Lots of ways to have whimsy...Just fun color, or pattern of how the tiles are put up, or fun textures and designs to the tiles themselves, or even what the backsplash material is...I've seen kitchens posted with tin ceiling material, sheets of glass (available in many textures and color), stainless textured tiles, and even broken dishes and mementos glued up and grouted for backsplash.

Lots of fun and cool tile choices here:
http://www.annsacks.com/onlinecatalog/collection.jsp?cat=268004&coll=268204

and these are very cool, too, with lots of choices/variations:
http://www.trikeenan.com/designCenter/conceptBoards.php

I might try to connect with some of the burgundy and brown in your granite.

Here is a picture of a tile that I thought was fun, but am not sure where to get it. As anyone seen this tile. I googled it, but nothing came up.

Here is a link that might be useful: Picture of tile...

I thought that tile looked familiar. I think someone here used it in a backsplash. Very fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: Korel Red Charm

Those do look fun. Where/how did you get the photo?

It's very cute! If you're looking for red, search for nazalnak's (nasalnak?) first thread, about 2-3 weeks ago?, re: backsplash (about 50 replies) where people graciously photoshopped lots of different potential backsplashes. Whenever I hear whimsy, I think of I-chic's chickens of course :)

oops---crossposted. Good job, catlike!

I love this bamboo tile backsplash. I think I'm going to put it in my sewing studio behind the sink...

bamboo tiles

I can't link directly to the correct page. Click on "New Kura Bamboo Tiles" from the home page.

need to see pics of your kitchen to really make a recommendation, but to me, it sounds as if you've got quite a bit of color going on in your kitchen, so i'd stay more neutral with the backsplash...maybe a tan or cream color, with perhaps some small accent tiles interspersed serving as your 'whimsy'.

post some pics of your kitchen!