RoyHobbs
I did ask about that. I was told it would be sealed so it would be easy to clean. My thought was spaghetti sauce splatter, but they assured me it wouldn’t be an issue.

There's a lot of movement in your countertop, which is very pretty . The backsplash you have chosen also has a lot of movement in the pattern and will be competing with it. I would suggest picking something that has less pattern or swirl.

I have not seen this as a backsplash, but love it! I would do this in a hot minute.

I'd run from this backsplash in a hot minute. It looks like a shower floor someone accidentally chose for a backsplash. Sealant would not address my problem with cleaning. Who wants to clean between all of those curves and bumps.

Your counters are beautiful and I love your cabinets and desire for a cottage garden theme. Widen your shopping search. Do a good shopping search for different key words - "subtle print backsplash" "cottage backsplash". Things like that to get inspiration.

I'd also consider running your counter surface up the wall as a backsplash. You've got a good thing going on already, why not repeat it?

You counter tops are gorgeous. Get a plain white tile. Look at other shapes, like squares.

I think that would look better as a shower floor tile.  Too much texture IMO

I’m not a fan of that tile for flooring, and as a backsplash…not a choice I’d make, tbh. I love your countertops!
I’d Google “cottage kitchens” and look at the DeVol website for inspiration.

cottage/ warm cozy vibe ? if you are really serious then get schoolhouse style light fixtures...a few cup pulls on the top drawers...some braided style floor mats instead of green bath mat.... and get painted bead board in a chalky white to blend w counter.....otherwise square 4 inch tiles / or picket fence tile shape can give you a surprising cottagey feel with a few other things as mentionned.

No to that pebble, please. In fact, there is nothing about the kitchen that suggests "cottage " beyond plants on the sill.. Just nice cherry cabinet tone and pretty granite.

A 4 inch ceramic in a white, go shopping : )

You will not like the unevenness of grout with pebble stone for a backsplash. I would go beadboard instead of pebble. But first choice would be 4x4 squares.

No for me as well, as it’s more suited in a wall application in a rustic/spa washroom or in a shower.

Best to complement what you have, as it will never have a cottage feel.

To bring in a nod to nature, consider an earthy green backsplash. Down the road, accessorize with clay, copper or antique brass, to help with the look you are aiming for.

No for me as well.

I would say no. I don't think this gives a cottage vibe.

Thanks for all the input, for those of you choosing to pick apart the rest of the space, we’re obviously not even done here. Light fixtures, rugs, etc are not what I was asking about. We JUST got cabinets and counters. The rest of the space is a struggle as our house is still recovering from a major remodel. I’m asking about backsplash, and I apologize that the rest of the space isn’t magazine quality. Our budget isn’t allowing every inch to be “cottage”, we had to go pretty basic here (trust me, it’s an upgrade from before), so trying to get the look we want with what we have.

I did a beadboard backsplash painted in a semigloss washable paint for a cottage in a home once. Looked very nice. I don’t really think these pebbles are a good backsplash

We "obviously" have no clue as to what is done, not done, where you're remodeling or anything else!?

You asked about pebbles.....and you got a lot of no, for a host of reasons from hard to clean to they're very STRONGLY associated with the floor in a lake or beach side home bathroom shower.

A nice 4 inch square tile yes even bead board in durable paint, and despite you don't like it? A subway tile in an updated or classic size.

You asked, and had you stated long ago you wanted a cottage garden feel?

You'd have been bombarded with suggestions........albeit opinion of many.

Probably non of them cherry and granite. So don't beat up on folks trying to help you.

These are options I would consider:

1) full backsplash in countertop material

2) short backsplash in countertop material to bottom of window sill if that did not mess with the bottom edge of the switchplate covers.

3) tile in a solid color that goes with the colors in the granite. I don't think that would be white.

Another firm no to the pebbles as a backsplash in a kitchen as it's typically a shower floor material. With the movement in your counters, opt for a plain single color tile backsplash in the lightest color within your counter top material which will probably be a creamy white.

I think the color of the stone is nice, there is just too much movement for it to work with your countertop. Generally, there is one “star” and that is your countertop. Best to choose something simple so that the countertop retains top billing (or run it up the wall as Jan suggested).

Yes, I’ve gotten a lot of amazing suggestions. I really do appreciate them all. It’s just that every time I come here for advice I feel like people point out how much of an amateur I am. (Which is true, I’ll be the first to admit) I’m coming for help, you’re right, but wasn’t expecting my entire kitchen to be under the microscope. Thank you for all of the great tips, though! Im not upset, and respect you and all of your opinions. You’re all obviously very experienced in design, which is great. I’ll still check back on any advice here, since I really don’t have much clue what I’m doing. I showed our kitchen designer my desires and this is what she helped me go with. Not exactly what I was hoping for but I do love it! Especially the counters and kitchen layout (which, btw, someone here helped design :))

You know what, if you really like it, then use it. Really, it is just a backsplash and not something that will cause harm to another human! If you are tired of it in 8 years or is has stained more than you thought, it isn't the hardest thing to change out.

Most here would not have picked the mosaic backsplash I used, but I trust my taste and design choices and it complements the other elements in the space. I didn't ask about it here, because it didn't matter to me what some stranger here, who is afraid of pattern, had to say about it!

My complaint with it would be all the grout that is used around the pebbles.

I seem to be the only one who added decor suggestions, but certainly I was not critiquing you or your kitchen. Your kitchen is very nice; but with you mentioning the look you were after, I thought the green backsplash might be an appealing alternative. When recommending the accessories I thought they might help you get closer to the feel you are after. Sorry if you felt I was judging your ability.

I like the idea of a shorter splash in counter material as palimpsest suggested and then paint for the rest. My second best idea would be beadboard painted in satin finish. I've had just eggshell paint for a backsplash and it has cleaned up fine. I like your cabinets and counters, and think a simple and nonfussy solution would go well with them and with a cottagey vibe!

I aspire to a “ garden kitchen “ but am not likely to do a full themed Reno. So I do look for ways to add “ nature” to more traditional elements.

I love Maureen’s inspo photos with green. Greens and the brown cabinets and copper accents are lovely. In fact I currently have a white kitchen with rich brown hardwood floors & I’ve added wooden accessories, copper & black plant stand & accessories, green plants, nature prints in similar colors . No, it’s not full- on “ authentic “ but it warms things up quite a bit.

I’m not sure if you can find a green or green-ish backsplash tile that works with your countertops- because I would not want to use gray but there could be a gray- green that still retains green color — but I think it’d be worth some time & samples. Or consider painting with the closest green color that works, & live with that for awhile.

I have a very similar counter and used this:

Nice choice on the countertop. Agree you need a simple backsplash due to the pattern in the counters. Keep the focus on one, not both.

Love the idea of greens, and I love that scalloped backsplash

I find that people like what is common - everyone suggests a white subway tile for every kitchen and for me it is boring, mundane, overdone and not my style.

I decorate my home with things that are attached to wonderful memories, including a wasp nest that my brothers shot down from a huge old tree in our back yard, a piece of driftwood I found on the beach at Chincoteague island, fresh flowers from my garden. I have the leather collar that my last dog wore, a painted slab of stone that I found at an art show, two paintings that I bought from a restaurant in Costa Rica (I couldn't stop looking at them while I was eating and just had to have them. Turns out the artist was the owners nephew and he was willing to sell them).

I pick finishes that work with all the things I love. The pebble backsplash wouldn't work in my the kitchen I have planned, but I don't see why it is so offensive to others for your kitchen. The white stone is simple and has the same colors as your counter. If it feels good to you and brings you joy, do it. Your really the only one who needs to love it.

We can offer tons of suggestions, but I do agree with YOU‘RE the one who needs to love it.

The tones will exist in tumbled ......

Your counter is gorgeous as is the sink. I'm another one in the no category for the pebble backsplash. It really will detract from the counter.

My reservation about things like this has little to do with it being unusual or not what everyone else has.

Most of the pictures show relatively uninterrupted areas of backsplash, well delineated by counters, cabinets, a shelf, or two walls.

Very few show these backsplashes around regular window trim, or with a free-ended border at the top or sides, or how well these finish around outlets and switches in any close up detail . These are all conditions that you have with your backsplash. And all of those are the sorts of things that can present problems with installation. (You rarely see "did they do a good job?" posts with a backsplash completely bounded on all four sides by walls, counters and cabinets, except with lippage and strong lighting on them.)

This is the kind of thing I think about when choosing things, and these are the sort of things that I notice, unfortunately. One of the things that I noticed in Fallingwater was the crooked outlets and switches where they needed to be set into stone. Not something that most people would look at, but it's one of the things I am stuck with.