Rectified are great because they are so flat to wipe over. Keep the grout spacing to a minimum and consider the colour often a charcoal grout can look great and also then never looks dirty

Hi Lorza101, You're kitchen looks lovely! The white cabinets will really brighten the space and when combined with an oak floor, will not be stark. Timber is always a good way to add warmth - though this can be done using large chopping boards (particularly round ones leaning against the splash back) and other accessories. I'm only reluctant with timber bench tops around sink areas. If you go with a dark stone top, try to tie it in with your splash back, possibly through tiles. If you like patterned tiles, this is an opportunity, though avoid encaustic tiles, as these are too porous for a kitchen splash back. Is your overhang 400mm on the long side for seating? If it is 40mm, I would think a 20mm stone top will be fine, though at 400mm I would take the advice of the stone guys and go with a 30mm top, particularly as it won't be supported with waterfall ends. Good luck with the rest of your renovation. Cathy

Hi Nathan, I worry by introducing another colour, it might wreck the overall aesthetics to your kitchen. My initial thought was a white subway tile with dark grey grout so it’s drawing the grey/darker tones from your floor tiles & wall colour - while still lightening things up with the white tiles. You can always use colour with accessories to bring some spunk into your space :)

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