Metro tiles bring one of the most enduringly classic shapes in tiling to a kitchen, working just as well as a full splashback as they do a smaller, considered accent.
For the floor, large format porcelain is the practical choice, available in wood, stone, cement, and plain effects, and easy to wipe clean through daily use. A metro tile splashback works beautifully behind the hob, and layout does a lot of the work here too: brick bond, herringbone, and basket weave all read quite differently. Since the kitchen sees more spills than any other room in the house, a tiled surface remains the most sensible way to protect it. A herringbone splashback reads quite differently from a simple stacked bond, so it is worth considering layout as much as colour.