I also like calm and soothing, and I've learned that for me that's best accomplished with a generally monotone color scheme--all main surfaces one color in various tints, shades, saturations so it all blends calmly. Then accent colors and contrasts, just enough of the latter as needed, brought in as desired. My kitchen today would probably be described as "whites," except the overall color is a honey tone ranging from white wood surfaces warmed with a honey tint, to a honeyed pale "cream " on the walls, deepening to honey-colored pine floors.

It won't be your choice, of course, but if that were my kitchen I might just choose a good scrubbable wallpaper in a subtle pattern with either the background or main pattern the same color as the cabinets. The choices are so many I'd be sure to find something I really loved, and it doesn't hurt at all that I could always change it out someday in a way I probably wouldn't feel free to with tile.

One of the things that makes your kitchen pretty is the contrast between the counters and the lovely beige paint. If you go with a tiled white bs, you might lose that contrast and the visual interest it creates, and lean into institutional white territory.

You have several good options to retain your neutral look without becoming boring. It makes sense to live with what you have for a while. The thickness is something only you notice. It looks great to the rest of the world.

Option 1. Choose another 3" or 4"bs in white. This could be long, thin sheets of white tile (Claymonde), subways, or even glass tile. Just don't choose carrera marble. Nothing makes quartz look more like fake stone than similar real marble sitting next to it. Thassos marble tile (white with no veining) would be fine. The one below is 3" x 8". The glass tile is 4" x 12". Both are 3/8" thick.

Claymonde Sheet large format (35 1/4" long) tiles are "ultrathin" although the web site (link below) no longer specifies thickness, and come with a bullnose edge if you want one. Their native height is either 5 3/4" or 11 11/16" but these can be cut to whatever height you want. They come in white.

Option 2. Tile the entire height of the bs. If you do, consider using a crema marfil (top), or other beige tile that works well with your paint. I know you want calm, but I'm also adding a stone and glass mosaic that keeps your neutral scheme but offers contrast within the mosaic, just to give you some visual texture.

I chose a 5" 1cm Cambria backsplash for my current kitchen, I was going for simple and didn't want a wall full of grout lines. I like the clean look of your 3" backsplash but the thickness would bother me too

I have to say I love the Cambria even better than my granite. It just seems so clean. But I do love my granite too which I also have in the kitchen.

If you leave it just behind the sink (Option 1), I would (1) make it the entire height b/w the window sill and the counter and (2) try to make it more interesting like adding a curve or a stepped down waterfall effect as it's gradually eliminated past the window.

Is your sink centered under the window? I can't tell for certain, but it actually does not look like it from the picture.. If it isn't, then I think Option 2 above is your best option.

Rosie, I really appreciate all of your advice. Flat would be better than glossy tiles with the Torquay. You are right about being able to easily change it though... which is why I didn't do subway tiles in the beginning. Just afraid If it was to much white that I could't change.

EAM44, thank you for the link and different options and for taking the time to reply.

Gr8day, sorry you've had so much go wrong in your own kitchen. Hopefully something positive comes from something negative.

Thanks, buckeyegoldenmom.

Motherofthreesons, My kd gave me the impression it was standard. My Dh thought perhaps it could be cut down also. Not sure though, it came out of Atlanta, so I don't know who cut it. I still owe half the money, so I will ask.

Minty88, This is the first quartz countertop I'v seen with a thick backsplash.

May_flowers, It does look chunky and I have called it a dust collector.

Wi-sailorgirl,Thanks for your imput. I just expected a much thinner backsplash. Hopefully, It wil look better in the end.

I guess I like to have things out, though and maybe you aren't that kind of person.

My shelf: sorry for the bad angle and the mess underneath.

Here is closer to what I mean for you, other than this is higher than yours would be:

Ileen-84 and Aliris19,I had not thought of either of these ideas. Thank you. The more ideas I have the better.

Deedles, Thanks so much for posting pics and another option to consider.

Also, I completely second the suggestion to just wait. It's amazing how one's feelings about stuff changes when it all gets done incrementally. There's plenty of time to fix this later; don't fret right now!