It's best to do the counter first so that the backsplash can meet the countertop and not subject to damage when the granite is installed. If you do it in reverse you could get into a situation where it doesn't meet the countertop closely enough and you'd have to fill in the gap with grout or shim the countertop up to meet it. Not ideal. Good Luck!

So many people get stuck on the backsplash, because they pick a busy (although beautiful) countertop and all the backsplashes they like, on the second shopping trip, don't work with it. I'd do what Rhome suggested and look for them at the same time. If you find a busy, glass tile backsplash that really 'speaks' to you, then you might need a calmer granite or other countertop. If you find a busy granite that you really want, then make sure you find a backsplash that will look good with it. The biggest problem I see on the forum is when people install the countertop and then ask...what backsplash should I pick? By then, the choices are often very limited or they choose something they don't like and have to do it twice. Best of luck finding a combination you really like! :)

yep that's my kitchen. Sorry it's not in your budget, but gpraceman does have a good idea about granite tiles. I have seen these used in place of granite slabs for the counter, when a budget dictated it. "To Me", they did not look that bad. I had to redo the area of the granite where the cook top is, due to a bad choice I made about cooktops, a 36" semi-circle Caldera. It died in about a year and the company went broke, so I had to replace it with a rectangular induction cooktop, Hence the granite rework. Well I could find Granite remnants (Arandis Gold) for next to nothing, (I paid about $75 for a little less than a half slab. So you may be able to do that too, and then have it cut to sizes you want for the tile, myself, the bigger the better, and the less grout lines. Thanks for your kind words about my kitchen, it is pretty unique, and as we tell folks here, Do what makes you happy, after all, it's your kitchen. For those of you that do like tiles and grout, that's great, as long as it's what you want, and you're not following others or doing what you "Think", might help sell the house later. Gary

cigi, in our last house the previous owner installed tumbled marble in a mauvish tone which IMO looked awful with the St Cecilia granite. Even though the tile was expensive, I tore them off and left the 4" granite backsplash, patched and painted the rest of the wall. The sink was the only working area as the cooktop was on the island. No problem with water as I used BM Aura, but Pittsburgh Paint's Manor Hall Timeless is just as good with a more flat look and lifetime warranty. I'm pondering the issue for my current redo. In various houses I've had paint, wallpaper, white tile with abalone inserts, plain white tile. Right now I'm weighing white tile with a beautiful insert, just paint with no granite backsplash since this area has only a counter but no cooking/wet functions, paint with granite backsplash, or a simple glass tile backsplash with listello over it a la Chinchette. I'm attaching a photo from Chinchette's beautiful kitchen (hope she doesn't mind seeing hers cited as a great example) which shows the last option. In any event, I echo others' advice to not worry about that decision immediately unless you absolutely love a certain look. Just use good paint. Here is a link that might be useful: