I need pictures since I have no clue without them. Post here in a comment it is hard sometimes to add to your orignal post.

Posting pic here bc I couldn't on the original post.

have you already done some Demo?

Post a picture of what you intend to tile.

No, still at planning phase.

I ahve no idea why wood can possibly be the answer Remove what you have and replace with tile you want even better just use the new counter material , please use real stone , for the backsplash BTW contractors are not designers .

Is your contractor thinking along these lines, as far as sureounding the ovens with wood?

Is the wall on your oven above the sheetrock around the oven a sheetrock, or is it paneling? I see it has wallpaper on it now. If it is paneling and it cant be removed, then that may be the reason, why the contractor is telling you to use wood. However, I would not use wood, in any case. If something has to go there, use cement board. Its meant to be tiled.

@Patricia --they are designers and contractors. You are right, style shouldn't replace functionality.

@darbuka yes. I would hate to dinge the wood paneling from the sides.

@cat-ky The current wall is sheetrock. Thank you, I will look into cement board.

In 10+ years, I’ve never dinged the wood panel, despite doing my baking there.

There’s absolutely no need for cement board there. Behind a range, yes. But, not a wall oven, which vents out the front.

A wood surround is a cleaner, more updated look.

If you're using a wall oven, cabinet manufacturers make cabinets specifically for them. The wood blends seamlessly into the rest of the kitchen. It also gives you the opportunity to mount the microwave above the oven and add drawers underneath for storage. There's nothing structural about those walls. Or find a new place in your remodel for a drawer microwave. If you post your plans here, along with a graph paper drawing of your current space showing all doors, windows, and walls, along with their measurements, you'll get lots of valuable feedback.

There is probably no need for those two short walls, at all. Contractors do this to save money on cabinets and finished side panels. You see this all the time in tract homes that have a framed out pantry closet, that would have been a better use of space if they had used pantry cabinets, but those are more expensive.

You and your husband need to look at kitchen photos on Houzz, to see how things can be done these days. I would want upper cabinets to the ceiling and lower cabinets to be all drawers (except sink cabinet and a cabinet for trays & cookie sheets). I would also want to maximize storage, which would include removing any framed walls that take away from cabinet space.

I agree with chispa and darbuka (as I usually do.) I think you will be much happier with the look of a wood surround (I would be) and you'll probably gain a few inches of space for your counters and other cabinets if you take those walls out.

Are you changing the floor? If not, be aware that once those walls are removed, you may have to address the tile floor if there are gaps.