BTW, I'm trying to start the TTK club (Two-tone kitchen) to compete with the OTKers (One True Kitchen - all white cabs w/black counters and white subway), so welcome to the 'right' club! ;-) Majra's kitchen is a great example of using a backsplash with some color/variation in it, while still keeping it light. I don't know about matching exactly or not. I think it depends on your cab color and your space. Mine match almost exactly off the wall, but up, there is a ton of blue in them and some areas match and some totally don't - and it all depends on the light in the room at any given time. Your best bet is to get a few different samples and have them ready for when the counters go in. Then you can pick the right one. And don't let the contractor/tile people/whomever rush you. Find the one you love!

Another day, another tile! Cream subway tile... It makes the granite go very cream and the cabinets even more so... Husband isn't a fan of subway tile, but I really like how light it makes everything. I wish it was in a more matte tile, but thinking the glossy will reflect light and keep everything bright. Thoughts?!?!

This is the point in the process where you pull out the inspiration images. There are a lot of DOs out there. Also a few DONTs - like the last image below. You’ll want to choose a neutral, white, light grey or deep grey, OR a neutral or cool saturated color - deep neutral navy for example. What I would recommend is that you find a look you like, then let us know your budget for tile in $/sf. I don’t love the tile over the cooktop in this image, but the white subway tile is lovely. The grey goes beautifully, but be aware, it abuts the perimeter counters which are obviously a different material. Beautiful contrast with this tile in a deep grey. Another white tile - classic. Really the only mistake you can make is to choose a busy tile, like the absolutely wrong inset in this image.

It’s hard to tell which is which if they’re not both in the picture! I think I like the white better. The gray tone seems a bit off with your counter. Although one thing I learned with this counter is it is impossible to photograph. We’re waiting for our cabinets to come in for the other half of our kitchen, then we’ll be able to get the counters done there, then try to decide on a backsplash. I don’t want to decide until all of that is installed. But my favorite so far I think has been a whiteish marble that had almost zero veining. I think I like something that’s basically just on the line between white and gray.