Maybe some sort of stainless/tin backsplash? I think stainless or brass color would be very cool, reflect light and the material, I think, is thin.
I am, by no means, an expert tho. :)

I love the color of your dark cabs. Very pretty.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Tin Ceilings

First, you must be a real sport to have continued to live with the plywood for all this time, but backsplashes are so hard, because of their permanence and the fact that once they're in you can't change their color.
I have no idea what your color taste is, but I think a light bright color would add balance and calm to your kitchen. Since you have that very dark rich red cabinetry, I would look for a light neutral, white, cream or grey. However, if it were my own kitchen, I'd be putting in a nice soft green. It seems that you like the plain porcelain accents, so perhaps something akin to white subway tile might suit you. What have you considered so far?

like debsan, i'm a "green" fan.....but i do think light would be great with those beautiful cabinets....i'll post my backsplash which is white and green and i think i could see it in your kitchen.....it does come in different colors which you might want to check out to coordinate with your floor.....

anyway, great job so far....i love the cabinets!!!!

also, this was my inspiration pic for my hood......i love the mini brick marble backsplash which i could also see in your kitchen....good luck!!!! the backsplash was one of my favorite decisions in my kitchen!!!!

http://www.myhomeideas.com/myhome/designasst/result/enlarge/0,29703,1145657,00.html

Here is a link that might be useful: mini brick backsplash

I think sewanhakagirl's kitchen backsplash would look fabulous. I don't know how to link the picture. She used ann sacks metro tile. you will have to do a search to find it unless someone elso would be kind enough to post the link.

Thanks for the feedback. You're right debsan, I do like the white porcelain accents and have been trying to tie that in. And gglks, my first choice was a calacatta gold marble mini-brick. My first hesitation with that was the natural movement of the marble and secondly, i realized the grout lines of a brick or subway tile would prove to be too much for small space. Oddly, I'm still leaning toward a small tile and this is the one I've got on the brain....

I see glass tiles with your kitchen (and not because I'm partial to glass tiles! LOL).

i think you would be suprised that the smaller tiles with more grout lines won't bother you. you have a small area, so i think the smaller tiles compliment it......your choice looks great!

Another option that doesn't have very noticeable grout lines might be a mosaic.

Something like this:

Here is a link that might be useful: Honey onyx mosaic - rectified

I thought of small glass tiles right away. I think they work with a contempary kitchen as well as a traditional one. Here is one of my favorites.
href="http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn109/mbstoffregen/?action
The site will not let me post the picture but you can check out my clippings I saved it.

I'm not going to help at all, but I did want to say how much I appreciate you going against the normal "can't-do-dark-in-small-kitchens" and providing a lovely example of why you certainly CAN do dark cabinets in a small kitchen.

It's really gorgeous, plywood and all!

Thank you, thank you for all the feedback. Marybeth1...thanks for the photo. It really helps me visualize the small tiles, and I'm happily surprised they don't look busy to me!!

I spent some time at American Tin Ceilings, also, and I've bookmarked some of the white bisque.

I also checked out the Ann Sacks metro tile, which I LOVE, but I'm not sure I can make work in these surroundings.

And gglks....did I mention your kitchen is beautiful? That's my kind of kitchen. It's funny that I'm a white kitchen gal, who chose dark cabs. Well, I guess I'm also a Hugh Jackman kinda gal, too...and well, you know how that goes!!

Thanks again for the great input. Makes me feel warm all over!!

I think something like this:

But more in a pattern like this which would minimize the grout issue:...couldn't imbed so see link below. It's from interstyle ceramic

They have a set up where you can play with colors and create your own pattern if you wanted to mix in some "bling" color on the littler tiles (1x1) in the pattern.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile link

oooh...remodelfla...that's gorgeous....i'm going to see what I might be able to do with that....perfect color...thanks to you and everyone else

My first thought was something light, but you could also do something like Jodi's Fire 'n Ice

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: Jodi's kitchen

Remodlelfla, I have now cut and pasted that backsplash twice! I think I need to have it. I looked all around the Interstyle site and I can't find that pic. Do you know anything more about that pattern....like is it available on mesh or is it a combo of loose tiles?

Nice kitchen, winkwink! Here's mine...

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I think you have many options thanks to your relatively calm counter top choice. I used something busier (Icestone in Sage Pearl) and I am struggling with how busy I can go with the backsplash...I feel like I can't. Have you looked at Oceanside Glasstile? They have some really gorgeous blends in the 1x1 and 5/8x5/8 sizes. I think either would work for you.

I would do a blend of white-ish and whatever color you like....blue or green or amber maybe to play nice with the floor tile. I used Beach Blonde in my last kitchen and it just made my heart sing. (Sorry....I really did love it!) I am kind of afraid to get too busy again....think I need all one color probably.

Anyway, here's a pic of the OGT Beach Blonde:

Part of my problem is that there are very few tile stores where I live now. How 'bout you?

Here is a link that might be useful: OGT....yummy mixes!

...that link didn't work the way I wanted it to.

When you get to the OGT site, click on the following:

Products
By Type
Mosaic Blends
Tessera

amy... it's from their large format link and within that it is the Tempo link. I think the pattern is the Scapes one which I believe comes mesh and ready to go. I'm not sure on that last comment.

Thanks Remodel. I'm not sure if it is the Scapes pattern, but that might work, too. I guess I just have to get myself to a dealer and see what I can see. I am trying to zip up my backsplash without going overboard. Maybe monochrome with a fabulous pattern is the answer for me....

FWIW, winkwink, your choice would look great in your kitchen. They would reflect light and make those dark cabinets richer looking than they already are with just the plywood.
gglks-I still love your backsplash.