A backsplash is only a focal point if you never have anything else on the counters. If you have normal kitchen stuff on the counter, and a must be a star as a splash, you have a 95% chance of setting up visual overload. You can only have a limited number of star choices. Your island is 1. And a big one. What are your # 2 and #3? A hood? Lighting? A spectacular view out the windows?

Backsplshes as features is one of the more unfortunate trends of creating the kitchen as a living room space. They are usually distractions to the whole open concept.

The backsplash is the one thing that can wait. There are people here who have waited years, before deciding.

What color did you choose for the quartz? And, what color are your cabinets?

We can certainly play a little with ideas, but I wouldn’t order tile tile until everything is in place.

Lighting and how things relate to each other in your space is how you will choose the tile.

That said, I understand what The Cook’s Kitchen means, although I don’t necessarily feel they are a distraction. They can be if not done right. When they are, it’s like the jewelry added to the kitchen, lovely to look at and enjoy. Which is why it’s important to get it right.

Visual overload... I love that! As of now my lighting is simple (recessed lights and 3 pendants) and the range hood is up for discussion. It may match the cabinets or if that is too cost prohibitive we may have to go with a stainless hood. The kitchen itself is one big room with wide open windows to the lanai. I'm not sure if it's spectacular but it gives me the open airy feeling I want. The main attraction I would say is the Island top.

@eld6161 Cabinets are a blue gray. Super pretty against the quartzite. I went with a darker solid brownish for the perimeter. It had some texture and played beautifully against the quartzite and my perimeter isn't a lot. We will have a 48" cooktop on that back wall taking up most of the space.

There is the possibility that most people will be so bewildered by what's going on with the ceiling that they will not notice the backsplash.

The island appears it could have been more efficiently designed.

If it was my house, I would first decide if I wanted the island to be a contrast for the rest of the kitchen or if I wanted it to be of the same family and similar. If contrast was my goal, I would make the island top and cabinetry harmonious with one another as a first design decision.

Thereafter, I would select the remaining cabinetry, counter tops and backsplash to be harmonious together, and to blend well with the island.

Said differently, I would make the backsplash material harmonious with the cabinetry and counter tops of the non-island cabintery.

Of course the entire kitchen must be harmonious overall.

@Mark Bischak, Architect bewildered by a tray ceiling??? Thanks for the helpful backsplash input!

The backsplash area is small. You can use the quartzite in this case. Very dramatic, but could be beautiful depending on the choice of how you position the cuts on your slabs. You have to put the effort into determining the orientation and inclusion of the stone features. And how the wall coordinates with what you have on the island. I'd mark out the cuts with tape and photograph your choices. Everything will depend on what the cut pieces look like. Color distribution, pattern movement all in the lighting of your location. Could turn out very beautiful. . .Or all this may lead you to explore a less dynamic quartzite as a possibility. But I would favor the slab backsplash for your kitchen, given the size.

It will be a bit of a dark corner if you tone the backsplash in with the cabinets. Your island top is gorgeous, but it won’t be in your face because it will be a horizontal surface. With a 48” range, you could do a very functional stainless backsplash, most ranges come with an optional one....

"I also understand that less is more . . . "

It is not just "a tray ceiling" that is of concern. The ceiling in your open concept space has at least 37 surfaces from what I can tell from the images you provide. The multiple tray ceilings may be there to help define spaces, but it appears the transition between the ceilings may be a little awkward, I could be wrong. The open space has a complex ceiling, which should work harmonious with rest of the interior design.

I think you could punch up the splash a little - I hate a plain backsplash. Just so it doesn't get out of control, what about an interesting shape or dimension?

I like a 3 D tile - gives you interest without alot of varying colors..

@Debbi Washburn Thank you. I was considering something with texture and/or dimension. I hate a plain backsplash as well but like I said, I hate plain anything so editing for me is a must! LOL

i am on board with dan1888 answer. being that it is a small B/S area, i would use the island stone as the b/s. it will look harmonious and draw the kitchen together. why introduce another element, less is more with this kitchen design!

also, with a 48" range, it sound like you will be a lot of cooking, which means a lot grease/grime and over time the grout, no matter if u seal the grout or not, it will get dirty. i would much rather have a solid surface behind that cooktop for ease of cleaning if not nothing else!!

Lisa, a creamy white tile would be the direction I would go in. You can get creative with texture and shape.

Here's a similar kitchen layout with a lighter material used for counter and backsplash-

Mark Williams Design kitchen in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach.

I was coming on here to say exactly what @Debbi Washburn said. Play with a 3D tile in a color that coordinates with your perimeter counter. It will make a statement without overpowering the room. Beautiful quartzite, btw!

I love the stone. But choosing a backsplash is like choosing jewelry for a really nice outfit.

when you're going to a fancy function, do you choose your earrings first and then a dress, shoes, bag? not usually.

Same with the kitchen. Get the big, major items in place first. island, stone, flooring, quartz and vent hood. Then assess as to what backsplash would best enhance those items. Since you have the stunning island top, you don't want a super 'in-your'face' tile splash. That would be like pairing an Oscar de LaRenta multi color, couture dress w/the Hope diamond! But you wouldn't just pick a tiny pair of gold studs either. Like I said, they all have to compliment one another.

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Could you use the same stone as the backsplash? only if that stone is going on the perimeter countertops. I wouldn't use it as a splash against a solid quartz.

looks good when used against the same countertop

Wait. look at pics. grab samples

btw, some mentioned the tray ceiling. I don't see what the issue is

I love what they did to this one. or the wood above

I like the countertop, but the kitchen doesn't have windows, so I would make EVERYTHING light and bright.

Like @Mark Bischak, Architect, I don't understand the ceiling. IMO it will cast shadows onto your kitchen from the inset lights.

@tangerinedoor The kitchen opens to the lanai which becomes an indoor space since the door opens completely. With all the recessed lightly and this natural light I have no issues with it being too dark

@Beth H. : thank you for the input. Like I said, I totally understand the philosophy of how to choose a backsplash but I do not have the luxury of waiting for everything to be set and in place before taking my time to choose one. I do not live there now nor will I live there immediately after the house is finished. My builder isn't going to wait months for me to make a choice and I'd like to get it all wrapped up before the C/O/. At least mu question seems to have been answered on how to go about making this choice so I thank you all for the input.

@chispa thank you very much for your comments. You definitely understand me! Someone once said on here the only good kitchen was a white kitchen and I could never be happy with a white kitchen. Absolutely nothing wrong with a white kitchen but it isn't my vision of a beautiful kitchen. Thank you again for the post an the pictures. I will keep my mind open and keep looking for the perfect fit!

is a backsplash required? I just don't understand the rush. (and I thought you didn't want exact choices of splash, but rather, how to achieve a choice. maybe I misunderstood)

Since you aren't going to be there to see the install and how it looks, is it that important to pick something right now?

if the builder requires one, then just do the 4" piece up the back. it can easily be removed at a later date.

You said you've chosen a solid quartz, but you didn't say what color, or post a picture, nor have you posted a picture of the flooring or the wall or cabinet color. ( I know you said blue/gray, and a brown for the perimeter, but too many shades to guess)

So short of picking a plain white tile, not sure we can suggest anything else. You asked about something w/pizzazz, but you've only shown us one piece to the puzzle, so it's difficult to suggest anything else.

since you know what they look like, have you look at Encore Ceramics? perhaps one of their glazes might be nice. take a look at all of their shapes/sizes and colors.

@Beth H. : I'm good! I honestly wasn't looking for specific tiles or ideas but more of how people would go about choosing when there are 2 different materials. All I've heard is to pick subtle and IMO blah- but listening to everyone here and especially @chispa I feel more confident that I don't have to go blah. I don't want to post my selections simply because I don't want the negative nancys complaining they don't like my floor choice or why did I pick that refrigerator and why would you chose that paint color or that countertop is terrible. I've learned one thing through this whole house building process- everyone has an opinion and a perspective. No one way is the right way or the wrong way. Sure there are design ideas and trends and certain design rules. I get that. I've never understood when someone asks for help on, let's say a backsplash, someone else would chime in on how horrible their floor is or why don't they tear down a wall and change the layout. I don't know about everyone else but I'm no Rockefeller! I have a budget and am working as best I can within the budget and personally, I love how it's all coming together. I truly love all my selections. I would love nothing more than to show you what I've chosen but definitely not on this venue. Too many people who enjoy being critical and downright rude. I love positive feedback. I just don't do well with people being rude for the sake of being rude.

As for why it needs to be done... it's part of the contract and I'm not going to be able to get my builder to send his tile go over in 2 years when we formally move there. We have someone there monitoring the building process and we fly down every 6 weeks so I'm not worried about the install.

Thank you for the input. I have an appointment at a tile boutique at the end of the month when we fly south so I am sure I'll find something!!!