Will subway tiles at a height to the bottom of the mirror between the shower and the corner next to the vanity really add that much expense to the project? After having neither in my last bathroom, I am tiling behind the toilet and sink to wainscot height. I think it is really practical and easier to clean than painted drywall particularly around the toilet. (Also you never have to worry about painting around the toilet and sink area again) Where is the extra expense? All in the labor? Basic subway tile has a fairly low/sq.ft. cost.

But let me ask you this--which way would the cut size face? Or do we "buff" it to look like it wasn't cut? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Would the corners be mitered? Being that the field tile will be cut into the design, and the rhomboids would be full tiles, I'd think you want to keep the cut edge out toward the field. I know about the bullnose pieces for the sides, but do people use those along the top, where the backsplash hits the cabinet? Does it look more finished? You SHOULD just about have full tile under your cabinets. There should be just about 18" between countertop and bottom of the upper cabinets. In fact, I'd measure and lay some tiles out dry jut to make sure you wouldn't end up with a gap at the top. Either way, though, Just use field tile at the top. Where it goes up by the hood, you ca just continue the field. If you have other places where it'll be open on top, you can simply add a piece of bullnose to the top of the field tile, so that the bullnose extends up past the bottom of the upper cabinets, as shown in the following picture:

How much backsplash do you have? Although I like the mosaic, if it were the whole backsplash I am not sure I would like it as much - it is much busier than the subways. But that is my preference and I agree if you want the backsplash to be the star, the mosaic will stand out. Other considerations - mosaic is more grout, and you need to be accurate lining up the sheets of mosaic, or it will look off. Have you considered running a few rows of the mosaic through the subway, similar to what you have done with the listello? I couldn't be sure flipping back and forth between pictures if the colors would work together.

We did mirrors all way down-it's easy to clean I agree with Debbi not a fan of backsplashes myself, not in the bathroom..well depends on one's space of course. we also have a marble countertop, shaped floor tile..didn't want to add another material hard to say about the exact distance between the light and the top of the mirror..I'm sure there are standard suggestions somewhere, and one can find them, with some research and googling..but I just eyed it..whatever looks like it works usually works.