Thanks. I should have mentioned this is a Vacation Home. We chose to go with a smaller sink. Thanks for confirming what I thought about the lights.

Hey! Silestone's soapstone is a nice option. Imho it looks more natural in suede finish.
Via Lactea leather finish is a granite with a similar feel if you wanted to use natural stone. I'm not the biggest fan of using a marble like tile for the splash with these counter materials.

Here is Via lactea leather with subway for a visual. Its a durable stone too

Porcelain or subway tile all the way to the ceiling much easier to keep clean. You don't need to seal it like you do marble and you won't have two surfaces to maintain (painted wall and tile).

Use matching ceiling lights above the windows to shine light down on the center of the counter work area perhaps in a style matching the island lighting. This will provide more light than any wall sconce can do. Whatever you do I am begging you not to put in those ugly warts on a ceiling known as recessed ceiling lights. They are just gross.

Can you provide an example of the lights you are talking about. Thanks so much.