So you want a recirculating hood, since it will not be vented outside? Budget for the hood, insert and installation $1000, $2000, other?

put some cabinetry up there and get the newer low profile microwave with ductless recicrculating function if you truly cant vent out. at least this way you get some use from the wall area. these slim models look pretty nice...I've seen a few in showrooms. i think youre going overboard w tile and constructing a big expensive thing which gobbles space and doesnt perform much.

30" Slim Over the Range Microwave With Automatic Presets 1.2 cu.ft. Capacity · More Info

Whirlpool 1.1 cu. ft. Low Profile Microwave Hood Combination · More Info

Microwave/Vent Hood · More Info

Your flooring choice will go a long way to warming up your space. Instead of a gray backsplash, try an actual color, perhaps with texture, like a crackle.

herbflavor I will not be adding a microwave nor any upper cabinets. I built the kitchen deliberately with no uppers.

apple_pie_order , yes I will be adding a reciculating vent--probably this Hauslane. The insert will cost about $700. The budget for the cover is undetermined and I will say I will consider a "reasonable" cost. I am awaiting estimates from some contractors. A local carpenter will build the surround to my specs.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC, the computer screen may not show it, but most of the choices are creamy white or beige. What color would you suggest? I tend to like monochrome looks and have had a tough time choosing a color other than the one similar to what I have here. I do like the matte or honed look rather than glossy. Also, I am hoping that a well-built range hood cover will also warm things up.

Congrats on your progress!

Any chance of continuing the countertop material along the backsplash up to the windows or has that ship sailed?

It is so hard to give advice on the tiles bc every monitor/screen shows colors differently

so it likely going to take a lot of trial and error with tile samples viewed in the space with the lighting

You mentioned a brick backsplash--you can get glazed bricks that are easy to clean but have an interesting texture to them. They come in lots of colors, from white to black, and some even look like red brick but with a glossy finish that would be easy to wipe down. These are from Fireclay but lots of tile manufacturers offer them.

Creamy white:

Brick:

think about what is going on at eye level in your very large space...you can add more detail and probably should .Wall cabinets are not happening but do a little more than tile and hood. a few good tile picks shown below along w pendants and a few other details

below....pendants w ceiling detail

Clean Lined Transitional Home · More Info

below ....minimal , yet some fabric detail at window, contrast hood, and pendants

Classic 1940s Whole House Remodel · More Info

below..small niche shelves...a little more going on w tile..and pendants.

Mid-Century Modern Interior Remodel · More Info

below..... a dose of color contrast as a statement.

The Passage · More Info

I don't understand not wanting uppers but you do want to hang a giant a$$ hood? I think I woul d skip the hood, keep the area open and have one of those pop up recirculating vents instead. You aren't planning a true vent anyway... so the hood is just for showing off???? 100% agree on playing down the gray and upping the white. You said beige but it's reading gray and not in a good way. White is crisp and cheery, gray/beige is well, the opposite.

I have no idea why you can't vent outside on that wall it is an exterior wall from what I see. I hate clad hoods IMO they are bulky, get gross from cooking and a good quality stainless hood with proper CFM is always a better choice . IMO a recirculating hood is the last thing a smidge better than non and unless you clean those filters often totally useless . I aslo waonder why that size of cooktop it is odd and like many odd things impossible to replace .I am 5'9" and hove no issue with a hood at the proper height and deep enough to do its job my son6'5" he does not have an issue either . Your inspo pics and what you have are far apart . That hood box you are building IMO is all wrong.

herbflavor, these are the pendants we have hanging over the island.

My advice is to let the backsplash be a background for other elements in a kitchen.

Patricia Colwell Consulting this is why we can't vent outside without incurring thousands of dollars in additional expenses.

Not only are all the pipes there, but the one cavity we have that *might* fit a 6" vent pipe is directly in line with the edge of a covered patio on the outside. We have had six different contractors look at this and they cannot guarantee an affordable solution. My stubbornness to not accept this is what prevented us from finishing this job four years ago. I have finally accepted that I cannot have what I really want. And the battle with the installation contractor has already been fought and is over.

And this is our cooktop:

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC , this is the brick look I wanted to go for. I think it is beautiful.

arcy_gw these pics show why I want no uppers. I have ample storage. I love my natural light. And I don't want cluttered walls. Maybe you don't see the beauty in them, but I do.

This one below actually features the one tile I like. It is TileBar Montauk Sand:

@BenjiBoi - If you really like the Montauk San Dune tile from Tile Bar, you really need to order a full box of it to see how much variation there is in color + the mixed matte and satin finish on the tiles.

Also, it is the same exact tile as Ivy Hill Amagansett Sand Dune Cream at Home Depot. If you order a box from HD, you have 90 days to return the box to the store (no shipping fees or restocking fees) + the price is quite a bit less:

$9.95

$6.80 sf:

Some people don't realize that this tile has two different finishes mixed together:

I like the look of not having upper cabinets also. You really need to have a box of sample tiles in order to see if you like how the Sand Dune color looks with your cabinets and countertop.

I've never had a brick backsplash - but I think it would look nice in the right house.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC , did you seal your brick backsplash? Did you find it any harder to clean than other surfaces?

dani_m08, thank you for the HD alternative. I should have done a Google image search. I am going to order a box of it and I already ordered a box of the brick to lay both out. And I am glad for the mixed finish. I prefer to avoid gloss but need a bit of shine to go with my other finishes.

I think the mix of finishes looks nice also. I just wanted to make sure that you knew because some people complained after opening the boxes of tile and finding the two different finishes. Obviously, those people didn't read the description because the retailer listed mixed finishes + in some of the photos, it's pretty clear that there are matte + satin tiles mixed together!

Ordering it from HD will not only save you $3.00 sf, you also have 90 days to return full boxes at a HD retail location instead of paying to ship it back.

When you receive your boxes of tile, lay them out and post some photos!

No, we never sealed the brick backsplash. I'm quite a neat cook, and I mostly cook on the front burners, so I don't have a problem with dirty backsplashes. I sometimes vacuum the brick since it can attract dust. But I also love the tile that dani_m08 posted as well.

Here is the brick we are going with:

We will be heavily overgrouting it to allow only a moderate amount of color to come through. We have to do a mockup with the grout choices shown in the photo. I love a monochromatic look and this will help us achieve it.

Now we have to decide between herringbone, running bond or a combo.

(This was posted in another thread but I placed the info in the wrong thread.)

I am a bit concerned about a running bond because we had another tile up before and I thought it elongated a wall that is rather long already (about 18'). Here is a photo of that tile:

What do you think of the pattern options?

I personally like running bond, and not a fan of herringbone. But that's not to say there's anything wrong with HB. The option with herringbone above the cooktop and running bond elsewhere is nice. I especially like the look of the herringbone recessed as shown here:

is one of these the appearance of the tile you seek w the whiting over treatment?? I'd install the running bond only.

Arlington · More Info

Modern Rustic Kitchen · More Info

I would not get a hood/vent. You cannot vent outside and are using induction. Cracking your window will do more than a recirculating vent. A recirculating vent is pointless with so little cooking and on induction.

Have you considered hiring someone else just to drill outside for your vent? I have a friend whose handyman drilled to the outside of their thick stone wall for vent exhaust and did a damn good job.

I think a hood that isn’t needed shouldn’t be installed. You have a lovely wall with windows, which is an opportunity to create a design statement with your backsplash. I would have chosen the Tile Bar Montauk Sand and installed in a herringbone pattern. Or a square one.

It sounds like you prefer the brick with heavy over-grouting to create an interesting wall. Go for it. I’m highly prejudiced towards herringbone installations because they are different. This brick wall is going to be the eye-catcher so a not-as-common layout would be my vote.

herbflavor, our desire is to have the grout look somewhere between the two photos you posted.

RedRyder and Kendrah , we have found a contractor who says we can vent outside and have found one range hood insert that will work. I have been waiting to hear back from our local code enforcement officer as I had the same thought as you about maybe not putting in a range good. I haven't heard back from him yet.

However, I also am thinking about resale value. We probably will be downsizing with the next five years and I don't know of too many people who don't want a range hood. Aesthetically, I don't know what we would do if we didn't add one.