From what I can tell, full tile backsplashes in kitchens are a fairly recent trend (with some exceptions -- see the 1928 bungalow thread -- though that was more a tiled room than a backsplash per se). When your corners aren't quite square, it makes countertop installation easier if there is a 1" thick backsplash to cover any gap between the countertop and wall. That said, I agree with the pp's that the short backsplash currently looks a bit dated. That might change in time. After all, I don't know anyone in real life who has put in a new kitchen with no backsplash at all, but I have seen some beautiful no-backsplash kitchens on this forum... maybe that will be the next trend. [grin] I haven't decided about the backsplash for when/if we redo our kitchen. We are old enough and have been in our house long enough to take the long view, so probably we will do something that's either relatively timeless (i.e. white tile) or easily changed.

In preparing our house for sale, we had our laminate countertop replaced with 2 cm granite. Our installer was concerned about the backsplash and wanted to make sure we had extra in hand in case any cracked. He did have to grind down some of the base tiles, but all went smoothly. By the way, the backsplash is 4x4 Italian porcelain tile (I don't know if that makes a difference).

I like glass tiles and tumbled: I believe it all depends on the look you are going for in your house: also: budget! Glass is expensive: But I love it! I would rather have the granite I want: and have that stand out: and not my splash. I would want all eyes on my granite. That is my opinion. With Tan brown granite: I can see that the splash could stand out more vs. the granite. Picture posted looks great! That splash is way more eye catching vs the Tan brown granite Best wishes!

Measure the distance between the counter and the bottom of the window sill, which looks to be around four inches. Have a backsplash of that height made from the same granite. Then paint down to the backsplash. That's the simplest solution. If you want tile between the counter and the upper cabinets, great, but keep that four inch granite backsplash and let the tile rest on it. In my experience, running wall tile down to the counter causes problems. For one, it creates a joint that constantly gets dirty and is difficult to clean. For another, the joint between the tile and the counter will absorb spills and cause the grout to crack and the tile to loosen. Whatever you decide, the area behind the cooktop needs special attention. A simple sheet of stainless steel would do the trick. Nice looking kitchen! I like the cabinets and the bay window.