To me bianco romano is on the busy side, so I would put a non-busy backsplash. Eg. pulling pale cream and doing just that color like muranogirls pale cream backsplash or pulling pale gray from it and doing just that color like ni_2006's pale gray ceramic tile. Here is a pale glass tile backsplash in a color that is not pulled from the countertop. (Grout lines make it slightly busy.) Someone recently posted a frosted white glass subway tile with stainless tile just at the range that was gorgeous. You could use 2x8s or soldier pattern or a "blend" of frosted and clear glass to make it more modern. Here is a link that might be useful: bianco romano with glass backsplash

Happy July 4th!! Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Okay, here is what I am up against. My husband really wants the back splash to extend up to the ceiling. I showed him pictures of beekeeperswife's kitchen where the backsplash stopped just a few inches short of the base of the hood and the wall was painted just above the backsplash and under the hood. This is a great trick that ties in the painted area to the area under the hood as well. Another option that we both like is adding an arched panel with crown at the top leaving the bottom open rather than an soffit type box. Instead of stopping at the top of the cabinets, extend a few inches down between the cabinets to allow the tile to disappear and go up the wall to meet the ceiling behind it. I am thinking a panel like the arched panels in these pics without the cabinets above it, mounting flush against the ceiling with crown on the top. It could also be an after thought design element tying in the archs from our windows and doorway into the cabinet area. Neverdifficult - We are really second guessing ourselves for not adding that little extra to extend the cabinet heights. It's not like we can't add it now but we like the continious crown molding around the room and adding something like this arched panel might dress up that stainless hood which was my husband's "absolutely gotta have" piece.

Well, I had a look at the full tile online: And this was the best picture I could find. From what I see, the "value" color is the highest contrast of this style, correct? And I assume that your picture above is closer than this one I found...so basically will show as a black and white hex tile. Now this photo above shows the tile laid in a kind of random pattern--you can see a couple of white ones next to each other and a few black ones next to each other. An individual tile on the Emser website shows looks like this: so this could be laid out very symmetrically....like white dots surrounded by black dots (if you squint you'll see it). My thinking is that if you do it this way, it will look very polka dotty....both because of the high contrast and because of the symmetry. I'm going to go ahead and assume this is NOT what you want unless you enjoy a migraine with your coffee... Now if you plan on having it set more random (like the tile website shows) make sure that your installer knows that... Are you sure you want that much of a contrast, though? Especially all over that wall? It's a lot to take in... That website does have a "visualizer" but I'm not sure if you can download your own picture as you have to register... I guess I wrote a lot but didn't say much :-/ However, I'm not one to discourage if it's a look you love. ETA Wayfair sells these if you want to buy a few and try it out...

Wow I guess we all have different eyes. I would change backsplash to a white subway , paint walls lighter (near white) keep cabs and counter as is and get a custom treatment for existing window(swing arm w classy fabric you can swing open or close or halfway if not sitting at desk) . A white subway tile with tan/brown grout showing in same position as your tile and whitish walls would do a lot. You want the 4 in backsplash and rip out that granite and paint the cabs and pay to rip out a unique window? I'm confused then. The cabs in truth are good looking but older w no drawers. Best leave them add hardware as you will want to replace at a certain point.