I saw this tile at home depot and fell in love with it. It may not be right for your space, but I liked the texture and gradated coloring. You can’t really see the color change in the pic. If you head over to Home Depot, you might be able to see it in person.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Marazzi-Arteko-Antique-White-3-in-x-12-in-Glazed-Ceramic-Wall-Tile-12-sq-ft-Case-AK01312HD1P2/313499026#overlay

Look at the customer images in the reviews which are not so white.

You might also want to look at matte options. Subway tile doesn’t have to be boring. Some have texture, finish, and subtle color changes. you don’t have much under-cabinet space, so it might be hard to get a fancy tile to look right.

None of the tiles in your OP will work. Too busy. And the worst one is the teeny tile - don't do that. As jck910 mentioned, your counter pattern is busy. Therefore you need plain tiles. The local tile store has bad taste if what is in the OP is what they suggested (unless it's that they didn't see your photos, just that small stone sample you show). You can go to Home Depot or back to that tile store and get simple subway tile that will do the job and let your beautiful counters be the star. And not long skinny subway tile either - just standard 3 x 6 - don't let anyone at that store talk you into long skinny tile (I am predicting they will try given what they recommended so far).

BTW, you want the grout color to be a close match to the tile color - no busy grout lines.

Regarding your question about the window wall - I would stop at the level of the bottom of the upper cabinets. That wall around the window has quite narrow spaces, and cutting tile for that will be a nightmare, and again end up looking too busy against the strong counter pattern.

I agree with the above that your countertops add the interest. They’re beautiful. But very busy. So backsplash should be simple.
Maybe something handcrafted. White. Or maybe a blue.
I see your switching out the hardware which I think is an awesome easy update. I might consider something a bit less dramatic. Maybe a mother of pearl hardware. Or even just chrome. Black seems to be making the white very white.

.....

In regards to where to do the backsplash I’d take it all the way up to the ceiling and all the wall across the walls. If you go with a simple tile, the more tile the better. Great space to work with :):)

Totally agree with simple tile and matching grout. You don't want to add more pattern due to the counters. Yes to under cabinet height for tile.

Can't tell for sure...is the current short backsplash tile or paint? Be sure to remove that before adding the new tile.

Your granite is really pretty. I will chime in and agree a simple tile in a color similar to your cabinet color, would be ideal so as not to distract from/compete with your granite.. I also like the idea of looking at matte tile options. Go to tilebar.com and see what they have and for ideas. There are multiple ways you can instead "subway"/rectangular tile if you don't want the brick look of traditional subway.

As for your tile and window area, this thread has pics of different options and ways to handle the juxtaposition of the tile and window. I'd continue the tile along horizontally lining up with the bottom of the cabinets, into the nook where the window is, to have a continuous row of tile.

And for your hardware, I agree that it is pretty stark against your white cabinets. What if you try black/dark hardware that isn't round -- either long cabinet pulls or vertical "T" nobs? That might help the black not stand out quite as much and also give some character? Like this? Or this? Or this interesting one?

thank you all for taking the time to comment, what i hear loud and clear is keep it simple

and yes the tile store saw all of the photos that you did

what about this tile? in person the tone matches the cream taupe in the granite, but it is 3x12.

pictures dont really show all the tones in this granite, it is much softer in person.

i also heard you about the hardware. the knobs are actually square and i was planning to do cup pulls on the drawers. i tried brushed nickel but it didnt speak to me with the alabaster white which is more warm

https://www.tileshop.com/products/annie-selke-artisanal-cream-rel-bullnose-ceramic-wall-trim-tile-3-x-12-in-496107

the large shiny gray tile looks nice, but be sure it's ok with your saturated wall paint color.

I love Tile Shop! Ask for a discount - they used to give 15% off if you used their credit card but they might give it to you regardless if you ask.

As for the tile, you have to bring a sample home and look at it next to the granite at various times of day with different lighting. The pic looks good to me but tile is different in person.

Don't forget to plan for LED lighting under your upper cabs. Get that clock off the wall! I bet your stove can tell you what time it is. I think your window with the shutters is also busy, so I would only take the tile to the bottom of the uppers. May I ask why the big bulky chair at the island? It is overwhelming the small island. Look for some simple backless barstools.

The chair came with the house. i am looking for barstools, so suggestions are welcome for that also 😎

If you are looking to do a little more in the space that could be a DIY job depending on how handy you are…. Something that would have big impact would be to extend your cabinets to the ceiling visually without actually extending your cabinets physically. Have you seen where people add material above their cabinets (mdf/plywood or even drywall), trim it would then reattach the crown molding at the ceiling? Then when painted the same color as the cabinets, it looks like your cabinets take up that whole space. It can help to make the room look taller since it takes away the horizontal line of the top of the cabinets.

Something like this:

Or:

Here’s an example of cabinets that extend to the ceiling and also with a window above the sink (to show where they stopped the tile):

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/bridgewater-kitchen-remodel-2015-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~49652229

I agree with the others. Simple tile, and only to the underside of the cabinets straight across even the window wall. No tile to the the top of the window. I am also not 100 percent sure, I like the wall color with your granite. I think a wall color with more gray in it might be a bit better. I also differ from a couple of the others, I like the space above the cabinets. I also like to see a few really cool pieces up there, here and there, and preferably with a bit of color. Its a nice kitchen. Enjoy it.

So many good suggestions !

What I wrote yesterday: "And not long skinny subway tile either - just standard 3 x 6 - don't let anyone at that store talk you into long skinny tile (I am predicting they will try given what they recommended so far)."

So my answer to your later question, "what about this tile? in person the tone matches the cream taupe in the granite, but it is 3x12", would be "no", but this is just MHO.

I think doing an elongated version of a subway tile is perfectly fine and might be my preference in certain situations. I think the super long and skinny small tiles that were popular several years ago, are a no-go. But a rectangle tile that’s the same height as a traditional subway tile, but elongated? Perfectly fine. You can see that type of tile used around Houzz to get a feel for how it would look. If you use a grout the same color as the tile, the size of the tile won’t be all that apparent anyway. And, by using the elongated size, it’ll be a nice little tweak to a traditional look. 👍🏻

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Marazzi-Arteko-Antique-White-3-in-x-12-in-Glazed-Ceramic-Wall-Tile-12-sq-ft-Case-AK01312HD1P2/313499026#overlay

this tile that kelli_ga suggested is my favorite thus far. and very affordable! so thank you kelli_ga! so pick a grout color very close to the tile color? thank you all

Yes, that looks like it can work. We just did 3x12 in our Florida house.

Hi Dana! Did you use this tile. I’m thinking about using it in herringbone pattern.

Sorry This one.

Hello! I don't know if you will see this or not, but I am remodeling my kitchen the exact same way and I'd love to know what you ended up going with. My walls are Kilim Beige, counter tops are White Paradise and my cabinets are White Divinity which is a warm white and the island and hood vent are black. I am stuck on the backsplash tile. I can't find anything!

@jessjohns1

I know you’re asking the OP,
But I love the backsplash I used. It’s Mallorca White from The Tile Shop.

@kathy — yours looks beautiful! The herringbone pattern is a nice subtle touch. Are your fixtures black as well?

@Lucia. Thank you!
Black cabinet hardware, black pot filler, black kitchen faucet. I got it all on Amazon.

@Lucia- I took out all the light fixtures and put in canned lighting. It opens up the space!

Oh wow! I love it. It is so pretty. Are your cabinets pure white or more of an off-white?

@jessjohns1 - thank you! more of an an off-white. It’s White Duck from Sherwin Williams.

@Kathy Jerding Kathy, quick question. I have looked at the tile you suggested and I like it, but, my main concern is that my walls are a beige (lightly colored) and our granite is the picture I attached. I don't want the tile to take away from the granite. Also, I know the granite looks grey, but it really isn't. It has a lot of taupe, olive green undertones, garnet speckles, silver swirls and both warm and cool tones of white. Don't ask me how that happened, but I'd love you opinion if you don't mind. As you can see, this granite has a LOT going on, but I love it. Our cabinets are a a warm white called Divinity. Think of the color as taking a cup of white paint and adding in a Tablespoon of taupe paint. We have the same hood vent and accessories as you do and all in black.

@Dana Seay Do you have a picture of your backsplash you chose? I'm curious to see what direction you went and how it looks!

@jessjohns1

GORGEOUS GRANITE!! 🤩 what is the name of it?

Are you able to get a sample of the Mallorca White? I might have an extra piece here somewhere….

It’s so hard to tell from a picture, but my first instinct is that the MW tile would accentuate your granite very nicely.

I didn’t want the BS to take away from the granite, either. It ended up pulling it all together.

I had a sample of the granite that I took to the tile store (see pic)

@Kathy Jerding the granite is White Paradise, which is what the OP was inquiring about at this start of the post.

I'm here in Texas and could only find 2 stone yards that had it and we snagged the remaining 3 slabs at one place and the other place had one left. I originally saw it in a house in Tennessee, but they used it for an island only. I feel like this slab is gaining in popularity, but it was hard to compete with the more grey slabs because grey is pretty popular right now. I did get a piece of the tile and another one and I'll compare it nest week to my slab.

@Kathy Jerding we are going with the same tile you did for for our backsplash! I am so excited. I am also stealing the herringbone pattern that you used. I truly love the look of your kitchen. Below is a picture with my cabinets, granite and the Mallorca white. May I ask what grout you went with for the tile? I am assuming a color similar to the tile so that it wouldn't clash or take away from it.