I agree that a glass subway would be great but I would do a white. I think with the gray counter you'll go crazy trying to find a gray tile you're happy with. I wouldn't set it in a herringbone or anything like that since you want it to disappear. Just use running bond or something similar.

Because you have all matte surfaces in your current materials, I do think I would add something shiny somewhere. That could come from your backsplash or it could come from your hardware. So for hardware I would do polished chrome or stainless if you choose a matte backsplash, and satin chrome or stainless if you choose a shiny or glossy backsplash. I would do knobs on the cabinets and the shallow drawers and pulls on the larger drawers. Even if you do pulls on the cabinets, I would definitely not put pulls on the shallow drawers - there is very little center space on them and pulls will take up too much room and make them look crowded.

You have a really lovely kitchen - such a nice job!

One other note regarding hardware. It looks like you have some pendants going in. When choosing cabinet hardware, make sure that the style and finish works with the pendants. Doesn't have to be matchy matchy but should coordinate.

Sorry, forgot to mention my OCD was kicking in on the gold back door hardware.

Lwfrony, thank you for your suggestion. I never thought it could take time for me to decide about things. I am struggling with many things. Finally I came this far. I will definitely use knobs on the shallow drawers. Thanks

Suzq53, I have kind of OCD also. It started bothering me also:)) That door is our old brown sliding one. We came this far, and will change the hardware on that too.

Kristine Johnson, is that your kitchen? Beautiful

Agree about some nice hardware.

as for a splash, this one is similar to yours: (dark perimeter. ignore the tile over the stove)

if you did a gray subway.....(I'd do a gray grout)

the backsplash doesn't have to be plain in order not to stand out. you want it to compliment everything. If you really want it to blend in, the pick a dark gray or a dark slate tile. (again, no white grout. I'd use a medium gray color)

black slate, and basalt below: you could lay these in a regular subway pattern.

@Beth H nice suggestions as always. And Nikki you're doing great - you're almost there! I truly do know how exhausting this is!

Also for Beth H - hop on over to the active DD threads and find the one about the Oatmeal Glaze cabinets. The OP has a significant challenge and really needs a good eye - I know your help will be very much appreciated. Sorry Nikki for commenting on someone else's post here but now that Beth is on here I wanted to get her attention :).

lwfromny,,,i did. sigh. she's being obstinate about those cabs. nothing will look good!

Beth H, I like the pulls on the first and the forth pictures. Should I use same size to all the drawers? Some knobs or not?

After seeing many white kitchen pictures I think it is a good idea to have some nice and timeless backsplashes. In this case do you recommend glass or tile? White, light gray or something else? Thanks

Nikki I like the first pulls too! Be careful about pulls like the fourth - they look good but pulls with open ends like that can be a pain in the butt because they tend to catch on your clothes. I used to have some and hated them.

Beth do you really think Nikki can use pulls on the shallower top drawers? The trim on them takes up so much space that I just don't see a pull as a viable option. Fingers will have virtually no space to get behind the pull. I would be really concerned about the wear and tear on the drawer with fingers having to make contact with the trim every single time the handle is used.

I'd go w/a nice tile. unless you want more of contemporary vibe, then do the glass.

normally the same size pull is used. your choice to mix in knobs. either way works.

I like the handles in the first pic. (they won't catch your clothing!) you could use the knobs on the doors with them.

look at some of the tiles on tilebar.com. Look at the Lancaster series, and some of the crackle glass,,,,and under shape, look at the Arabesque.

@ Nikki no, they were just suggestions that I thought would go well for your kitchen . :)

My countertop is Cambria Summerhill , I went with white Hexagon backsplash mixed flat and 3 D tiles. Just to get away from plain white subway tiles, I am quite happy with the result.

These are the tiles samples I have now.

And some more

I have a feeling the last one will be outdated faster.

no to the last...for sure (although, the colors seem to be ok)

. the others look like you're trying too hard to match the countertop but just not quite getting it. first pic, far right, is the closest match.

do you prefer glass?

these are 2x8 Loft in a sage color, tilebar.

this is a plain, white glossy glass tile

A white Zellij would be beautiful. Special but not focus stealing.

Love the glossy white glass with matching grout in herringbone. Would be interesting, different and not overly standout.

I am going to have Cambria Britannica installed also and have looked at a lot of white and light gray tiles for backsplash. This one went really well with it and may work with your perimeter Quartz.

Finally I decided on the pulls, and almost finished. Now time to focus on the backsplash. Now I like the idea of having nice but elegant look on the backsplash.

beautiful. love your flooring and the other choices.

now that I see what you have finished, I take back my other choices! No glass subway tile. this space is too nice for that. Do a marble of some sort.

a nice carrara marble backsplash would be my vote.

this chevron w/the small line of Mother of Pearl, is gorge!

I mean,,,look how well this goes w/the gray counter

or another MOP shape

Thanks Beth H. I really appreciate your help. This renovation is taking so long time, and sometimes I feel like I am heading to the wrong direction.
Where should Stop the backsplash by the window side? I know I'll put all the way up (between the cabinets) cooktop side of the wall, but what bout the window side. Level with the cooktop side or go under the window? Thanks

Did you ever consider reclaimed wood for a Backsplash, to match your flooring or a light color to fit in with your island & cabinets ? I think that would look ideal, natural, finish the look completely, tie it all in together !!! It really depends on the look your going for !! As for knobs &/Or pulls. I prefer (mostly) pulls.

Here is a picture, Ex. If your going for an elegant look, certainly this will not work !! Have fun re-modeling !!

Nikki, if it was me, I'd do the entire area around the window. the whole wall. I'm a tile person and like the looks of it. you have the perfect wall to do it. Otherwise, you don't have a lot of backsplash and would really be cutting it in half if you stop at cabinet level.

The other thing I would do is wire the area above the window for a sconce or two.

look at the sconces in these two pics. you have the perfect window to do this.

trying to find some pics of tiling around the window and onto the wall

I hope I've posted enough pics to convince you to do the wall in tile! trust me, it will look great.

have you thought about cement tile? lwfromny did cement in her kitchen and it looks lovely. this particular tile would be perfect around you window and on that wall. here is one w/gray and white

I like the lucite handles (with brass or gold too)

Listen to Beth! She knows what she's talking about. Her ideas elevate the kitchen from typical to classic with oomph.
You'll never match the gray tile correctly to the countertop. Glass looks cheap, it's trendy and too shiny. The marble or cement backsplash will be gorgeous. Marble is classy and classic; the cement might look over the top but it's really quite timeless when you think of Spanish or Moroccan tiles.

A couple of more things (I can't sleep!)...I agree with tiling the entire wall around the window. I think you have enough lighting that you don't need to wire for sconces (and another expense).

Ignore the mess:) I have 9 spot lights oven the kitchen section and three pendant space over the island.
Dining table section is small, but still can fit 68" there. Here are some pics. I like tile up to the feeling. How far should I go with it? Stop but the sliding door?

Pictures

I did the pulls, looks fine. The other question is should I use backsplash for the coffee $ wine section?

Dining table will be where the patio chairs are now. Just a expandable pedestal table, 4 chairs and a bench by the wall.
For the island 3 nice counter height stools.

I would tile the wall above the beverage center up to the cabinets. For the window wall, go up to the ceiling and stop on the right hand side where the counter ends. Don't go all the way to the door. It's looking great!

ditto what lw just said. perfect tile placement.

Do you have or can you get more of the cambria to use for the bar splash? I think it would look great just on the back up to the cabs. It would give a vertical view of it that you don't have now and be a change up from the kitchen look.

Okay, little problem. The upper cabinet by the window is zero to wall. There is not enough space for tile all the way up. At this level where should I stop the backsplash?

show a pic of what you're talking about

Blue line or red line?

I have an option to remove the 2" backsplash. Do you recommend to do that? Only cleaning is an issue.

Maybe this picture is better. I have been checking pictures for the backsplashes, and 99% of them has no backsplash over the 2" counter backsplash, so I am thinking maybe it is better to move that. Then I need to pick a darker grout to maintain easily don't I. Any suggestion?

Can you clarify what you mean by "zero to wall"? I think you're saying that far right cabinet will not open if you take the tile on the sink wall up higher than the bottom of that cabinet. Is that correct?

I prefer the red line with matching countertop material.

lwfromny, that means it doesn't have enough space if I use some tiling for it.

please explain why you can't go up around the window?? you said there is zero space? where? that's the pic I wanted to see. where is this zero space between cab and window?

and yes, if you can remove that 2" strip, do so. it will look wayyyyy better.

Did we decide on a tile yet?

Beth H, here is the space picture.

And, here are the samples so far I found. DH likes white, but I cook a lot and the cleaning could be an issue. I don't want too dark also.
Should I keep the 2" backsplash I already have or not?
Any suggestions?

We just completed our kitchen and I wanted the herringbone pattern but went with a 3 x 12 white subway instead. Also I have the champagne knobs and pulls.

@Beth H., I see! I'll remove that 2" strip.

Brenda Waggoner, nice kitchen! I guess you have white grout. How is the cleaning? I cook Mediterranean food with latch of tomatoes and pepper paste. I wonder if that will be okay.