i'd be a bit worried about the tin tile's ability to withstand the heat of a bluestar, especially with island trim. i think the heat will eventually damage the finish.

i also do think it'd be a bit too busy with the two backsplashes right next to each other.

fwiw, we dealt with the american tin ceiling company and used their tiles for our ceiling. the product is great, well-priced, and looks great up on our ceiling.

thanks edlakin. Good to know about American Tin Ceiling. They are the ones I contacted and said that it would be ok to put behind the range. I agree - I'm pretty skeptical but hoping we are both wrong and that it can work! I'm still hoping that there might be someone out there with specific experience to share about tin ceiling tiles behind the range.

Also, what size beadboard is best to use for backsplash?

here are the links to some old threads on this topic - hope they help!

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg062258373916.html

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0111121828478.html

get some samples, fire'em up, and see what happens!

Just a suggestion--you could lean a cookie sheet up against the wall when you're using the back burners, to be on the safe side. Doing that would give you a radiant barrier and provide an insulating air space behind the sheet. Same concept as used with wood stove installations.

That and/or having deep (30'') counters which would put more open air space between the back burners and the splash.