Sometimes the best way to deal with busy is with busy.

Would you consider doing slab of the same granite on the backsplash? Or maybe interspersing tiles of the granite with the glass?

Or how about some more patterned glass? It might compete a lot less than the simple.

Not sure about the color on these, but I love Lunada Bay glass tiles. The texture might compete a lot less than the plain!

Hikari
{{!gwi}}

Fossil:
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}

Sumi-e large brick:
{{!gwi}}

If the counter has a lot of movement, I would go for a simple backsplash -- solid color in a simple pattern. The main reason is you don't want to distract from the counter top. I do like the idea of carrying it up the side as well, provided your cabinets are fairly neutral in wood grain.

Do you have a picture of the granite?

I don't have a picture since I am technologically challenged, but it has a lot of grayish taupe, black, rust and great movement. I have very simple cherry cabinets which look contemporary. I know that the 6 inch granite back splash is dated, but it seems that unless I bring the granite up the back, it gets lost. I found a very nice plain subway tile that I think will work. I'm still uncertain whether to put the granite on the back of my stove to the bottom of the hood and not use any tile (keep the back of the counter 6 inches with the wall above) or put the plain subway tile above the 6 inch back splash and then the plain tile above the stove to the bottom of the hood.. Have you seen this done anywhere?

Chris - I had a similar problem. I started with my counter top, and everything else was designed around it. As you can see in the pictures, my counter top has lots of stuff going on. When it came time for the backsplash, I wanted something that looked good on its own, complimented the counter top and was not a distraction. I was drawn to stone, and travertine seemed to be what I liked best, but no travertine 4'' x 4'' tile I found clicked. I ended up using 12'' x 12'' filled and honed travertine tiles that were the perfect color, texture and movement, and I had my granite installer cut them to 4'' by 4'' tiles (if I wanted subways, that would have been easier to cut something like 4'' x 12'' tiles). This doubled the price of the tile, but travertine is a lot less expensive than some of the more exotic ceramic tiles I was looking at.

And here is the tile (excuse the range glamour shot - I still don't have any really good backsplash glamour shots)

Anyway, just something to consider.

Jon

I would consider an Oceanside beach glass in one of the subtle greens that does not compete with the beautiful granite. EIther subway or squares. Frosted barely green tile would really be an exclamation point on granite.

I think a solid tone in either glass or ceramic, chosen to pick up a color in the stone, would do your stone justice.
The shape and layout matter less than picking up one of the colors and coordinating the 2 materials rather than have them competing.
You could also consider some sheet stainless steel or glass.
The 6" bs might be a good way to show your stone off more but then do one of the above over the stove.
In any case, I'd try to keep whatever you do above the counter monochromatic. The more toned down that is, the more it contrasts with the beauty of the variation in your stone. I'd keep that in mind when choosing paint for the walls too.

Maybe glass over a painted wall like this ArtTherapy blog
It is simple and pretty

You mentioned adding granite to the backsplash. That could
be truly pretty.

This is from Trinity Distinctive Designs backsplash

Pllog is right
"Sometimes the best way to deal with busy is more busy"

Solarius Granite by ICon

Marinace Green by Dimensional Stone Co.

Again Busy with Busy........... It can be gorgeous

I have Bianco Antico, and I struggled with this same thing. What I think would look good with it usually just tried to steal your attention away from the BA. There were some tiles from Mandala (The Sinu Collection) that really worked with my granite. In fact srg215 ended up using them in her kitchen. Check them out, there is something special in them, maybe get them in a larger format so as to minimize the grout lines, which can add to the busy look.

I ended up going with tile that I won in a contest. A GW member showed me the tile, and then I saw that there was a contest to win it. So I entered. It ended up being the absolute perfect thing for my kitchen and granite. Even though it is "just a white tile", the pattern and dimension of it is what makes it special enough to stand on its own and not really steal attention from my counters.

Sorry to post this yet again.

Thank you all for your responses!I thought I was the only one who had granite that was difficult. Your back splashes are amazing!! I really love the plain glass, but I checked into it and it was really expensive!!!!

I guess I might go with the 6 inch granite and then fill in above it with a subway, matte, tile that is similar in tone with the granite. I am still thinking that maybe I should keep the walls blank above the 6 inch backsplash and bring the granite up over the stove to the bottom of the hood. Questions about bringing backsplash up behind stove:

1. Is that really outdated? Most of the homes I've seen that with are older homes, but it looks beautiful.
   2) If you have done that do you miss not having the stone go up to the bottom of the cabinets.?
   3) Is it too much!! (my home is simple and unfussy).

Devil's advocate here...

Here is a link that might be useful: disquieting backsplashes

Hello chriskakev,
There must be some tile shops that have in-house designers that can help you pick something?

That's what I plan on doing, my KD recommended a few places that offer that and are resonably priced.
I know you said the glass tiles were expensive, perhaps you can do a few random pieces, or just a border?
Can you check out Yelp to hopefully find a place by you?
Your granite sounds beautiful! I'm sure whatever you pick will be beautiful!