You can either introduce an accent colour taking inspiration from your furnishings, artwork or even kitchen appliances. Or, opt to not introduce colour at all, choosing a stafford low iron glass splash back that is colour matched to your wall colour, and have one real splash back at all! If it were mine, I would like to maintain the moody-ness of a dark timber kitchen and black granite, and continue to granite up the wall to create a wet hub enclosing all my workspace with the same surface material. Install lighting to the underside of the overhead wall cabinets, and this by night will ooze sophistication.

What are the benchtops going to be?

Hi ysteb1 I found a tile that looks like a light beach style hardwood from National Tiles. They are long (1200mm) and narrow but I think the look will be nice. They are suitable for a bathroom so going to try them out.

In or out of date just go with what you love! Colour is easily added and changed with accessories. But a splashback can always be altered later on as well, although at more expense. I really like the photo splashbacks. We're thinking of putting a picture of my fathers family farm behind it but I've seen lovely ones with underwater shots, fields, even a family shot. Go nuts. If you don't like it, change it later.