Can we see a picture of the hood please?

Some solutions with curved hoods. My preference is usually to take the tile up to the ceiling if the curved hood isn't framed as built in cabinetry:

Having seen the curved hood pictures that feeny kindly posted, I would make your picture frame of tile chair rail moulding using straight lines, not curved. You'll have herringbone within the frame and use the rest of your 2x4" tiles run in standard fashion as shown in the Campbell Kitchen above. I agree with feeny that it would be best to carry the tile to the ceiling behind the hood.

This is not my hood I will post a pictue.

Wonderful, I would like to see it.

4 x 4 can work with the right design

I see more linear looks these days, making use of newer shapes and sizes.

Carolyn this is my hood and I'm going to attach pictures of two different tile selections.

Here is the other tile selection I hope you can see it. I'm having such a horrible time finding tile that matches and isn't too dark.

The first tile selection is a honed travertine with some pattern in it and the second tile is more plain and obviously is not honed.

Here is the hood.

With that granite I would use a travertine in a subway pattern either 2x4 or 3x6 - preferably the 3x6 as it's easier on the eyes...and do something really snazzy above the cooktop

here's another picture that has 2 x 4 subway for the field and something more ornate above the cooktop

Highly, highly suggest using honed, no matter what style or color. Keeping an unhoned backsplash clean would be a nightmare.
We have good ol' marble subway tile. We got a rocking great deal on an over-order ( way over-order!) return and couldn't be happier. Just make sure to seal the grout.

Good morning, missangel. You're right that your hood is different from the ones posted above and I think you need to curve the top of the stone chair rail moulding that will make the "frame" around the herringbone section below the hood. I prefer the honed tile but hope that the tile colors match the granite colors better in person than they do on my screen.

@Carolyn I'd love to send you some pictures so you can see the tile better. It seems like the color doesn't show up very well here.

Why not post some more pictures here? I doubt the photos would show up any better if you emailed me than posting them here. But the main thing is, does the tile look great with the granite in person? Ask 5 friends to come see it and tell us what they think. Tell them just to judge the colors and how they go together. We houzzers can take care of the rest of the problem.

Ok here goes more pictures and also one new selection of 3x6 travertine.

My house is electic, kitchen has lights that lean more toward modern. but the style of the cabinetry is probably a little more traditional or some say it looks victorian. I have transom windows on my 48" cabinets. My ceilings are 10 feet tall. Hard wood floor in dark walnut. Island is espresso. Kitchen table is more Restoration hardware style.

All of the backsplash tiles you have shown look slightly pink against your granite with the exception of the 3x6 travertine. Is anyone else seeing the pink?

Yes Carolyn I am seeing pink as well, except for the 3x6 travertine. Sometimes it's hard to tell colors from one computer to another but there is definitely pink showing which is not a good match for the granite.

I agree--a peachy pink tone comes up on my screen in every photo except the new 3x6 travertine. I don't think it is just the computers.

I see a slight peachy here too but not as much as the computer is showing. The granite has some yellowy, rusty veins running through do you see that? I'ved had an IMPOSSIBLE time finding a natural stone that matches this granite. Husband wants a natural stone. My thing is will this 3x6 stone shown above dictate a more tuscan style or old world kitchen? Looks like brick in this size and texture. If kitchen looks more tuscan and the rest of the house is a little more modern will this look out of sorts? Not sure what else I can do at this point. I've searched every tile place around here. I don't want some thing dark but more muted and neutral looking tile.

I see the rust, but it's not enough to convince me that your pinkish tile is right. Your 3 x 6 travertine will work and will look more contemporary if you lay it in columns instead of offset like bricks. It will look even better if you get the honed travertine instead of tumbled and again lay it in columns such as you see below.

Growing up in Boston, I know subway tile. It is a great product…it can be the center of attraction or become the back drop for fabulous counter tops. Easy to clean and rather generic…
"As far back as 1904, the year New York City's first white-walled underground transit stations were christened, "subway tile" was being hawked in catalogs. The easy-to-clean, tightly grouted 3x6s became a hit in American bathrooms and kitchens, and they remain popular today."

Thanks for all the comments, really appreciated.

You are most welcome and I hope you will let us know what you end up doing.

I will post a picture after it is done.

The other stone material is heavy feeling and competes with the top. Consider an opaque white milk glass 3/4" mini subway tile. It has depth and works with the white and greyish quartz field colors providing a texture to the wall that blends well with the granite top..

There are many products that would work if missangel's husband didn't insist on natural stone.

The newest 3x6 is definitely the best. As several people have mentioned, the others are way too pink!

Ann the other tile really isn't pink it's beige and not really a beigy pink. For some reason it shows up that way here. That being said if you knew it wasn't pink would everyone here like that one better? It doesn't have that rough travertine look.

I like that milk glass very pretty. Carolyn what other options would you have suggested other than subway tile? Husband says white tile would look too stark against those white cabinets. What is your thought? Didn't order the tile yet.

Yes, that would be fine if it's not really pink. However the travertine should be available with that same smoother look.

I'm certainly not seeing it in person, but it sure looks like pink tones compared to the overall tone of the granite. Sometimes I think pictures are actually helpful in that way and show things that we don't pick up in person. Please wait for Carolyn's suggestions for some other things to consider. Very nice kitchen BTW!

I was at Daltile yesterday and saw some nice crackled 3 x 6" glossy subway tile with a slightly irregular surface which made them look expensive and handmade. They're not inexpensive but look a lot more than their $15 price tag. They are called Earthen Art Folio and also come non crackled. The colors I came home with were both off whites, AT12 and AT13.

You'll definitely need an off white that blends with both your granite and your cabinets.

We don't have Datile in Detroit so I guess I wont be able to check it out. Sounds very nice.

Dal tile is a brand you can get through any tile contractor. They do not sell direct to the consumer.

A lot of companies hand make 3 x 6" subway tile. I picked up a sample on Friday that was made by Mediterra. But the point is that 3 x 6 handmade tile can make a beautiful backsplash for you and the companies that make them usually offer 2 or 3 different whites to choose among.

Carolyn I convinced my husband to forget the stone and now were going with 3x6 white subway tile! Yea! Doing a herringbone above the stove also. I will post pictures when it's done.

Sounds nice. The herringbone sounds good, too. Will you set it off with a moulding?

Yes. not sure if I should do 2x4 or 3x6 subway. I really like the herringbone pattern in 2x4 just not sure what to do for the field tile with that in mind.

Usually when you do a 3 x 6 herringbone above a stovetop, you put it into a square or rectangle surrounded by a trim piece, such as a "chair rail molding", and then switch to another shape, such as your 4 x 4's, or even use the same shape, as the field tile.

I would prefer that you use the 3 x 6 as your field tile just because we're not using much 4 x 4 field tile these days.

Your hood is so similar to mine! I used travertine beveled subway to me it looks more expensive. Mine is off white. I am looking for something to put on my hood. Since mine is also curved. Thought about a custom black wrought piece. I will send you a picture of mine

I decided to use 3x6 subway as the field tile. Also used 2x8 in a herringbone pattern over the stove with a chair rail around it. Any thoughts?

That should work quite nicely, manyfran.

Thank you Carolyn.

You are welcome, missangel! We'd love to see photos when you're finished!

Everyone has great suggestions. I would only say that if you are a very particular person, exacting etc. you may not want to do tumbled tile. Your hood feels very traditional to me. A subway tile in any neutral color will carry you for a long time. I am a realtor as well as our family owns a contracting company so I think in my mind I always think safe but elegant is timeless and nothing you will need to change should your sell in the next 5 years! But you also need to be really happy while you are there. So you should do what makes you happy. A marble subway with an accent would be very pretty. If you decide on a square tile, I think that a 6 x 6 in a brick pattern can be attractive.

I find the herringbone and the subway tile too busy for my eye. I like the softness of the 4 x 4 or even 6 x 6, especially in a small kitchen! With the subway, either 2 x 4 or 3 x 6, my eye just goes horizontal, and I have low ceilings. So a square tile, or even a rectangle such as a 4 x 6 installed with the longer side in the vertical, gives the feeling of height as the eye doesn't travel horizontally. In a small space, this also allows for the continuation of the square, as in the panes of a nearby window. The square is an even shape and so allows for a pure, restful look which the eye doesn't fight with - especially with a Carrara marble. It will always be classic as well.