I would stick with just the white subway tile. I’d be afraid that an accent tile above the stove would take away from the gold hardware and blue cabinets.

Gorgeous color on your cabinets! What is your countertop? I would forgo the accent above the stove and (depending on the counter) use a light grey grout that gives just a bit of outline to the tiles without being too stark

Hope you’ll keep us posted and share the final kitchen!

Gorgeous! And I do think a patterned tile or something iridescent through the entire backsplash could make it even more spectacular. Post more pics when done!

@damiarain thank you! Our countertop is Namibian White Marble. Mostly white with very subtle warm grey tones. Here’s the slabs (under shop/warehouse lighting obviously). They are installed tomorrow, will update with photos after!

You took a big step away from the white/gray cabinet trend ... now take that leap away from the white subway!

I don't know what your counters look like, but here are some bolder kitchens ... white subway isn't the only option! Be brave, take that leap!

Yes, please! ^^^^^^^^

@Chispa see above for photos of the countertop material. I totally get what you're saying, and those kitchens look amazing. But I'm nervous! The kitchen is also larger than the photos I posted. I worry that with the cabinet color, anything else will looks too overwhelming. I LOVE the look of wallpaper, but worry about cleaning. Maybe I'm just a wimp :-(

Totally agree. No subway tile please!

If you do the white subways, instead of dark grout try a very light grey/silver. It would give you more definition than white grout but not so much that your eyes are “grabbed” by the dark contrast.

Love your cabs!

Alicia, the great thing about backsplash is that you don't have to do it right away. If you love the idea of something more than white subway, then you need to keep looking.

I'm on backsplash #2. First backsplash had installation problems, so it was taken out. I took the loss, but I'm secretly glad that something went wrong, because I had gone too safe and wan't happy with the end result. For backsplash #2 I am going bolder, still neutral colors, because it goes with the rest of the kitchen, but the backsplash will be two tone with a large scale pattern. Have another 3 to 4 weeks before the tile order comes in, but it took me a couple of months to find tile #2.

If you are in the LA area I can give you several tile shops to visit!

LOVE YOUR CABINET COLOR! Way to go for being bold enough to do it! That’s what I wanted but got scared by the husband “Blue cabinets?!?!” I think white subway. No accent. White grout. I had a designer tell me once “grout is a necessity not art” and if your tile guy gets it the littlest bit off it will be so obvious! Let those cabinets and marble be the star. Don’t compete by having dark grout (my 2 cents!) can’t wait to see the end result! LOVE It!!

@chispa Maybe you're right, that waiting is the answer. But man am I anxious to just have this whole thing done! Unfortunately not in LA, I'm in Chicago. Would love to see what you decided on for your kitchen!

Great counter choice! Depending on how much backsplash area you have you could continue the white marble of your counters up the wall as your backsplash

Either way, post some pics once your counters are installed - you’ll have a better idea of how your home lighting affects them (plus they always look different as horizontal counters vs vertical slabs!)

I’m not a blue fan usually, but your cabinets are GREAT! Let them be the star and don’t distract from them by adding a bunch of other things. Think Coco Chanel: Simple but very chic.

IMO the cabinets are the star go simple backsplash with not contrasting grout and everywhere IMO those accents behind the stove make no sense unless you have a huge Tuscan kitchen.

I've posted this pic before, because I love it so much. It is a kitchen designed by Martyn Bullard, using Christopher Peacock cabinets, in, naturally, peacock blue. The designer chose an accent over the range of a "wedgwood basalt plaque which once belonged to fashion icon Bill Blass." Note though that it is a very grand La Cornue range and an equally grand custom hood over it so the proportion works. The backsplash looks to be a slab of the same marble as the perimeter counters.

Martyn Bullard instagram post about kitchen

Cabinets are the star!! just gorgeous!! let them shine!!

no, to accent behind stove and i also would not do dark grout on white tile. that will be all u see. i also would not do white tile. i feel it needs something more, subtle to be sure, to make those cabinets sing.

after counter install, start bringing home samples to see in your space.

i would consider using the counter top material on cooktop wall and tile on sink wall. i like it on the cooktop wall b/c u have no grout and so much easier to keep clean behind the cooktop. you could also use your countertop material for all your b/s.

After counter is in...search for the correct white subway tile. I wouldn't contrast the grout, except by maybe one shade. For tile: cool vs warm and the degree of gloss will be deciding factors. ..but you will know once you bring in samples. Blue is usually a "cool" ...but your blue has a degree of yellow/warmth. The counter looks to have both cool and warm shading. It might boil down to your lighting....and day/nite differences as well. You have to walk by/ look at / with samples in the space. When I look at your kitchen, I would want something a little extra at the hood: basketweave or herringbone....especially if the counter for perimeter and island is all the same. Nice to be at the finish line...it's going to give you so much happiness...but I would insert something in that spot.

Wow, thank you everyone for validating our cabinet color choice! It was a scary decision, but we love them. After countertops go in I’m going to be bringing home a lot of tile samples. Will update with photos of other options!

Be sure to post a final pic!

Wow. It's nice to see it. This is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

It’s sooooo pretty, can’t wait to see a pic of it done. We looked at a house with a blue island that I was in love with but my husband was like “hell no” lol. Reminds me of yours. They used a beveled white glossy subway (granted there was not much in the ways of backsplash) but it looked so nice together.

You cabinets are amazing - and I am not usually drawn to colored cabinets. Let them be the star of the show, as others have said. If you do decide to emphasize the area behind the stove, do something more subtle, like C L posted.

Congratulations on your beautiful kitchen!

I would stick to more basic with a little something to it. for example all plain white but use a mother of pearl. so that it gives character somewhat and its not too simple.

I’m not a fan of accent tile above the range, personally. Have you seen the brass schluter edge used in tile applications? It could give you that metallic touch you want, without going overboard. Here are a few examples:

Or maybe just a stripe or two?

@Hillside House I love that! I looked on their website and I'm having a hard time finding the really thin pieces like the ones in those pictures. Any ideas?

Gorgeous color blue cabinets. Are those custom painted cabinets? Did you choose that blue from many choices? Whoever chose that particular blue has great taste in color.

@artistsharonva Thank you so much! Yes this was custom painted. I must have sampled 30+ different blues before deciding on this one. I was worried it would be too dark, but I love it.

And we have countertops! I didn’t realize until now that our carpenters put three different temperature bulbs in the ceiling lights, so the color looks a little off, but very excited about being able to see the backsplash samples up against the actual countertops.

That looks great and you can certainly do a patterned/bold backsplash with them.

Can I make one comment though? Did you consider plugmold? Seems like a pity to have all those outlets interrupting whatever backsplash you pick.

@chispa I wasn't introduced to plugmold until after we were already wired, which has been bothering me almost daily. I'm a little scared to ask my electrician what would be involved in changing it. We've made a ton of changes already and I think he's just about had it with me!

Beautiful

Love seeing a non-white/grey kitchen!

don't worry about the plugs. a plug mold does not allow you to keep appliances plugged in as the cord will reach up under cabs which is as unsightly or worse than what you have. you can easily hide them when on the wall. if anything I would recommend putting them closer to the counter.

Does this help?

Love the cab color!
NO to any accent behind range (can you say millennium?)
Subway - meh, so many other choices
And definitely no to contrasting dark grout!! Match grout to tile as close as you can

great kitchen

you can decide to go bold or go home so to say..both will look great, just a different vibe

my decision would be based on my funds lol..for to go bold I need to really love the tile, and all tiles I really love-I usually can't afford, or can afford in very little quantities

btw "going home" wouldn't be really cheap too-because I tend to love handmade tile

in my case I decided I'd rather "go home" than have only an accent. hard to know, maybe I'd love it enough as not to care about anything else. Still obsessed with that tile. It's like a bug..can't get it out of my system

one caution-if you decide to stay with plainer tile I wouldn't do contrasting grout. Not in your place.

well considered metal element as suggested above..can be very interesting. I somehow imagine it in a different kitchen though ..need to think why

in yours, I rather see allover pattern-or going subtle (doesn't have to be subway but can be)

none would be a mistake

don't hurry..study what's there..listen to yourself really well..and if you find a tile that's your "bug"..let it in..:)

Wow! Alicia great job in color choices. As an artist who works in colors, I truly appreciate your color choice. You win for my favorite blue kitchen I have seen so far. It's obvious you worked hard to pick your colors. Way to go!

Be still my heart! I LOVE your kitchen--as other have said, the cabinet color is stunning!! And that reclaimed wood beam is a wonderful accent.

As for the backsplash, I'd keep it very simple--you really don't have a lot of area that needs a backsplash for such a large kitchen. A white rectangular tile (AKA "Subway") would work perfectly fine and will be a nice background for your cabinets. I wouldn't do any feature tile over the range, as it will make it look choppy. Also, after you install all your cabinet hardware you'll have a lot of the brass/gold and don't need more of it on the backsplash.

But since you have an out-of-the-ordinary kitchen, I have three suggestions.

1. You might consider a 2 x 8 glazed brick tile, for example Waterworks makes a line called "Grove Brickworks" which would add a subtle texture and work really nicely with the vibe in the room. Here's a close-up look, in a bathroom, but you get the idea!

And in a kitchen:

2. Or handmade, hand painted glazed terra cotta from Tabarka tiles. Here's just one of their shapes in gray on white. There are so many more if you visit their website.

3. Lastly, Moroccan zeliig tiles, also handmade, handpainted tiles, which also come in many shapes, sizes and colors. There is a great variation in shades in a single color, so you get a lovely subtle texture. Mosaic House is a great source for these, here is their "white" tile:

Love the blue! My center island is blue since it’s my favorite color. We used a fireback as the backsplash behind our range. It references the huge fireplace that is the focal point of the kitchen and pays homage to the historic nature of our house. There are many antique ones for sale, but we obtained ours from Pennsylvania Firebacks.

Tried to read all of the comments first to see if anyone had suggested just a single sheet of stainless for the backplash in your range section. You can add an accessory shelf to it as well.

remodeling1840, OMG, love those... i want one, somewhere !!!

which one did u choose? so many i love!!

Tabarka is what came to my mind when I wrote "allover pattern" yesterday

amazing brand..check them out. experience in itself for sure whether you decide to go with them or not, whether you decide to go with pattern at all-or let your blue be your main star

not every kitchen can "carry" Tabarka-yours can

Where's the house? what's its style?

Kitchen open to other spaces, right? what's there/will be there?

these are the questions I'd ask myself too when deciding

Wonderful kitchen! You said, "I'm a little scared to ask my electrician what would be involved in changing it." Don't be. Plug mold or close to the counter . . . he will re-cut the holes and pull the wires through and patch the previous holes. A little work, but it's not like you're asking something difficult. And you pay him to do work, right?

I was also going to post about Tabarka tile. That would be perfect for your gorgeous cabinets.

Beautiful kitchen! I second TJW's comment about asking the electrician to move the outlets -- I would prefer them up under the cabinets -- some day I'm going to actually figure out how much the electrician charged in my remodel, but right now I'm enjoying every change or addition I asked him to do and it was so worth it!!

I second TJW's comments -- I'd like the outlets to be under the counters -- sSomeday I'm giong to actually figure out how much my electrician charged me in my remodel, but right now I'm enjoying and appreciating every change and additon I had him make!!!

Gorgeous kitchen - I love the cabinet color! Since these cabinets should really be the star, I would consider doing a panel of the same tiles as the backsplash, but installed in another way (for example, if you’re thinking of staggered subway tile, do a chevron pattern insert with a simple bullnose border).

Someone mentioned that with plugmold you see the wires hanging ... what wires ... not everyone keeps a collection of small appliances on the counters! My remodel was a way to get rid of countertop appliances.

I'm going with plugmold to make as much impact with my backsplash as possible. The only counter top appliance I will have is a small toaster oven and it sits round the corner under the shadow of a tall cabinet. No one will notice that wire, but the main part of my backsplash won't have 5 holes messing up the pattern.