Simple white subway tile would be perfect with those dark cabinets!

It's a nice wall that has potential. Posting close-ups of the countertop would be helpful.

...and a close-up photo of the wall treatment around the window to show its colors.

If you are not considering any additional upper cabinets, you have some nice space for a couple of large paintings, which could also suggest a backsplash color.

Elle, here are the closeup pictures.

As you already have enough different materials/textures and color at play I wouldn't introduce yet another to the mix. Why not consider flanking the vent hood with stainless steel/white open shelves? (As that void in the wall needs something). But no more pattern or color here please! If you must have a backsplash consider just stainless here.

I like the idea of the open shelves flanking the hood. I also like the subway tile idea but you just don't want that much tile to the ceiling. It will be too much. You need something to break up that much wall space. Although the paintings would look nice, I would be concerned about damage from cooking and steam.

Agree that you have enough different patterns, so if you go for a backsplash, I'd keep it to a single color. White seems great, and you could maybe go with glass if you can't stand the idea of a plain color field. (See also, e.g., Floor & Decor for some great clear glass tiles with a little iridescence and/or texture.)

I like the idea of white glass. My husband likes the idea of stainless with shelves. I'm going to check out those glass tiles at Floor & Décor. Thanks for the info acm!

Okay, husband here. I went ahead and posted some additional pictures to help a little. I also cleared the countertop and took some distant images to show depth and size.

My suggestions:

stainless steel from counter to hood and have shelves on both sides of the hood using wood that matches the kitchen table. Then using big white gloss tile the rest of the wall to the ceiling.

or

A stainless steel strip about 6" or more along the whole stretch of counter. Above the strip color sheet glass up to the hood. Then on both sides of the hood put either wood, stainless steel, gray shelves or the same size stainless steel strip to compliment the bottom steel strip. Finally, tile the walls above the hood white gloss(can use similar pattern as white counter)

I will attempt to paintshop my ideas. Hopefully, enough approval from you guys may sway my wife's decision. Please comment good or bad on my ideas.

Thank you,

The who push all of the light treatment in the kitchen (including the ones in the drawer. ;)

Stainless steel sounds simple, but the amount you'd need would make it a focal point of your kitchen, and you already have so many beautiful features that you don't want people focused on the stainless steel instead! Subway tile is too traditional for your space and in the standard 3×6 size would give too many distracting grout lines, even if you use white grout. Look for large format tile instead, something with an overall pattern so the grout lines don't jump out. A tile like the following one could work, since it echoes the movement in your counters.

Great kitchen, by the way!

Update: I just completed the kitchen dining area with Air Stone if this can give even more insight.

Here is the before:

Yes, I know this is a pic of a bathroom and not a kitchen, but I like large format white subway tile with white grout. Perhaps up to the level of the bottom of the range vent. Up to the ceiling would probably be too much. Your kitchen looks great!

I would suggest opalescent/iridescent tile in a relatively monochromatic color scheme and coordinated with the surrounding finishes. I would adjust the ceiling lighting accordingly so it glistens and becomes a dramatic yet refined focal wall.

Update: With all the great ideas, we have come to the decision to remove the hood and fill the empty space with additional cabinets. I posted images of empty wall with and without the hood. Also, I gave the measurements to give and accurate layout canvas. So now we have the ability to use an under cabinet hood as an option.

Side note: After several tile samples, we found one we liked(located as the 2nd to last image with the measurements below the hood). My wife mention that we should create a new topic since this is now a little more than just backsplash so, keep an eye out for it.

Any suggestions welcomed.

Thanks in advance and thanks with all the wonderful ideas that everyone has given.

Update: This is what we did so far:

Now back to the original problem, the back splash. Any suggestions?

Another option is the Elle Cambria counter top that you see in the image.

What a beautiful kitchen you have! And that island countertop...*swoon*.

You have awesome stone walls in your dining area, so I think doing a single colored, large subway tile but maybe adding in some accent colors in either a trim or a stove splash to tie in that stone and also just adding some visual interest to the backsplash.