I vote for option 5. Since the window has no trim around it, the tile will give it a more finished look.

Grumpydave, I have the exact same dilemma! My kitchen layout is basically a mirror image of yours, except smaller, with a peninsula coming out at the end of the window counter.

I started a thread here a week or two ago asking pretty much the same question. The suggestion was similar to what your option #3 is. Where there are upper cabs, I know I want to go from counter to cabs. However, it just seems weird going higher than the window sill on the wall with no cabs. My window is just like yours, frameless. Currently I have a 6-inch square tile backsplash, which just happens to be the distance from the counter to the bottom of the window. Now I have tile on the sill area. When I get my new quartz counter, I'm having a strip of quartz in the sill area, so I'll still need to fill 6 inches. Unless I get a more compelling reason to do something else, I think I'll just run the backsplash 6 inches high along the window wall.

option 4. To me, option 5 doesn't work as well since that wall peaks.

Thanks for the responses so far! We have a vote each for #3, #4, and #5 :)

remodelfla, what do you mean by the wall "peaks"?

Another vote for #4, so long as you have bullnose for the edges. This gives you the option of having racks, open shelving, or art on either side of the window.

You might be able to make the #5 option The Next Cool Look, but to my non-trendsetter mind any tile that goes to the top of the window frame should continue to the ceiling.

Well, in a vacuum I'd pick #4, but I don't know what your choices are (and I understand they're not up for debate) and those could and should influence the ultimate look and tile placement you're after.

4 is the most pleasing to the eye. 5 is my second choice.

I like both 3 and 4. The sink/window wall looks finished in both of those options.

For option 5, it looks as if they could/ought to finish at the top of the cabinets, but if you stopped there, it would like it stopped too soon.

I like #4

isn't that a raised/peak ceiling? Looks so in the pic.

vote for 4 if finished at the top with bullnose.

I vote for #4. I can see why people like #5, but I would do that if you see the tiles head on rather than from the side.
As already stated, make sure you can get matching bullnose for the window wall. (or you might be able to do a pecil liner there.

My preference is for option 1. I like the minimalism and the fact that it makes it easy to add other decoration. Also it leaves you free to change your mind later.

It seems to me that I recently saw some examples of painted back splashes here.

Sorry to add to the diverging opinions.

I think #4 or #1. If you decide on #5 you might want to go only as high as the bottom of the bulkhead. That gives the illusion that the backslash is bulkhead high all over. When it goes to the top of bulkhead the eye just reads it as too many horizontal lines.

More opinions! Love this forum (and the people here).

I'll take a moment to admit right now that before I posted this I was wanting to stop the backsplash in the corner and was leaning toward option 2 or 3. Making the drawings actually helped a LOT though and now I'm preferring option 4.

orcasgramma, thanks for voting #1! I actually like that option a lot even though integrated backsplashes aren't in favor these days. I like the idea of repainting every so often to change up the look.

remodelfla, the ceiling in this room is 12' high and flat. No slope or peak.

rmkitchen, point taken that the style of the backsplash may have to play into the decision.

ellendi, another good point that tiling up the wall would be better if that wall were facing the entrance.

Let me add some more info that directly relates to #5 (BS to top of window). The room has 12' ceilings that are flat. The soffit is on two of the walls as seen. It creates a very strong horizontal line that continues all the way around the room at the height of its top. On the wall behind me there are "windows" up high whose bottoms are at the same level as the top of the soffit. The right wall is all sliding glass door and window, both of which are as tall as the top of the soffit. That's why I suggested running the backsplash up to the top of the soffit instead of the bottom. It would be very much in character with the strong horizontal break at that height.

As for stopping the backsplash in the corner, I was inspired by this recent photo posted of another member's kitchen. However, their blank wall doesn't have a sink and can get away without any backsplash at all.

I really like #4. Every option with the 4" backsplash I would discard, it's just not modern, clean enough for me. #5 might be good if you have a really exceptional tile and/or if you want the backsplash to be the star. HTH, Petra

option 4

Another vote for #4!

4 works for me too. If you did not have soffits and had taller cabs, I'd want 5, but with your current setup, 4 is the best option IMHO.

I vote for number 3, assuming we're talking about a single style and color of tile throughout, not running one color of tile along the bottom at the counter across both walls and then using a different tile above that on the range wall. This would look great if the tile could run along the window wall at the exact height of the bottom of the window.

#4 would be my second choice, but I'm not a fan of the tile randomly stopping in the middle of drywall without relating to anything on that open wall. Yes, the tile height would relate to the range wall next to it, but not to anything on the actual wall the tile is on.

I vote for 4 too. That seems to me the most functional option.

I'm probably doing#1, but I vote for #4, love that big window BTW

I'm still pondering this. The OP's photos are no longer viewable to me, so I'm having to use my imagination to flesh out the options. I have an almost identical layout and dilemma. I was at one point leaning toward #3, but I think it might look like I either ran out of tile or changed design direction in midstream. My one concern is that half of the wall without cabs is partially visible from the living room. I'm wondering if a section of glossy tile will be a weird thing to see. I don't plan on having a wild backsplash, more something warmer and darker than my cabs and walls. I like the idea of putting a couple of shelves starting right above where the tile ends, at cab bottom level. I think that would justify the height of the tile. And yes, definitely finished with bullnose.