To me, the effect is very contemporary. With your traditional raised panel cabinets, this is not the first look that comes to my mind.

I think these are your cabinets (with the lovely inspiration towel):

{{!gwi}}

Could you be sold on blockier subways? 4 x 8, 4 x 12 or these big chunky faceted diamonds (also 4 x 8)

Here is a link that might be useful: mosiac tile supplies

I had played with that arrangement, and made a drawing of it that may be useful to you:

I linked a thread below where I debated some different tile patterns.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ideas for offbeat tile patterns?

How about using the verticals as an accent row? I saw a pic today on Belgian Pearls showing a large format subway used as field tile with a slighting contrasting vertical subway - the field tile appeared to be a light cream or off white and the vertical was true white.

While trying to find the original source of the photo, I also saw a waterworks tile called the grove. Its a 2x8 subway with light clinker texture. I don't know how much it is, but it called your name.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grove Brickwork tile - 16 colors.

Funny you should post that pic today OB - I was looking at it just last night. I think it looks awesome! I even like the green glass!

I'm running everything vertically in my bathrooms, including linear accent tile around the tub to about 20" high. Only thing I will run horizontally will be the accent glass around the vanity top, if I even do the BS in the glass accent tile.

That said, my issue - as can be seen in the mock up above - is that if you are going to run things vertically you need to have a long enough run in which to do that. It just makes the room seem so much taller if you have that. Else, it seems choppy to me.

It seems like the tiles in that photo are actually fairly long and narrow (not a standard subway size maybe?) and that accentuates the effect, as do the sconces and mirrors. A few GWers have run vertically just behind the range, which you could certainly do. But, given the size of the area behind your range to the countertop on either side I think it would work to run it all vertically if that's what you wanted.

Eager to see what you decide!

I used verticals as an accent row in my bathroom. It looks very much like Angie's drawing, except the subways are small, the fields are horizontal, and the verticals are kept lined up around the window.

As I said, though, these are small tiles so the effect would be different in full size unless the wall is large.