Rustic backsplash choices can be tricky, because rustic choices, like brick and stone, are porous and not easily cleaned. They can be sealed, but you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage choosing them. Fireclay Tile has a glazed thin brick in an array of nature inspired glazes. Theye are also wood look tiles, most often used as flooring, that can be used as backsplash tile. If you’re going for a lot of movement in your counter material, youre going to want a quiet backsplash, perhaps metal, copper or zinc.

Rustic is not a problem. Shopping for backsplash tile before your counters are in, often is a problem. Collect ideas, collect samples, then look at them in your space, in your light, with your materials before you choose. It makes a huge difference, truly.

Sorry, but I don’t think the above pictured quartzite goes with your wood tones…..look for something warmer, such as Taj Mahal. New slabs can be gray nowadays and dark, but you can still find some lighter ones with tan accents etc. If you like more rustic, choose a honed or leathered slab.

part time use property...I'd look at formica and corian to be honest. You might be surprised.

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@eam44 summed it up the best. Rustic decor is in the mind of the beholder. If the house is already rustic, using hard-to-take-care-of choices in the kitchen may not make you happy. Your cabinets are already a deep, interesting wood, so your backsplash can be simple tiles that are easier to clean than brick.

OR do a butcher block wood countertop and simple warm tile backsplash.

Corian and Silestone might have more warm color choice for you than granite and quartz. You’re building a “warm” colored kitchen and that specific slab is too “cool”. No gray. Look at creamy/caramel colors. Ivory for your walls, not white.

You think that quartz can chip and stain, but quartzite can't?

The quartzite you are considering might actually be a marble. Check out the Geology threads by Karin_mt for some tests you can do on the corner of a slab or on a small sample. If the slab yard says it is a "soft quartzite" they are making things up as that category does not exist. You can find quartzites that are hard, but still porous, which is why the testing is important before you buy several slabs. These hard, but porous slabs will need regular sealing or you will get stains.

IMO that counter does in no way say rustic .

Agree. That is not the counter for a rustic look. While I agree that grey in general is not a good idea, I do think that charcoal grey can indeed look rustic, but you need leathered or honed -- that holds for whatever countertop you get, no polished if you're going for rustic. Take a look at Steel Grey or Virginia Mist (aka Jet Mist) granites, or soapstone. A green counter would also look right at home with the wood, but green granites can be hard to find; worth a look, though.