The tiles from Johnson in the UK are stunning. It appears they only come in large 30x30 ? I was thinking of doing some sort of tile art just in the middle of the backsplash with the rest just plain offwhite tile. However, with this large 30x30 art work, the background tile would have to be cut to size to fit the area I have and might look too choppy???

I suppose the question is "What are you going to do with the untiled wall?". Will it just be painted plasterboard? If you do decide to just go with the 200mm tiled splashback you will need to be very careful with your tile selection with the sizing and how the edge of tile looks. You should probably select a 200mm tile, as you don't want a cut, half tile in the space between the window sill and benchtop. Some glazed, ceramic tiles also have messy edges, so make sure that your tile selection looks as good from the edge, not just the front, as you will be looking down on the top edge of the tile. Or allow for a tiling edge strip to conceal the edge, but these always make the space look visually busier. With so much happening in your kitchen with the open shelves etc, I would suggest a plainish, neutral tile and tile up to the ceiling for a cleaner, more streamlined look, that doesn't need maintenance and repainting in ten years time. Open shelves often look better against tiles. By tiling to the ceiling there is no exposed tile edge to look messy, which gives you a wider choice of tiles. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

I think that it will look too busy with the contrasting cabinetwork and the patterned tile on the floor. But then Australian tastes and styles in kitchens tend to be cleaner and more understated than our American cousins. I would keep it simpler, with a plain large format tile to make cleaning easier and to visually expand the space. Your current tile is very busy and probably hides grease splatters very well. Best of luck with your considerations, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Hi Mc10. I bought the Calcatta subway tiles on a mesh and will use this Lithofin MN Stain-Stop Tile Sealer once every 3 years. I’m still in the middle of the kitchen reno but got my marbles and they’re exquisite. https://marbleceramiccorp.com.au/lithofin-sealant-germany/1026-lithofin-mn-stain-stop.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr-SSBhC9ARIsANhzu16AK7RpYQb4yMtmHougfhBuuiyMAu930aAIj-0gu55tx1mM4dc-IOkaAr-ZEALw_wcB