I personally would also prefer horizontal especially once you get into the kitchen. I once put similar tiles in a long skinny bathroom and a horizontal tile layout when looking in from the door made it appear to be more of abnormal shape instead of a long skinny bowling alley effect.

I'd run the tiles the length of the kitchen in thirds.

Rethink the gray. First, that very gray flooring is very trendy - so more likely to become dated. Second, warm wood tones and cool grays do not bring out the best in each other. The grays were meant to work with the popular white or very dark wood cabinets. You can have a tile with gray, but it should also have some warm tones with it.

You and the tile person should do a dry layout out from end to end in opposite directions to determine which layout would visibly look better. No guessing and no problems as you will visually see exactly what ends will look like.

A little work in the beginning can save a lot of headaches. Sometimes a size of tile simply does not work and a larger or smaller size can make a dramatic difference.

Don't just pick out a pretty tile pick out a tile thats shape and size works in your room.

Britt E - I going to mention something that some old-schoolers (or husbands) would balk at doing in the past. fI really think that you should also paint the bricks. I think you'll find that after painting the cabinets, the wall will not look very good.