If you choose granite or quartzite for your counter, you can use the same material as your backsplash.

I personally like using your countertop.

It looks more sophisticated.

@AnnKH yes, this is what I mean by option 2, which I believe we can do with the quartz we’ve already chosen (unless I’m missing something — please tell me if so!). I still want some tile because a) I don’t like that look aesthetically for very large spaces and b) cost wise, it’s a big enough space (65 sq ft) that continuing the countertop material for the entire backsplash would be far far more expensive than tile.

The kitchen backsplash can be made of large tiles or quartz, which will look better in white.

I would not want to do #2 unless you did a strip around the whole kitchen and didn't add another backsplash. Also, be aware that quartz can scorch if subjected to heat, so you may not want to run that behind your range (you may not have room to do it anyway - usually ranges have clearance requirements at the back so you'd have to check your specs).

If you decide on tile, wait until you can get a large sample in your space and see it with your counter installed.

ETA also at this point I think you've gone too far to use the full slab as backsplash anyway. That needs support in the wall.

When you calculate the cost of tiling the space it includes the labor cost including grouting. If you use slab, that labor is greatly reduced or eliminated if the counter guys do the install. At least the cost of using a separate contractor is gone. Quartzite is all natural stone. And super hard. Quartz is 66% quartz and 34% resin. That's why a hot pan will scorch it.

There's another option--use the 2.5" tile under the window without an apron. You use a full tile where the tile sits on the counter top and a partial tile above it. No one will notice the partial tile, as it will be blocked out by the window sill.

Lots of photos show the Fez tile installed vertically. If you did that, you could cut 2.5x5 tiles to 2.5x4 to fit under the window stool and use full, 2.5x5 tiles on either side of the window. Of course, you'd have a row of 2.5-wide tiles under the window stool which you may not like.

That layout above looks fairly modern to me, and the OP has a home dating from 1905. I believe she wants to honor the period in which the house was built. I think either the 2.5x5 or the 4" square installed offset would be a traditional way to lay the tile.

Wow, this is all SO helpful!! Thank you all. Diana, those pictures seal it for me — you’re totally right that we could just do the 2.5 with no apron. And all of these convinced me not to do the counter up to the sill.

I think we’ll wait for final tile decision until the counters go in but this is so helpful to rule out the quartz option!! Thank you all again!

Diana Bier Interiors, "That layout above looks fairly modern to me, and the OP has a home dating from 1905."

Well, the house may have been built in 1905 but the kitchen pictured in the first photo looks quite modern.

Yes, it does, but that's just a rendering. It all depends on what A G wants--a traditional look or a modern look.

And A G, most of the time you can wait until everything is in place before you select and install a backsplash. My kitchen was completed and I used it for about 8 months before I got around to getting the backsplash installed! The shoemaker's kids...

All so helpful. Yes, rendering more modern than what we hope it looks like IRL. Thank you again!