Your kitchen is small and already quite busy. I would make it as simple and clean as possible. You can't beat ceramic tiles for cost, durability and ease of installation. Have a look at Johnson's Spectrum range to see if you can match the green. https://www.johnsontiles.com.au/product/spectrum/?utm_campaign=1602072422&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=304640004469&utm_term=&adgroupid=61761480198&gclid=CjwKCAjw_YPnBRBREiwAIP6TJ0idAicM8vfEevC-WrwRVNmbtUPHfDAjvNpkaOIo0hzN0dwMw9u1rxoC0VkQAvD_BwE You will get a neater finish with ceramic tiles than you will with trying to work with DIY stainless steel, particularly around the edges. There are lots of online resources to show how easy it is to lay smaller ceramic tiles. Leave the large format porcelain tiles to the professionals. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Thanks Kate, mine is more a kitchenette in a 1930's garage conversion - chrome tapware, red bricks, black cabinets and bamboo benchtop, high ceilings with exposed beams. It has a similar vibe to my fantasy kitchen but on a micro scale. The bricks are beautiful, with some kind of varnish on them already but they are super irregelur and bumpy. I love the idea of a hinged lid over the stove top, which wouldn't detract from the seamlessness of the bricks as I feel a glass panel would. Glass gives off that blueish tinge and would interrupt the flow.

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

Have you finalised your selections? If you haven’t I’d pause them until you finalise the splashback decision. I can only see the bench top on the screen but it doesn’t look as though it would work with cream - have you seen the two materials together?