Are you keeping that lonely cabinet between your windows? Is your designer only helping with finishes, or is she a kitchen designer?

I agree with your designer to tile all the way up to the ceiling. because you have a lot of windows, putting the backslash only part way up will make the wall look very busy but if the backslash went all the way up it will look so much cleaner.

Backsplash should be all the way up and standout

I think it will look fine either way. For me, it would come down to the extra cost for labor and materials. If tiling to the ceiling is within budget, go for it. If the cost is unreasonable, do the standard height.

(I recently had to choose for our kitchen and baths for our new build. Tile to the ceiling in the master shower and kids tub combo surround was reasonable, but tiling in the kitchen to ceiling was not since it was a herringbone pattern not standard.)

@lucky998877 I really don't want to sacrifice any cabinet space, I do use it all. I'm not redesigning the kitchen, I'm upgrading what is here. The designer I hired was actually for colors throughout the house and I quickly asked her about the drawer pulls and tiling.

@Theresa Janssen Thank you for your opinion and that photo. I've been looking for one that can show tiling up to the ceiling with windows involved and I've been having a hard time finding any.

it will look gorgeous.

just to compare... to me the kitchen with a partial backsplash makes it feel a bit busier?

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Thank you all for your opinions. Lastly, if I tile all the way up...I should probably frame out the windows, right?

Adding trim may be the easiest to do given the narrow space between the corner windows and sink window. Those areas may make for an awkward tile layout. You could also find a tile you like that also has a matching bullnose and have your new counter as the ledge. My sink windows have a granite ledge, and my shower window is trimmed out with a bullnose tile.

Consult with your designer to see which will give a cleaner look and not leave weird slivers of tile by the windows.

@User I'd be curious to see your window ledge, if you care to share. The large middle window is actually a box bay window that the previous owner just put some random tile on...I need to come up with a long term solution. I usually fill the space with plants.

I'd get rid of that lonely cabinet or make it something special.

I think you can do either, but the sliver of tile that's going to be between the two corner windows could look very odd (slivers of tile). You should be able to beef up the wood trim around your windows so that there is no wall space between them, only the wood trim meeting in the corner. That wold give you the best luck in tiling to the ceiling. I would remove the corner shelves that are on either side cabinets flanking the corner windows. Those in themselves really date the space. If tiling all the way up, I'd use a simple subway tile as it could get very busy looking around the windows. Have you thought about putting glass fronts on the cabinets on either side of the sink. It would lighten things up.

Sorry for the odd lighting. My phone camera can't deal with sunlight streaming in, lol.

Another vote for all the way up to the ceiling

All the way up to ceiling will bring a more prestigious look to your kitchen. Definitely all the way up!

If you need material validation before buying or a consultation through phone, you can private message me.

I often do phone consultation for clients.

Best regards,