With the red pendants and modern hardware, it looks like your style 'wants' mosaics. I think a mosaic would look great! I think you can do something bold on the b/s -- everything else is neutral, except for the pendants. I don't think it would look too masculine. Maybe use a more muted colour for the b/s to 'feminize' it a bit if you are concerned about it. On the other hand: I love the subways posted by kitchenaddict. However, I think the red pendants would look out-of-place with the subways. I don't know...what do you think? It just seems like mosaics would be a more natural fit in this kitchen.

We are having Typhoon Bordeaux installed next week. We are planning to use the same tile backsplash we used in our previous house because we loved it so much and had so many compliments on it. We use Tuscany Travertine subway tiles on the 12 x 12 mesh backing. The tiles are 2 x 4 and they are beveled on the edges. We used 1 full 12 x 12 from bottom of upper cabinets down, then a row of Noce Listello 4 x 12 with an antique bronze medallion and then finished with about 1/4 of a 12 x 12 piece across the bottom. The Tuscany Travertine just seems to match everything perfectly. I ordered 2 boxes from Home Depot this morning. Working with the 12 x 12 mesh pieces is soooo easy to install. I did our last kitchen myself and I had never tiled before.

Beth H, thank you again for your thoughtful suggestions! Unfortunately, as I am in Canada, I won't be able to buy from TileBar. But it is great just to see the possible choices. I totally understand how my inspiration photo and my actual kitchen are totally different, it is just that I thought possible to borrow one isolated concept... Regarding the flat side of the island - yes, it does have a shaker style trim same as on cabinets, so it definitely looks more finished than on my mockup :) So, to sum things up, you advise against using slab backsplash on the window wall, no matter what style of tile backsplash we decide to go with, right?

Here is what the white brick in the WOW cottage collection looks like installed as a backsplash. It is more matte/satin than glossy and the countertop is soapstone, more like your inspo photos, not a white countertop as you have.