glass/samples/index.htm
http://www.emeryetcie.com/en/what/tiles/glass/colours/index.htm

Just wanted to add that your kitchen remodel is very similar to the one we did (2003) -- cherry cabinets, soapstone counter, Wolf 6 burner stove, rubber flooring. We painted the walls white, to keep light bouncing around, and added a skylight. The backsplash we used was white glass mosaic tiles from Brazil -- vidrotil:

http://www.vidrotil.com.br/produto.php?p=produtos

I think that in order to make your kitchen look fresh, I would skip the glass mosaics (as much as I love them). If you insist on glass tiles, then use the larger sizes -- like Vidrotil's 3 x 3 cm or 12 x 12 cm. Glass mosaics have been ubiquitous for the past decade, and it is time for a variation on them.

But frankly, to give your kitchen the warmth and oomph you are seeking, the Zelliges would be stunning! (and I think they are cheaper too, not to mention much easier to install) This is probably why you have had a hard time committing to a backsplash -- your solutions are not quite right.

The Zelliges are very irregular and obviously handmade, the colour varies among the tiles, they are a larger size... I first saw them a couple of years ago, and wanted to use them right away -- they are cropping up in European designs, but have yet to make the big jump to North America -- you would be ahead of the curve with these.

They may not be "certified green", but you would be supporting small artisans keeping a traditional craft alive, which is just as important in my mind. There is no large factory, and no toxic chemicals involved. All low-impact.

There, I've said my peace, and hope I've swayed you...

astauffer:

LOVE your kitchen -- please share more details! Also, really love your dining table -- what is the source?

Please keep in mind that using mosaic tiles are very difficult to keep clean because of the amount of grout. The sealer will eventually wear thin and the grout will look like sh*t. I know, because I have a mosaic backsplash AND counter top and I am an OCD cleaning freak. I honestly don't know what would posses any sane person to use mosaic tiles in a kitchen. It's as bad as not having your sink sunk below counter level.

@true blue....

I know, I know :) It's just my curse to live in a time when black is all the rage for kitchens. I'm not a fan of stainless steel either. It all drives me nuts. (well it's arguably a short trip.) It's all just so dark and depressing.

When I renewed my lease my landlord thought they'd reward me for my long and uneventful tenancy by awarding me a new set of black kitchen appliances. They were duly shocked to find me in their leasing office, hysterically pleading with them to just leave my kitchen alone or I'd break my lease. I kept my lease and they gave the appliances to someone else.

what about a green that matches the great paint color? it adds texture/shine/durability but doesn't compete with the choices you've already made or add another color to the mix.

dblitz1, that's funny!

When I moved in, the cabinets (wood veneer) were kind of icky looking, and they offered to paint them. I too said "NO NO" because I'd seen their idea of painting. So I stripped and sanded and refinished myself.

Fifteen years later, there are a couple of worn spots in the usual places, but they still look better than their paint-over-veneer job they did in the bathroom. At one time I thought I would get around to redoing the bathroom, but I swear, they put the paint on with a putty knife. It's thick.

I love to look at all kinds of kitchens. I liked a couple in this slide show at Lowe's, where I was looking for ideas for back splashs:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=kitchen_gallery06/index.html

But the green one (is number 34) HAS no back splash. There are some tiny tiles, which look nice. I like that one. I love the cabinets.

The blue kitchen, (number 30) has black counters and white walls. White tile. I would love that blue if I was in a very hot area.

I like the LOOKS of beadboard, but I can't imagine cleaning it.

That gray kitchen is interesting, number 29. I probably would not have thought of doing gray in a kitchen, but that looks really neat.

The ONLY image in that group that I liked for THIS kitchen (the one the thread is about) was image number 4. Not necessarily the colors, but that style, with the squares, but there is a horizontal "line" of three rectangular tiles that wrap around.

The line would be above the outlet or switch that is to the left of the kitchen sink, and would also be just above the stove back.

THAT is the place I can see the dark accents, that would, like in the Lowe's image, pick up the colors of the cabinets, perhaps the counter top, and then whatever is chosen to be the remaining backdrop.

I think that would be the perfect touch to complement the cabinets and pulls. Keeping things very linear.

White subway.

lite greenish tan glass subway - I'm on the same mission to find something reasonable in this category.

I'd go with the mosaic blend you showed. If there's a recycled glass subway tile in a greenish color, I think that would be great.

It's a bit spendy, but they give a significant discount for local pickup at Heath Ceramics: Tapestry Collection in Argyle Morrel would look great in there.

http://heathceramics.com/go/heath/tile/collections/tapestry-collection/

How about a slate gray tile similar in size to the black tiles? I think it that isn't as trendy as the mosaic tile, and will give you a natural, sophisticated look.

I really like the mosaic! At first I thought I would choose the lighter colors, to brighten up the kitchen, but on second consideration, since the tones in the kitchen are so dark, I think the lighter colors would pop out and call attention to themselves too much. I think it would be nice to choose some medium tones from mosaic - not the darkest, not the lightest - and use those to both tie into the darker elements in the kitchen and add some lighter color. Beautiful kitchen! Nice job!

Hiya,

I agree with astauffer about the stainless steel tiles they will reflect the light and they're timeless. Mosaic glass tiles are very trendy so they might make the place look dated with time and all the cheap chinese tiles coming in the market won't help a bit. With that said i can't think of anything prettier than oceanside glass tile.

im actually about to do a remodel and am having a nightmare finding modern cabinets on a budget. I like yours where did you get them?

Im going to do stainless steel tiles and black cambrian (leather) granite. So actually it'll look a lot like yours.

I'm leaning towards cherry shaker from KWW Kitchen and Bath.

Any input appreciated.

Thank you and good luck your project looks great so far. I do think the tiles you're looking at (though beautiful) are a bit dark.

hi,
cool stuff. why not use the great-looking cork that you have on the floor for your backsplash. i'm in the midst of rebuilding my loft from an entire building fire. i'm not going as green as you, but i have red oak floors and cherry cabinets and granite counter and i was thinking something simple but useful would be nice. so i thought cork might work.
hopefully not to expensive, easy to maintain and it'll look cool but be subdued to not take away or fight with the granite. good luck. i'm sure whatever you decide will look fantastic. you have a great eye.
cheers
barbara