We used a light green 3x6 subway with a band of 1x2 darker green glass tile running all the way around the kitchen. We ended up using a three-tile high band of the glass tile, making it the same height as the subways. After the fact I kind of wish we'd done a two-tile-high band although that would have meant many more cuts in the subways and either a very narrow piece of subway at the top or a partial subway at top and bottom.

Here's an overall view:

And here's a close-up:

Sw in austin- beautiful choice of tile. I love the band of glass choice. I've had a hard time finding a glass similar to yours in a reddish tone. We are matching the garnet color in our bianco romano. The glass we chose has both hints of red and brown from our cabinets.

My concern was also cutting the subway tile on top or bottom. The wall along the stove runs to an open walkway and it will be noticeable. I guess 2 strip would be best, best love your look as well.

Thanks for the pics.

I used a strip 3 tiles wide to go between my travertine tiles because I think things look better in odd numbers. Two strips would have worked out just as well though. Just keep in mind where your electrical outlets are so the strip does not have to run through them. An outlet cover is much more noticeable when it interrupts a decorative strip.

For some reason, I never was attracted to the stripe running around the kitchen. Tile people always looked at me like I had a 3rd eye when I said "no" to their suggestion. But I saw a kitchen posted here (I think someone said it was a Sarah Richardson kitchen) that was lots of marble subways and some sort of silvery-ish stripes. Yes, stripes with an "s". I really liked that. Have you thought about instead of one stripe that is 3 or so tiles high, doing 2 or 3 stripes that are thinner? Just an idea, might not look right at all, or you might just plain old hate the idea.

Beekeeper -- I saw that amazing backsplash with the stripes. It really made me wish I'd done something more like that (although it looked pricey).

And what ccoombs1 said reminded me that the placement of our band of glass was based mostly on the interaction of the tile with the electrical outlets and switches, which were already in place and would have been expensive to move at that point (I wish I'd been thinking of tile when the outlets went in!).

And Rufinorox, the Tantrum glass tile that we used (from Sonoma Tilemakers) comes in a couple of red/wine shades. Don't know if any of them would work for you but it is beautiful tile.

beekeeperswife - I did think of doing more than one stripe top and bottom. I did a search for SR and found the picture. Its a neat idea! I'm going to rethink this again, hopefully others will post with pictures.

sw in austin - I'm going to look into sonoma. I hate to change my mind again, but its such a pretty glass tile.

rufinorox, I also love the sonoma tiles, but I absolutely love the mosaics that you chose. I think they look so perfect with your kit chen! Does your subway also come in a square? maybe do a row of square, then two or three mosaics, then begin the subways?

rufinorox,
have you considered how the dimensions of the tile would work with 2 vs 3 rows? will you have to have a row at the top of just a sliver of subways with one configuration and not the other? It might not be very visible from a distance especially with matching grout, but up close it might seem jarring.

BTW - you are doing an amazing job with your kitchen. You must be so proud being able to say it is DIY!

You might want to go with a 3 or 4" strip, or you'll end up with a sliver piece of tile under the cabinets. This is assuming your backsplash is the usual 18", +/-.

As with most things, I'd say an odd number. So at least 3 tiles. It gives a more visual interest. Just my opinion though. I've used tile strips in both my bathrooms, and always used a strip of at least 3.

A rule of thumb *but not hard and fast rule* is that even numbers are more "formal".

Bill vincent - an honor to have you chime in. yes, the backsplash is 18" and I would agree if I go even that will mean I would have a cut somewhere.

squigs - yes there are square tiles as well. I didn't want to mix too many tiles, but yes they do. Here are too samples of the samples of the tile. I choose the 1st color, but like the design of the second.

Here's one I like -- subway with stripes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Subway with single row stripes

That's the pic of a kitchen by Sarah Richardson that rjr is trying to decide on. Here's her link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sarah Richardson Backsplash

yeah, that's it, I love that.

I saw that too... I love that look as well.

jreuter - I'm going to have to wait until I have the tile to play around with different designs. By the way YES we are so proud that we were able to pull this off as a DYI project. We're almost done!