Regmoses, I like your kitchen and I am in the same back splash boat! What I have decided is to make sure that my back splash reflects light because there are no windows, just a couple of doors. For your kitchen, maybe a cream glass subway tile with a thin band of a combo of gray and beige brown tile to tie it all together. Maybe tie in the brown color of the pendant lights over the island and the gray of the counters. Good luck!

A few questions, do you plan on doing any other updates to the kitchen? Such as upgraded flooring and appliances? If you just moved in I suggest you wait a bit before investing in new countertops. You may discover there are layout changes you want to make which is harder to do after putting in new countertops. The kitchen is a little suck in the 90s and adding a new countertop may only highlight that rather than update it.

The installer is doing your floor tile at which point? will the cabs already be in? You said you're painting them white. does that mean they're the existing cabinets? (it would be so much easier to handle questions and supply advice if we had better info or even some pictures) he can't install the backsplash tile until the countertop is in. So are you saying the cabs and countertops will be in first? if so, you can wait to pick a tile. Doesn't really matter what the installer wants to do, it's your kitchen and you're paying him to do what you want done. The guy can come back at another time to do the backsplash. He can't do the flooring and the backsplash at the same time, or even finish on the same day. if you order from Fireclay tile, they have a long lead time. if you like their tiles, you better put in an order now

I saw your other post about the cabinets. Until you decide about that, don’t spend any mind share on counters. The cabinets will narrow your counter options. Whenever I’ve had a big project (especially kitchens) I am 100% guilty of my mind racing ahead of where I actually am in the selection process. I’ve learned to calm myself down and make selections one at a time. It’s hard but it helps a lot and reduces a lot of stress 😊.