Thank you so much! My biggest worry is that my white cabinets make the kitchen too white and I need some color. Do you think I could do subway around back splash and a mosaic up above range and around chimney?

You have color in your countertop. What are your floors?

No I wouldn't do a mosaic up the range unless you're looking for it to compete with your granite.

My floors are a dark brown distressed look. Thank you for your input!

Maybe you could do the plain tile in a slightly different pattern by the range? So brick pattern subway all over and chevron by the range? Though, honestly, the counter is beautiful, it will have things on top of it that are pretty, you don't need to highlight a section of backsplash to indicate that your cooktop area is a focal point. You have a hood that makes a lovely hearth statement, IMHO- plus the placement of the cooking area shows its importance to the design. To my way of thinking adding a complicated backsplash there is akin to signage in architecture- you only need a sign when the design lets you down.

You have a lot going on with your granite. Keep your backsplash simple - plain ceramic tile. Your white cabinets are going to look fresh and bright - that's a good thing! Wait until everything is installed and then select your backsplash - you really need to see the things with the most "mass" (countertops and cabinets) in place to get a feel for this. There are so many busy kitchens out there - the owner wanted everything to "make a statement" and the statement ended up being the Tower of Babel!

Thank you so much for your advice. Only problem is we are on a time table and I have to order backsplash before granite is installed. Yikes! I am leaning towards white subway. Clean and simple.

I think white subway will be too stark and might not match the cabinets. How about something like this? It's the color I had in my old condo and it looks like it will nicely pick up the colors in your granite. Of course you need to get a sample to be sure. Here's how the tile looked with my typhoon bordeaux granite.

Otherwise, I'd check with fireclay tile as they have lots of colors. Not cheap though.

Pretty!

I have Sienna Beige granite, and went with a olive green matte subway tile called Balsam Green from Sonama Tileworks.

Although I love it, I often wish I would have gone with a plain cream subway tile that blended with the colors in my countertop.

My kitchen often looks a bit dark.

But rest assured, Sienna Beige granite is georgious and you will love it.

Most will suggest that you do not rush the backsplash. Wait until the granite is in the cabinets are in and the lighting is in. Then get samples to view them in the space in the light. Why would you need to get the backsplash before the granite goes in? Backsplash is last.

Look at MSI antique white and Morning fog.

To heck with the time table! Wait until the countertops are installed and then select your backsplash! You're going to have to live with this for many years and it is simply not a decision to be rushed, regardless of anyone's time table.

I 2nd (third?) the suggestion of waiting on your backsplash. Also, I do like a bit of interest, and cpartist's suggestion of something not quite plain ceramic looks good to me.

Wow, two lovely examples of granite! read_more_books, I'm practically drooling, your granite is delicious!

We are nearing the end of our kitchen renovation (White Cabinets, Bianco Antico granite) and went with a subway tile backsplash in a lighter taupe shade found in the granite. I, too, was afraid that white subway tile would make everything "too white" and I'm happy with the little bit of color that the backsplash adds.

Rita suggested - "I would pick a plain, ceramic tile in a light color that matches the lightest color in your slab- some creamy white."

I like this idea, although I would do the darkest color in your granite slab. A solid dark tile will "pop" from your cabinets and highlight the granites beauty. You mentioned you're worried about too much white.. Well, light or white subway tile will definitely be a lot of white. I know white subway tile is trendy, but I just don't see it with your granite. Dark/simple tile and absolutely no pattern. Keep it simple. (This is what I did in my kitchen. My granite is busy too and it looks great).

Have fun!! :)

Thank you for all of the advice. Love the pictures!