Just a suggestion because your kitchen reminds me of the kitchen I had in our last house....do you really want a backsplash? (which is fine if you do) But... we had a very simple, functional kitchen with maple cabs and soapstone counters, with 4" back guard or whatever its called and after a while of looking at tiles I decided my kitchen looked nice with just paint between the cabs and counter.

Hi Jenny, yes I would like a backsplash but it has been so hard to find something that works. I thought I had a glass/slate mosaic picked out but then I decided against it because the colors were off. I think the backsplash will also help with resale down the road.

Like me, you are lucky in that you don't have a lot of wall space. So you can get crazy expensive tile, and in the end it won't cost much!

Here's my subway vote. This is Lush glass subway tile in Almond; each tile measures 3" x 6". Dune is another pretty color, a tad lighter, but it would disappear into your paint color I think, so really what's the point?

Another option would be a glass mosaic tile. These days I am captivated by shell tiles. You may find them too busy with your island granite, but I'll post images below just in case...

Here is a link that might be useful: Lush

OK, that Almond above looks kind of wrong here - too yellow. But if you go for subway tile,go for glass subway tile - clean, cool, modern.

Anyway, here's the glass mosaic from Cove Finishings.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cove

Admittedly, painting the lily a bit, but it's fun to look.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shell

Maybe a simple ceramic with subtle shading just to give out another idea? I love these- too expensive for me but your space doesn't require as much tile:)

Here is a link that might be useful: Heath ceramics

Your kitchen is really lovely and it looks like you'll make a great choice for BS. However, resale w/o a BS in this case won't hurt because that type of change is simple. More difficult is the possibility that the BS you install is not to the liking of potential buyers. Taking it out would deter me, not putting one up in your kitchen. It really is lovely, really.

I personally would not worry about your backsplash affecting resale. Buyers these days find way more things than a backsplash to base their buy/ don't buy decision on.
Get what you like. It seems that the majority of GWers like a subway type tile for the backsplash. I think the glass and stone mosaic posted by EAM44 would look fabulous in your space. It would tie in the blacks and the browns in your kitchen as well as add a bit of pizazz.
There are some GWers who are great at photoshopping possible backsplases into your kitchen picture. Perhaps you could start another thread showing the suggestions from EAM44 and ask if someone would photoshop it for you if you don't know how to do.

I agree with all of you ladies in regards to resale. I doubt the lack of a backsplash would make or break a sale, but I would like to do something as it would give that finishing touch to the kitchen. I like the subway tile, it's simple and modern and would hopefully not be too much for most future buyers. My dilemma is what kind, where do I buy and how will they look. I lean towards a buttercream type color thinking it would compliment everything and also go with the red oak cabinets. Does anyone know of a subway with that coloring? I like the mosaic pattern but I don't feel the colors go well with the red oak cabinets.The cabinets seem to throw the color off of everything I choose. If I find something to go with the walls and countertops then it doesn't seem to go with the cabinets. This is why I am thinking maybe staying more simple is better. Please post pictures of any subways you think would work and any other suggestions. Photoshopping would be great if you know how to do it, unfortunately I don't. I would appreciate any help you can give me, as this has been an ongoing project with no outcome. Thanks!

I agree with all of you ladies in regards to resale. I doubt the lack of a backsplash would make or break a sale, but I would like to do something as it would give that finishing touch to the kitchen. I like the subway tile, it's simple and modern and would hopefully not be too much for most future buyers. My dilemma is what kind, where do I buy and how will they look. I lean towards a buttercream type color thinking it would compliment everything and also go with the red oak cabinets. Does anyone know of a subway with that coloring? I like the mosaic pattern but I don't feel the colors go well with the red oak cabinets.The cabinets seem to throw the color off of everything I choose. If I find something to go with the walls and countertops then it doesn't seem to go with the cabinets. This is why I am thinking maybe staying more simple is better. Please post pictures of any subways you think would work and any other suggestions. Photoshopping would be great if you know how to do it, unfortunately I don't. I would appreciate any help you can give me, as this has been an ongoing project with no outcome. Thanks!

Bixa - I think something like Chitown's backsplach with the right colors would work great for you.
I am modeling mine after what Chitown did. She used a row of subway, and accent row, and then more subs.

Here is what we are going to do - one row of 5x5s, a band, and then accent pieces over the cooktop.

For your kitchen, I would like to see more black in the accent band - brings in color - but not too much.

This is Grazia Rixi Crema (there are other color choices) with Beach band and copper accent pieces. The tiles came from Tile-shop in California. The accent pieces came from Pennsylvania.

PS - I loved the touch and feel of the Heath tiles - but never could get my color match...

You're absolutely right,you need some warmer browns in there, along with the cooler. I think this mosaic might do it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mosaic

Another option, Tierra Sera mosaic

Love that first mosaic - Could be done as an accent or as a whole unit. Maybe even a bit darker accent would work...

EAM44, I love that first mosaic. The colors look really good! The only problem is we have 33 sq.ft. To cover and at $ 27 something a foot that is a bit out of my price range. If somebody can photoshop it for me though I might bite the bullet and go for it. Maybe incorporating some mosaic in with a basic tile would work also, not sure if it would be cheaper but I think it would be.

You know, I really love that mosaic too, but I think if you were to cover the whole bs area in it, no one would ever look at your granite again. It's like having an Elizabeth Taylor bs with a Debby Reynolds granite. Maybe it's a good thing it's too expensive.

You could fill the field with a khaki color (combo of grey and beige) subway tile of the same thickness (1/8") and use stripes of this tile. It would certainly cut the cost considerably. That's the kind of thing you can work out by ordering samples.

Or, you could just pick a price point, and find a perfectly nice coordinating tile for the entire bs, and call it a day.

Ok - don't rush to judgement, but this tile really goes with everything you have - it's not Sophia Loren, it's more like Hayley Mills. It's unique but it won't upstage the other elements in your kitchen, and it's on sale for $8.99/sf.

Another find in the clearance section is a random bricks mosaic, like one of my earlier posts, but this one has warmer tones and is $14.99/sf. This has a bit of Tuesday Weld... I'll post below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pebbles

Random Bricks

Here is a link that might be useful: Warm Bricks

You know you are right about the stone one, the colors are spot on, unfortunately it's not for me. The second one is too light imo. I am thinking let's keep it simple, maybe a buttercream type colored subway. I have seen some mini's I like if I can find that color. This whole backsplash thing is driving me nuts, it shouldn't be this hard.

Does anyone know where I can find a buttercream or light goldish colored mini or regular subway tile?