Plain, cream ceramic subway in a colour pulled from the lighter patches in your Silestone. Anything else would be too busy, in my opinion.

HTH, Petra

I totally agree with petra66. Get "wacky' accessories if you want to "break out of your comfort zone."
Revisit your counter choice if you want a busier backsplash. It is very difficult to pull off both. As I have learned here, the eyes need a place to rest. Select one element that will be the star.

I agree with petra66 and elendi. You've already picked your star. With your cabs dark and counter dark. I would lighten it up with a rich creamy tone.

I think you can do it, but without making the COLOR of the backsplash compete. Pick a nice color BS that harmonizes with your counter, but find it in a nifty substance, or lay, or cut: small hexagons, or shell-shapes tiles, cambered tiles... there are beautiful lozenge-shaped tiles that look like crushed glass... maybe a small herringbone pattern... tons of choices!

Better to have something boring than something that is wrong for you, or even worse, something expensive AND wrong for you. GW can be like a schoolground--loaded language can hurt. So what's wrong with "safe" or "boring" and what's so good about "cutting edge"? And from whose perspective is the judgment coming--from you and your family, your visitors, or strangers on the internet?

These lively stones are hard to work with when seeking "perfect" backsplash--witness all the queries and the angst attached on the GW. Is there a way to pull some of the deep tones into a limited use on the wall and go conservative and happy everywhere else? Perhaps a painted stripe? Perhaps a band of colored tile or stone within a plainer matrix? Perhaps waiting for a while and living with the countertops and the room in perspective of daily use and long views and your mode of usage?

That countertop is not boring and it never will be. It has a strong personality and you have to have some guts to be attached to it. Personally, would be wary of small multicolor mosaics with that stone. As said above, the goal is to be restful not aggressive or demanding. Here's an example of what I mean. The designer/owner tried so very hard and yet...

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thank you so much for your responses, everyone. I am thrilled to hear you say that a simple backsplash is the way to go. Perhaps the photo of the countertop sample is a little misleading - the grain is much smaller than it appears and has a mostly muted affect in a large slab. With that said, it was very reassuring to hear all of your comments. Thanks again for your help!

Well said Florantha!

I think with dark cabinets and a dark counter, you need to have a light OR bright colored backsplash for contrast and to keep the kitchen from looking like a cave. I see two colors in your counter that are vastly different from each other, but may work as a backsplash color. The first is a safe option, which is the cream color. The second is a orange-yellow that surrounds some of the brown rock chips. THAT color would be bold and bright, but it isn't for everyone. When you shop for clothes, do you tend to buy cooler colors or warmer colors, like red, yellow, and orange? That may help you decide.
If it were me, I'd pick the cream... but definitely do NOT use my opinion, because I'd probably pick cream every time for any backsplash, because that's what I've chosen for my own!! :oD
Another idea may be to use the cream for most of the backsplash, and use a different color, perhaps the orange-yellow, as an accent tile.

Florantha, thanks! A pix is definitely worth a thousand words in this case.

yes, florantha, your photo really hits home. it only takes one look at the photo to burn that idea into your brain. i really want the place to feel serene. its very large and bright and open; i think the cream is my best bet. does anyone have a suggestion for tile texture? i'm not a fan of glossy tiles (esp with the glossy counters)... thanks again, everyone.

Check out Daltile's Rittenhouse Square line. They offer some choices in matte finishes.

Or, I've seen porcelain tile that is done in a linen look. It's a tone on tone subtle pattern that is really pretty. It can give the look of texture without screaming it.

I saw them laid as a floor on I Hate My Kitchen on HGTV, so I don't really know what the name/make is or even the name of the show. Check out their site. I think the kitchen was a country style.

DH and I've been working hard on our kitchen into the wee hours, so my brain isn't fully firing right now. In fact, I'm supposed to be painting right now. Just taking a wee break.

I vote for simple also....plain as this is, hardly a person walks in this kitchen without commenting on the tile.

Walker Zanger Alhambra Beveled Brick - 3 x 6, hand made, very individual, lots of variation, red clay body - other pieces, sizes, colors also.

Great granite.......

I love the WZ Ceramica Alhambra tiles in your kitchen lv_r_golden. We have them in our kitchen too, but in unbeveled colored 2x6. Maxiepines, you may want to look into them if you're not a fan of glossy. They have a slight hint of gloss, but are basically a varied and matte-like finish.

Ours are Seneca Quarry Satin in "Lambswool." They are handmade tiles with a matte finish and just a bit of variation. We've been very happy with them, and I think they'd look nice with that Silestone.

With that counter, I think that basically any medium to light color pulled from it would work. My first thought was a light copper, but that may be strong with your dark cabs. You might even consider a light gray... What is your flooring? Can you post sample tiles with a sample of the counter?

wow, lv_r_golden, i think i'm in love... those WZ brick tiles are gorgeous!! i've been up to my eyeballs with sinks, faucets, the cooktop, and visiting family, so the backsplash has been ignored for a while. i will definitely look into the WZ tiles, although i'm afraid that they may be out of our league. any chance that there is a knock-off version somewhere out there? ;) thanks, again, everyone, for your suggestions.

I'm just wondering if this thread is satire.

nope, i really am a boring decorator. i'm just looking for direction in finding a backsplash that isn't a snooze, but still feels right to me. sorry if you thought i was mocking people interested in design and decorating; i'm actually just asking for their help!

Can you go to a tile store with some of these suggestions and get some samples now? Take some pics and post them. You'll know if you're on the right track based on the feedback.

Oh, maxie, the satire comment had nothing to do with you.

I suggest while you're at the tile store you also bring home some samples that aren't creamy white subways. I promise you, you can actually put these samples in your kitchen and photograph them with no danger of courting clinical depression or financial disaster. They won't hurt you, and you don't have to use them if you don't like them. Bring a sample of your counter with you and ask the sales people for help.

Absolutely! Set the box aside and really explore the possibilities.

One thing, a kitchen with a strongly contrasting band of bright "cream/whatever" slicing between large dark surfaces is going to be a very different one from a kitchen with a darker, richer harmonizing combination. Gorgeous as the pictures posted are, don't choose your tile before you choose your look.

BTW, if you need more than natural light in a kitchen, don't expect to get much third-hand from whatever some tile will bounce back. Plan on needing to turn on your lights in any case.

One thing, a kitchen with a strongly contrasting band of bright "cream/whatever" slicing between large dark surfaces is going to be a very different one from a kitchen with a darker, richer harmonizing combination.

Bingo. High contrast can be great. It is also not neutral, not safe, and no guarantee of lifelong enjoyment, prosperity, familial peace or fitting into a swimsuit. It can look nice, different, odd or bad.

Those W-Z creamy tiles are beautiful. Just out of curiosity, what do those run per sq. ft.? Thanks.