Hi. We installed out kitchen in 2012. We still haven't chosen or decided on a backslpash - it's the painted wall. I have a creamy Egyptian marble, - don't remember the name. I like unstructured European vintage-y kitchens. Many of them don't have backsplashes either. My stainless range has a stainless backsplash directly behind it. I had picked out some mini-clear glass subway tile for the backsplash that coincidentally matches my Prescott Green paint color perfectly but what if I decide to change wall color one day? Just this week I started thinking maybe I made my backsplash tile decision three years ago which was to have none. Our marble installers tried very hard to discourage us from marble in the kitchen but I have not regretted it. All those kitchens in southern Europe can't be wrong. FYI - If you are considering glass backsplash look at a product call 3-Form it comes in an amazing variety of colors,textures and imbedded items, two good friends used it in their kitchens. http://www.3-form.com/ Do what speaks to you in your home. Best.

Without seeing the slab it's hard to know for sure but here's one from Jeffrey Court's Antico Portugese line color Country Gray: These are kinda cool. I know nothing about the pricing. These are cement mosaic tiles by Villa Lagoon Tile. The colors are complements to Sherman Williams colors. I like the Pearl Gray below. It's a match to SW Mindful Gray. Last one for now, a more traditional 6x6 Italian Tile: This was from http://www.ceramic-tile4u.com/ . Budget tile too at $4.04 sq. ft. It was their Arpa Star tile in gray. That site has HUNDREDS of tiles to look at. May be WAY time consuming but worth a look. Good luck!

I have new venetian gold and selected tumbled stone for the backsplash in a chiaro color. You can see it in my thread entitled "Finally Finished (Well Almost)". Because New Venetian gold is pretty neutral, I think there are lots of styles/colors of tile that would look nice. I didn't want anything too dark or brown because MY cabinets are more mid tone and I didn't want the backsplash to look cave-like (I think the brown glass tile looks nice with jackiemcg's cabs but would have seemed very dark with mine).

with the caramel floor and darker cabinetry I would try to meld the tones. there are things like mother of pearl [also gives a little sheen], maybe hex shape for interest and choose a multi tonal selection....some sort of glass in an amber shade. Your home looks slightly formal.....I would look at mother of pearl...see what shapes /configurations it come in these days......it could be the right detail /interest as everything looks a bit basic and plain so far....and no window here. A porcelain tile would marry the browns, and is a beautiful tile but you are staying away from contrast, so you say. The brown on brown is something to work with and I like the potential to play it up.