A back painted glass slab would look great on the wall. Easy to clean and you can use under cabinet lights to enhance it. Another option is large format tile. Here is an example of the tile I would use from Porcelanosa (Crystal is the name of the tile). What other colors are going into the room? What colors are the walls going to be etc?

I would love to see a slab of nice marble in those places. Betcha it'd be cheaper than having tile installed too, but that's not the reason. You have so much sleek goodness, I would not want to break it up with tile.

Painted glass would also be good, but I like that a classic marble gives you some veins. Also check the other marbles. Maybe calacatta gold or something with the tan veins to go with the floor?

I'd stick with cabinet material for the under counter area. What is your back splash budget in $/SF?

Carrara marble is generally pretty grey - the background color is grey. Calacatta gold has a whiter background but then there's the gold...I prefer large format tile to a slab backsplash, but it's really about what you like. To me the slabs are overwhelming statements, and the look will be dated, I think, much like the "Tuscan" kitchens of the late '80s.

It's only about 32 sq ft, and I'd like to spend less than $1k on it installed. Math: $1,000/32sf=$31.25/sf

Less than $1000 installed. Last I checked my tile guy charges $25 sq. ft. for labor.

"My contractor in Miami is closer to $4-6/sf"

Your "contractor" is an illegal alien. Do the math.

No insurance, no license, and not equipped to deal with a high level install isn't ever a wise investment. Backsplashes cost about5x ''per square foot'' as floors. For a reason. Small job previous that still eats up two half days. Minimum $1200. Something fancy, double it.

May, $25/SF for labor is on the high side for Cleveland, my town, and costal CT, my last town. I can't remember where you are. Here a licensed contractor will run you about $15/SF. Carrara 3" X 6" subway tiles are less than $8/SF.

You can still have a great bs for that space, especially if you want Carrara marble tiles (relatively inexpensive). Even a herringbone layout (relatively time consuming). You have a rectangle with only two interruptions (outlets). That's half a day to lay the tile, half to grout, and that's pretty generous. Even so, it's very important to have a good contractor who has invested in the proper equipment (wet saws, diamond blades) and knows what he's doing (i.e. how to edge that tile at the end of your wall...Schluter edge? Bullnose?). You have a nice, smooth, easy wall there. If someone screws it up, the job starts increasing in cost exponentially.

Seriously? I paid $40/sf to have my backsplash installed (Fireclay, 2 x 4 crackle, 22 square feet, about $900 to install) and that was the LEAST expensive bid I got. Most were double that. (P.S. My guy did a stellar install). (Now you know why I have such a philosophical objection to the cost of living around here - and don't plan to stay once I retire)

Sj, where are you?

May, $25/SF for labor is on the high side for Cleveland, my town, and costal CT, my last town. I can't remember where you are. Here a licensed contractor will run you about $15/SF. Carrara 3" X 6" subway tiles are less than $8/SF.

Eam he's in Miami which is a very high priced area. I know here in FL on the opposite coast, I'd be paying at least $20-$25 a square foot and Miami is higher priced than our area.

Everyone, I'm really not concerned with pricing. I'm just looking for some design advice. I'm around the industry all day and get most things at wholesale cost.

Well then you should check out images of kitchens with white cabinets and white Quartz counters, collect a few that you find beautiful, and figure out which design elements in the bs speak to you. You have the dream set up for an amazing bs - a totally plain white background, and an unlimited budget.

For me the missing element in your lovely space is color, so I would look at something powerful, like OB2b's brown tiles, or this lovely Mexican tile mosaic from Tierra y Fuego. Below that are large format marble hex tiles, arguably neutral, but they pack a punch. Beneath that you have glass pennyrounds, very modern, totally cool. Clearly, you will not pick any of these, but they may open your mind to some colorful options.

Here's what it looks like installed

Love those colorful tiles!

eam, I'm in downtown San Francisco.

Eam- I've seen you post those glass penny rounds before and each time they make my heart flutter a bit. I think I need to consider those more seriously for my own kitchen. Can you share the manufacturer and style info?

Sj, my sister lived in the Marina near the palace of fine arts. I love that city, but it's much more expensive than even La Jolla, where I was living at the time. Now we are both back in CLE, and there are great things about living in an affordable city. Stil, it's no SF. Or LJ for that matter.

Benjesbride, I'm glad you like them! The manufacturer is Zumi Glass Tile and I've only seen them online, not in person, but I think they're lovely. This color pattern is called soirée. You can check them out on the Complete Tile website, where you can order a sample and let us all know what they're like in real life!

I would look into thin porcelain sheet. They now make sheets of porcelain that look exactly like natural stone, but it's thin. They use it in shower surrounds, but they can also fabricate into countertops. I think it would look spectacular as a full wall in your kitchen. It is really amazing stuff...only way I could tell it wasn't natural stone was by looking at the edge and seeing it doesn't go all the way through. No idea of the cost.

http://www.msistone.com/stile/stile-gallery/

Eam44 I love the herringbone backsplash picture you shared. What is the tile, it's beautiful!!

Terry, I believe those are 2" X 12" Carrara marble tiles, and they are a bit more expensive than the 3" X 6" subway tiles, but they are really nice looking. Glad you like them.

eam, thanks for your help. I stuck with the cabinet material for under the counter. If I put a glass painted backsplash would you keep it white? Here's an update:

I'd go with a slightly blue, green, or gray backpainted backsplash. Unless you want to go for a digitally printed one.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2449038/digital-printing-on-glass-as-backsplash

Your space is looking beautiful, you must be thrilled.

You can keep it white, you can do almost anything with glass, including a light grey. You can consider gloss or matte finishes - matte might be best in your space. The reason I didn't recommend glass for your space, even though it's an obvious, reasonable choice, is texture. Your space has very little visual or actual texture. Which is fine. But you have an opportunity to add some in that spot if you would like to. Glass won't do that for you. On the other hand, you'll never have to clean grout!

Texture:

VS.

Or....visual texture...

....in stone, or.....

Formica :o)

I thibk something like in eam's last picture would be so nice! We have a similar porcelain tile. We were going to go with the 12*24 but ended up with 6*24 because they fit the space better. I do like the big ones better if the space allows though!

I really like the contrast cabinet material on the cabinet back.

Eam, those are great inspiration photos. I was immediately drawn to the first.

This is what we used (but the 6*24)

http://m.homedepot.com/p/MARAZZI-VitaElegante-Grigio-12-in-x-24-in-Porcelain-Floor-and-Wall-Tile-15-6-sq-ft-case-ULRT1224HD1PR/205473907

I'd do the whole piece of wall up to the ceiling (i.e., not just a strip on top of the counter), and make it an artistic statement wall. That's not to say it has to be busy or loud, but some sort of artistic statement, even if quiet and sedate. It would look amazing!

Open shelves would look amazing! Your kitchen looks wonderful.