If its a rental, and given the small area, id look for the least expensive neutral.Why overthink it? Why not beadboard?

Either "white" tile, or if you could get a remnant, a short Santa Cecelia backsplash.

https://www.wayfair.com/Tile-and-Top--Natural-Granite-Side-Splash-WF3071-L613-K~BTRN1017.html?refid=GX353536691247-BTRN1017_46817174&device=c&ptid=847602730019&network=g&targetid=pla-847602730019&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=112950880&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=46817174&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2K6-x7XmgQMV-59aBR3XZwZiEAQYASABEgLfFfD_BwE

I do my own tile work. It's such a small space I can do it for almost no cost to me. I just need the tile....I'm handy. I can fashion anything.....just need ideas.

Mtn....the nicer the rental...the more I can charge for it...and it rents quickly! ie: Had a rental come available last week. Had 24 applicants...it's rented! The people on my landlord forum claim it's a "stalled" market....? 24 applicants! Really?!

Sure, but I think just it being all nice and new will make it nice, right?

i would pull a color out of the granite for the B/S so it all cohesive and easy on the eye.

I think something that leans more cream than white would be nice. Smooth but not so shiny. But that is just my preference. You will probably know it when you see it.

Yes to creamy white ceramic tile.

Your link shows New Venitian Gold.

Years back they pared St Cecilia with travertine.

Nicole, our rentals go quickly too. Like yours, good product for a fair rent.

I still love subway tile in the kitchen. I'd also pick something creamy white. It will look great. And kudos to you for being able to do all your own tilework.

I feel like a broken record but on the other side, I always suggest a white/cream subway with a little variation. I think in a kitchen with bold surfaces (dark floors, busy granite) it still looks fresh but it doesn't look quite as stark.

A creamy white would look good as well and would probably be less expensive and easier to find.

Before you choose the tile, where will it stop? On the right, will it stop at the counter edge, or will it go to the doorframe and down to the floor? Above the range, to the hood? How will you handle the curve? or to the ceiling? Will you have to take down the hood to tile behind it? What about around the sink?

Maybe consider painting with the wall color but in a stronger sheen.

I like this way this backsplash looks with the Santa Cecilia tile. It has interest with the black diamond shaped tiles without being too busy.

I would go with a creamy white subway tile. One color only because of the busy countertop. You could get a beveled tile for some interest. something like this maybe

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Apollo-Tile/5013300291

I would try large tile. It would mimic solid surface style that is so popular. The smallest grout lines possible with matching grout.

If you are set on antique white subway tile, I would want vertically stacked orientation. I think that would work better in your small kitchen and might perhaps make the space look larger.

Here's an article from The Spruce on outdated kitchen backsplashes.

Personally, I have always avoided subway tile because it reminds me of a truck stop restroom, or at best an ugly NY subway station - not something I consider attractive. When the tiles are placed vertically or in a chevron pattern, I find them less offensive. However, your space is so small that it won't make much impact no matter what you choose.

I totally agree with Lars

Vertical or herringbone. But not for the same reason. It sounds like you're looking for something a little bit different, and this might fit that bill.

Is THIS look still in style?

I have a ton of travertine tile, I think it's 18" tiles, I'll have to go measure...but I could cut it into 3x6 pieces....to do this look...then buy the center tiles.

No.

With the busy pattern in the granite, I always think it’s best to do a simple backsplash. You have such a small area to do however, you could probably get away with a herringbone design, even if it was just done behind the cooktop. The box tile design you show isn’t in style now.

The picture is really too small/far away to see anything.

personally, I would love to see some color. Maybe light rust colors.

It's a relatively small kitchen so I would keep it light and simple, no feature over the stove or accent tiles.

If it’s too fancy, or if they think subway tile is too utilitarian, they hopefully will use Command hooks, not try to hammer nails in tile (renters, 🙄), to hang stuff up.

If you put subway tile as a backsplash, be sure to seal the grout really well. I have subway tile as a backsplash and it’s really a pain to get all the grease that has spattered out of the grout.

If you feel it needs decoration, why not the odd decorative tile?

Not that it matters but I can't stand subway tile. It reminds me of creepy old hospitals (some I have worked in) and old delapidated subways. A simple design would be pretty and maybe keep your renters from nailing junk up on the wall.

I think regardless of what kind of tile you use for a backsplash you need to seal the grout well. I have subway tile (the horror!) and rarely does grease or any other flying liquid land on it. It's always been easy to clean and the grout looks like the day it was installed 11 years ago.

I simply don't like subway tile.

What about using small square tiles and installing them so they look like diamonds. Use something with a little color variation in the tiles.

Put me in the camp that doesn't care for subway tiles too.

Travertine hasn't been popular for at least 15 years. But if that is not important, and you have extra tikes, why not?

The design feature over the range is not currently popular. But again, it is all you like.

I don't think the irregular surface of the travertine is any better than just paint. It went out of favor due to the lack of a seal. It absorbs. Find a hard surface that won't take on what is splashed on it.

I have travertine walls in the shower and radiant heated bathroom flooring in my house, built in 2006. I just asked hubby..he says he's worried.

I just came home from looking at tile at Home Depot. Lots of little penny tiles...mostly grey or a hint of beige,...or white ...or solid black....nothing I want.

Then stopped at Habitat Restore. They had ceramic chair rail that looks like travertine, .04cents each...I got .26cents worth...to play with...see if I can come up with a design...in ceramic...instead of travertine.

Here's a photo I found. Ceramic travertine subway backsplash. It has a rustic look to me.

That ceramic travertine looks like a good choice for that kitchen. The variations in color make it look interesting without being busy. I think it would work with both your countertop and the cabinets.

I notice that there are only so many different patterns to these tiles, and so it would be best to rotate identical tiles 180° and avoid putting identical tiles next to each other, to create a more random look. In the photo, you can see two identical tiles stacked one on top of the other in the upper right of the photo.

Lars....your right....I'll have to move them around.

I'd pick creamy white subway tile

I can't not see the repeats in that tile, whether they're flipped or not. Also, probably not a popular opinion, but they look a little grungy for a kitchen.

I have cappuccino marble tile in a subway pattern. The grout lines are very fine, and the color variations in the tiles have a natural look. They were sealed front and back before installing, and then sealed twice more, once the mastic and grout were dry. I have had no problems with keeping them clean, and it's been 7 years. It was worth the extra cost of the prep.

That being said, they were not my first choice. That would have been a hand-made crackle glaze tile from California with a 6-month wait time and VERY expensive. I would have had to order way more than I needed, just to make sure that there were enough. Plus, the edge tiles did not fit my application. The marble ones had pencil tiles that fit the layout better.

More photos to give you the feel...of how "gold" everything is. Bright white doesn't go with anything...it would just be awkward in THIS space.

Nicole, I think the ceramic travertine in your pic will work. It's mountainy but not so tumbled that it looks Tuscan. From what I see in our real estate listings, a lot of Colorado decor is still pretty rustic.

@nicole__ I got a sample of the travertine-look porcelain tile shown in the photo you found from Tilebar. It turned out to be browner than what I wanted, but it was considered. Here's it is on Tilebar: https://www.tilebar.com/seville-pergamo-3x12-porcelain-subway-tile-for-wall.html

@deegw...Yes! Colorado decor is very rustic, lodge look...leather chairs sort of thing.

@catspa_zone9sunset14....Thank you for the tip! Darker isn't good...I'll pass.