Hi all - we just purchased a new town home and would like to upgrade the appliances in the kitchen to smudge proof stainless (or stainless-like) steel. That's as far as we've gotten with looks. But now on closer inspection, can we jazz up the kitchen with a back splash without breaking the bank? If so - any ideas on design (where to place it, thickness, color, etc)? This is our first home and no idea where to start, but we will have a full month or two before we move in so we are trying to take advantage.

The room is a wide open concept to the dining and living room (one very large room) with darker wood furniture than the cabinets (dining table, coffee table, end tables, etc), so perhaps a backsplash tile with darker tones can make the darker wood in the dining room and living room tie together to the lighter shade of the kitchen cabinets and granite. The rooms are empty now with hardwood floors, so the main design element can start with the kitchen. We would like to change the wall color as well, so we thought a backsplash idea would be a good place to start