Thank you so much! Very helpful!

Subway back splash tile should go horizontally. Not vertically.

Wow! Your countertop selection is really fun - I haven't seen that before. That said, I spent some time on Maria Killam's site / blogs today, and was reminded that if you have one pattern, the other surfaces need to be solid colors. Or said differently (GW style), one clown. Your flooring (which I like) introduces another clown so I'd suggest a plainer, subway tile. I love this picture (from her blog) because I love the impact of the tile. In your case, I'm suggesting that a simpler backsplash will add to the impact of your countertop vs. detract.

In each of ilikefriday's images, the countertop disappears.

Take a clean picture from "straight on" and give me some grouted tile images taken similarly, and I can photoshop these in place for you. Even better, create a sample board with the tiles and grout you like (super easy), let them dry, and then post a picture in good lighting.

I'd run that floor tile right up the back wall.

IMHO subway tile is on it's way out. Unless it is paired with plain no pattern counters, everything just gets way too busy.

As mentioned above, your counters are the STAR - do not do anything that will compete with or take the eye away from the beauty of the counters. Are you able to run more of it up the walls?

Oh wow, thanks everyone for the great suggestions (and pics)! Now I understand more of why I've been so reluctant to say "go" on the backsplash - my gut has been telling me to wait for you guys. I would LOVE to be able to take that stone up the wall, but it is out of our budget range.

I tend to steer away from ordinary (it really pained me to choose white cabinetry, but it did come out well), so I'm definitely more on the daring side. In those renders, I see how the stone gets lost with those tiles, although in person they are much less "bright." You are absolutely right about my star piece, though. So I'm still questioning what to go with on the backsplash....should I go with a disappearing color like grey? If I use the blue glass as an accent up the center, should I look for some without texture? I was thinking the stainless might be timeless like with appliances, but I suppose it could be different for walls.

@Oldbat...great suggestion. If I can pull it off, I'll take you up on it! In any case, I will go for grout that blends in to avoid any extra busyness (or clown stuff :)

Thanks again everyone - you have no idea how grateful I am for your help! I'm going to hit you up for paint ideas for the rest of the space soon, too :)

Can you work the budget so that you can continue the slab in just one or two strategic areas and then do stainless elsewhere?

Where is the stove?

I love your countertop!! I don't think you want to draw attention to your backsplash & away from that amazing stone. The stainless is very dark & competes with your stone.

It may not have a stove. Its a bar/kitchenette. Maybe a micro?

My comment is about the vertical tiling, which I think you may have decided not to do. If it were vertical, you would need a edge piece to cap the tile where the unfinished edges will be. Especially, if I understood correctly, that you were not running the tile clear to the top.

@visualize: there is no stove - it is a kitchenette/bar for my dance studio (and potential future elderly parent suite).

@lizzie: if I do the tile, I would like to cover all of the wall space vertically and to inside of the overhead beam, although I'm super open to everyone's thoughts here.

Several of you have mentioned taking the stone up the wall, which I LOVE, but the budget is pretty tight now that I spent most of it on this countertop. :) However....the company made a pretty big error on the bartop section, which is why it's missing in the photo, so I may have some leeway. I'm absolutely going to see if I can leverage something. If I do that, should I cover the whole area in the stone or just part of it (like up the center over the sink)? Thanks again!

I’d cover as much as you can with the stone. So pretty. Small space so it would look gorgeous.

Oh, then I think that would work. Not sure what the error was on the bar top section, it’s beautiful stone and looks good with the flooring you selected.

The error was that a) they cut the wrong slab of the stone, but it's still the same type and is beautiful and b) the bar top was cut without the intended miter and now is too narrow to fix, and c) the waterfall on the end was cut too long so then the bartop was too short, and d) it was not the layout we chose (as it wasn't the stone we chose). Working on a solution, now...whew! Otherwise, this project has gone very well! lol

O.M.Gosh! Wow. That’s a lot of errors! I am sure it’s been stressful. Please post finished pics, would love to see it completed.

I wouldn't choose any of those tiles you have. there are so many other better choices to accent your countertop.

I would also do that entire wall.

here are some other options

https://www.thebuilderdepot.com/hparkdg4x12.html

less than $10 a sq ft at Builder Depot

https://www.thebuilderdepot.com/glass8mmchar3x6.html?gclid=CjwKCAjws6jVBRBZEiwAkIfZ2uKkGkKafewSMCaQTAS3MAqbeo-mrGQtoD_5P12ymUXuQaKKHaCrghoCqFgQAvD_BwE

they also have the Zellige

https://www.cletile.com/collections/terracotta-tile-glazed-zellige

Cle also has glazed brick tiles. this color is Flannel and may pick up on the blue/gray tones in your stone

I find the horizontal pattern of your counter and particularly w'fall edge very relaxing. Rectangle tiles oriented vertically pushes a much stronger energy that isn't as pleasant for me.

Thanks again everyone! I'm going to check out all these ideas this weekend. I love the glazed brick in flannel.
@Lisaam - thank you for those thoughts. My goal, indeed, is to create a serene, spa-like space combining natural elements with contemporary flair.