Hi Alicia,

Love, Love, Love the Scabos Travertine - 1x2 brick pattern. I think it will bring the two cabinet colors together very nicely. Go for it! I also love the natural stone look!

Another vote for the Scabos Travertine - it's beautiful and I think would look great w/ your choices.

And another vote for the scabos travertine. I think the other one is gorgeous too, but it does not go with the Perimeter cabinets as well as the other one does.

I think the travertine is too similarly colored to the perimeter cabinets and will blend and be sort of blah, while the more richly colored ones will be what ties the cabinets. And you wanted the backsplash to add warmth, which I think those others do better. I could like either style, but keep imagining the 1x3 bricks in your space.

The scabos "matches" the natural alder better, but I MUCH prefer the falling water earth slate. The pattern is more interesting, and I think it'll do a great job of picking up some of the rich dark color of your stained island to tie the two together. I really like the variation in tile size and color. It is interesting without being busy, and rustic but elegant.

I love the Falling Water. I think it would add color rather than just blending into the background, which the Scobos would do.

Here's a little something that' a mix of the two (kinda) It's Java Sticks from Northeastern Tile:
{{!gwi}}
or this from MLW Stone. Kinda like the Falling Water which I love but the colors on the one shown don't seem quite right:
This is Travertine Brushed Brick:
{{!gwi}}

Thank you so much, everyone, for weighing in with your opinions. I am definitely not good at this sort of thing, and have a horrible time picturing how it will all look in the end. It's nice to have other expert advice!

Initially, I was very excited about the travertine. The sample I have is nice, but I am definitely concerned that it might blend in too much with the cabinets and not give that 'wow factor' that I'm hoping for.

I've always been drawn to slate, but as rhome said, I really want the kitchen to have a warm and friendly feeling. I tried to balance the warmth of all of the woods with the coolness of the dark grey Basalt Slate countertops. I guess it would be nice if the backsplash could bring everything together.

Slate usually reads very cool to me. However, I really like the visual interest of the Falling Water pattern, and it seems to have some warm colors. I'm waiting on a sample of the 'Earth' color pictured above, and this one, called 'Prairie'.

{{!gwi}}

Remodelfa, how do you always find the coolest tiles? :) I really like those Java Sticks and the irregular edges. It also has the warmth I'm looking for. Another possibility added to the mix!

So now, how in the world do I choose?

Still like the Earth best. The lighter ones have the same problem as the travertine...Too much like the cabinet color. That would make the counter look heavier.

Now that I look back at the ones I posted I think they are a little too peachy/pink. I kinda like these from Sonoma the Stone series. They come in 1x2 brick joint in addition to a bunch of other sizes. The first is Tanzu Slate and the second Red Sea:

OK.. I see them together before I submit and I think I prefer the Tanzu.

I know this post is 2 years old but just came across it today because I too am interested in putting the slate falling water (earth) in my kitchen but the sample I found had glass(silk) inserts in it. just curious if you ever read this could you post a pic of what your kitchen ended up looking like? I dont know how to post a pic or else i would show you the sample i found.

Hi Shannoncaden. I have been considering the fallin waters with the glass also. Here is a link of it I love! It is a little lighter than the one you are looking at, but you get the general idea. Also, she took out some of the clear/white glass pieces and replaced with dark amber.

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/newelljo/Kitchen/