Well the cardboard has its charm!

The grey is nice. I would choose a glazed ceramic tile, not marble, definitely not the bianco (and the Sahara looks nothing like Thassos to me). The stone counter/stone bs combo is the quarry equivalent of a jeans suit - blue jeans, denim shirt, jeans jacket. You should absolutely do it if you love it, but consider other options as well.

It would help to see your flooring material and wall color before making suggestions.

Eam44--Ha! Cardboard is trying to protect the backer from oil splashes which we've been told can impact backsplash application. Good point on stone/stone. I think the Bianco is definitely too matchy matchy. The Sahara we were originally told was Thassos, but after seeing Thassos it's clearly not, but it does have a little bit of shimmer to it which is similar to other Thassos we've seen. The picture of the countertop doesn't truly do it justice. There are multiple areas of quartz crystals in it and it has little flecks that "sparkle". Thassos was recommended for that reason but we liked the variation in the Sahara better than the very uniform appearance of the Thassos. I don't have a sample of Thassos unfortunately.

Pippabean--Floor is a mixture of Special Walnut and Antique Brown. Not quite Dark walnut but darker than Special. The wall is Ben Moore Seattle Mist, although there is VERY little pain on the wall of the kitchen with the backsplash. Please pardon the pic, but it gives you floor and paint in the same shot.

I have the artic white in 3x 12 (or is it 4x12) with white shaker cabinets but black/white granite counter . I like the texture it brings.

Anitamo I'd love to see it. Do you have pictures?

My kitchen is similar and I am using this. But I like some bling and my countertop doesn't have as much movement.

I like the Artic Wave. Your countertops are the star - don't compete with them.

My choice would be gray.

If the countertop was marble I might consider doing the same backsplash. But two different stones with a lot of the same movement might be overkill.

I don't think white that's on the pic, will necessarily add warmth. Also, you have several types of movement-in quartzite, in your floor, and by picking a tile with strong movement as well(wavy lines, in this case) , you'll intensify that effect. Which might be what you like-but you need to know you like it, and consider that. Other surfaces are already having a strong character of their own. Are you ready to triple the effect?

Now gray by itself, as all the other colors out there can lean either cool or warm. Yours is leaning warm, and it being a darker color than white, provides some coziness. If ii was concrete gray, I obviously wouldn't advise on it, knowing you want to bring some warmth. But this gray-if I see it correctly of course-doesn't give an impression of neither too cold nor too dark. I also think it will play off your floors quite beautifully-stronger, a bit reddish browns and quiet grays usually do.

Don't forget also your kitchen won't stay empty..a scarlet red teapot(like mine lol), or turquoise towel, or fruits in a bowl, or wooden spatulas in ceramic jar, or linen window treatments( for example)-and your kitchen gets even warmer than it will already be, with this beautiful floor. Warmth doesn't come from colors only..different types of materials feel different. Blue silk will read a bit cooler than blue velvet. Wood will read warmer than stone. Etc, etc.

Of the tile pictures, I prefer the gray. Next to the darker grays in the stone, it looks on the taupier end of the spectrum to me in the photo, which isn't cold. I think April's points are good about movement.

What about whites in another field tile besides subway shaped? Square is not trendy but is classic in kitchens. It is perhaps no less boring than subway, but I think it ups the cozy (warmth to me implies coziness) factor over subway sometimes, and you can still put it in a running brick pattern for interest.

Also, what about something not quite so white like this porcelain colored tile with a bit of crackle to it. I think it plays well with the marble in this photo, though I cannot tell if perhaps that marble is creamier than your granite. A crackled tile is interesting (for your husband) but doesn't have the movement the waves would give you.

This image is from Winchester Tiles.

Another option might be doing a plain white tile but using trim tile in the same color to create a focal point behind the cooktop to add texture and interest.

Have you considered using the same as your stunning counter tops?

What about a glass tile in Matte? We have similar colors and are most likely using MIR glass tile in Gray Cloud Matte. MIR Mosaic

The matte tile has a lovely warmth to it IMO. They also have white if you're leaning toward that.

Actually, if you like the above, check out Sugar Cookie. It looks tan in the online pic but is more a warm gray IRL. Gray Cloud has a bit of blue.

Love your kitchen! I think the gray looks the best of the samples you have. I also like Lauren0319's suggestion about glass tile. Please keep posting pics!

Of your choices, I would go with the gray. Beautiful countertops and flooring! Looking forward to seeing your reveal!

Thank you all for your helpful comments.

I like the grey tile, my only concern has been the large swath of it behind the cooktop. We've considered putting in some kind of mosaic (like those below) behind the cooktop and plain white tile everywhere else. Do you all think that would be too competitive with the slab as well? My goal has been to not "overwhelm" the kitchen. There have been numerous amazing backsplashes that I've seen but with our slab the combos seemed to be too much.

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We did grey subway tile at our last house and I loved it!

Instead of doing a mosaic tile could you just run the same tile in a different pattern so it didn't compete as much with the countertop?

White plus silver doesn't necessarily spell "warm" to me. It spells "gorgeous", yes; but not "warm". Definitely less warm than that gray.

Also, I'd be wary to introduce another "star" material in your kitchen..it shines already.

If it's huge kitchen maybe you can get away with it so to say; otherwise, it's easy to overwhelm the space. Which you want to avoid to do.

I'm very much a "backsplash" person myself, I love, love tiles.

But it's rarely that you can indulge in both magnificent stone with a lot of movement, and full of character tile.

You can make an accent of course, if you love the tile badly. In which case I'd chose the first tile. The second is very graphic..

My vote is still for the gray.

You don't have to madly love every element in your hard finishes. You choose the ones you madly love-and others become more of support actors. Like a ring and a stone, you know

As for the expanse of gray..Don't forget, you'll have a cook top..and things on cook top..)) Whatever backsplash you choose.

Love the Winchester tiles that lindaymarie79 posted. They are larger than your average 3x6" subway tile, but not too contemporary for your kitchen. Personally, I don't feel you need a feature tile over your cooktop. The countertops & curved hood provide plenty of interest. You might also look at a crackle tile, without too much color variation from tile to tile. Gorgeous countertops - lucky you!!

What about doing an arabesque matching tile framed behind the range and the matching subway elsewhere. Like this beautiful oyster Bay

https://www.missionstonetile.com/Beveled-Arabesque-Tile-Oyster-Bay-p/Arabesque-Oyster.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjwsuK_BRDD9ISR1bawwUwSJACbOiixXlAbtHQirJUuLUSSid7pKIFJiSAb51pfLMbT9HQ_7BoCj3Pw_wcB

Iam doing the same remodel. I couldn't decide either. I decided to carry the marble up the walls. It gives it a clean uncluttered look

Bobbi it's beautiful.

I feel though it demands the same stone..like you did-carried the same marble up the walls. In the case of the OP it should be the same Quartzite.

We do have a very clean kitchen--DH is insistent there is nothing on the counters other than the stand mixer, so there won't be much to break up the white in real life.

We'd love to run the slab up as a backsplash but unfortunately we bought the last slabs at the stone yard (and aren't completely sure what it is--they stone co. calls it White Super, which certainly isn't Super White).

We we went back to the tile store today. The designer there recommended either either a white porcelain tile with an uneven surface paired with a 12x24 large wave pattern behind the backsplash or white glass paired with random pencil glass behind the backsplash. Pic below.

..and what are your thoughts about her suggested choices?

We actually really like the wave. Just aren't sure about how wide to go or how to transition the tiles. We like that it brings a bit of modern look to the kitchen. We don't really know what we're doing and want to make sure we aren't making a big mistake backsplash wise (although I realize we can always tear it out I'd rather not)

I think the wave is too strong a pattern with the counters. They also have wavy lines, going the opposite direction. If you want to use a texture or a different shape, I'd make it very subtle.

You have some nice ideas in your Kitchen Ideabook. I'd make a new ideabook for backsplashes and only put in photos of counters with strong veining. I think it will help you narrow your focus.

Kcjm my second choice was a

lazer cut glass and marble the glass being your wall color

Btw I picked this flooring for my kitchen but torn between this and the dark rich wood what r your thoughts

What is the Quartz countertops name? I really like it and would like to know the name

Bobbi-- the laser cut is beautiful. Ive found many I love but there are limited marbles that seem to work with our countertops.

Stewart1211--The countertops are Quartzite, not Quartz. Our stone yard called them White Super which is a name I haven't found anywhere else. They are NOT Super White. Since different stone yards seem to call slabs different names I'm not certain there's another more common name for them or not.

I love the white for your cabinets! I would love to know the color?

Are you set on tile? Another possibility is a painted glass backsplash.

As to the flooring I would definitely take the gray floor over the dark brown floor. My friends with the dark floors tell me they just feel like they are spending their entire lives sweeping.

If you love the wave tile, and you can find matching tile without the wave, you can randomly put wave tiles in, so it's not too much.

Kcjm...what backsplash did you end up with? Also, I love your white cabinets. What paint color, brand and exact sheen did you use on your trim and doors to match? Whites are driving me crazy! Help?!

Hi Bobbi, I love your choices. But more importantly I love your name. LOL I'm a Bobbie Gardner too, but I go by Sasandfat on Gardenweb. Too funny that there are two people on Gardenweb that share the same name.

kcjm, your kitchen is lovely and if I was choosing your back splash I would go with the gray tile. But I like contrast. :)

Ty sasandfat Yes our names r not to common. Never met anyone with same name

aande00q what color is that in your kitchen? I love it

KCJM...can you post your final picture I am also looking at the wavy tiles.

I vote for the tiles with the wavy texture. They are visually interesting without overpowering your countertop (who is clearly the belle of the ball).