I found a new tile that I think will work much better color-wise and did some new photoshops. I would love your feedback! (And I would still love to see any of your photos, too!)

Many of you said on my earlier post that you prefered subway tiles without any border--at least in my busy kitchen, (which is open to both the dining room on one side and the family room on the other) and that reassured me that it might not be too plain without one and that should be a serious consideration. I wish I had an area for a pretty feature behind the range, but that is where we knocked down the wall! I was hoping to see pictures of some of YOUR ceramic subway tile backsplashes with borders, but no one posted any (only with 4 x 4's and stone subway tile with borders)--Should that tell me something?

One reason for a border down low is to be able to carry it around under the snack bar behind the range and avoid having a cut tile there.

The tile I am showing in the photoshops below is by Grazia--their 2.5" x 5" subway in their "landscape" series in the "seashore" color(very soft sandy,golden undertones) It has a satin finish with very subtle variations in shading and a "handmade" look.

I originally thought I wanted a glossy crackle in some sort of off-white, but it seems like you can only find white or bone/bisque, which just don't seem to do anything for my kitchen. (Maybe that is why I wanted some sort of border because the color was so "not special" ?)

Here are the photos: please give me your opinion (we may have to sell soon, too, so I am looking for something with mass appeal, as well as something I love in case we can stay!) I love simple, "casual" traditional styles (not fussy)that are classic and timeless.

My cabinets: 10 years old honey-spice maple
My Counter: 2 year old "harvest cream" granite (lots of cream and pale gold and gray streaks)
My Floor:oak hardwood soon to be refinished in a darker "gunstock"

Here is a recent photo from family room (the seashore tiles are on the counter bythe sliding glass door)The photo is reading darker than it really is for some reason(I tried to fix it, but it made it "grainy")

Here is the view from the dining room toward the family room Sorry the lighting is so bad--it shouldn't be so "yellowy"

1. Here is the photoshop of the "plain" "seashore" subway tile without any border

2.Here is a photoshop with a simple pencil border:

3. Here is just a row of mosaic tile (tile is really clearish with subtle variations of gold/sand colored specs throughout), but I am not sold on this particular mosaic

4. Here is a simple pencil border with a mosaic tile (Remember: Mosaic tile can be changed, just happened to have these)

5..Here is a "dot" liner they make with the mosaic tile

6.. Here is just their dot liner:

7.. Here is their "dot liner" in a slightly darker shade called "desert"

8.. Here is the dot liner and bottom row of tile in the darker shade (I tried to approx. shade of tile--it is much nicer in real life and looks lovely with my cabs)

9. Here is the Horus cristalli "biscuit" subway tile that was my previous first choice, however, this color is a bit truer than my other photoshops from the earlier post. What do you all think? Would you agree that the "seashore" works better with my kitchen, or do you prefer something like this?

thanks for your opinion in advance, and thanks for looking!

Chloe8 asked for more info about what I was planning behind the range: the wall is about 4 3/4" from the counter to the underside of the snack bar overhang. Since there isn't enough height to have two complete rows of tile, I thought it would be ideal if I had one row of tile and then some sort of border (either a trim piece, mosaics or both)that would fit under there and then continue around the entire room for unity. I agree that it would probably be better proportioned to have a border or trim on top of a taller 3 x 6 subway tile or a 4 x 4, than directly above these smaller 2.5" x 4" tiles. However, I do love the size of these slightly smaller subway tiles in general--they seem to have a more "brick-like" shape, which I like, and it seems to relate to the brick fireplace in the family room nicely,imho.

If I run the 1" dot or pencil liner right above the first row of tile, I would be left with about a 3/4" piece of cut tile directly under the snack bar overhang (which wouldn't show up too much, as it is hard to see under the overhang as much.)They do make some fancy 2" decorative border/liners, but when I photoshopped them in they didn't look right sitting right over a 2.5" tile--it REALLY looked too low then!

Thanks again. I'd love more feedback, and to see photos of your subway backsplashes with or without borders.

Anyway---I got to page 47 or so on HOUZZ, and out of all those pics, saw only 3 or 4 subway tile backsplashes with any kind of a border or trim, other than a feature behind a range. And I only liked one of those with a border (and that kitchen was very different from mine --it had white cabinets, white tile, modern/retro vibe --so there is no comparision).

And now, after all your feedback and looking at all those "plain", unadorned subway tile backsplashes, I now am strongly leaning toward just subway tiles without any border. I saw so many beautiful kitchens in all styles that looked gorgeous with just a simple unembellished subway tile (of all kinds) backsplash. Some didn't even do a "feature" behind a large range, and it didn't look too plain. Of course, I believe that all the photos on HOUZZ are of kitchens designed by pros. I noticed that many of these beautiful kitchens, even traditional style ones, didn't even embellish the area behind the range, but left the tiles "plain". I guess less can be more! Perhaps the key is in using gogeous tiles in a color and style that truly enhance the rest of the kitchen.

Babushka_cat--I was doing a search on grazia tiles to look for images and came across your gorgeous backsplash photos again. CKGM has the same tile, too, I know. No one carries that particular line of Grazia around here, though, so I haven't seen it in person. It is probably too busy for my granite,(what do you think?) but I LOVE how it looks in your kitchen! You said the name was misleading;just curious---how would you describe the color--is it like a soft caramel or peachy gold? I'm half tempted to buy a sample from the Tile Shop if they'd sell me one and ship it, (I like to leave no stone unturned--drives my hubby crazy.) I like so much of the Grazia tiles I have seen--(I love RIXI, but none of the colors worked for me.) Do yu think it would go with my granite & cabs? Thanks.

AND I have decided to just go with the plain subway tiles without any border. Now I see the wisdom of it, esp. as my kitchen is open to other rooms on two sides--there really is a lot going on in a small area. And you all helped me to see that it wouldn't look too plain to others if we had to resell. It will also save me money, and probably help the resale value should we need to sell. And, more importantly--I have decided that I like it better plain, too! (I think I had got stuck on the idea of having one because I had seen one on a HGTV makeover that used plain white subways with a border that I liked, but it was a very different kitchen.)

I read somewhere that it is the "decos" that usually make a kitchen backsplash look dated when they go out of style, rather than the field tiles, which, in most kitchens, are usually pretty basic. So I guess it is a win-win idea all around to go "plain".

motherof3sons: Thanks--My hardware was inexpensive Amerock (about $2.00 a piece online!), but it sure does look like the more expensive Top Knobs (though I am sure they are probably a better quality overall.) Do you have trouble with them turning a bit and getting out of line? My do, but I had to use different screws than came with the knobs (not long enough). However, I think I can see why most knobs are round---they never get knocked out of alignment!!!

Now the next question for you all: what color grout should I use? White? Should I go sanded or unsanded? Which type is the easist to keep clean?

Thanks again.

I would not go white with the grout. I'd go the color of the tile or barely darker, so it looks like what you've mocked up. It's great!