Thanks for the cat compliment lol - kinda upset I posted a messy kitchen pic but there's also a neat kitchen pic!

tilebar is my fave site! it is overwhelming. Is there a chance you will be getting a new stove without the back (coming up the wall)? that would give you a chance to showcase some nice tile work.

that is beautiful stone. I would not do anything dark gray.

first one that comes to mind is white thassos marble. herringbone or chevron (the 3rd one, stacked stone is avail at HD)

the herringbone is from floor and decor, the chevron is artistictile.com . and yes, the thassos also comes in a beveled subway tile! I like this type of pattern w/your stone. It's one pure color, so it won't compete w/your stone or it's movement.

this is the 3D one. they have it at HD but just noticed on tilebar they have an odd lot clearance sale of 9 bucks a sheet! super good price

the diff between thassos and carrara is thasso is pure white marble with just a tiny hint of gleam. carrara has the grays with the whites.

over the stove (if you get a new, non-back type) could be a little design w/something that brings out the dark stone. this is bardiglio w/the thassos.

and it won't be busy because it's over the stove, not the countertop. it just brings in some of the black. if you were to go w/plain old subway tile, I would for sure bring in something over the stove area.

Like the chevron because while it is interesting (matching grout) it isn't too much for the countertops. That stone is STUNNING! Wow! That is going to be gorgeous! Can't wait to see that. Glass I think might fight with the stone, sorry to say.

Thank you - is there a way to do a mainly white glass and then bring in some color with grey and perhaps another accent color? Yes, we'll tile the full height behind the stove - weren't thinking about this when we bought it :( ugh.....

Glass would fight with the stone - do you mean bc it's a glossy surface v matte?

Glossy, but also quite reflective. So, the reflective quality is what would fight with your stone, drawing the eye instead of letting the eye rest on the stone.

Thats definitely something I wouldn't have thought of. I was thinking a glossy backsplash would help with the northern exposure, Thank you!

I agree with Flo, try ceramic tiles that imitate fabric or wood in soft white or pale grey.

no textured tiles. and why does everyone thing gray would work here? it's a black stone w/warm wood cabinets. northern exposure. please, no gray.

marcommom, if you want glass, then do a matte or frosted, if you don't like the thassos idea. here is a 2x12 frosted white. and if light is an issue, install under cabinet lighting along the entire base of cabinets. makes a huge difference. I leave mine on 24/7

I love you all. Please come over and bring samples and decide for me :) I will give you wine. We do have full under cabinet lighting - bad pics :). I do like the thassos, love how you all pull this out of thin air and are so knowledgeable. I'm really enjoying your comments and input. Keep discussing ;) THANK YOU!

i was trying to find some kitchens with your granite. called black cosmos. here are few I've found to give you an idea of what backsplash looks like.

Kitchen · More Info

you could always run up a piece of the stone for behind the stove. look how nice it looks w/the black range!

this one has the glossy glass, in blue, which looks nice w/their cabs

Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. · More Info

Wauwatosa Georgian Colonial Kitchen Remodel · More Info

most of the kitchens w/this granite run it up the back wall. it's not a commonly used granite for the kitchen, so it's hard to find examples. the one above w/the white will give you an idea of what the thassos would look like. out of all of them, it's my favorite. You have a small backsplash area so it's not like it would be overwhelming.

my .2 cents.

So the granite place was calling it "Petra" and said they had a special deal with the supplier and only they get it. What do I know? The Cosmos is close but not so much of the gold. Someone at the yard said it looked like mountains covered with lava flow. Am I now going for texture instead of color?

Amazing - completely different insights than they were trying on us at the granite place.

you might have gotten a slab w/o the gold veining. I've seen Cosmos both ways. and different stone yards give them their own names, just to add more confusion! this one is named "Cosmic Black" or "china cosmos" . google black cosmos granite and you'll see yours come up.

no texture. unless you want to get the stone leathered. I've seen that on Cosmos and it's gorgeous.

What do you actually like? you've heard our opinions. what do you want?

Make your final decision after the counters are in.Seeing the big picture can make a difference. I would consider going with a white that is not a "bright" white. I think mine might be too cream with your countertop - it just depends on the finished look.

Here is cream with black - not sure how this will blend with the lighter colors of your stone:

Here is mine:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~57088087

I like my white appliances with my wood and white farm sink:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58830325

To decide between white and cream, I color matched the tiles to paint and painted a big part of the backsplash to see which color I liked best.

Here is another one - not sure if cream or white:

Thank you - if it's not some kind of Cosmos, it's definitely close. He probably named it something else to charge me more - but it was the mid-grade in his yard - so - it is what it is. YES, we loved the leathered, but he told us this stone was n/a in leathered. I'm fine with it. It's been too long and I am ready to take a hacksaw to the formica.

Question - wouldn't the off white, cream or ivory be a problem with our white appliances? I'm completely on the fence about phasing to stainless over the years. Another crisis.

Again, thank you.

Tilebar lets you buy five samples for $5 - if anyone is inspired by any other materials there, I'd love to order them and see how it works when the granite is installed! Thanks!

I think it works fine with my white appliances:)