Your countertops have lots going on so a subway tile or white squares would be great. They’d allow your counters to shine! You can look for interesting glazes, imperfect edges, etc.

Nice floor and wood beam. Try a light tan .....or tan grout with creamy white tile

A little color in the tiles taken from your countertop will be just enough...

You need so little tile that subway is probably the best. Take your time to figure out what color would perk you up and start looking for accessories that you can change out regularly. Fruit in a bowl is a start. A tray to corral salt/pepper, oils and things would be nice.

Don't do white subway tiles - do cream subway tiles

Was considering something like these

I would do a solid colour taken from your counter. Probably a mid-grey. And I would not get bevelled or otherwise "busy" tiles. Your counter should be the star. If you want a more saturated colour than grey, a deep blue might work (caveat: I love indigo and would put it most places!).

Keep it simple and not busy. Beveled is busy.

If you go with the first tile photo (the one with the plant on the counter), consider matching grout. I think the the contrasting grout pictured is too busy for your beautiful counters.

How about some simple penny tiles?

I have a question for the pros: assuming the subway tile would be horizontal, does that pose any problem with the orientation of the flooring?

Just a suggestion...I would love to see you paint the soffit the same color as the cabinets and the crown mounding. That would be beautiful and would eliminate one extra contrasting surface. Then whatever you choose for your backsplash would have one less competitor.

White picket tile would be different yet still subtle: https://www.fireclaytile.com/gallery/detail/francesca-albertazzi-picket-kitchen-backsplash

Do NOT do beveled tiles! Bevels do not work when there is an inside corner, which you have. Your tile installer will have to be a real artisan to make it work.

And especially don't use a tile with highlighted bevels; even on the flat sections it will be too busy. And that gray does not go with your counters. At. All.

Besides--do you really want to clean a 3-D textured wall in a kitchen?

You're probably to afraid to not use any type of subway tile. Listen to all of the above posters and use subway tiles.

I would get some samples and take pics in you space sitting up against the wall. You could keep it neutral but change shape. Or use white with some texture.

I think subway in not white would look lovely with your beautiful counter top!

I agree the beveled tile is not good. The other one might work with the same color grout. Otherwise it is too busy.

I would get a tile that is close to color of your cabinets and use a low contrast grout.

First question - what sort of countertop person are you? Do you keep a lot of things like canisters and small appliances on your counters? If so, then a solid color backsplash whether it is a subway , penny, arabesque, etc would be best as a neutral backsplash. If you keep the counters pretty clear then punch it up!

Here is a pretty tile:

And the top has a pattern to it....