I’d keep it to the base of windows on the back wall before taking it up to the upper cabinets when you reach them. You may need to move the power points so they sit in or above the splashback, the left one is close to sink so would need to be moved further away if moved down. Electrician will tell you current rules, You could drop it all to one height, going to the required height only behind stove for your appliance requirement for fireproofing,

Don't overlook adding some pots drawers in your make over, the look you are aiming for has draws

Thank you Kate and Siriuskey, appreciate your input.

Re the hood with an exposed flue, I am in a unit and need to have a recirculating rangehood (not vented) so your suggestion won't work for my particular circumstances :-(.

The Flue is for appearance only, the recirculating unit is within the hood,

Oooooh, that sounds unusual! Do you have a picture of what you're referring to?

You could always get one or two normal full height doors to match with the others to cover a new lower built in rangehood, if you get where I'am going with this

I agree with Kate, finish in line with the base of the windows and I think when you have quite a lot of splash back area the lighter graining would be a better option. I also agree that if possible convert as many lower cabinets to drawers as you can, makes for much more efficient storage. Good luck with your project.

That you wrighth38, I agree with the drawers. With regard to the splashback, what do I do with the window sill? Are you suggesting splashback up to the base of window sill, then nothing for the sill? At the moment, the tiles go up to the bottom of the window and on the inside of (what I call) the sill. That's where I sit my small herb garden for example

The recirculating range with flu would llok the same as the Non.

But keeping with your ideas photo, I would have two tall cabinet doors which would cover the range hood. Tiles up to and on window sills.All other tiles up to base of cabinets. Plus add an open shelf on the right that lines up with Micro wave cabinet.

Karen, another thought is have intentional pieces the same as the bench top, as window sills, then you can still put your herb garden there.

Why not kill 2 birds with 1 stone ? The kitchen is , and proposed to be , boring ; plus you need a splashback ; and you can't decide the height . I'd even add to that -- the only 2 'interesting' things there now is the wooden blinds , and the floor , and unfortunately I don't think the blinds go with the grey .

So here's what I'd do -- a tiled splashback , probably 150 x 150 square white , up to the height of the upper cupboards , but then a row of horizontal subway tiles along the top of everywhere except the larger 'cupboard' wall -- and I'd do them in your favourite colour . A powder blue , a burgundy , an apricot , shamrock green , bright orange , well maybe not brown or grey .

Adds some colour , 'lifts' the room in 2 respects , but also adds some relevance to the blinds .

Why not get rid of your upper cupboards and replace with shelves and even up the heights?

I appreciate the suggestion, thanks CP. I was planning on having a couple of shelves as per the second pic. I think removing all those cupboards for shelving is a dust/grease disaster though, especially as they're all near the cooktop