didn't have time to read all the answers. I have no backsplash and have never regretted it...been over 6 yrs. It is painted with BM matte...which has ceramic in it. It is as beautiful now as it was when first painted. I love the fact that I can showcase other things ...art etc in my kitchen and no competition. Also if I ever want to change it is as quick as a paint brush...expense is minimal..paint only ! All in all I think it is serene as you point out . Here is one pick. Since I have a lot of high heat cooking in my kitchen..built in deep fat fryer as well as gas cook top I can definitely speak to the longevity of paint only. c ( more at this album )

lmao. what Jan said! Although, I had to help out my guys who did my herringbone wood floor. it's the starting point where everyone gets messed up. after that, it's simple. Look up how to properly start a herringbone layout and read it. you need to use a speed square at the end of your tile in order to get the proper middle starting point. much easier to illustrate than trying to write it out here. This is how I showed my guys how to start it. see the blue tape w/the two lines? you have to start on the middle after you mark your corner. that's the only way you will get perfect even cuts on both ends. this is how most do it, and it's not correct IF you want perfectly symmetrical left/right borders. All he's done is set the corner of the tile on the line. doing it like this will leave you w/one side smaller than the other: see how the sides of the window don't match? this is what you don't want. your tile guy should be doing a dry layout in order to determine where he starts so he doesn't get this look or these tiny triangles. Again,,,see how the ends don't match below? the right has longer tiles than the left edge. that's because of the way he started his first tile. And don't do these vertical tiles for your edging. get proper bullnose tiles, pencil liner or a Schluter edge. This is a layout board of my herringbone for my shower. took a few hours in order to get this almost perfect. since this was an odd size, and the tiles were even at 3x12, it couldn't be perfect. the right bottom corner triangle is the only portion that doesn't match. luckily, it's not readily visible! Even the subway tiles are perfectly matched. this layout took hours to get exact, even around the niche. 2x6your 3x9 will be 1/3 larger. 3x9 is a good size for a backsplash. this is a regular 3x6. again, a 3x9 will give you 1/3 longer.

I like the second option as it will give you more mileage. The first one while unique I think over time you will tire of and you are set to one style and one look as opposed to the more neutral 2nd choice. Interesting choices. Hoping to see the end product.

I am also looking for backsplash for White Springs granite. While I know that the very nature of natural stone is that it varies, it is hard for me to believe this is White Springs unless the picture is bad. I thought it was typical for that granite to have less black and hints of burgundy. In mine, the mica has a nice taupe color and I plan to go that direction. I agree that it is a showpiece granite, and that you therefore want to go super simple with the backsplash. My leading candidate at the moment is Daltile Retrospace in Sycamore Tan which is very taupe. My slab is much more colorful than yours appears here. Elemental Tan is more brown and matches my slab well, but we are doing all wood cabinets, and I thought the contrast with the wood was too low. But you might like it because it’s a warm tan but still simple and neutral, especially if the backsplash will be against the white cabinets and you are already playing with brown in the middle with the island stain. The granite in my experience could handle 2 shades of brown if not right next to each other. But I doubt it would work with the paint colors you mentioned. Though to be honest, I don’t know how warm those whites and grays are. Also not sure how warm or colorful you want to go. If you like Sycamore Tan, I would check your gray to be sure. If you like Elemental Tan, maybe look at SW Bagel or something like it. Artisan Tan is a darker, leans burgundy one, but definitely a more dramatic look.