Hi there- well, it appears to me from your choices of the honed stone surface in a dark color (is that granite?), the industrial looking faucet, and the sleek chrome knob you chose that you're after a semi-contemporary look? All good together, and all make sense. The only suggest for the knobs for the cabinets is that instead of the polished chrome, maybe you want to go with a brushed metal surface that won't get fingerprints that show as easily? The same knob comes in a brushed metal--- it looks great.

As to backsplash, that's super tricky because so much depends on whether you want a shiny surface that reflects light or maybe a more natural looking surface. Are you drawn to put a pop of color in, or do you want to remain more neutral? TMy choice with the dark counters and white cabinets would be a glass subway tile that's a translucent looking surface. A sort of green/blue would look amazing under those cabinets: https://www.amazon.com/Sample-Piece-Light-Green-Subway/dp/B00LBFWUBK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1509666349&sr=8-4&keywords=green+glass+subway+tile

Or maybe if you want to stick with something more organic looking than go this direction:

[https://www.houzz.com/products/princess-white-stacked-stone-split-face-6x18-quartzite-hardscape-5-pieces-prvw-vr~79370352[(https://www.houzz.com/products/princess-white-stacked-stone-split-face-6x18-quartzite-hardscape-5-pieces-prvw-vr~79370352)

This would look amazing (marble) but its a bit spendy.....

https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Carrara-Carrera-Arabesque-Lantern/dp/B071RQBRVX/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1509666632&sr=8-36&keywords=arabesque+tile

Gray is a mix of black and white, but paint colors always have another color mixed with the gray. A color mixed with gray is called a tone. Silver Satin is a yellow tone. Balboa Mist is an orange-yellow tone, i.e. it has a bit of red.

There is an online color search engine called Easy RGB that is helpful for finding similar colors. Under Find Similar Colors In Different Collections click on Try It Now. In the top line type a color number and name. Where it says All Collections click on the down arrow and choose a paint manufacturer to narrow the results. Then click on the Compare button. Similar colors will appear below.

#862 Cascade Mountains, #855 Cloud Cover, and #2140-70 Winter White are lighter but similar tones.

I like these polished nickel and black with your style. It matches your faucet with more of a modern feel.

or,,,some other type of two tone black/nickel pull. can you drill another hole for handles?

I like Gray Owl (you can also lighten it by %50 for a nice color) or even some of the darker shades

Pale Oak is up there w/Balboa Mist. try Seattle Mist too. bring home samples.

you have the perfect kitchen to do a cool backsplash. beautiful counters and white cabs deserves something nice in between. Plenty of glass, if you want. you could actually do large 6x12 glass tiles to save money on getting a back painted glass.

or try something a little funky

these hex matte black and iridescent black and grey glass tiles would look great w/your countertop

https://www.glasstileoasis.com/ebony-hexagon-black-glossy-matte-glass-tile.html

above are marble w/mirror dots. below is Baroque Bliss stained glass bars

or a black or white herringbone. love this black and white marble chevron.

https://www.glasstileoasis.com/contrast-wave-black-marquina-and-white-carrara-polished-stone-tile.html

ceramic, marble, even glass.

these are a 4x12 textured black glass. get some under cabinet LED lighting and these would look really cool, especially if you got the silver/black knobs.

with all the cool tiles out there, look at what you can get. you won't need to spend a lot since it's a small area. and these are easy enough to do yourself.

Don't overthink the knobs. Just go with one you like and get them. If you hate them, it's a small investment so you can change them out. Focus on things that are more expensive and less easily changed.

If you like the color you have upstairs why not just have it cut 50% for downstairs i do that all the time for clients. As for backsplash back painted glass is expensive to have done but can be quite a show stopper but I like large format glass subway tile too. This is a small space so you could go with a really amazing tile . As for knobs I think just a simple stainles one would work, IMO in a small space don’t have too much eye clutter it makes the space feel smaller.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. Some are in line with what I am thinking. I have considered the green/blue subway tiles. I really wanted some color for the backsplash although I love the hex black and gray. I will look at the pale oak and Seattle mist. I love gray owl but it's baby blue in my house. That's what everything tends to do so its been hard to find the right color.

The counter is actually laminate. We wanted to update the kitchen and keep it all under 5k. The countertop sometimes is a little too blue but overall looks like soapstone, especially when it's wet.