We have just used bevelled subway (slightly larger than your sample) in our bathroom. While I love the look of these tiles, I feel it may be too similar to the profile on your cupboard doors and perhaps detract from the lovely benchtop which I presume you would like to be the feature. I'd be inclined to use a standard subway tile or perhaps something to tone with the vein colour. Height-wise I would match it to the under cupboard height on the opposite wall/near cook top. If you decide to go with above suggestion to go to bottom of window then use a good quality washable paint and apply lots if coats if you expect to have splash over onto those areas of wall.

I think you have to go to just the bottom of the window height. The only purpose for the splashback in this area is to keep the water splashes off the wall. There is no need to go higher (which also may detract from the lovely window). And with your beautiful bench you should think about carrying it onto the splashback. Also I think it is totally fine to have it stopping at the bench end - ours does and doesn't look weird at all.

PS. What bench top is that? It looks stunning :)

I'd run a strip of the bench top material up to under window sill as the others have suggested as well. Bench top does look great too.

Ah, these are great responses! Maybe I should have started using this forum 6 years ago when I started and had no clue.

Okay, think i'm sold on the idea of running to bottom of window (inline to top of bottom window shelf). I could use the existing bench top (which is engineer stone Calacatta like ceaserstone etc bought from an importer here in Melbourne), but it's square edged and 20mm thick, so think it may look too rude? I placed some off cuts in place and doesn't look too bad. I have enough larger sections to make it look right though.

What do people here mean by using a mirrored splash back on the cooking side? I do like the idea of reflecting light, but do you mean like a gloss tile or an actual mirror/glass? I was trying to avoid glass as I feel it's a touch to modern to the rest of the house.

Thanks scottevie, this does make sense about my subway tile choice. Think I may rethink my kitchen splashback.

I still do plan on using the white beveled subway tile in my laundry... which I had the same dilemma on how high to run it. So I'm guessing the same answer about running my splashback to the bottom of the window here too, but I may continue around the entire bench top as I left an unsightly expansion gap between wall/bench;

I like the result of using the stone under the kitchen window. The bevelled subway will look great in the laundry.

I also wonder about the mirror splashback - is it an actual mirror (I have seen this in some images here) but do I want to look at myself cooking?!?!?!

If a mirror splashback goes to below head height, it will reflect one's chest area.

It's not so much seeing yourself but it's fantastic to reflect a great view or see what the kids are doing (remember when your Mum told you she had eyes in the back of her head? mirror splashbacks ensure that the myth continues lol

Ok, this is a minor issue I'm sure, but I have an espresso coffee machine, and, what with steam spurts, the coffee grinder occasionally having a temper tantrum, me banging out the grinds from the coffee, and the milk frothing a bit too much, I'm all for a higher backsplash if you have a such a machine.

It looked better once I did it properly. Took a photo of it just before, obviously a bit of a mess, but you get the drift.

jmm1837 - not sure how you make coffee, but my old coffee machine never acted like a volcano! In your case, you may need a floor to ceiling splashback :)

Just on original post for those interested, I ended up using handmade Spanish subway tiles (still need to silicone edges). Photos don't do it justice;

Colour looks spot on. Well done, it's all come together great!

That smoked mirror looks nice. Definitely would look a touch too modern if I were to use it

The sink in my pic is just an ebay special. It's a square 1 & 1/2 bowel with drain tray... but took me a while to find one with curved corners not square (as they are too hard to keep clean)

Hello Luke, I am doing my kitchen and bump into this thread. I really like your stone bench and kitchen cabinet. Was wondering if you can share some information regarding your kitchen? 1. stone bench: what is the brand and model? Are you happy with the chosen marble pattern and the brand performance, i.e. easy to clean, dirt/crumbs not quite visible, does or doesn't stain etc 2. cabinets: what is the colour and finish? thank you so very much! Max