I think eld6161 nailed it. I like the idea of a herringbone pattern in a very light veined marble with a subtle grout. Backsplashes are an area where you can get funky and jeweled by why, unless you really tend towards a flair of pizazz in your overall style? I personally think subtlety is much more beautiful. And, I always go by the Coco Chanel rule of thumb - look at your entire outfit and then remove one thing. Same can go for kitchens too.

Just not a fan of a busy backsplash. Can fight with everything sitting out on the countertop. Magazines show gorgeous backsplashes but the kitchens are very edited in what is sitting on the countertops. Love the look. If you live that way

I don't suppose you'd be willing to try something in blue to go w/the island, would you?

Sonoma Tile Stellar in Mist. 3x6. you could also lay these in a herringbone. and these come in diff sizes too.

You're doing some sort of hardware, yes?

this blue would look amazing w/your wood floors

Winchester Tiles. I love these. Either one would look great.

Tilebar-Cadenza line

similar set up to your kitchen colors. a white/gray scallop tile

here is your plain white herringbone. do a longer tile since you have a lot of backsplash

This is a variation of a white. has a cool blue border. this would be a nice choice w/your island color. Order a sample. you get 5 samples for $5 over at Tilebar. this is Castle Wind Chill-3x12

Here's another herringbone, 3x12 tile size, in gray. this is a 45 degree herringbone

it's white, but it's something different. elongated picket style.

also from Tilebar (another sample?) is the Calacatta Marble, linear sheet . another poster on here liked it and ended up doing her kitchen with it. The grays would work w/your island. also notice her flooring. it's somewhat similar to yours. (variation-wise)

the kitchen has that cluster of cooktop, ovens ,and microwave smack in the middle. You have a good amount of backsplash to work with. I think I would take one of those blue herringbone selections shown by Beth , because a little bit of wow ,and move that around the space would be excellent for the aesthetic. Color AND pattern when you go to choose!!!

You say you don't have much natural light ...so just keep the backsplash light , don't introduce another color ..stay with white or light gray or mix them in a pattern ...lovely kitchen , but keep it bright and elegant , everybody loves a bright clean looking kitchen ...and not everybody loves blue or green ...especially once you have your appliances on the counters ...in metal or black and white .....keep it simple and enjoy your beautiful space ...these are my thoughts looking at your kitchen .

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I’m leaning towards something with grey mixed into since the island is a dark slate grey.

@Beth H. : I really like the Calacatta linear in different sizes. I didn’t see it at Tilebar. Is that where you saw that photo?

gold, that is from a poster on here that I helped. I suggested that one for her and she ended up going w/it. she emailed me those pictures.

here's the link. (i'm actually considering it for my own kitchen)

https://tilebar.com/calacatta-tuscany-marble-tile.html

I just checked and they're out of stock! put yourself on the mailing list and they'll let you know when it's back. it usually only takes a week or so

unlike hers, take yours to the top of the window. she couldn't because her cabinet door to the right of the window, wouldn't open. but it would have look better if she'd gone all the way up w/it.

as for light, don't be afraid of something a little darker or more blue. you have lights in the ceiling and under cabinet lights? it will be fine. it's not like you're doing black! a soft blue/gray would look beautiful. or the marble. Tilebar also has some blue gray tiles you might light. you get 5 samples, so order 5!

they also have this calacatta. almost the same

4x8

beveled hex

similar kitchens to yours

Thank you @Beth H. : I am going to get some samples and see how they look. Do you have a few suggestions on pulls now

I like the light blue option.

goldman,,,,do you want nickel or a brass? I did this style in gold for my kitchen, but they make it in a nickel

https://cosmas-hardware.com/products/cosmas-161-96sn-satin-nickel-euro-style-bar-pull

here's how they look. these are the 3 5/8" HOLE spread. the handles are a little over 5"

I got mine on Amazon (in the gold) . But you can also look here on Houzz. they have diff sizes.

or you could do something like this

your kitchen is very similiar to mine. I am using this backsplash.

@Beth H. : I did my faucet in brushed nickel so feel like I should do similar for the pulls. I like the ones you did a lot. My cabinet doors are a bit more busy than yours so will take a look and see how those might look.

your kitchen is very similiar to mine. I am using this backsplash.

@HU-499559798 - doesn't look like a photo uploaded

these are very simple

Celeste Square Bar Pull Cabinet Handle Brushed Nickel Stainless 12mm, 5" · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/celeste-square-bar-pull-cabinet-handle-brushed-nickel-stainless-12mm-5-prvw-vr~18706661

or maybe something like this one (this is an antiqued silver, but I'm sure they have the regular satin nickel)

Cosmas 4392AS Antique Silver 3-3/4” CTC Cabinet Pull · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/cosmas-4392-cabinet-pull-antique-silver-prvw-vr~43941019

Cosmas Contemporary Cabinet Hardware, Satin Nickel, 3-1/2" Hole Centers · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/cosmas-contemporary-cabinet-hardware-satin-nickel-3-1-2-hole-centers-prvw-vr~100129830

frosty, those skinnier type of pulls seem a bit more modern. Don't know that they would be best for her style of cabinet.

I also was back and forth on these, but opted for the skinny ones because these ones may be a little too industrial for my area.

Though I'm doing the backsplash later, I'm trying to point myself in some direction to shop....either too white, too dark, too blah, too busy,...

sample backsplash below....someone said they thought it looked like a crosswalk in concrete for the visually impaired hahaha

Beth!!!! You may know...what is the best LED under cabinet lighting to use? I'd love it hardwired but not sure what is very thin profile. Also looking for backlight of the translucent counter. Nice if they were the same.

love that slab. for sure wait until it goes in. but I would think about doing a light gold to play off the veining in your stone. however, the handles you have to work w/type of decor.

RH Lugarno is always a classic choice

either of these would look nice too

Everyone says the handles need to be in the color of the faucet so I'm stretching that a bit to a darker version

Encore or Fireclay has some really great colors that would look great here. A slight variation of color would really add some texture here in the wide open space.

i've been looking for them myself. ended up using the under cab light I've had for years. it's LED. make sure the temp is 4000K ! you don't want yellow light. they do have the thin tape that can be attached to the bottom of your cabinets. very low profile. easier to do before the cabinets go up because they can attach them all behind the wall w/the wire.

as for backlighting, some type of LED tape, thin profile would be the thing to use. i'm sure if you research it a bit something should come up.

Ideally, I like 3200-3500K under the cabinet because the space is warm. I can't find them. I can find 2700 which is really yellow or 6000 which is near hospital operating room. What do you think for the K under the counter? I have been online for 2 days looking.

i've found a lot in the mid 3000 range, which I don't want. there are a few that you can select. has a low, med and high temp. just look online. that's where I found them. try under cabinet LED lighting. but 3200 is going to cast a yellow hue which will alter the color of your stone/tile. get the 4000K. it's neutral. like daylight.

Hi! As others have said a mosaic tile in white could work well. Check out an example of what Retro Bianco Herringbone 12.2 in. x 10.83 in. x 6mm Porcelain Mesh-Mounted Mosaic Tile could look like:

Skipp Aubrey Kitchen Design · More Info

I think we could get a PhD in lightbulbs. I had to return a whole bunch of new LEDs because they were too bright and clashed....so, here's the chart I use. :-)

Excuse me... I apologize for interrupting... Beth, there is someone needing help on a backsplash with Cristallo, their thread is active today “jeffandalisa”. Perhaps you could help?

BethH, also interrupting! Can you tell me where those second handles you posted are from? (I tried a fruitless photo search.)

barncatz,,,this is all I found for it

but the page doesn't load.

i searched 'two tone polished nickel cabinet pulls' or hardware'.

Thank you, Beth, appreciate it.

Are you planning to add a contrasting strip of accent color(s) to the subway tile for a bit of sparkle? My friend just had her kitchen updated and also chose a white subway tile, but what she chose was a smaller version of the standard size subway tile and about a 3-4” wide contrasting selection of some accessorizing various sizes of contrasting tiles about 2/3 of the way up the backsplash which was as beautiful as adding the perfect earrings to a beautiful little-black-dress to just set it off. The final look was simply spectacular, yet understated. Good luck!

Actually, the final look was almost the same as the one in the third photo of three above entitled ”Backsplashes, More Info” ! She has stainless steel appliances so chose silver drawer pulls and switch-plates to highlight. Her countertop is a composition that looks like soft beige's, mid-toned browns, pinks, creams, of quartz and has small flecks of shine sprinkled throughout that remind me of Mica, just adding a touch of the tiniest brilliance here and there throughout, like diamond chips. The total effect is simply deliciousness!

@Beth H. : I am still struggling with selecting this backsplash. I feel that I need to have more movement in the backsplash to bring the whole kitchen together. pull in some of the colors from the island. What do you (and others) think of the cement tile look? Not necessarily these patterns but something like these.

I love it and think it's a great idea. find a pattern you like. try CleTile, or Cement Tile Shop. they have a lot of choices. or, try your local tile store like mine!

@Skipp Renovations - Designer Kitchens Made Simple I’m laying awake at night completely second guessing my choices in countertops here And questioning the island in such a dark color.

It feels like the perimeter is a warm grey while the island is cool so finding a backsplash that brings it all together is proving to be really difficult. I’m revisiting the idea of white herringbone. here are a few more photos.

ugh!

@Beth H. : yes! So what are you going to do for backsplash

gold, that's very similar to mine. I did the Eternal Serena, and a Calacatta on the island

don't be so worried about the island slab. the tile will border the gray one. the cooler one is further away, so it will all blend. Your cement tile idea is a good one. just find a gray (or black/white and gray) that works w/your perimeter, and it will be fine. I mean, I'm considering these for just the bar area. the island marble is the same that's on the bar. (I just have these leaning against the wall. there will be one more shelf on the left, and of course I'd do the entire wall)

you could do any of these and they would work

@Beth H. :

I’m a bit afraid to commit to one of these concrete style tiles. it feels like something I might get sick of over time. I’ll do some reading from people that installed these and see if they’ve been happy long term.

what do you think of these pulls?

I think those pulls are gorgeous. Simple but with enough interest and very elegant. I would be happy to have them.

I like those pulls.

White subway titles would look great. I would these ideas:

Cape Cod · More Info

Noone Street, Clifton Hill · More Info

Did you choose your backsplash? My gosh your options are endless and one of the few kitchens that can handle these....

I finally finished my backsplash and did what many of you suggested. I love it! Thank you all for your comments!

This is what was used - https://www.tileshop.com/products/hampton-large-herringbone-marble-mosaic-tile-658498

Yay!!!