Is it an open plan kitchen? Do you have other colours in the room you'd like to bring more into the kitchen?

Using something matched to your benchtop colour would be a good idea, as girlguides suggested.

I saved a few photos of other ideas to an Ideabook.

Lol @ canine photo bomber. It's becoming a popular "look".

Thanks for input.

girlguides, I was thinking of tiling up to bottom of range hood and across the whole width of the wall. So,do you think the entire wall should be done?

There is a sliding door which leads to a front living area, on the other side of the kitchen is a bench top making it a "U" shaped kitchen. Behind that is an open plan dining and 2nd living area/rumpus - both with sliding doors to go outside. All at the moment are neutral. Paint everywhere is off white and those curtains seen will be replaced with blinds and sliding doors will be panel blinds with colour etc yet to be decided.

Dohraime, thanks for your link, live the bold red tiles, wish I was game for that look. The floor tiles and kitchen colours in that picture are much the same as my kitchen.

darylwrught thanks for your help, they may suit, again a very game/bold move,

i was tossing up on gloss subway tile white with black grout, my daughter thinks just complete black tiles with black grout which I thought may take away from the kitchen, but seeing the large red tiles like in dihraime's link as below may look great in white with a small black boarder. Going across the entire width of the wall

Thanks Kerrie

Hi Susan, loving your new kitchen :-) I would choose a tile which pulls some cream from the benchtop and some grey from the floor, and textured to add interest, examples below:

Thanks for your suggestions

we have a kitchen very similar to yours with white cabinets and offwhite benchtop. I wanted to warm the space up so looked high and low for a handmade subway in a pistachio green which reminded me of a beautiful historic building we saw just recently in Umbria. There are some beautiful colours in these handmade subways from ivories throught watery blues and greys to strong reds and yellows. They have a beautiful shimmery glaze and a lovely look.

Yes agree. I mentioned they were temporary on my 2nd comment on 26th. They definitely are horrible and I can't wait to get rid of them.

I have used white subway tiles in my kitchen, same bench top color as yours..

In my bathroom which I just completed I chose the same tiles, in satin not gloss though, and a Mist Grey grout. I think that would look lovely in your kitchen, black grout could look start, and the grey would tie the floor in..

The grey grout ties in well with the grey and white marble look floor tiles

If the picture is not showing tap on it..

I do like the glass subway tile look and am now considering a glass splash back. Thanks to everyone. You all have given me wonderful ideas and advice.

For a unique one off splash back have a look at these stylish ones created out of nature patterns: vandertouwdesign.co.nz