I just posted my box out behind my stove. It includes my inspiration photos and then my actual box out. It is done with white subway tile and marble herringbone tiles. It has a marble shelf. Here is the link: Scroll down a bit to see it. Here is a link that might be useful: Box out Behind Stove

I have honed calacatta gold 4"x4" as a backsplash in my heavily working kitchen, and it's fine. Just don't be a slob, and don't fear everyday use and the minimal effects it has on the stone. If you search, you should be able to find my kitchen remodel on GW with pictures for reference. Good luck, and don't be afraid.

I think that a gorgeous stone with some movement can look like artwork when used as a full height backsplash. It becomes the center stage of the whole look. That can be especially important with cabinets that don't have a lot of detail to them, like shaker or slab. Sometimes a gorgeous color can be that lynchpin, like doing a dramatic grey paint. Sometimes, it's a highly figured wood, like zebrawood or bamboo. And sometimes it's a gorgeous piece of stone that becomes the "oooh" statement. You'd have to extensively alter your sink base cabinet to do a farm sink. I'd just do a plain large bowl undermount sink. Stainless would be fine. Or a cast iron or silgrante in a color like the chocolate brown that we used in the kitchen above.

@nicoletouk Thank you! Those examples are lovely - I hadn't thought of cream but that second kitchen is making me think I should look into it. And I had never heard of Samplize. @Michelle K @Susan L I actually think I kind of like the brown? We went with it because it was a really nice line of stoves we would never have been able to afford at full price, but I think I can make it work nicely with the right color combos - and I feel that the brown actually flows in our house where we have a lot of dark original woodwork. . There are no parts to change the color, but I also don't think it's pulling me away from other things that I want necessarily. It did force a choice on the dark countertops, but I'm pro light counter as well. @latifolia Thanks for the feedback! You're right on the paint. I guess I'm not sure whether the finish on FB is actually worth the price tag - I know they have better color depth than most other paint lines, but I've heard good things about the cabinet paint that Valspar and BM sell. And I'm avoiding granite because I honestly just dislike the look - I've never really met a granite that didn't look busy in a way I find distracting. Additionally, our house is historic and has all of the original woodwork, windows, etc - we are trying to reno this kitchen redone in the 90s to better fit with the house's age and character, and to me that means using a natural stone like marble or soapstone.