If I chose a white tile, I'd at least select a grayish grout so that they appeared to complement the countertops.

This is a good paint color for the countertops.

Black tile appears to be too much of a contrast.

Those don't match but it's possible to find marbles and granites that are nice together. Your particular granite will be challenging. :)

(Can't tell with the last photo, but it's closer.)

I personally wouldn't put any kind of veined marble or any other material with a pattern, as your granite has plenty of pattern. Solid color tiles in one of the colors of the granite) with similar-colored grout would keep the backsplash from looking too busy.

Agree with Fori and June. Your granite is busy and the warm cream tones dominate. A cream ceramic would be beautiful. Choose an interesting shape (arabesque, fish scale) or a pretty crackle finish for a bit of visual interest without competing with the granite.

There’s no law against using marble with granite. However, I find granite to be a more impervious and less stainable surface than marble; also, marble is more likely to be damaged by acidic splashes (vinegar, tomato products, etc.). If it were me, I’d use granite or porcelain tile for the backslash.

Thank you so much for everyone’s help!!! If I did a cream tile, would that go ok with Anew Gray paint color that we were planning for our kitchen, or would I be committed to beige paint? Also, what about a cream colored travertine... Is that also too busy, or dated looking?

I think you have beautiful granite countertops and that they should be the highlight of the kitchen not the backsplash. I would do a grey that is out of the stone in a porcelain subway tile so it disappears and does not compete for attention, I’m not a designer but i think nothing should compete with your counter tops.

Don't do it. Take your time with backsplash until you know it is right.

Thanks so much to everyone! I returned the marble samples and got 2 other options:

1. ceramic 3x12 “taffeta white” tiles (glossy off white textured)

2. porcelain 3x9 “heirloom clay” tiles (glossy crackled).

[photo shows 2 of each tile, will be installed brick joint]

Might do a thin greige or off white listello strip; not sure. What do you all think?

I would definitely not do what you show in the first picture with the thinny thin strips of tile.

I don't care for the second photo either, it is too dark.

Actually, maybe the one on the left in the second photo.

What I would do if I were you-

Do you have a piece of your counter stone laying around in your garage?

Take it to the tile place and point to the lightest, lightest cream color in it and say, "please match this in porcelain."

Also, have you changed your kitchen bulbs to the cool spectrum bulbs?

Thanks! The thin strips would just be spread out into one long 3 inch strip as an accent for the plain light colored tile (if that’s even possible, I dunno).

I wish we had a sample of the granite to bring shopping; my husband actually offered to hammer a piece off for me but I didn’t think it’d be worth it, lol 😆

Do you know the name of it? Maybe you can purchase a little piece of it if it really looks like yours??

Not a pro, but check if crackle tiles need any special sealing in a backsplash application. I actually prefer the lighter, non-crackle tile in your kitchen with your other elements. And a big no to any thin strips used as an accent...pretty confident that's an outdated thing with really outdated tile.

Don’t do an accent strip, especially with those skinny tiles. It’s a dated look as well as too busy with your countertop.

Of the two tiles, I prefer the lighter 3 x 12 tiles. The color does seem a little grayer than the granite, but that could be just an image verses in person thing. I agree with the other comment, I definitely do not think you should do the band of smaller accent tiles. IMO, that is a dated look and isn't necessary with your busier granite.

Good choice. Looks excellent to me! :-)

It looks great! You have a beautiful kitchen :)

Very nice choice....you did good!

nice, it looks excellent! I'm glad you didn't go with the skinny tile accent -- that's definitely dated. what you chose will look good for quite a while.

Thank you everyone for all of your help!!!

I love mixing stones but you have a very busy granite. i would go with white subway to match the cabinets then pull that creamy gold color for the grout. think less is more.