I am an expert in 3d modeling and could model your kitchen from the info you have there. I could then put backsplash ideas in the model.

Everything will go out of style at some point, so install something you love and will enjoy looking at every single day for year to come.

Have you looked through the thousands of photos on Houzz? Go through them and save the ones that catch your eye, in your ideabooks. Review the photos you saved and look for common elements that you liked.

Visit tile stores and borrow sample boards to bring home and check out in your kitchen.

White subway is certainly timeless. Boring, but timeless. I love the sleek look and ease of cleaning of a back painted glass backsplash. It goes well with a slightly modern leaning kitchen and clean esthetic like you have.

I'd continue the countertops as the backsplash.

I agree with Rawket Grl about the modern feel and clean lines of this kitchen. I would 100% NOT do white subways! What about a herringbone or chevron pattern? I could see the sharp angularity working well with your other choices while still providing some contrast to all of the horizontal and vertical lines you have.

oh heavens,,no white subway!

you have a kitchen w/more of a modern edge to it. Do you like color?

If you want white, then do something like this,,,

or something like the Minnow, (these come in 75 colors)

Bevel Hex. This is Earl Gray marble,,,but also comes in over 50 different glaze colors. (encore ceramics. beautiful tiles)

Encore also has these Metallic glaze colors,,this is two of the darker ones in a 2x9 chevron. Encore,,,Quail Gloss blend.

CleTile. cement. I also think this would very cool w/your kitchen design.

I also think if you want some color, doing a light blue, or blue/gray glazed ceramic, would work well. This is WalkerZanger Ashbury.

I'm open but I want to find a good balance between modern and yet something that won't look too feminine. I know my husband won't be a fan of the patterned options. I like herringbone personally, but I am worried it will go out of style.

I thought I did give you balance with modern and gender neutral...

herringbone is all over Europe dating back centuries. It won't be going out of style. Subway tile layout hasn't been a thing in the kitchens up until the last decade,,,so,,,there's that too.

this is a glazed brick in a herringbone (they have it in white. Cadenza tilebar)

or do it in gray. I would do the longer tiles as opposed to the 3x6 size. these are 2x8

or do a larger hex mosaic. 2" or more.

I like the look of the long herringbone tile! Gives the white tile a bit more impact. I have found a very light grey tile which would pull the grey from my countertops.. Decisions decisions... My countertop is just so bold that it is making my decisions slightly harder in my opinion. We are also having a pot filler/pasta tag installed over our stove top which I think will give that area a little more impact.

search 'backsplash tile w/Brittanica countertops' to give you an idea

Beth H. : I have... they are always white. Almost always subway tile or the same Britannica countertop as the backsplash.

I agree with everyone, subway tile, herringbone, penny tile is always fresh

i posted three that were not. , look above. first one is the longer gray tiles

white subway tile w/this countertop is so overdone,,,you can do anything else.

here is one w/a diff color

here is one w/that tile from encore Ceramics I mentioned

carrara arabesque

this one is quite different,,,it's perfect for Las Vegas

as you can see, you can treat your countertop almost like a solid white.

here is a plain gray subway tile. yawnsville

I agree that the white subway tiles would look timeless, but for more contrast you could go for a black/gray grout for a bit modern take on it.

I'm not a fan of the first 4 options, the light grey tile is similar to a sample that I have. I'm worried that the outlets will pop like they do in the last photo (Belle Cuisine)

I’m still mid-renovation but the tile just got installed yesterday. We went with a white porcelain 4x12 tile from floor and decor Villa Artisan frost. I love the texture of the tile and wanted to go with a white grout but my husband won the battle of the grout color. Countertops are Silestone Calacutta Gold.

undersaturn: That's exciting! Please share the final result! What does your countertop look like? The backsplash looks great!

Hereis is the more finished backsplash next to the quartz counters. We also tiled the back of the island with a mosaic and tiled the dry bar with an antique mirror tile. It sounds busy but doesn’t look it! Will post some final photos once all the paper is off.

https://youtu.be/HxvdYtvk_pY

Everyone in here is poo-pooing subway tiles, but they literally have never gone out of style in the last two hundred years. Personally I would go with a 3"x12" or 4"x16" subway with a straight stack because the modern feel of your kitchen. Maybe a light gray to offset all the white and bring out the marbling in your countertops. No matter what you choose, make sure it is something you love; don't pick something just because a bunch of people on the internet told you to!

Kyra,,no one is poo-pooing subways. All I said was everyone and their mother is doing 3x6 white subways in their kitchens. it's overdone. With all the beautiful tiles on the market, limiting yourself w/a 3x6 white subway is insane. However, I agree going w/a larger tile and doing a diff layout would be great.

Undersaturn,,,your kitchen came out very nice.

If you have an Instagram account you may find it helpful to follow Tilebar. They have a lot of different looks. Most all fabulous.

I also agonized over the tile decision and in the end went with the larger subway tile because I think it’s timeless. I was really considering hexagon but I was afraid to do anything too trendy because I don’t want to be outdated in 5 years. I went a little crazier with the back of the island because that’s easy to change and I also picked a more daring design for my small bathroom. My first kitchen Reno was in 2012 and I was already hating some choices a few years later. This time I wanted to really stay neutral with the larger items.

My trendier tiles in addition to the white subway backsplash:

I LOVE your kitchen! Can you share what countertop material this is?

Personally, I wouldn't cut it up with grout lines, so either go with backpainted glass or just leave as is and put a large piece of glass behind the stove.

You can even custom design it. I googled "hob splashback" for a lot of European pictures. I wonder whether they would ship from the UK.

you can even have printed glass:

https://www.splashacrylic.com/product-category/kitchens/splashbacks/printed-glass-hob-splashbacks/ and

http://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/laura-ashley-splashbacks-kitchens-update-179869

https://www.google.com/search?q=hob+splashback&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiN6OTuh8naAhWpV98KHUGFBJUQ_AUICygC&biw=1680&bih=864

or go with the counter material.

undersaturn: Thank you for sharing your experiences. You just confirmed what I was thinking!

nosoccermom: Thank you :) It's called Brittanicca from Cambria!

pink_peony: I love their account, so many fun tiles!

I also just did a subway tile - Villa Artisan Frost. I specifically wanted a plainer look because I have pattern in the floor and granite. Disregard all the loose ends. Reno still in progress! Yes- white subway tile may seem boring, but it’s so neutral you can really accessorize without competing with backsplash.

Cindy, that's actually a really nice choice. And so glad you took the tile all the way up the wall. very nice job

Véronqiue Bellé and Pink P....I love their tiles and always recommend something from them. I actually think those V marble w/the metal and black would be some thing in your kitchen. the VZag

or the Inara or Oriel

I know you are looking at the plain white, but I don't think it's good enough for your space.

I have been very busy working on my abilities to make permit drawings and I remembered this post. I am still working on it just to have fun and converse. Currently I am seeking clients who are in a state that does not require an architect's or engineer's seal on residential properties only. Most states do not require it and it must be out of FL. An example of price would be a 3,000 sqft home would be $1,500.00 for architectural plans. 3 design options and plans will be completed thru the state. A rendering like what I have below would be around $100.00( Once its finished of course). I am suffering from a layoff and need work. Anything helps Thanks!