I wish I could remember which tile store but one of the ones I looked at had a really nice tile that was like a big hexagon that was white with a grey and blue pattern on it. I feel like that would be perfect for OP's kitchen. It was a matte finish and I wanted more of a gloss, so went with something different.

I just looked at a Roman and Williams book on my colleague's desk. Normally I don't think much of interior decorators but they had some nice ideas. They did a restaurant floor literally of pennies grouted in which is so clever. omyrtrdyomh and practical.
Do something fun for your backsplash as it sounds like the rest of the kitchen is does not compete for drama.

Peel and stick tile.

Or go in a completely different direction

https://www.amazon.com/Tempered-Kitchen-Backsplash-Splashback-Cutting/dp/B0CGSKP6MQ

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look up Maria Killiam on backsplash tile. It's the first thing to date your reno and she recommends white subway tile with matching grout

This is fine if you have no opinion whatsoever and just want everyone to think it’s fine as well.
There are a million different tiles out there and for a small area in a white kitchen the possibilities are endless. Do you have a favorite color? One that is echoed in the rest of your house?

I think that the white subway tile with white grout will look super dated because it’s been so popular for the past decade or so. It’s like in the early 80s when everyone said oak cabinets were classic and would never look dated, or in the late 90s when everyone said dark cherry was so classic and would never look dated. Basically anything that is very popular will look dated at some point, so the lesson is just to get what you like unless you’re planning on selling within 5 years or so.

Oak and cherry cabinets will come back anyway, so don't worry about things looking dated. Just get what you like and enjoy it.

Thanks all, this is OP. We're going to go to a few tile stores and ask designers for options.

I realize some people aren't fans of gray cabinets, but I actually really like them. I knew I didn't want to do a wood grain or white, and the space felt too small for a darker color. It is a light gray, which was exactly the neutral I wanted.

I'm leaning towards a colored tile but we'll see what the designers suggest! I've looked at so many online inspiration pages and nothing is grabbing me. And I wanted something different from the countertop.

Just use the same thing you used for the countertops

I’d call your stone contractor back and get a matching backsplash. If you have a small kitchen you might even be able to use remnants. It’s a very clean look and easy to maintain. Go with pops of color for other things. Bright colored toaster, dish towel, vertical mug rack etc.

At some point you might get tired of the grey cabinets. You could paint them or reface years down the road. Having a white counter and backsplash will make that easy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first kitchen had a mosaic of white 1 inch squares with a few mint green ones scattered throughout and I loved it so much.

I love the tiny square mosaic!

Especially fun if it’s an iridescent blue.

No! Tiny tile is hard to clean and looks terribly busy.

Anonymous wrote:My first kitchen had a mosaic of white 1 inch squares with a few mint green ones scattered throughout and I loved it so much.

I love the tiny square mosaic!

Especially fun if it’s an iridescent blue.

I’d say no to white tile and grey grout. Your grout will always look dirty and the contrast will make it look busier.

I’d go with a vertical tile rather than horizontal, rectangular with curved, or triangle top. You could do subway but lay it vertically. I’d do a color but not a shocking one. Something that matches or better compliments the rest of your space.

Honeycomb shaped tile is another option.

It's the gray cabinets that's making it feel soulless. Gray is bad that way. Someone mentioned Killam above, she can't stand gray.

That said, I would stick with the white tile and gray grout. Pick a white that matches your countertop. It's a background color, it won't do much to swing the lack of soul.

[img]https://inspiredkitchendesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/81-projects-inspiredkitchendesign-ikea-blogs-1200x675.jpg
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You can inject soul with what you put on the counters, pick a colorful toaster or something, and stand up warm wood cutting boards and things like that. And I'm writing this as a person with a ton of color in the house.