I would match the lightest color in your counter.

It's a very pretty space so far!

If you do decide to use your counter material, you don't have to use 4" height, but your cabinet profile looks traditional, and the traditional accompaniment to that would be either 3" x 6" subway tile, or 4" square tile. Do you have any inspiration images? Do you have a tile budget in $/sf?

I do not have a budget as this is my "Forever Home" and I really want to get it right:). I already find myself spending more of my day in this room than ever before. Selecting the wrong backsplash would be awful at this stage of the renovation. Here is my inspiration kitchen:

As I suspected! 4" squares are prominent in this design, oriented square on the bottom and like diamonds above (fancy) with a 3-d relief piece in between.

You can find glazed ceramic 4" square tiles everywhere, from Home Depot to Ann Sacks. I like the options at Fireclay Tile because they make beautiful handmade tile in wonderful glazes at reasonable prices that are actually listed on their web site.

Their Foundations glazes, including Tusk, below, are available for $15/sf, with most other glazes coming in under $30/sf.

The lighting in your images makes color selection a bit difficult. It looks like you have antiqued glazing over white cabinets. You'll either want to go no-whiter-than-your-cabinets to no-darker-than-your-granite to be in harmony with your inspiration image. Below is Shetland Wool, a lovely malty color that would be beautiful with your stone, also a Foundations glaze.

This is tremendously helpful!!! And I like Fireclay Tile's commitment to sustainability:). Thank you very much.

2x6 or 2x8 is a good scale for a small kitchen. It's more up-to-date than square or diamond tile and a nice change from 3x6 subways.

Can we see the whole kitchen?

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I'm so glad you like them! Absolutely order samples (and let us see!) and avail yourself of their design services. They will make sure you have the trim pieces you need as well.

May, the dimensions you mention are certainly more modern, but this isn't a modern kitchen. Look at those pretty raised panels. This is a traditional space and the 4" square is a classic for a reason!

I was having the same dilemma. I finally decided that I wanted to love my kitchen for a long time; and each style of tile backsplash seemed to be "dated" within just a few years: stone, travertine, mosaic, etc. Despite how "timeless" subway tile is, I think it has been used sooooo much that it will soon be "dated" to this decade also. So, I decided to go with what I was familiar with--what I like. I did the traditional 4" backsplash using the same quartz that is in my countertops. I also got the idea (from houzz) to extend the quartz backsplash up to 12" just behind the stovetop. It is so easy to clean, and to this day I still LOVE it and am so glad that I am not daily looking at a tile backsplash and questioning whether I chose the right one (from the thousands of constantly changing options available. Now, if I want change--all I need is a can of paint.

I will post more photos soon...

I would definitely do tile, not granite for backsplash. I would look at Sonoma tile and other similar, "hand made" ceramic tiles.

Thanks to all of you, I had a GREAT visit to Virginia Tile today! One of the designers there helped me narrow down my choices and right now I am looking at Sonoma Tile, "Toast", in 2x8 size. It is part of their "Ready To Ship" Collection and the prices range from $17sf to around $30sf. A soft tone-on-tone will work best and we worked to complement the cabinetry. Here is a photo:

We are still bringing in more functional (Canisters/Utensil Crock) items, cookbooks and decor:). Here are some more photos of the updated laundry room and rear entry. I tried to get my DH to put the Championship mug collection away but he really loves it and that was his only request.

Koehler Executive Chef 33" Double Bowl Undermount Sink, Koehler K-99259 Artifacts Pullout Spray High-Arch Oil-Rubbed Bronze Faucet, Jenn Air Appliance Suite (Decker And Sons Appliances), Dan Stephan Custom Builders, Vredevoogd Brothers Painting, Great Lakes Granite Works "Desert Brown", Benedict Drywall, Virginia Tile Sonoma Tile Hand Glazed 2x8 ceramic tile Backsplash, Semi-Custom and Custom Cabinetry Kraftmaid Piermont Maple with Taupe Glaze/ Dan Stephan "Site-built" Island and Rear Entry, and Uttermost Vetraio Lighting Collection. We are awaiting some coordinating products from Frontgate's Pet Collection. Thank you all again for your encouragement and invaluable suggestions!!!

My Contractor just ordered the Sonoma Tile! It has a very warm, buttery-golden tone just like the cabinetry. The bright showroom lights make the variations a bit difficult to discern. We selected "Cornsilk" for the grout and are all set for an April install.

Oh, what a sweet kitchen! Now make sure they don't do any funky tile things like tiling a side splash or tiling to the end of the counter instead of to the end of an upper cabinet. We can help you with that too!

Awww, thanks so much, Mayflowers! I would not have known these "helpful hints" were it not for you:). I love this room so much that I could pitch a tent and live there. The Backsplash was becoming a real source of anxiety. I am totally calm and content now.

Hi Mayflowers, could you please post some tiling do's and don'ts photos? Thank you!

We get a lot of "where should I end the backsplash" questions. I couldn't tell where your cabinets end, which is why I mentioned it, but if the upper stops short of the counter, you want to tile to the end of the cabinet, not the counter. See how odd that little extra tile looks?

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Another area where people often need help is around a window.

I will post pictures as soon as I return home.

I love Sonoma--I've brought home their samples many times. Toast is a crackle tile so it should be very pretty.

Thats wonderful! You are quick. Most people bring home samples and mull over things a bit but more power to you. Definitely post a reveal when you can. Good luck!

Here are some more photos. Start/Stop suggestions warmly welcomed!

It looks like your end-of-run wall and base cabinets were lined up. Tile from the edge of the top cabinet, which will leave your counter untiled for an inch or so. That's perfect!

I am now deciding between laying the 2x8 tile out in a subway or herringbone design. Any thoughts?

Just to clarify, it would be ALL one or the other. There is not enough space between the microwave and cooktop to do an accent wall.

Herringbone will be more expensive to lay, I believe. I have total herringbone in my small kitchen and love it. My cabinets are a simple modified (double rounded over edge) shaker, inset cabinet. My tiles are 2x4 marble, hand set in herringbone pattern. Its been 6 years and I still love it. You might have to click on the pic to get the whole image to show up to the ceiling.

I see why you still love it after 6 years...your backsplash and kitchen are beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

Herringbone adds a strong pattern. Do you think the kitchen needs pattern? It might be nice because the floor, your other tiled surface, is plain, but then your cabinet doors and beadboard add a lot of shapes.

I don't really know the answer. I'd start a new thread and ask oldbat2be to Photoshop both options.

Great suggestion! Will do.

The Backsplash was installed this week. Thanks for all the excellent suggestions!

That looks really nice!

That Sonoma tile is beautiful! Would love to see it with your UCLs on.

Love the way you tied everything together. The backsplash is gorgeous in its simplicity.

Your kitchen is beautiful, but I love your chocolate boy. He looks so much like my late Spencer. I miss him so.

Thank you all for your thoughtful remarks! I can completely understand how you feel, Blubird. We are exceedingly attached to our sweet little lad. Whenever I am washing dishes he curls up and forms a horseshoe around the back of my heels.

Here are a few more photos:

What is the paint color on your kitchen walls?