This happened to me. I came very close to removing my granite, but the thought of doing so to a brand new kitchen made me think twice. It took many months (and one wrong choice that had to be removed) but I did find a backsplash tile that went well with my granite and my cabinets. I guess busy is in the eye of the beholder. It looks to be a uniform pattern. I think a simple tile will pull it all together. Post what the granite is and I am sure many GW members will offer suggestions. Good luck.

I think a small soft grey, uniform glass tile would be breathtaking. The warmth of the granite and wood with be a rich contrast.

I totally agree with Mikomum, I think that would look great and add a cool fctor to it, don't remove it!

It would be hard to make suggestions without a more whole-kitchen picture.

And if she's thinking of removing it, maybe she would be better off just living with it for several months... after all, the last thing she needs is to have a backsplash and a counter to replace.

Or is she more thinking that with the right backsplash, she might find it easier to live with?

What is the granite?

I also am thinking a simple light gray tile would look wonderful. Something to accent the light colors in the granite. If you don't like gray, maybe cream/off white if that's the color in the granite as showing on my monitor. I wouldn't rush to remove the granite-I like it and I've seen much busier granite. The granite and cabinets are smashing together.

I was thinking a metallic tile, like a pewter or stainless steel, may emphasize that aspect of the granite more.
Did she install the granite or was it in place when she bought?
How much does she not like it?
I am afraid if I bought a house with ugly granite, it would have to go. I can put up with a lot, but that is a lot of surface and in your face every day if it is really abhorrent to her. She might do better skipping a backsplash and putting her money into a new counter.
I am almost always looking to salvage or save the old, but maybe she can donate it to the local Habitat for Humanity Restore or greendemolitions.com for a tax write off....and then someone who likes it can give it a good home.

Your friend is wise to be cautious about her backsplash selection. I recently updated my kitchen and found that as I made my choices, I absolutely loved everything I chose. My sink, faucet, island design/aesthetically/functionality, and my granite. Then came the backsplash...I was frozen in apprehension because of the many stories I read everywhere about people who selected the wrong backsplash and what was a very satisfying project had gone terribly wrong.
Please have your friend look at a tile made by Cerumo in their Pietra D' Assisi line in the color Grigio. Have her look at the color Grigio in a rhomboid shaped tile. It looks like stone, but it is actually porcelain which is a very good selection for a backsplash. Then go to metal Focus and look at some tile tacks.
If I knew how I would post my sample, but it is late and I am tired. It took me hours and hours to get a picture to post of my faucet with a portion of my backsplash...I don't have the energy to try to post that now.
All I can say is when people come into my kitchen, they all say "Wow!!! Beautiful!!"

I don't have any specific suggestions but just want to say that I really like the granite.

How accurate are those photos for actual color? Would it serve better to draw out that squash gold or the gray? (Personally, I think there's more than enough of the pinky yellow.) Or introduce an accent that matches the wood? What feeling does the owner prefer: warm colors? cool colors? Are there other colors or patterns in the room that need to be considered? Formal or informal? Budget? DIY or pro install? Access to vendors? Personal preferences for materials?

Has she taken the Sweeby test?

Definitely avoid small mosaic glass tiles unless they're a trim band no more than 3 inches tall and positioned at least 10 inches above the counter and are a good match with the countertop.

srg215's monocolor solution has a lot of wisdom to it, and the tile size is big enough to provide a larger, regular counterpoint (pun intended) to the countertop's irregular pattern. It defuses it, although his/her granite has fewer color tones than this one.

Definitely recommend living with this for a while and perhaps trying out some colors and textures via paint, fabrics, kitchen objects, maybe wallpaper or stencil. Tile backsplashes are generally expensive enough and permanent enough to set this owner up with a second reason for dissatisfaction if she rushes into things.

This is similar to our granite, it looks like---just a little less red. We have what I think are tumbled travertine tiles, and it actually looks quite nice---if it were possible to leave it there while taking the rest of the wall out, we'd have considered it, probably. It mutes the reds in the stone and cabinets a bit, which is a good thing for us.

Here's a not-so-great picture---unfortunately I don't have a better one, but if you look at the big version you can see the stones and granite a bit.

If the cabinets and layout are otherwise fine, I wouldn't remove the granite; it's pretty expensive to do. If it helps, we HATED our granite when we moved in, and just as we get close to finally getting rid of it---it really doesn't bother me that much anymore. Wish her luck!

My guess is the granite is Giallo Fiorito (?)... just a guess. If so, it have orangey tones and brownish charcoal tones. Dependingon the wall/floor colors and colors of surrounding rooms, you could go with gray glass as suggested (more contemporary), tumbled travertine (be careful the tone is right and not too gold), or ceramic/porcelain for a more traditional look and leaning toward to tan colors. Judging from the little tiny piece of cabinet I can see; it looks like a dark cherryish cab with more contemp SS handles. In that case, I'd lean toward the gray glass. Maybe something linear like the Opera glass tile from Artistic. This is the Stilato mosaic in a whiteish color but they have
more gray colors.
{{!gwi}}

Here's what I found for Giallo Feverito, or whatever it's called:

{{!gwi}}

It's all a matter of context. I think it would work fine if some had warm cherry cabs, warm gray tile, and no lights or electricity.

looks like Giallo Vicenza to me.

can you post a larger pic of a larger section of it? and a pic with an overall view of her kitchen?

My friend and I want to thank everyone for your suggestions. I also thought something in gray glass might be good. She plans on looking into the many suggestions. This is for her new house in Florida. I posted the 1 additional pic she has but she's not at the house right now so I don't have a full few. sr215 might be onto something. Thanks so much everyone!

Maybe a stupid idea to try to match a granite she hates, but sometimes when it all comes together, it works somehow. Here is a glass/granite tile that actually might match the granite (this is Desert Gold... it looks similar to your picture....)

Her granite looks like Juperana Florence, which is what I have in my kitchen. I'm sorry she doesn't like it....I love mine, and have had many, many compliments on it. Perhaps if she lives with it for a while she might grow to like it, if not love it???

Here are a couple of photos of my kitchen with the Juperana Florence granite and my back splash. I remodeled my kitchen 5 years ago & cannot remember the tile I used for the back splash...other than it is Italian tile. I thought a gray might deaden the granite ... and that's why I chose the color I did. Maybe this will give your friend some ideas.

Good luck! It's a shame not to love your finished kitchen....

I think the grays would look nice too. However, here is another idea from Island Stone's glass series "Beach" collection. The picture of the shade called "Estuary" is not a good example of the real color but I have seen this tile in person and it's not your average glass, it's more of a tumbled glass and is very understated beautiful. They come in a few sizes, 4x4, 4x8 and some cool trims. They also have some nice grays but they do not show the true color on moniter. It may be worth seeing them in person.
http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/ideas/?action=view&current=md_72_estuary-1.jpg"; target="_blank">

http://www.islandstone.com/products.php?product_id=17&keywords=Beach_Tile&expandable=3

beth4...your ganite and backsplash look lovely together. I think the OP's friend should duplicate your choice if possible. Beautiful kitchen!

KA:)