Counters will be Calacatta gold quartz with white cabinets

You need to first address the lighting so all bulbs should be LED 4000K then look at backspals choices . Actual lighting is how you lighten a room. Pics of your space are always good and IMO a simle subway tile will never go out of style but I need to see the kitchen and you need to wait until the counters are in before making a choice about backspash.

So far I prefer the arabesque . Can you wait until counters are in?

Thanks for the feedback. @Patricia - yes I absolutely plan to change the bulbs from what the builder will be installing. I was hoping to get the backsplash installed by the builder - which means picking one of their selections upfront. I narrowed it down to these 3 options. If I wait until after the counters are in I would consider Cloe tile by Bedrosians.

Thanks @herbflavor - same as above. I was hoping to get the backsplash installed by the builder - which means picking one of their selections upfront. I narrowed it down to these 3 options. However if I wait until after the counters are in I would consider cloe tile.

The subway just doesn’t do enough and I think the arabesque is nicer than the herringbone not sure why . It’s simpler yet provides a detail that shows more than the herringbone: the space can use it.

@dada139 yes, the subway is the most simple for sure. What do you think about cloe tile instead of one of these 3?

I am leaning toward Cloe for my renovation. It’s classic subway, with a twist of old Handcrafted and Timeless charm.

Thank you so much for those ideas. I like the contrast suggestions. And in looking at those ideas the subway tiles are the most pleasing and easy going on the eye. It’s such a struggle to find the right white! Especially when the cabinets aren’t going to be stark white. I now get why you and others are saying to wait until the counters and cabinets are installed.

The Cloe tiles in blue, green and black are really pretty. They are not your classic "subway" size, which is usually 3 x 6, but they are 2.5 x 8, which is very interesting and different. The white is also nice, but as I mentioned you have to be very careful if you're doing white cabinets, white tile, and white counter tops.

here's the Cloe with Silestone Calacatta Gold countertop

sorry, but a plain old white subway, 3x6 tile, is so overdone, I wouldn't recommend anyone doing it. (unless you have a farmhouse kitchen). Arabesque is also a little overdone.

what's wrong w/doing some actual color? or a blend of colors?

real calacatta marble tiles laid out in a chevron.

I did these on my own kitchen but went with a 3x12 subway layout (with gold schluter)

what color is your flooring?

what do the cabinets look like? the layout?

take a look at Encore Ceramics. beautiful glazes, sizes and shapes.

but yes, please wait. it took me a year to decide on my backsplash (because I know of a 1000 choices that would have worked!)

Thank you so much Beth and Diana! So helpful!! Today I made the decision to remove the backsplash from our design selections so that we could install our own after close. However our builder installs a 4 inch backsplash if you don’t do a backsplash through them, so I’ll have to figure out how to rip that out so that we don’t have to tile above it. 😟

they do that now. if there's anyway you can be there on install day (for the countertop) tell the counter guys NOT to use a lot of silicone adhesive to attach it. they will run a bead of caulk between the countertop and the 4" joint, and they will glob adhesive on the back of the 4" piece to stick it on the wall. Tell them to skip the joint caulking, and go very lightly on the wall piece.

Thank you! Got it. We will make a point to be there on install day and will discuss with our construction manager in advance.

One more thing - it looks like the 4 inch backsplash would be attached at the sides as well, which means in some places in the kitchen it will be adhered to a cabinet. Can you rip it off of cabinets?

you don't need the backsplash on the sides. (that's a personal choice and shouldn't be required by the builder to pass inspection) tell them to forgo that since it will ruin the cabinets. If they say they must do, then have them do one dab, a very light dot toward the rear, just enough to hold it in place for the inspection. Tell them you're going to take it off and would appreciate it if they wouldn't ruin the cabinet.

THANK YOU!! I will talk to our construction manager about that immediately