End of counter. My cabinet runs stop a couple of inches before doorways on each end, so I had the counters go all the way to the door frames and then the backsplash dies into the door frames as well. If your countertops don't end at a vertical structure like mine, I think it is a tossup depending on what you want to see on your wall. If your countertop ends in midair (so to speak), then you are going to have a vertical tile edge either way. The decision then is whether it looks better to have a simple vertical drop from the cabinet edge, or to have the tile jut out horizontally, turn a corner and then drop down. I am not so sure I wouldn't choose to end the tile at the cabinet edge in that case. Best thing is to look at lots of photos of kitchens with counters ending where yours do and see which you like better. The only real rule is to make it functional -- if you are going to be pureeing tomato sauce on that edge of the counter, then you would want a backsplash behind it. :)

But wouldn't the tile make the appliance garage stick out beyond the cabinet a little bit? Or would you install the garage first and then tile up to the sides on the outside and then inside??? But then if you removed it you'd have gaps in the tile. I guess you just trim down the sides of the garage to make it sit flush with the upper cabinet? I dunno but I didn't tile inside mine, just painted the wall color back there. We don't leave it open for any length of time and the only appliances we have in it are the Food Saver and the electric can opener. I guess if I had a coffee pot or toaster in it it would probably stay open for longer periods of time.

There are lots of products out there for stainless steel and of the several different ones I have tried I like the Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes the best (even nicer than their spray). One wipe will clean the fronts of the refrigerator and my ovens. After cleaning I just buff it with a soft cloth. It looks and stays great. If I get any fingerprints on the fridge they wipe right off with a microfiber or other soft cloth. The Weiman web site has coupons that you can print for .65 off the price. It also lists where you can by the product. I have bee able to find it at many places, even my grocery store. Here is a link that might be useful: Weiman Wipes

Lckaisgir, bookworm has 2 mint tiles tiles that she offered to send to Martha. If she has them, I'm sure she'd send them to you. Also, I'm happy to send you a few tiles. It's so hard to really get a feel for the range of colors with one or two. Even when I had 20 of them sitting on my counter for a month, it was a totally different look when they were vertical & grouted. I absolutely love my backsplash. I think it's my favorite kitchen "selection". I don't think can go wrong with this tile. You just have to pick a color.