I feel ok using the counter materiel because of the darker second counter color and cabinet color you have. Better continuity.

you already have a backsplash.

Will you have a lot of appliances, etc on the countertop? Or do you like a clean, clutter free countertop? What color is the wall color, and what kind of hood vent is planned?

You generally have a countertop with a clean back so the tile meets the countertop like this.

for some reason the image didn't post.

Well as of now, the contractor has in mind tile for the wall, which is why we're asking. The rest of the house is Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace trim and Cloud Cover for the walls.

As for clutter, the old kitchen had a lot of appliances out as it was so small. There's significantly more storage here to put stuff away.

You have a backsplash, the 4" piece. Either leave it as painted wall above, or remove the 4" piece and tile the whole section.

Having the 4" piece and tile, creates a stripe around the room and makes the space between the upper cabinets and counter appear squat.

I would paint the ceiling and walls ALSO the trims and doors BM Cloud Cover, not contrasting white trim. No backsplash, just paint the wall.

Well the ceilings we only get decorator white, lol.

Thanks for the food for thought. I think my struggle has been the 4" counter material for the quartz especially. I'm ok with the transition from the leathered granite to a lighter color for some reason but the other transition hasn't been sitting right with me. We have thought about just painting.

What about just tiling behind the stove. The hood is an Elica Leone stainless.

I had been considering something bold, but the counter being more colorful than the sample threw us.

Backsplashes are mostly for decorative purposes. They can add visual interest - color, texture, etc. Your counter already has enough interest, by itself. If you don’t like the 4” splash, you could absolutely remove it - and simply paint the splash area in an eggshell finish, which makes it cleanable/wipeable. Painted wall for the backsplash area is also a design trend these days - a simple, as well as a more flexible approach.

If you wanted to add extra protection behind the stove, you could just use a piece of stainless there.

7 year old thread, but most of us still feel the same way, that you should not mix a 4" backsplash with tile above ...

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4821545/4-inch-kitchen-backplash-a-tile-backsplash-above-it-yes-or-no

A lot of people misunderstand the purpose of a backsplash. They protect your cabinets and floors ar much as your walls, so you absolutely need one, and you’ve got one. The problem I see is that tiling only behind the stove brings in a third element that doesn’t really disappear as you had wished, into the background. Aesthetically you have two choices. 1. Remove the 4” quartz and tile the entire backsplash in one tile, or 2. have another piece of quartz cut to serve as the stove backsplash, and prepare yourself for it being the wrong color and possibly scorching over time. I’d choose 1.

" We already have a lot going on and are now thinking of Amagansett / Montauk Gin white for the backsplash. "

As mentioned above, you have a backsplash. You need to be sure to remove the 4" backsplash or riser that is there now as you do not want both.

If all of this is new and you've been surprised by the counter, I'd sit with it for a while. Paint now and decide on tile and removing the 4" backsplash later. The answer will come when it's supposed to which doesn't feel like now.

I really like the three pendant lights above the island. Any info on those?

Finally, something positive. They are Bicycle Glass hand-blown swell pendant lights. You can find them online. I'm really happy with them, although they took a bit to be made. Didn't matter as everything is behind anyway.

I had never heard of Bicycle Glass...now I see it online. Thank you! They are a work of art. When I see your kitchen photos, my eyes are drawn to them...in a good way!

If all you wanted were compliments on your kitchen, you should have specified.

Would have been more helpful for you, and definitely would have been helpful for those who wasted time trying to give you solutions to your backsplash concern.

You asked for thoughts on your backsplash. I didn't see anything negative, unless any thoughts/ideas that don't agree with your plan are seen as negative?

Have you bought a box of that Montauk Gin to try out in your kitchen? I did, and it is very reflective/iridescent when hit with natural light and also when it reflects on a shiny/polished counter below it. I put up a bunch of the tiles on the wall with quake putty and there was too much glare from the tiles, which then also reflected on the polished counters. It made me realize that my kitchen needed a honed/matte tile, so I ended up going with a honed marble mosaic.

“the contractor has in mind tile for the wall“

Who cares what the contractor has in mind? This is your kitchen and contractors are not designers.

Your counters’ 4” splash IS the backsplash. It is true you have a lot gokng on in here. Leave well enough alone and start living in it and see what you think.

Once your space is moved into and fully used, I think it is going to look great. The different colors really make sense with the layout.

Leave the 4” backsplash and paint the wall a wipe-friendly finish and stop. Give yourself time to live without tiles and just browse, look at samples and think about what you want.

After a big remodel, many of us are out of decisions. I did my backsplash tile about a year after my kitchen renovation and found I had more energy (and enthusiasm) for the task.

I was joking / not serious about wanting compliments.

I do have a case of the gin white (although it is Amagansett ordered and they sent Mayorka lol).

I have a spouse that's dead set on tile, I think painting would be fine at this point. I have registered the 4" backsplash and the tile is a faux pas nowadays. I do appreciate the comments, but I also am decisioned out. And now the 4" backsplash is another thing to be mad about regarding the countertops.

I truly appreciate the input.

I actually like your countertops. I think I they look great. I do not like the four inch backsplash thing and agree with your husband on tile but it would need to be very simple and neutral. We have a tile backsplash and it does get dirty. I’m glad it’s not just wall getting splattered

Looking at the shades of off white and gray, I like the bright white of the plaster and can envision bright white painted walls to show off all the neutrals. Chantilly Lace?

We have a 4" backsplash to match the counters, and we painted the walls a semi-gloss, it cleans up nicely. If you tile, I would go with bright white.

I think the stainless behind the range is a good idea and ties in with the glass pendants.

"but I also am decisioned out"

Lucky for you, you don't have to decide right away! Lots of folks wait on a backsplash. In fact, back in the old Gardenweb days, lots of people would do a new kitchen reveal "ABB" - all but backsplash.

The backsplash can be changed at any time. Maybe since your hubby is so set on tile, you can let him do all the work of finding a number of possibilities, and you both decide on a favorite?

Ok, so 4" backsplash is coming out and tile will be going in. Thanks all for calling this out.

Nicely done.

Wow, nice thanks for the update!

Ahhhh just gorgeous! Well done! 👏

🎉👍🏻😊 Hooray! It looks beautiful. I hear you smiling.

Love the blue lights over the island.

Oh wow - it looks terrific, it really came together! love the color of your island

You pulled off the "2 color cabinets and 2 different counters". Well done. And agree that the lights look great.

Looks great! I also discovered Bicycle Glass when I was searching for pendants, and while I ended up with something else I really liked their lights. Yours are beautiful, as is your whole kitchen! Enjoy!