I love the idea of laying your subways in a herringbone pattern, I think that sounds so pretty. It seems like I've seen someone here lay their subways in the brick pattern around the entire backsplash, except for behind the range where they had it in a herringbone pattern. Cute.

About the ceiling tile, though. I think I would stick with the idea of hanging the tin panels *over* the tile, in a frame or something, rather than trying to install them permanently on the wall. I'm also thinking they would look best painted, rather than leaving the metal bare. I'm pretty sure that tin ceilings were originally intended for paint, and I always think they look kind of weird in bare metal. They come in so many pretty patterns though, I think it would add a lot of interest to a plain run of tile to have that behind your range.

I like the idea of the subways and tin, but I'm having a hard time picturing herringbone pattern with the tin tiles. I think that might be too much pattern. I think I would go with one or the other. If you want the tin tiles, try a plainer pattern. If you don't want them in the standard brick pattern, you could stack them or run them vertically, but still keep it simple.

Very do-able, and if I were doing subways [I'm not], I'd definetly go with a herringbone. I 'get' the running bond look, but I've seen it so much lately it doesn't have much impact anymore.

But combining with the tin could be a little tough: tin tiles [I assume we are talking about the embossed ceiling tiles] are generally too large and the wrong size to integrate easily.

So I'd do the herringbone with no accent all around the room, then switch to a more 'picture frame' look with subways, chair rail and mitered corners over the range. I'd choose the tin tile [or tiles or medallion] now, and have it glued to a flame proof MDF for mounting. Then I'd screw [using the pattern of the tile to camoflauge the screw heads] the assembly to the wall and have the tile laid to fit around it exactly.

This will give you the option of unscrewing the tin tiles at some point down the road and replaceing it with a mosaic or other accent piece without disturbing the subway frame.

Since the tin could be painted, you could change it to match your accent color as often as you please. If you wanted to get *really whacky*, you could even buy enough tin now for several different centers, paint/finish them differently, and change them out with the seasons.

But choose the tin carefully: it needs to be interesting, but not so textured as to catch grease, and rigid enough to take a good scrubbing without squishing.

There was a magazine kitchen sometime in the last 6 mos. that had white subways with a framed area above the range of quilted stainless. I thought it looked great. In fact for a while I toyed with doing something like it with copper ceiling tiles, but ended up doing copper slate instead. As I remember, the subways weren't in a herringbone pattern, but I really liked the combination of the metal and white. I wish I could remember which magazine it was in. If I find it in my stacks, I will post it.

Thank you all for your input and advice.
I see a few new threads today about quilted or tiled stainless backsplashes - I think those backsplashes are similar to the look I'm thinking of.
amandat and lascatx - I appreciate your honesty about the tin tiles. I love the subway tiles in herringbone pattern. I may do that and skip the tin!
oruboris - thanks for the detailed install instructions. IF I go w/the tin look I'll do it exactly as you described.
alexamd - I don't think I've seen any kitchen mag photos of this look, so please do post if you find it!
Thanks again.