I failed to add...

1) Grout will play a critical role in defining the pattern
2) I am open to any other recommendations for tile, layout, etc.

LOVE that tile! You know, your kitchen has turned out so much better than the inspiration pic on that magazine cover.

Anyway, I like the 3rd one. To my eye, the darker palette seems to tie into the neat dark accents on your uppers. Not sure I love it all around the window, though. But IRL it could be great. Hard to tell on computer monitors.

Oh, wow. This is hard!

I really like how the pattern of the first one looks with not a lot of contrast between the 2, and the darker in the centers, rather than the petal shapes... but really miss the connection that the dark stone in the other 2 choices have with the cherry.

The 2nd one, which I like best close-up, looks like gingham in the mockup, so I'm not as much of a fan. It has almost a country flavor, but I'm not sure it would look at all like that in person. The dark dots, though, connect with the cherry trim nicely, and let it stand out.

I was sure, just looking at the tile for #3, that it would be too dark, and the contrast would make it too busy... But the mock-up isn't either dark nor too busy for me, and I like it. Maybe it doesn't let the cherry trim stand out as much. But I think, in the end, it's rich and elegant, and it's my favorite.

I can't really see the counter to dbl check how it would look when standing in the room.

I think #3 is too bold and dominating for the space. I think that I prefer #1-- you get the pattern, but it is an accent, not the primary thing you look at.

Here's the granite. Thanks for the reminder Rhome!

Kashmir Creme

#1 is kind of boring and bathroomy. I also saw gingham in #2. I love #3.

Love them all! The grout will make or break the tile!

I have that same tile in the honey onyx version. I think I like your #2 best.

@grlwprls - You have the honey onyx version?!?!?! Would you please post a picture?

Thanks much!

I like #2 best. #3 is just way too much, it's all you see in the whole kitchen, and I agree with the previous poster that #1 looks kind of bathroomy.

Do you have to take it up around the window and to the ceiling? I think that's part of the issue with none of them being quite perfect (IMHO). I'd recommend looking at mockups of each tile finished just to standard backsplash level with paint around the window. I just don't think this pattern carries up to the ceiling well, but I do think it's lovely at backsplash level.

Thanks everyone for the postings! Where to stop the tile is undecided at this point.

I really like the third one. I usually go for less contrasty backsplashes, but I think I like the contrast against the pale uppers and the nod to the darker lower cabs. I love your granite, BTW, very pretty!

3 then 1. I think 2 has too much contrast within the small pattern and I also see the gingham mentioned above.

If the tile stopped at window level then I'd choose #3 in a heartbeat. I just tried covering the window part with my hand, and when I do that #3 looks a lot better than #2 I think.

I love the cherry accent on your white uppers, it is one of my favorite parts of your kitchen. With #3 backsplash, I feel that lovely detail is lost/overwhelmed. I vote for #1 which ties it all together without clamoring.

I think #3 looks the best. To me, it makes your gorgeous cabinets stand out more than the other two do. The tile and the cabinets are both show stealers and they have to share the lead roll. #3 keeps the two elements balanced.
I usually like tile going up and over windows but in you kitchen it might be too much of a good thing. Maybe you could mock it up just going to the level of the bottom of upper cabinets on the window wall. I would still carry the tile up to the bottom of the hood.
Can't wait to see how it turns out.

I like # 3 as well. Very striking and I think it anchors the wide, open space you have.

Am I the only one who liked 1 the best?? It seems the most neutral and in the same tone as the cabinets, as opposed to competing with them.

Love your kitchen! Gorgeous! I drool over the space and appliances.

It's hard to pick as they could all work. I lean towards the first one, as it is interesting but still lets your cabinet details shine and stand out.

#2 is lovely but is making me a bit cross-eyed. I don't like #3 close-up and it makes it hard for me to pick out the details of your space...

#3. #1 is too boring, #2 does look gingham.

But I don't think you can do the whole wall with any of them - way too much/busy/dark and detracts from your beautiful cabinets. I think doing something like this with #3 is your best bet (can never remember whose GW kitchen this is!! sorry!)

If you don't go all the way up and around the window, I'd consider going up a little higher than the bottom of the upper cabinets, like 6 or 8" higher..wherever it seems graceful and balanced. Makes it more of a design decision than "just stopped with the cabinets." JMO

#1 - ok - just ok
#2 - funny, but the first thing I also saw and thought of was gingham
#3 - reminds me a little countrysh look

The first thing I noticed was how #3 gives the space a cohesive look with your very dark dining room furniture. Also, your white dishes in the glass cabinets don't fade away like they do with the lighter color backsplashes. I think it's a perfect balance! I love your lights too!

What's the name of the tile?

I should have said "I have the honey onyx in boxes waiting to be installed". Oddly, it was my husband who pushed for it. I love wallpaper, so I'm hoping this will give me the graphic punch I want. I'm tiling behind the range to the ceiling - about 54 sq ft - and down to the (future) Witch Hazel Corian.

My vote is definitely #3.

I like #3.

#3 seems the most interesting.

Thanks again to OldBat2Be! Here are pics with the tile at different heights.

You're most welcome, motherof3sons. I keep forgetting to ask, what color is the island and how does that play into your choices?

The island is the same color as the uppers with a walnut top. Any of the tile enhance the island.

If I were standing at the range looking at the tile three feet from my face, I'd pick 1 or 2. From farther back, I'd pick 3 or 1, probably in that order. I don't think #3 is that much to look at up close, based on your pictures of the tile unmounted.
#2 looks blurry and makes me dizzy in every picture of it mounted.

I felt a sigh of relief when I saw the pictures of the tile not going all the way up the wall. It's a pretty tile, but it needs small doses or I feel dizzy looking at it. I really appreciated the breathing space of gentle color around the top of the window.

What if you stopped the tile at the same height as the muntin of the windows? I'm not sure if that's exactly the right term, but I think that would make the most cohesive horizontal line and cause the least eye jumping.

Beautiful kitchen! Love your mix of cream and wood. : )

Not sure which tile I'd pick, other than to toss #2 out of the running. I too am getting the dizzying gingham feel from it on my screen.

I vote for #3 to the height of the upper cabinet bottoms as a first choice or # 3 to the height of the horizontal divider in the windows as a second choice. Either will look great. You definitely don't need to go above the window with the tile.

I actually like #2 best now that I see them all, and after I've gone back to look at the closeup of #3 at the range wall. I don't think the colors of #3 are flattering to your cabinets up close (tho from farther away it looks okay).

This one is my favorite, and yes it's a bit blurry but I'm just voting based on the colors and I think it will look fabulous in real life where the floral pattern will show more clearly:

Still #3 kept lower as per the second pic. That looks beautiful!

3... Three.... iii...

these are great! love your kitch!
I like all of the tile. seems like option 1 & 2 go best with the granite. I do love how 3 has a bold pattern. I am a big fan of tile to ceiling...but in this case the gorgeous window is not quite centered in the space so i would do the 3 quarter way up. good luck!

I like the tile height that is closest to the bottom of the cabinets and I like tile 1 the best in these renditions. I think that tile 2 will look a lot different depending on the grout choice, probably less gingham and more subtle which would look nice too. Any choice you make will look nice, your kitchen is very unique and lovely!

Tile #3, with height to bottom of the cabinets. It really makes a statement. I like it A LOT!

What Deedles said (at 4:12). Love 3. To me it underscores your bold move in mixing dark and light on the uppers and the island.

The low one seems like it's just hanging on by a thread, and needs a bit more. I would go a row or two higher with the lower option (choosing exactly how much by how much of the pattern you wanted there and where is the 'right place' to end it)... Close to halfway between the bottom of the cabinet and the first shelf. If it lined up with the shelf and the muntin, I feel like that would be too much matching lines of things that shouldn't be connected.

The higher one seems too much and fights with the balance of your window design. Again, JMO.

Thank you all so much for the comments. I am planning to do some tile boards and play with grout colors. Still so on the fence!

I definitely think you should NOT go above the window. I like all three tiles, but I noticed when you showed the different heights, your beautiful window trim jumped out at me, and the paint above will be a nice complement to the tile below. Much softer on the eye while still giving a fabulous effect. I'd go a little higher than the bottom of the cabinet, but not too much.... actually, reading above.... what Rhome said!

I should just start out by always saying "what Rhome said" :)

#2 with the lower profile - the other looks like it is swallowing your beautiful kitchen!

I like three. I iked 1 at first, then kept comparing...def three it is!