Can you wait until your counters are installed? If so, you can order tile samples and see them in your space and light before you commit.

I would go for large format grey ceramic subway tile - no herringbone. Below is Fireclay Tile in French Linen shown in a 3" x 6" tile, that comes in many other sizes and shapes. What is your tile budget in $/sf?

I agree to wait until counters are installed. It will really help you see better what would look good for a backsplash.

With such a wow-factor counter, I would want the backsplash to be quiet. Glass too glossy IMO, marble tile would be too much marble, and, along those same lines, a herringbone pattern too much for the eye to look at. I like the fireclay tile that Eam44 mentioned. For a lower budget, check out Daltile Rittenhouse subway tiles.

I'll have to ask my designer about the tile budget - I just changed direction on countertops to this slab. Before that, I was going to do a 3x6 calacatta gold marble backsplash (which clearly can't work here) - materials were quoted at $1800. Not sure how that will compare to the fireclay tile since I don't know what amount of square footage that represents...But I have to believe this was at least a middle of the road product and not a cheap one based solely on what its made out of. Pretty sure KD wants me to pick out the tile before everything is installed b/c they have a timeline they are trying to stick to (for my benefit as well as theirs), but I can see what she says. Appreciate the input on the glossiness of glass - these countertops are quartzite and they are polished, so there will be more than enough shine from them that I don't want to continue that up my wall!

PS - Quick online search looks like this products similar to the originally planned calacatta tile may be $14-15/sq ft retail (although I get my designer's discount - no idea what that may be)...

Ask your designer for 3 recommendations. . . . .2 x 8 in the handmade rustic at 1/4 lap could be one from Fire Clay.

Skip calling that quartzite marble. It's as hard as granite. Actually much better than marble. So it may cause some confusion.

You need inspiration images! Do a google search on your materials (slab, cabinets) and see what looks speak to you. Then, once you have a budget you can start looking for tile.

I understand wanting to stick to a timeline, but that can't be your first priority. It's also worth keeping in mind that you don't work for your KD, she works for you. If your contractor is unwilling to accommodate you in this, handmade tile may not be for you. There are lots of nice field tiles out there that are in stock at tile and big box retailers. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Great suggestions, all. I have been trying to find houzz pics, but this is a sea pearl quartzite (although it's color and markings are more like a sea pearl married a macaubas) and there really aren't a ton on houzz. I think sea pearl is not that popular maybe? I'll keep looking! I will definitely get ideas from my KD but I find I do better if I have thought things through on my own for a bit and gotten a good feel for what I like before that. I'm kinda methodical (and an endless researcher).

There are lots of hits with google - the search function here isn't very good. Try "gardenweb sea pearl."

That said, don't get your heart set on any tile before you know what your budget is and whether you are willing to take the time to have your tiles made. It'll just cause you grief otherwise.

Deciding to make a decision later is a good decision.

That's a nice sea pearl slab. Sea pearl looks very nice when you use it on both the counter and the backsplash. We've seen it that way in several model kitchens including our local Pirch store. Something to consider especially if you've already paid for whole slabs and have enough left over to complete the backsplash. If you'd have to buy another slab to do the backsplash agree with a ceramic matte tile that picks up a grayish color that already is in the sea pearl slab.

Lovely stone. I'd use bog-standard plain subway tiles (no crackle, no beveled edges, no "handmade" wobbling), standard brick pattern or 1/3 overlap, with matching grout.

The objective is to have the backsplash vanish rather than compete for attention. Remember, only one diva per kitchen and that stone SINGS.

Color would be a pale off-white (grey, taupe, cream ... I can't see what the undertones are, but the palest non-white tile that blends) to perhaps a mid-tone grey or tan if you want to go darker, but still a very plain layout, matching grout.

The GOOD news is that that style and color is easy to find in various lines and price points, many of them very inexpensive.

You are doing all of the leg work. And, that's fine because you are educating yourself. In light of your change of material decision, have your KD suggest three products within your budget that they think would work. After all, you hired him/her for their expertise. If you don't like any of them, tell the KD that they will have to wait for a final decision from you as you complete your search on your timeline. Stay in control of the process at all times. It's your decision.

We have honed Sea Pearl on our perimeter counters & a fairly busy soapstone on our island. After at least 18 months without a backsplash, ours was installed this week! We went with simple white subways...absolutely love it!!

I began wanting white subway tiles, then thought it would be too much contrast with our cherry cabinets. So I began a very long search into other options. Had a major "affair" with Fireclay and truly adore their tiles. But cost, not finding the perfect color, the desire for minimal grout lines, and wanting less variability in the tiles were the reasons I crossed them off the list (but I must find something to make out of all the beautiful samples!).

Then I had a "fling" with glass tiles & found a gray/green tile that could have worked. But decided too glossy/reflective & too modern for us. I then went back to a lovely San Dona marble that I had loved from the start due to it's crystalline look that looked great with the Sea Pearl. I saw it installed in a $1.2MM home featured on a tour of homes & loved it, although there was inconsistency in the install. But decided it was fate, had contractor in to discuss, & showed him pictures from the home tour install; he said it wasn't a bad installation, it was variability in the tiles, which we confirmed. Crossed the marble off the list.

So, I went back to my original Daltile 3" x 6" subway tile in Kohler White (K101), which has a slight gray cast & matches our white Kohler Whitehaven sink. It was installed this Monday...absolutely beautiful! We are awaiting trim pieces & need to grout (will go with light gray grout), but we are so pleased. So clean & crisp! The whole kitchen seems larger and more cheery. The concern I had about the white tiles being too much & taking away from the counters turned out to be a non-issue. The simple white tiles actually help to showcase the Sea Pearl.

Hope this helps. I've been in your shoes for a very long time. :) Wish I could post a picture for you, but I've used up all my media space on my phone & computer (photo hoarder). As soon as I can remedy, I will post photos. My advice is to wait until counters are installed, make up sample boards, & look at inspiration photos. Your slab is beautiful!!

I am on decision overload so I will definitely not be deciding on tile any time soon! Someone suggested the rittenhouse tile and I saw that today-very nice and definitely a contender. Seems to be a nice variety of colors available. However, my big concern at the moment is that the slab I pictured had quality issues. Two new slabs arrived today. They are equally beautiful with my originals...but the top 1/3 is "white" background and the bottom 2/3 is gray background. I'm good with that except if I have a part white part gray run of countertop...but that could work if I did it intentionally? (Dark to the rear light in front)? Waiting to See if the white is deep enough for a fully white perimeter counter. See my pic-that is NOT a shadow on the stone. Why can this never be easy?

What about the lighter part on the perimeter, assuming there is enough, and the darker section on your island?

Sorry to add to the confusion but I would not use that new slab. I would consider either the white part or the gray part -- but not both in the same kitchen. Your slab yard is showing you slabs that have been picked over.

Wags-that was what I was thinking but I'm not sure the white is deep enough to get countertop depth out of it. I have two slabs and they are in series so maybe there's a way to book match the white for the island (seam long ways down the middle with a mirror effect on each side). Stan, I hear what you're saying but my original plan was to have my island be a different counter than my perimeter (I was looking at dark gray) so I'm thinking this could still work. These slabs were fresh off the touch-I saw them come off....There are also 5 more slabs in this lot which i can try to get more info on from the stone yard. I may even ask what the defects were in the first slabs to see if we could work around them. Lots to think about...

wags4fun...please post a picture.. Your kitchen sounds beautiful!!!

I would look for a new slab. If I saw that I would assume it was stained or a shadow.

Wilson853 do you know the color of that Jeffrey Court tile? It's very pretty

If budget allows, make the backsplash out of the same material granite, its light quartzite, so it's safe... it would almost double your overall square footage, but would look super cool. otherwise I would go with simple white subway tile, would give you some nice contrast. anyway, anything you do, you can not go warm colors and you can not go darker than your counter... good luck.

I don't have a tile suggestion as I would wait til after install too. But certainly get samples of things you like now. A friend of mine did an island just about as big as your slab in sea pearl it is a gorgeous focal point! Perimeter in plain soft white. She has not picked a backsplash yet.

emmie2 - someone asked that question and the designer responded that it was a 3 x 9 in Enchanted Shadow.

Missed that. Thanks

That slab is SO COOL! It's amazing what you can find in nature. I would showcase that slab on the island in a heartbeat, making the color variation the main feature.

Wags4fun nice choices! Love that seapearl and your backsplash doesn't take anything away from it.

wags4fun - love your sea pearl/backsplash combo. Wonderful. As it turns out, I met with my designer today, and we can do all white on my island (b/c its only 30" deep). In addition, one of the short sides of my slab is a gradual change from white to gray rather than the "shadow" look (the far side on my pic above, which is why it isn't as obvious), so we are going to do white on the outer, using that gradual fade for the short leg (and a nice chunk of that will be cut out for my cooktop anyway). I'm good with the plan.

decker-That's great that you have enough to use the whiter sections! We had a similar scenario with our slab; it was darker at the bottom, so we used the upper, lighter section for the long counter run & a different chunk for the desk area on the other side of the kitchen.

I had a cutting board (although I don't cut on it!) made from the darker section of our slab & keep it on the lighter section next to the sink. The contrast is lovely, & I wanted to preserve something from the beautiful darker section. You might consider; many fabricators give a free cutting board. Or you could make a Lazy Susan (we did this with a leftover piece from our soapstone island).

Your slab is so beautiful and interesting! Love Sea Pearl. Pls keep us posted on your progress!

Wags - amazing idea to do cutting boards out of the slab! We will definitely have some of the dark leftover. Husband wants to use it when we finish the basement for a bar top b/c we love it so much, but I'm betting there's a chunk somewhere in there for me for a cutting board!