According to the linked tutorial, slate tile is much more cost effective than most other kitchen/bathroom backsplash materials. I think it looks very modern being a natural stone material. And you can DIY to save on labor costs.
You can check with your local home improvement store to see what colors of slate tile are available. They might allow you to hand pick the individual tiles if they vary a lot in color. If your color scheme would work with this you might want to try it. I could see it looking good with cabinets painted light gray.
Click here to see the tutorial on Instructables.
Be sure to read the comments there as well as do your homework before you start this project. Home improvement centers and hardware stores often have books of tutorials with all you need to know about projects like this. Compare prices and installation difficulty with ceramic tile, tin ceiling tile (painted or not), and other materials.
The person who posted the Instructrable says that you either love this look or you hate it. But that was written a couple of years ago. Using natural unglazed tiles is more mainstream now, even trendy upscale. That might have also pushed up the prices of slate tiles. If you expect to be selling your house in the near future, you might want to consider something that appeals to a wider audience, like white subway tile.
Maggie says
I hear you, Frances! I think I could get to like this look!
Frances says
The slate tile are usually darker in color so even if there’s some dirt there, you can hardly ever notice it making this tile perfect for kitchens.