You may have already made a decision on this but I thought I'd just weigh in with my thoughts anyway ... six months ago we finished fitting out a new kitchen and we are thrilled with both the look and the practicality of it all. Initially I was going to go down the glass splash back track but eventually I chose tiles because I decided that, for me, the seamless splash back was a bit bland and same same. I also love blue, brown and white as a palette – and the tiles I chose were just slightly wonky (not too crazy – they still had to be easy to wipe over etc), rectangular, hand-made Spanish tiles in a lovely duck-egg blue. The slight wonkiness means they catch the light beautifully as you move around the room. The benches and cupboards are a warm white and the large island bench is a fantastic slab of spotted gum with another long piece of spotted gum on the upstand behind the sink. Behind the stove (which is the only place that the real concern about grotty grout really comes into play) we have a stainless steel splash back going up to the rangehood. Not sure if this helps but I am thrilled with my kitchen and have no regrets about going with interesting tiles.

I agree with all the comments about back rests and white stools getting dirty easily. My friend was devastated when her guest sat on her brand new white chair with jeans and the indigo dye from her jeans stained the chair forever. I’d also be wary that the white you choose for your stool blends with the white of your kitchen. From memory, your kitchen and bench tops are a warm white. The stark white of those stools could be jarring to the eye. Just saying....

Thanks everyone. Nik Star I did get some colour swatches for navy, but then didn't have the courage to go ahead. Think I will have to just be content with some navy towels.

I can't even work any of that sorry . I assume the stone you have to have is that greyish larger square in the middle of both pictures ? Where is that going ? The vanity is the light powdery blue that is in one of the pics ? What are the floor tiles ? What else do you want ? Wall tile colour ? Shower tile colour ? Maybe thats where the grey tiles are going , or maybe its the floor ? At a guess , if the vanity is that powdery light blue then go with a stronger blue somewhere --- I quite like semi-see-thru blue glass tiles in small doses , maybe even some really strong blue almost violet tiles too , or if going modern , how about those tiles that are maybe 30mm tall , various lengths up to 250mm , in a strong blue but mixed with say black and even brushed stainless ( which I'm guessing is similar to nickel ? ) of the same size ( you can get them already made on a cottony backing ) with a white grout . But I may have it all wrong , and you may want white and grey and nickel and no real colour .