If you're going all the way to the hood why not go all the way to the ceiling? I have never seen a sightly tile - paint boundary. I guess it depends on your tile

I posted this on the quirky kitchens thread:

It's cute in close-up, but I have no idea how it translates to the big picture. The fact that the wall color and tile color are so similar probably helps. Also helps that there's a reason for the break (for the utensil rack).

It is the 18" between the counter and wall cabinets I do not want to cover entirely. I like the contrast of the green and cherry. Perhaps someone has a suggestion.

Don't do it. It looks like you ran out of tile or money.

What about 6" or 8" of backsplash (what color are you imagining for the backsplash? Is it tile or is it an extension of the countertop material?) capped with trim and a 2" deep shelf made of the same wood as the cabinetry? That way you get extra functionality PLUS the wall paint color against the bottom of the cabinet wood and top of backsplash trim wood, and it all works nicely together.

Different scenario, but I did this in my bathroom to end the tile wainscotting next to my clawfoot shower and it works very well. It's surprising what all can fit on a 2" shelf:

In a BHG magazine a while back someone did about 4" of tile mosaic with a little painted white wood shelf about 2" deep on top all the way around. I thought it looked great. In your space you might have an issue finding a line that doesn't look odd with the window trim and all the outlet / switch covers.

One option to consider might be getting wood trim stained to match the cabinets and doing something similar to what circus peanut showed right on the counter top. We are considering doing that with white painted wood as a cheap first backsplash that we may or may not replace later.

I opted not to have an all-tile or granite backsplash when I built a year ago. I've always liked to hang plates, etc., in the 'dead space', and didn't think of tile or granite as being decorative. I had the builder use a travertine tile, one 6" on the diagonal, w/a row of 1/2 tiles above/below, and capping off w/the rectangulare travertine tiles, about 3" x 6". I've used this only on the interior cabs, and have the painted wallboard on the perimeter cabs. This bank of cabs is approx. 15', and for me that would have been way too much tile. I'll eventually do something, but at the moment it's a nice warm tan like the rest of the kitchen. ;o)

I think if you're deliberate about the trim, it needn't look like you ran out of tile.

I have backsplash that doesn't go all the way up in my own kitchen, although it's a different look because I have few upper cabs. You can find many styles of tile with really nice ogee trim (which is pretty pricy actually and will cost a bit more than just running tile all the way up):

Here's a link to another recent thread along these lines - including some photos.

Here is a link that might be useful: single row of tile for backsplash

circuspeanut, I love every single photo I've seen you post (I just got done showing dd and dh the 2 pictures you posted here since we're still trying to figure out bathroom tile after 4 years of pondering.) What type of wood is the trim in the bathroom?

dcwesley, I can see why you'd like to keep the color combination. It's beautiful and you'll end up with something special by having a shorter backsplash. Wonderful kitchen.

I really like the green against the cabinets as well. I would do a 4'' backsplash with your granite to avoid putting another pattern on the wall. Then depending on your cooktop and hood, consider a tin backsplash there.

How about just tiling behind the cooktop & sink & leaving the rest painted? I also like your green against the cabinets.

Hope this helps....Here's my mid 80's kitchen with tile. I did the full backsplash only behind the stove and ran one row of bullnose along the rest of the counter. Wallpaper is pretty neutral (except the border!) so it's a bit hard to see, but that's what's on the rest of the walls.
We're in the process of remodeling in order to sell our home and so the Walker Zanger tile that I've LOVED for the past 24 years had to go last week. I was in a funk all day when we tore it up. Took down the wallpaper and with the lack of color in the room (granite now) we'll be tiling the full 18" of backsplash this time in order to try and inject a little life back into my formerly homey kitchen!
BUT the single row of tile worked fine for me in a very busy kitchen for many years.... and definitely saved money at the time.

Here's another old one.... sorry for the mess.... cooking Christmas dinner!! I think I was cooking with the liquor and not drinking it! :)

Thank you all for the suggestions. I did not order a backsplash with the granite, although I am now wondering if htat was a mistake. I was worried the granite backsplash would be too thick behind the drop-in cooktop and sink.

The granite gets installed on Monday.

I am considering travertine tile for the backsplash, perhpas in a cream color, but am worried that the pattern in a stone tile might be too busy.

patty_cakes - your backsplash sounds delightful. Do you have photos anyplace?

circus_peanut - the shelf idea is very intriguing

gbsim - very lovely

circuspeanut--TUBE-LINED tiles! oh, show me more!

Take a look at the 6th backsplash on the kitchen gallery page of Busby-Gilbert tile website. I will try to include a direct link, not sure if it will work.

Here is a link that might be useful: busby gilbert tile

I had originally planned to tile all the up; however, we had to wait several months on our tile person and we decided we really like the look of the paint. We thought we could change the look of the kitchen by changing paint colors. We have not been sorry that we did not go all the way up. I am attaching a picture of what we decided to do.

I only have tile on the range wall. On either side of range, I took it up only three tiles. I started to not do any tile on the sides at all, but DH is a messy cook. ;) I also wanted to have artwork on either side of range/hood, since it's an open kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: My kitchen photos