To the immediately before PP who just posted all the pics - well done. I like all of those - even though the style runs the gamut of modern, traditional and everything in between. The common factor? Neutral color and simplicity! I can't tell you how many kitchens I follow on gardenweb that they're doing a lovely job and then decide they want to bring in some color or interest or character through their backsplash, and suddenly they're adding tumbled stone, or mini glass or a pretty subway that they insist on interspersing with a contrasting border strip. And now their kitchen is hideous. I'm not sure why people feel the need to "bring in character" to their kitchen. most kitchens look nicer with neutral features.

Anonymous wrote:How about a solid slab of whatever you're using for counters? Or something complementary.

for example:





or beadboard or plank?

Anonymous wrote:btw this is the large mosaic backsplash I was talking about. I'm seeing it everywhere in decorator styled places. It's in the new HGTV dream home. http://hookedonhouses.net/2016/04/12/hgtv-smart-home-2016-in-raleigh-north-carolina/

Yikes! That backsplash is too busy!

Anonymous wrote:i love white subway tiles.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:btw this is the large mosaic backsplash I was talking about. I'm seeing it everywhere in decorator styled places. It's in the new HGTV dream home. http://hookedonhouses.net/2016/04/12/hgtv-smart-home-2016-in-raleigh-north-carolina/

I love that!

I hate that. Way too busy and incongruous with the style of the house. Plus it looks dated to me.

You will love it eventually.

That reminds me of the Devil Wears Prada when Anne Hathaway laughs at the fashion and Meryl Streep delivers a pointed rebuke detailing how she picked the exact color of her shirt three years prior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ I hate the above tumbled marble squares. It's very dated and looks 1990- 2000s

no that's timeless, people will be ok with tumbled netural grey it may not be a selling point but it will always be the 'that's ok we don't have to rip that out' , trendy is the glass or mosaics small tiles.

we are buying our first house now, and would definitely want to rip that out.

+1

Those tumbled squares are super dated-looking. I'd rip them out in a heartbeat.

Anonymous wrote:White kitchen are and will always be classic. Fresh and light-filled rooms are nice to prepare and eat in.

Agreed !

Anonymous wrote:I love how people always refer to their own personal kitchen style as "timeless" or "classic." There is no timeless style in kitchen design. There is only what is current and desirable and what is not. Your traditional style white cabinets most definitely look old, just like your neighbors white shaker kitchen cabinets and flat panel cabinets will look old in a few years.

To me, white kitchens always look dated. We tore ours out immediately after moving in. And white subway tiles scream hotel bathroom to me.

Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen white subway tiles a hotel bathroom. Maybe if you go high-end. It's the blah beige travertine that seems to be everywhere in mid-range lines:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ I hate the above tumbled marble squares. It's very dated and looks 1990- 2000s

no that's timeless, people will be ok with tumbled netural grey it may not be a selling point but it will always be the 'that's ok we don't have to rip that out' , trendy is the glass or mosaics small tiles.

we are buying our first house now, and would definitely want to rip that out.

Yep. I hate square tumbled marble more than anything else. I dislike small mosaic and glass tiles a lot too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ I hate the above tumbled marble squares. It's very dated and looks 1990- 2000s

no that's timeless, people will be ok with tumbled netural grey it may not be a selling point but it will always be the 'that's ok we don't have to rip that out' , trendy is the glass or mosaics small tiles.

we are buying our first house now, and would definitely want to rip that out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:btw this is the large mosaic backsplash I was talking about. I'm seeing it everywhere in decorator styled places. It's in the new HGTV dream home. http://hookedonhouses.net/2016/04/12/hgtv-smart-home-2016-in-raleigh-north-carolina/

Wow I really don't like that. Anything you put against it has to be one solid color or it will clash. Even that vase against it is terrible. It's too crazy! And in general I think the textile choices in that dreamhome are terrible! The wallpaper in the guestroom is a travesty!!! You could lose a small child in there!!!

I agree -- yuck! It looks like one of those designer things that few "real people" would ever have in their home.