I would suggest a subway tile the colour of your cabinets, this would make your counters really pop. The kitchen would also look brighter.

Stamped Tin backsplash, inexpensive and a Big Bang fit the buck.
It will brighten up your kitchen

Under cabinet lighting is a super idea.

I agree with leelee about removing the counter material on the wall plus the lighting, and if you want a tile similar to that backsplash, here's are nice alternatives

I agree with leelee remove the 4" back splash first.

Definitely remove the back splash. Your granite is lovely but busy so I like the idea of subway tile instead of smaller tiles. I think jan07's suggestion is right on the money and will really brighten up your kitchen.

I'm glad it's pretty unanimous on removing that 4" section. I told my contractor when he came out to look yesterday, "it's got to go." He was trying to tell me I should keep it. This is why I go to designers for advice, and not contractors.

My demo starts tomorrow and a 4" quartz backsplash was part of the plans, then I was installing tin sheets of tile. Seeing and reading here, I am not so sure of that 'curl.' I don't like it. But doesn't it help keep the area under the counter clean?

Is it difficult to remove the 4 inch backsplash without damaging the countertop?

If you have a professional counter top installers remove it I believe they will do a better job without damaging the counters. The tin sheets will look busy IMHO. White subway tiles on the other hand will make enhance your counter tops and will look gorgeous. The under cabinet lighting can be bought at Lowes or Home Depot for $59.99. It has all the necessary cables.. Its 8' of LED strip lights. Its really easy to install.

I know I tout them often, but I have been impressed by the quality and variety of the glass tiles at modwalls.com. Any of these, except the dune, would probably work with your granite. Especially with online purchases, recommend getting samples.

This was done with their white (pre-grout) with recycled pebbles in the niche as well as on the floor. It's amazingly easy to clean and has a lot of bling for a guest bath.

I would either use the same color as the cabinets with under cabinet lighting , or choose a color that is dominant in your kitchen from a painting or pottery.

So the main reason behind going the more simple, elegant white subway tile, is to accentuate, the counter tops, and not make the area too busy?

I created my own backsplash this design adds lots of fun to my kitchen

Here's a random question as well. Would you bring the backsplash over this far, or end it on the other side of the sink?

A little goes a long way so I didn't go near the sink

This is the problem I have with a backsplash that isn't preplanned. Looking at the cabinets and the counters there isn't a proper place to end the backsplash. But I would definitely say, in all circumstances, remove the 4" BS made of counter material.

AMG7, to answer your question, I would never have had the 4" of counter material going up the wall as a backsplash. That's like extending the moulding on the floor up the wall. To me, the wall is vertical and the counter/floor is horizontal. Would you add the wall covering on the floor or counter? Same difference.

From the little bit I can see of the cabinets and stainless steel pull - it looks pretty clean line - possibly modern. Consider a combination of glass and stainless steel linear mosaic. You can google those words, and of course, look through the products and images on Houzz.

LeeLee, the counter top, and 4" piece was existing in the house when I purchased it. I would not have gone with that counter top design in the first place, but it's what I have to work with. This is an investment property in the making, so I'd prefer to leave the counters for now, and replace the hardwood instead.

That 4" piece will be removed soon enough. It's bugged me for the last year and a half.