I would have suggested a glass splashback. You could have this sprayed in any colour of your choice but if you don’t want plain and sleek then perhaps this isn’t a solution for you.

I’m not a lover of tiles. They age in design and are always mucky behind a hob.

I would personally have it matching your worktop and floor. They can make the backboards in the same look.

Worried something else might clash as you have marble worktop and floor and the units so it's adding another pattern or colour.

Agree re no tiles -

Personally I’d look at these ceramic zellige style tiles to add texture and then add earthenware accessories and some wood as they have for extra warmth/texture (colours also look good with your stony green units!) but that may not be the style you’re after!

Subway tiles never date and go well with contemporary or traditional kitchens. In the photo, your floor looks cream and the counter white, I’m assuming this is just the light. Go with white or off white to match the actual counter colour. You can use a coloured grout matching your cupboards to continue the contemporary feel and avoid the staining that cream or white grout is prone to.

We had glass in ours - it comes in loads of colour options can be cut to size so no joins, very hygienic and goes well with the glass hob. You do need a good glass cleaner though.

Thank you all for the very helpful suggestions.

I've ordered some samples:

https://tileweb.co.uk/globe-25x75-gris-gloss-glazed-ceramic-tile.html

and

https://tileweb.co.uk/globe-25x75-blanco-gloss-glazed-ceramic-tile.html

Both are gloss and tend to reflect the light, these 2 tiles were picked mainly for their pattern and size at 25x75 to cover the overall 48cm height of the splashback, I'll see how they look like with my layout.

I also liked the splashback of the first picture sent by Sonia, which company was that from?

As Lynn suggested, a darker silver grey colour or any darker grout matching the same tile, or even no grout at all would be my choice.

For now, I wish you all a Happy new year.

Thank you again :)

Fab

Hi Fab

Personally I would have finished the walls in the same material as the worktop - as the area looks small I would have been concerned that too many materials would make the small area disjointed and/or look cluttered. That said (this suggestion may be too late but just in case you have not made a decision) I would recommend using large tiles or mirrored/coloured sheets of glass cut to size - imo this will, 1. keep the modern edge, 2. go well with the sleek worktops, 3. cut down on grout lines which can make small areas of tile look 'old fashioned', 4. have longevity i.e. it will cut down on maintenance, cleaning and the area will look fresh, clean and sleek longer.

Herrigbone white tiles will add interest without dominating the kitchen

Sorry Fab I can’t remember where those tiles were from. I’ve found some similar, but not exactly the same, with the stockists at the top (I hope!)

Why didn't you just get a upstand of your worktop, yours is very similar to mine. Then you could add colour in paint above it, perhaps.

Thank you so much to everyone and wow, Michelle! we have exactly the same worktop :-) !

I've chosen a brushed steel solution in the end, that I am now loving! it was on a website suggested by a friend called walls and floors.

I agree with the glass suggestion - it does not have to be plain, you can get glass printed with any pattern or photograph. Most specialists will subscribe to Shutterstock where there are almost infinite designs. We chose a geometric pattern in yellow and grey on a white background in our kitchen and a Japanese photograph (cherry blossom trees at night) in our bathroom. No grout to worry about and they look stunning.

Hi there

Sorry to be late to the contributions but your request just jumped out at me! I am a professional abstract painter and founder of Red Dog Glass Design

- I specialise in transposing my artwork onto low ion, toughened glass creating stunning splashbacks, glass panels and tiles. I have my work in homes nationally and just love bringing art into peoples spaces in this way. Please do feel free to contact me and I would be very happy to talk you through how I work and how I might be able to provide some inspiration :O)

Sally