Here is the tile we are planning to use.

The idea of green is a good one, but this is a very gray green. Your maple cabinet fronts will warm with age and UV exposure, so you might want to consider a slightly warmer green. This is Fireclay Tile in Overcast.

As to whether to tile around the windows, that depends on whether the tile you choose has bullnose tiles available, or trim pieces. If not, it’s going to be more difficult, or you’ll have to use a Schluter edge. Aesthetically, either will be lovely. I’d probably go all the way up, but that might darken the space more than you’d like. An easy way to visualize this would be to buy a whole box of tiles and tape them onto a board or onto the wall and see what you think.

with the absence of wall cabinets and the subtle cabinets/floor and counter I'd put in a visually more interesting tile. Inquire if UV retardants are in the coating on the cabinets..they look a higher grade than the typical big box store options . Salesman from a design center?? TODAY? really? I'd paint the walls and wait before decision if thats the only tile you've considered.

if you really dont want much going on w the tile I'd much prefer a white than any gray leaning or unpronounced color.

Vine & Villa Kitchen · More Info

"Question is: would it look better to install backsplash partway up the sink wall, or tile the entire sink wall around the windows, up to the soffit?"

I wouldn't do backsplash at all unless it's a short 2" or 4" splashblock of counter material. Your kitchen just doesn't lend itself to a tile splash. IMO it's going to look very disjointed to have strips of tile running across walls with no upper cabinets and if you do both the stove wall and the window wall....that's just tile overkill.

The only place you need protection (from grease and splatter) is behind the stove, up to the hood vent -- a piece of stainless steel will work quite nicely.

I agree with porkchop_z5b_MI about tile placement. And I agree with eam44 regarding the greyness of the tile you're considering. On my monitor, it doesn't look green at all.

I would tile have way up the wall. use a solid surface window sill.

Have you gotten a sample of the tile? it does appear gray, but may look more green in person, if not, I'd keep searching.

I would do a white backsplash. You have a lot going on with the stripes on the cabinets. I would keep it simple.

Look at Daltile Artigiano, 3" x 12" or 3" x 6", keep it simple, timeless and classic IMO.

I have used the 3" x 12" on many projects with different color cabinets and counters and it always looks great. The tile looks more expensive that it is.

I would set the tile horizontally and not vertical, whatever tile you select. The cabinetry has a lot of horizontal grain so IMO I think the tile being set horizontal would look the best.

You have a achieved a clean modern look. Don't gunky it up by throwing tile on the walls. Zero tile on your window wall for sure. You have a subtle, lovely sense of composition going on with your windows, lights, soffit, and counterspace. Don't mess with success.

I can understand wanting to have a protective surface behind the range. (Actually I can't because paint is just as wipeable as tile, but most people want something else aside from paint on that wall.) I'd do a horizontal stacked tile just the width of the hood. Leave the walls white on either side. Hang artwork if you'd like.

I rather like your cabinet fronts with their stripey look. I also like your pale green backsplash but am wondering if it might look better with a larger size tile.

Thanks everyone! We decided to tile the oven wall with a green marble tile so it would be visually more interesting as @herbflavor suggested, with more green / less gray undertone as @eam44, Amy & Lyn suggested, and stacked horizontally as @InspirationKitchenandBath suggested. We will keep the other walls as is, without tile, as porkchop and @Kendrah suggested. @NorwoodArchitects, thanks for the vote of confidence re: the stripey cabinets! Still learning to love them. @njmomma, we will do our best to keep it simple from this point out. 😊

Good choice. It's been 13 years and I still love my stripey maple cabinets.

hmm, not exactly what I would have recommended, but if you like it!

Love the floors

I would have gone w/the Bedrosians Makoto or a similar type of tile.

I think it would have look fab w/your elements.

(yes I know, it's done already. but if anyone else is looking for similar design options,,,,here ya go)

Any of these colors would have looked perfect w/your floor and cabs

sorry to hub

they have a green too, amazing w/the wood and the terrazzo

Looks like a happy kitchen to me. Yay!

nice option to do the one wall on the side only. I like how you made a bit of focus but off to the side ..some folks thought there was a lot going on in your kitchen but I find your space large and inserting this is something youre going to appreciate I think.. Nice job / it was probably not that easy to figure out exactly what to do.

I think your newly tiled wall is magnificent! What a beautiful tile you chose. Just for the heck of it, if you have some pieces left, see what it would look like if you ran them horizontally under the window sills but above the sink counter. Let it stop at the end of the window wall; do not extend it around the corner (where the mask is resting) even though there's counter below. It would be a fairly narrow strip - maybe eight inches tall or so - but see if you'd like that repeat of the tile in a second area of the kitchen. The room doesn't NEED it. Just see if you would like it.

Wow, you are a person of action. Way to go on quick decison making. Once the hood is in it will all come together.

Yes, I'd have a hard time getting used to the wood stripes too. But once you start cooking and working in here on a daily basis, I think they will fade into the background.

Your counters are so simple that they actually look bold. Way to go. And I can't wait for the head to be hung on the wall. Where will it go?

I really like the uniqueness of the tile you chose. Would you please share who makes it and what that color is called? Thank you.

The tile you chose is a huge improvement over the first samples you posted! Glad you are going with just the one wall--enough is enough! It's amazing how open and airy the kitchen is with no uppers. ENJOY!!

Enjoy your new space in the best of health!

I like your choice of tile! (looks like your hubs does too :0p)

You have a beautiful, spacious kitchen! I'm always envious of people who have such big windows (as, alas, I have none...)