There are heaps of lines, lines, lines already "featured" in this area! The overhead cabinets, shutter, drawers, front of breakfast bar cabinetry, sandstone wall ... By going black grout - you will be drawing attention to and emphasizing the overload of lines ... By going black grout, you may have to deal with the black and white giving you cross-eyes while cooking! So - obviously - I'm cheering for the "go white" team!

Thanks for your responses everyone, it's reassuring to have you confirm that white is the right choice for our long awaited kitchen. I love Houzz and the opportunity it allows me to ask and receive. Thanks again. Ax

We are doing a new kitchen with antique white shaker cupboards & drawers and I'm thinking a painted, pressed metal splashback behind a free standing 90cm heritage style electric cooker and the subway tiles elsewhere. We are doing an oiled natural shaped huon pine slab for the main benchtop.

anaewlo - did all this just over 12 months ago so know how valuable an extra pair or eyes and a clearer head can help. The "little" things are the ones so easily missed and the ones that make you ask "what was I thinking" or "how did I miss that". You could take the tiles up higher immediately behind the hotplates, the range hood would then tie it all together and you could even have some nice artwork each side of it. The only concern I have - are the 2 tiles in the second row centred over your hotplates? Fine if they are as you will have that high part nice and even. If not, I'd a have good think about it. Otherwise, assuming you will paint the walls in a semi gloss paint, the lower tiles will take the brunt of the oil and what goes on the walls will be pretty easy to wash off, it is just a matter of wiping it down after each cooking session. There are times to match things up and there are times to blend. With your downlights, keep to white (assuming you will paint your ceilings white). this way they tend to disappear into the ceiling