We have honed crema marfil marble. It's sealed. No staining issues after 2 1/2 years. As others have suggested, with any natural stone tile, you need to overbuy and pick out those that have colors/patterns/inclusions, etc that you don't want to use. If you buy from a big box store, you probably can return it. If it's a special order from a tile store, it's just the cost of doing business with real stone. There can be a lot of variation within the same lot of tile. They should tell you that up front, or it probably will be in the terms/conditions of your order. Inspect and sort the tile when you get it, before you start to install it. Our first experience with stone tile was laying an entryway floor with marble tile. The tile was a sort of beige color with some white veining. DH started laying the tile and when he got to the last 2 boxes (all same lot number), they were all 90% white with a little beige. Luckily, he was able to pull all the tile up and clean it before the thin-set hardened. We were able to go to the tile store's supplier and find enough tile the right color to finish the floor. We knew better when it came to install our backsplash. We bought extra and sorted through it all before starting to put it in. The tiles we thought were less attractive were installed right up under the cabinets where they wouldn't be seen much, and we definitely had some that we didn't want to use. We used the rejects to do grout sample boards. Your backsplash should be fine made with marble subways. Just be sure to seal it.

If you're doing a polished granite counter I think the honed splash looks better. Also, the honed won't show etching from wayward squirts of lemon and other citrus, or tomato sauce splattering as much.

Hi Kateskouros, I think it's a lovely idea as the honed tends to lose some of it's drama of the veining and the backsplash would be a great place to show it off! I think I saw early pics of your slabs and they are beautiful! One thing to think about, our polished countertops have been in now for 5 months and still look fabulous, even have stood up to spills that I thought it wouldn't. Now, we have an etch or two, but they are small and nearly impossible to find. We used a polished marble backsplash tile - Thassos and I put a different sealer on it than is on the counters. Remember, on the backsplash, you can use something that is more durable and not necessarily food safe because you aren't going to prepare your food right on it. The sealer we used sits a bit on the surface, I would not have liked on the counters because it takes away a bit of the glorious marble feel. I don't care on the backsplash a bit and it makes everything wipe off beautifully! As for stains or etching on the backsplash, we don't have either. Good luck! I can't wait to see your end result because so far your selections sound lovely!

Don't discount the fact that the top to your blender might come off while making margaritas. That can get everywhere! (Personal experience.) Or the fact that when you are teaching a youngster how to make a red velvet cake that you forget to tell them one of the first things about using a mixer is that you don't pull it out of the batter with it running. (Also personal experience, and you have no idea how far flung batter can be until you are cleaning it off of the ceiling 15' away from the accident.) Then there's the time my sister didn't really put the espresso maker together correctly and tried to make a pot. Thankfully, that wasn't my kitchen, and no actual bloodshed resulted, but you can bet she'd rather make a run to Starbucks these days than clean up those grounds. And the dent in the underside of the cabinet is still there, but you have to stand on your head to really see it. Then there was the time the cat had an ear abcess and the first I really knew of it (super fuzzy guy) was the blood he had slung all over the kitchen when he shook his head when it burst. Even with him on the floor, yes, it went everywhere and was a bear to clean off of the painted walls. I'd hate to think about a more porous stone with it on it. There was also the mess from the brother in law who cleaned fish in the kitchen.....and the spouse who thought it would be a great idea to use a spray cleaner on a greasy engine part and splattered that black yucky grease everywhere when the cleaner hit it.....and the time that the fruit punch spilled into the cooler, and instead of pouring that outside, a brilliant soul decided to try to pour it down the kitchen sink and splashed it everywhere.......and I could go on and on. I don't think my stories are too atypical of a lot of the wear and tear a kitchen will see over time, and I could never see putting in a surface that wasn't easily cleanable and stain resistant, even if your kitchen's occupants are more thoughtful and well behaved. I couldn't ever be a marble person, anywhere in the home. There's too much life being lived here to have to worry about delicate surfaces.