I'm in the same camp as your husband. I see you've got a blue island -- what about some sort of blue to tie in with that?

^^^^^ Personally, I agree with your husband and @porkchop_z5b_MI above.

I wouldn't install a solid white backsplash tile - your cabinets are white + in the photo, your countertop looks like solid white (although it seems like it has some light veining).

You can handle the multiple whites by choosing a tile that matches either your counters or your cabinets. Either is fine.

If you want your backsplash to grab your eye and perhaps distract from the whites, consider a Delft(ish) tile, or perhaps a French blue and white tile. Choose the less egregous white background color and just go with the patterns.

blue tile could work but I might just do a stainless subway tile to keep it simple I do not have enough info about your style to suggest any of those very busy ones

I agree, I think meeting somewhere in the middle with a light gray colour may work as there’s gray veining in the countertop and the fireplace is also gray stonework in the kitchen. Will try to post another photo of the other half of the space. Thank you everyone for your help!

^^ I love that table!

Grey could work, but you're going to have to be careful -- there are cool greys and warm greys. Your fireplace looks to be warm greys on my monitor with just a small smattering of cool grey stone so overall reads warm grey. A warm grey may or may not look good against the counter, and too cool of grey won't tie in well with the fireplace.

I really like our backsplash tile. It comes in two shades.
We opted for the greys and whites but it also comes in a whites/creams version.

Thanks porkchop_z5b_MI! That’s good to learn about the warm and cool grays — I had no idea! Another reason why I’m leaning towards a white subway tile is because I feel like it would give more flexibility to paint the walls a more bold colour in the future to change things up. Thought perhaps the pattern could be in a herringbone pattern to give it some depth and character?

A couple examples — not all herringbone pattern

I love your kitchen because it doens't feel too kitchen-ish. It feel like a living space with the great table, wood floor, and fireplace. A slick tile is going to make the room feel so much more like a kitchen plunked into a living space.

I'd paint your backsplash white - or whatever other color you may end up painting your walls, and add a 4" strip of the counter material as the splash. It will be a much more cohesive look with the rest of your room.

Tile styles come and go. We installed a 4" splash of the counter material. Then you can paint the walls any accent color you like that can be changed easily enough later.

Semi-gloss latex enamel is tough enough to keep clean and looking good.

Thank you! I too was wanting to paint but my husband is skeptical there’s a paint strong enough to withstand heat and stains… I’m sure with a little digging I can find something that would work 👍🏼

Sorry I did not consider the cooktop.

We just bought a home and I had a similar situation. Previous owner chose Cambria Ridgegate with her Pure White cabinets. She installed a multicolored bs which was not my taste. it had browns and rust!

I chose to stay neutral as this is one large great room.

I matched the counter with 3x12 tiles.

My husband was not interested. in a statement bs, so simple it is.

I have only ever had painted walls behind my range and used regular Benjamin Moore. I've had zero problems with heat and we've high BTU gas ranges. Stains wipe up just as easily as on tile. Two day old tomato sauce wipes off fine. Believe me, we are not neat freaks!

We have an ugly backsplash in a small condo second home and I'm contemplating painting over it.

I agree with your husband. There are so many interesting tiles today, i would go with something other than white. Backsplashes are relatively easy to swap out in the future if you tire of it. I did that in my last house, there wasn’t anything wrong with it, it was white subway, but I was soooo tired of seeing in in every house ( including 2 of

my neighbors) I just wanted something more interesting, less cliche.

K Laurence, can you share yours with us?

Oh I just saw that you have gray veins. I did a gray in my current kitchen.

You could do something interesting just behind the range and a short backsplash of the counter material elsewhere. Love the tiles eam44 posted!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and photos! I really appreciate you all :)