Here is the other side of kitchen.

Look at Fireclay tiles. You want something to slightly soften all your sharp lines. I love your kitchen so far!

They have one like this in a ton of colors

Thank you. Would you go more white or grey? Bigger or smaller sized tiles?

Nice kitchen! Go with subway tiles BC have staying power that will not get dated ot tire of. Hex is in at the moment and I vote for the 2" size for your Kichen if you are going with this look. Herringbone is busier and more cuts to make. Penny is too much grout. In white.

I’d say medium sized tiles definitely not small and maybe grey. If you like the Fireclay you can order samples to test colors. They have tons of neutrals and a picket fence style that would look great as well. Not cheap but the quality is so nice. Has that handmade quality and soft finish.

Although I said avoid small scale this size and texture could be nice as well:

Will be solid and no pattern.

Re thinking this over. Can’t go wrong with subway, herringbone is nice too but will be more expensive, penny tiles are nice but a different busier look. Hex reminds me of bathroom......go and see each style already set up and go with your first “ like“ reaction

Pick up on that red kettle and warm up the space!

Wow it’s been awhile! Maybe you are hesitating because it looks so nice being clean and simple? What if you did a penny round strip just below the window so your wet zone is sealed up - but do it in a color that matches the window trim so it visually stays clean like what you have today. Then, I say explore a new paint color for the room....it could be a charcoal tone (which would help hide the TV), or a fun color that relates to your other spaces....just a thought.

I’d keep it simple. Larger subway tiles with a color of glass tile for accent.

Think that way it would compliment your opposing wall of white cabinets.

As others have said, Penny tile is too small (and has too much grout) for kitchen use. Using subway tiles sounds the best to me. Herringbone is just an installation change from horizontal and would add a lot of interest to the wall.
Be careful of the grout color you choose. Darker will make a bigger statement than a total match, like white grout against white tiles.
Gorgeous kitchen so far!

I have NEW RIVER WHITE granite, slightly different from River White but the same idea. My perimeter cabinets are white & the island is painted SW Naval. I had the same dilemma with my backsplash, trying to choose between whites, off-whites & grays PLUS I was adamant about not having subway tile. I was looking for something different. After months of searching, I ended up installing Daltile 6 X 3 glossy white subway tiles that had a slight handmade look. The grout is a soft gray as I wanted delineation between the tiles but do not like the look of dark grout. This Daltile also came in a grays that looked OK but I thought the gray would look dated way sooner than white subways. I love that the gloss adds some sparkle & texture to the kitchen as the cabinets & wall paint are "flat". I have a very modern house but neither the gloss nor the handmade look takes away from the modernity. This tile was relatively inexpensive, as subways often are, so it allowed me to splurge on accent tile over the oven. I'm a gourmet home cook...easy cleanup too with the slight gloss of the tile. I ended up choosing this particular shade of white subway by placing a variety of samples up against the wall & seeing what "white" made the most sense in terms of matching the River White granite.

Thanks everyone, will go subway route... shall I do that entire wall?

I would vote for doing the whole wall. It always depends on the tile you choose.
It’s really lovely. It will be wonderful when it’s completed.

Consider Fireclay tiles in 2 x 6 subway in Tusk with running bond pattern. The slightly irregular nature of handmade tiles will warm this space. This choice is $15/ sq ft. Or think of Heath soft white 2 x 6; from their in stock line; stacked pattern for a more mod look.

Yes for going all the way to the ceiling.

Maybe it's your photo, but it looks like that kitchen needs some waking up! I agree with another comment from decoenthusiaste. Use the red colour from the top of your pendal lamps and kettle for the backsplash, or at least with a backsplash using a touch of red.

I would go up to the bottom of the window with small white penny tile To be same colour as window to get a minialistic look. And I see that you have a SS backsplash where the fanhood is. The rest of the kitchen does not need any splashing....just where the sink is and where the fan hood is. I am with thinkdesignlive.

This way you will save of $15 sq ft for material and $8 sq ft on labour. And you can change the wall colour in the future as fashion dictates. this way you can avoid the subway look that I don’t think you initially liked. If you go all the way up the walls, you have to really like the subway tiles.

The backsplash is best if it exactly matches one of the light colors in the counters. A stainless refrigerator would break up the whiteness on the other side of the kitchen. You have it all: good working areas, gobs of storage for everything, great window....very attractive!

I agree with felizlady about installing a tile that matches one of the colors in the granite. I have that granite & unless you see it in person, you don't see the movement, pattern & variety of colors (grays, creams, shades of white) that are in it. In mine, they are even dots of a dark purple or burgundy. I tried unusual color combinations ( like the red tiles ) but everything just clashed horribly. Again the best thing to do is locate a variety of those cream, white & gray tiles & see what looks best against the granite. This granite is busier than the photos show so choosing a busy tile or a busy installation is just too much. I wasn't able to bring my tiles up to the ceiling but in your kitchen, that would work beautifully!

Samondragon ~ could I see your navy island with NRW? :-)