Here is another photo for reference too (I bought multiple samples!) lol.

Definitely no to the backsplash! Not only does it not work with the granite but imagine how hard it would be to Clean! I would do a white subway to match your cabinets.

That backsplash is too pink with the countertop. You need something more creamy or brownish-green. But without colour variation in backsplash

The 3 x 12" tile from Walker Zanger used in this kitchen by Liz Schupanitz Designsmay be pretty. The color is Latte.

Really like those options a lot! I was just looking at something similar!!! What do you think about these options? Thank you again everyone!

I don’t know how you put the backsplash in my kitchen but that is awesome !!!

I agree with everyone else, this may not be your tile. Aside from concerns about color, that’s a lot of stone in one spot - I call the stone counter + bs look Stonehenge. It’s a little heavy on the eye. A ceramic glazed tile might be a better option.

What I’m seeing is white cabinets with a granite of browns, yellows, and cream. White is an option, as are the colors in your stone. I also agree with fellow houzzers that a larger format tile would be a good choice.

These are Fireclay tiles but I’m posting them for color, not suggesting that you buy a handmade tile. You see where I’m going with this.

I think you have to use the black tone tile ? that matches the black in the counter. . Lay them in a stacked pattern, don't alternate the tile grout lines, like below......someone suggested using the matte and the other sheen alternately in another post to lessen the overall sheen... That might work well?

Your gut is telling you that is the wrong tile - and you are right.

I also thought a blackish tile might work.

Could you place that dish draining pad placed up against the wall and post a pic.

Also, no side splash.

We loved the same travertine tile for backsplash the first time we saw it (only in bigger size), but then found a WORLD of other gorgeous and stunning backsplashes.

I vote NO to travertine (for too many reasons), and def. go with the black subway with light grout. :)

The Ivory travertine split face is the wrong color; but if you're set on this idea, look for better color options such as noce, scabos or picasso. Go to better tile shops in your area and see what they offer. Then you have a better idea if it's really the look you want. Pull the rich tones of counter onto the backsplash to balance the overall look; do not succumb to a white subway!

Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it a lot! I definitely am 100% against white. My cabinets are white but that’s the ONLY thing in my house that’s white (besides some trim) and it will stick out like a sore thumb! My house is pretty dark themed (bronzes, tan, Browns, blacks). I’m now either between something creamy or black.

Funny you guys mentioned black- my parents have a granite that’s identical (magma) and they have a black backsplash... so I already know how it would look. The issue with that is that my kitchen isn’t nearly as big as theirs so I didn’t know if it would darken my kitchen too much and make it look smaller which is why I was leaning a bit towards the lighter side. I’ll post a pic of my kitchen and you can tell me your thoughts now about what you’d pick if you don’t mind.

Thank you all so much again!

Ps. Sorry these are bad photos. We have another small section of granite over by our fridge too and will be adding some custom trim to our peninsula to give it more character

My black dish mat agains the walls

Another photo. I would like to add we do get a lot of natural light in our kitchen

Solid color solid surface please. No grout lines; no other competition with that busy stone. Maybe Vanilla?

Black is an option, so is any other color you find in your stone, and for your space I’d lean toward the latter, but you really have to pick up some samples and get them into the space. Your kitchen may have similar elements to your parents’ kitchen, but I would guess that other elements in your home might be younger, more contemporary, and black can look oddly formal.

BTW, your wall color is another option for a tile color. Having your bs disappear into the wall color might look great: light, fresh, uplifting.

I agree with ci_lantro 100%.

You have a pretty kitchen! I think black would look lovely. You could try it out by putting black paper on the black slash area throughout your kitchen to see the overall effect is too dark.

I think the black would look great. I also love the cream Fireclay. I would do either with the same color grout.

Thank you all so much! I appreciate all of the help and will post a photo once I make my decision :) sooo many lovely options

Black plus that countertop is dark and heavy for white cabinets. You need a vanilla large tile or solid surface as Joseph suggests.

Yes, I agree with Anglophilia. Black would be too dark & again, it would be making a statement. Not sure there is enough light to overcome the dark counter & a black splash, either.

Thank you! I ordered some samples in & returned the travertine today actually :) so I’ll post when they arrive and get some opinions. The tile I ordered is vanilla! So hopefully it works when it comes in!

If you use the black tile, either the grout should be the same black, but it might be worth experimenting with a gold grout..barely there, grout lines....do they make a metallic gold dust grout additive? LOL....I know of some woodworkers that stir dust from house key machines at a big box store into fill the crevices in wood slabs ---that matches the granite shade perfectly?...no white grout lines. The black matte finish tile and the polished finish tile, alternating....could be very interesting without making the great glare in the kitchen. The high polish of the counter should give the counter center stage. A great movie, doesn't need 2 stars competing for the lead, and in your case it's going to make a stunning kitchen. Like the jewelry box of the home? I really like the look of the black mat with the granite. It just steps it up a notch!

Maggie,,I love the black options!

Try some of these. we helped another poster on here and I urged her to try Basalt.

actually, HD carries it my Jeff Lewis. She has a similar dark granite

I like this Merola picket tile too (I also posted some diff handles. I think something like this would look a bit better)

here's the basalt on the left in the picket style (floor and decor I think) and on the right is a 3x6 dark charcoal glass tile

Floor and Decor also carries the Basalt subways. here they are w/a white grout

CleTile has these in stock. Modern Farmhouse brick in the black. I love these in a herringbone

or, DalTile Horizons glass tile in Driftwood, if you want to go w/more of the golden tones in the granite

and, Modwalls ceramic subways in licorice (or a charcoal color) on the left, and HD has this Ombre Silver on the right

Clayhaus in Carbon, chevron

BTW, look at Tilebar.com. you get 5 samples for $5.

one of theirs, is the black Cadenza brick tile

I agree about the handles, when you stand back, they look like little dots, they need to

be more substantial. I'm sure your husband finds them too small for a large hand to

use. They are also too "fancy" for your elegant kitchen.

Thank you, Beth! I’m going to hop online and look at all of those options you posted today as well. I really appreciate it. The issue with the handles is that we only have one hole drilled in our cabinets and drawers... so I would need find something that only needs one hole because It would look too bad if I filled it in and tried to paint over it. (I know this because I’ve knocked a couple of my cabinets and had to touch them up and you can totally tell where it’s been touched up!)

Couldn't you just drill another hole (above the existing hole) to fit a new handle that needs 2 holes?

maggie,,exactly what Angel said. if your current hole is right at the level even w/the bottom rail piece, then all you'd have to do is drill another hole above it to fit a handle.

here's a pic of mine. see the bottom hole? it would be equal to where your single hole is. now you drill a hole above it, depending on the span of the handle. these holes are about 3 5/8", for a 5 1/2" handle length.

Also, if you have tall cabinet doors, handles tend to balance out the length of them. I can't see yours completely, but I'm guessing you have at least 36" doors?

Beth, yes I see exactly what you and angel
Are saying. Thank you both so much!!! Your kitchen is GORGEOUS! Wow I love it. We have 42” cabinet doors! :) so I guess I could make it work somehow then. Do you have a hardware recommendation that would fit my kitchen/ home style? I would say it’s rustic ish but i want my hardware to be timeless.... and definitely not modern!

I still have to decide on my own splash! i'm doing a black and white cement tile in the corner of the coffee bar where i have open walnut shelving (they match the wood on the vent hood that you can barely see in the pic). I chose a transitional type of handle. I think you could do something similar for yours.

I like the matte black option. (or you could do a soft brass. up to you)
I posted a few in one of the mock ups. did you like either of these?

the left one is Cosmas,

(and the right side, gold w/black middle one was one I ordered from AliExpress. they're heavy and really cool looking)

showing diff colors w/matching knobs

and if you really want to match your granite!

but if you want something simpler, then maybe these from Amazon

diff sizes for the longer drawers, or do what I did and use two of the smaller ones.

or this style is nice too, tad more rustic looking

HD carries these Liberty Drawer pulls.

Awesome! Love those options! Thank you so so much. I am going to order in some of the hardware and see which one I like best in person! :) you’re the best and always so helpful!

Please post a pic of your kitchen when it’s all done!

Beth & other houzzers! Maybe you all could lend some advice on this too. How do I “dress up” my peninsula with some trim? Should I add corbels? Any ideas??

No to corbels. I would get some trim and make it look like your door fronts.

maggie,,,that's simple. get yourself some MDF trim pieces,,,(prime and paint one coat before installing) then figure out if you want something like this w/the stiles in the middle

these figures give you an idea of what kind of trim to get. don't worry about the oak. since you're painting, do MDF or poplar.

or maybe a shiplap type of front

this one, below, is done w/MDF planks.

Ignore the corbels on this one. you don't need them.

https://thehappyhousie.porch.com/diy-planked-peninsula-with-corbels/

This before is almost the same as yours:

After

There's shiplap and there's Tongue and Groove. the one below is little fancier w/the spacing and it has a baseboard.

or maybe you want a beadboard type of front.

a simple board and batten. take the length and then divide and place your stile pieces evenly.

this is prob the easiest. here's a link on a how-to:

https://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2012/03/diyboardandbatten.html

on peninsula, would look like this when done. (I wouldn't do any decorative corbels)

something simple for the end. notice how it jogs so it matches the cabinet side:

this gives you a front view of a board and batten, with baseboard molding.

It's simple, but looks nice and finished. you'll have to see how to work in you front portion w/the toe kick and find out which style blends in better.

Wrap the bottom of the peninsula cabinetry in the same baseboard as the walls, or something very similar if you can’t find it or don’t want to pay a finish carpenter to replicate it.

Beth - I ordered, and hubby installed, the black and brass handles - to the left of the ones you ordered. We love love ours. They are GORGEOUS. I'm sure you are in love with yours as well.

Sorry, I realized my comment never even posted! So weird. Thank you so much for the recommendations and for your long response, Beth!! Those are GORGEOUS and I can’t believe the difference the trim made on those peninsulas. Thankfully my dad is a carpenter and can do just about anything so I’m sure once I show him the photos he will have it done easily!! :) just needed some ideas and inspiration. I love all of the options.... but I might like the idea of leaving it just plain (with no shiplap or board and batten I mean) but I also love the idea of the tongue groove. They’re all so beautiful. I have no idea what a “toe kick” is though! That’s new to me :)

toe kick is the very bottom piece of the lower cabs the borders the flooring. normally it's inset. so when your feet hit it, the toe hits the 'toe kick' portion. (it's basically the baseboard for your lower cabinets)

Thank you, Beth! I’m sorry I’m just now seeing this. I just saw what you’re talking about and Our “toe kick” is so plain and ugly, lol... are there any ideas that can spruce that up too??

No to the travertine backsplash tile. Love the options Beth H gave to spruce up the peninsula. I'd use a simple subway tile in a creamy color for your backsplash, as granite tends to be busy, and you don't want the backsplash to compete. IMO black would be too dark in your space, especially with a dark floor.

Hey guys! Back again with another question.

Do you generally continue the splash on these areas I have drawn a little square on (maybe considered a side splash....?)or spackle and paint? Super confused on what I should do.... thank you!!!

Better pic

No side splash.

Just patch/repair and paint those side areas. Let the backsplash end into the corner. What tiles did you end up choosing?

no splash is usually the majority.

(you could tile if you really want to. it's a personal pref.) (what doesn't get tiled are side panels. if you're going to tile a side, it should be a wall, not the side of a cabinet or panel)

some choose to tile the entire wall and sides

example, this is a side area that could have have been tiled, including up and around the door frame. It's not that large of an area and it's a simple subway. it would have looked nice. but it still looks good w/just paint.

Thanks Beth!!!!! I have no idea why my Houzz isn’t alerting me that I got comments! So I’m just now seeing this. I decided I’m just going to spackle and paint those sides :)