We have narrowed it down to two backsplash options, glass & stone or glass, stone and steel. Any thoughts?

I would rethink the busy mosaic, especially if you plan to sell in the next 3-5 yrs. Are these two splashes the same? I would say no to both because they are extremely busy and dated.

Check out more into on each picture for addtional pictures possible....room looks so very nice just not finished.

Install the proper under cabinet LED light and your problem will be solved.

I think it looks great, but I think in this situation less is more with the backsplash. I would pick out one color and keep it clean and simple. A light grey or blue. You could do subway (arranged in a variety of ways) a single color mosaic or something in a more unique shape.

PS - if you take a piece of your stone, a
Cabinet door, and a paint swatch into a good tile store in your area they will usually have someone who can advise. Just be up front about your budget. You may pay a little more than you might at Home Depot or the like but not always.

Wouldn't use either of those backsplashes. You don't have that much so find something more light and reflective. That is your best bet. Perhaps a wavy type.

How about a gloss penny tile in a light cream or gray with matching grout.

How about a white textured tile that forms a pattern. White would take away a lot of the factors you are concerned about, bring in light and also provide some reflective quality. You don't have a lot of space to tile. Here is an example.

Then with a lighter wall color, perhaps bringing in a very slight tint of blue or gray would tie all the elements together. It really looks nice, and it is always difficult when expectations are off from reality. I would bring some samples to the space and test out if a white or near off white like a "bone" would do the job for you.

nope. those little squares will not make that look better. besides being somewhat out of date, they have too much going on with them to look good against your stone.

floor and Decor near you? if not, you could order these online.

this one looks like it's against the same granite your have:

https://www.flooranddecor.com/deco-glam/arabesque-fleur-gray-water-jet-cut-glass-mosaic-100032630.html#start=47

white crackle glass, this comes in many colors too.

kinda digging this color https://www.flooranddecor.com/tile-decoratives/villa-heirloom-aqua-porcelain-tile-100183334.html#sz=180&start=141

the color would look great w/your cabinets

flo mentioned ss. here is linear stainless steel in a brick.

i know this one may look a little busy, but the colors and the stone is perfect

https://www.flooranddecor.com/metallic-decoratives/willow-creek-ii-metallic-mosaic-100255041.html#sz=300&start=1

one last one,,,,stainless steel arabesque. click on it to enlarge. it's really pretty

Allen and Roth ceramic tile in the color PEARL...in a herringbone pattern?

pearl might be nice. your photos are small so can't really tell about the colors.

The Allen & Roth tile is nice, but also consider a white subway tile. Very timeless and will brighten up the lkitchen.

I would take white poster board and cut it to fit your back splash area to see if white is the way to go. If not, then I would do the same with gray (may have to go to construction paper for that color). This will give you a visual as to what way to proceed.

If you plan on keeping the kitchen cabinets as they are but want a bit more updated and modern feel to your kitchen, a couple of things I'd focus on accomplishing (depending on your budget of course):
1. The countertop looks actually great, just unify the kitchen look by adding a back splash in a similar stone tile and lay it in subway style
2. Paint the walls in medium tone grey (compliments your appliances and the stone)
3. Consider your light fixtures. Over the island they probably could also hang a bit lower too. Maybe industrial fixtures look in black?

Thanks everyone! I did go and get samples of numerous white backsplash options, and I don't think it looks best with the cream colored tile on the floor. As for a grey backsplash, I don't know if it looks great with the cupboards. We need a backsplash that works well with the golden color of the cabinets and will bring out more of the beige/browns in the granite. Steel may pull it all together!

I think if you mean stainless steel you are on to a good choice! Maybe that arabesque that Beth posted above.

Backsplash is harder to change then wall paint. Consider if your wall paint is reflecting darker colors into your counters. Many of the newer paint colors were developed to be used with white or darker woods. Those of us with mid tone wood cabinets just need to wait out the current trends and go with what looks best with our cabinets.

I really like this combination of cream tile with the BM Dry Sage paint color. I would lighten the paint color in this kitchen a tad, but I am a light wall color person:

You could also go with a cream color that pulls out a tone in the floor and in the stone. I personally am NOT a fan of the stainless tiles. I think they will go out of style and be polarizing when trying to resell. Ceramic subway tiles and arabesques will never be anything but classic and tasteful.

Your lighting within your home plays a big role with your granite coloring. What looks good in natural lighting will look different in fluorescent, incandescent, halogen and tungsten lighting. It's always best to be able to get an actual sample of the product you're planning to use and see it within your own home prior to installation.

If you think you hate your granite now just wait until your tiny mosaic tiles are installed. Too busy, too dark and this will not make a good compliment to the counters.

maybe this will help a bit

The pearl subway tile suggested would look nice with those cabinets. Also there are some white subway tiles like daltile is not as white so that would be classic as well. But don't be hating on that granite! It's beautiful!

I am back to light gray glass subways. The granite is really pretty, so hang in there.

ok, here is the Pearl..

You also might want to go back and look at the Carrera ceramic I posted a little bit ago. That is light, but has the gray veining which would complement your granite without distracting too much. You can get the ceramic "look a likes" or the natural marble Carerra. Since you don't have a lot of "backsplash" you could do the marble, if you don't mind the bit of sealing and maintenance with marble. Backsplash isn't as bad ad countertops in marble.

Beth, maybe you could post some Carrera subways for them?

carrara with that granite??? no way. I'll do it, but I don't think it would work

Aww common, humor me! lol

hah! I tried but it won't let me copy that photo. need a source other than Houzz.

How about this.

How about these? First one is Suite Glass - Champagne, the second is transitional taupe hexagon, and the third subway tile in earth

the 3rd one looks nice bad picture tho do u have a flash?

Is this better?

Love seeing these updates! Can't wait to see the finished product

Do you have the name of the granite, for reference? Your latest samples with one-color subway tiles are on the right track, but seem too dark. Do you have any options in a lighter, cream color?

Yes, there was a lighter subway tile I should have grabbed.... the granite is called Himalaya white granite

Would this work?

is element sand the one you are holding? (yes, pic is much better!) I can't really tell if it goes w/the granite from this angle. what do you think? I think the size is good.

the lighter one in the last pic might go a bit better. the one you are holding looks a bit green maybe?

The tile I am holding is earth, I will grab the lighter one (element sand) tomorrow

The element Sand looks quite nice. It's worth trying a sample. I just google imaged your granite and a couple pics came up in a totally different direction - charcoal grey tile backsplash! That might not be the look you're going for, but I wanted to suggest it just in case. You actually have several charcoal accents in your room already - appliances, bars tools, the small shelf (?) on the wall. I think it could look super chic.

Think you are on the right track with the subway tile on the right but agree about going lighter.

If you want to make it look a little more elevated / modern than a standard subway you could go with one of the elongated ones. Did for my bathroom and love it!

I like the granite!

PS I am not sure if you have a dealer near you but I ended up using Sonoma Tilemakers Tile in my Bathroom remodel. They have a TON of soft, neutral colors in their assortment and the hand glazing provides a slight color variation as light hits the tile that is just gorgeous.

https://sonomatilemakers.com/ConceptBoard.aspx?prod-line-id=6&IsConceptBoard=True

It is a very soft grey, but here's the tile in my bath. LOVE it!

I'm wondering if some of these selections are starting to get a bit too cool or taupey against the cabinets. So I'm throwing this one in the ring which brings together the coloring of the granite and cabinets?

I agree with many of the suggestions. I would replace the side chairs and remove the plant stand and side cart as they are making your room look dated. I would also replace the chandelier. I like your table and china cabinet. You can consider painting your china cabinet. I

I like the subway tile in Earth. Maybe try to match glass pendants to the granite colors? Lighten up the wall paint slightly--pull a beige out of the granite. Add a dash of bold, contrasting color that enhances the granite with three well-spaced items, e.g., the wall art, the tea kettle, a large fruit bowl on the island, the pendants, a valance, etc.

you're on the right track.

would like to see these newer samples laid down against the counter, just to get a sense of that match -- they all seem nice with your cabinets. did you pick up that Pearl from Lowes (I think)? it's a nice creamy taupe color too and looks much richer in person than online.