My knee wall issue is taken care of with mitered tiles on the outside portion butting up to mitered tiles on each side. (so it fits like a picture frame). I don't know why you couldn't do the same, and on every other row have a split tile with a center line (the stacked look). The miter is cut on site, and you need to use some very good grout to make those edges strong but the look is good. My tile is travertine on this wall, but I'm doing the same on the tub surround with my italian ceramic tile (didn't offer a bullnose edge) so I don't see that it would be a problem with your tiles...Bill or Mongo can beat me up for that statement if it's incorrect :) I'm just telling you what we're going to be doing with both ceramics and stone. (And it does look great!)

Lol, I do...I have probably posted my kitchen so much GW is sick of it! :) Here's a couple from when we just moved in, no WTs or art on walls...but you can see the important elements!

I have a white/gray stone tile and it's thicker than a typical subway tile. Tonight at Home Depot I put a Schluter brushed metal tile edge against it and was surprisingly pleased with the result. Even though it's a vintage (1920's) style kitchen, it works with some of the modern elements like the stainless steel fridge and lighting fixture.

I like a real trim piece (pencil liner, quarter round, etc) to finish the exposed sides. I try to pick field tiles that offer trim pieces in the same colors, so those options are available if needed.