I prefer the second, with the counters going up to the windows and/or to the upper cabs. The first photo is lovely, if that's the look you want. It's not for me; it's just too much.

I love the full wall of tile!

Do both, each in its place. The range/sink wall can get beautiful tile, and the window wall can get slab Quartz. It's going to be lovely. You're not limited to Walker Zanger by the way. Here is Nejarine from Mosaic House. They have so many beautiful options.

They have have encaustic tile as well. This is Rosa.

Thanks!! Yes- I've been searching for different tile, thank you!

What does your kitchen open into? Just a breakfast nook or is it a great room?

I really like the tile wall, but I think if you do both, it will be rather busy. And limit what is going on in other spaces, if the kitchen is open to the main living area.

If it is open, then the countertop up to the windows and behind the range would be very nice and a little less busy.

Also...have you thought about wallpaper? You could have a bright bit of color and pattern behind your shelves, but without the difficulty in replacing it as you would with the tile. Just be sure to prime well, before applying the wallpaper : )

What a lovely gray. What color is it?

Thanks! Lavender_lass - it opens to a dining room which is open to the living room - L shaped with a master bedroom and bath in the other corner (small, 1800 sq foot lake cottage - our year round home). The fridge is the end cabinet that is floor to ceiling, so I would not take the tile any farther to the left of the fridge. Do you think just tiling the wall to the right (around window, under cabinets and hood) will still look too busy? And then what do you think to do with the sink wall? My original thought was to just carry the countertops up- but now I'm thinking it's looking a bit drab and the tile would really give it some character!??

Beachem - it's Ashwood by Benjamin Moore, I love it! Not too warm, not too cool!

I think a LOT of tile is a good way to add a designer touch to your kitchen. As long as it doesn't conflict with the counter tops.....which are going to be???

Thank you. I didn't remember seeing that color.

Nicole___ counters are Quartz, Carrara Grigio

If it's just the dining room....then why not? Have some fun with the space! How bold do you want to go?

I like this kitchen from HGTV's Fixer Upper....but it's pretty bold : )

Or you could play it a little more safe...but still very pretty.

Ooh that top one is fun!! Really liking big patterned tiles!

I think the full wall is pretty I vote for doing it on one wall. As an aside our countertop fabricator suggested we look at Cararra Grigio for our countertops as he wasn't sure he could get our initial choice in a large enough slab for our island. We ended up going with Cosmos Ventian Extra White, but it was almost identical to Cararra Grigio!

We did a whole wall in our new kitchen. Just for another example.

Lavender Lass, do you remember what season/episode of Fixer Upper this kitchen was from?

I love the island. It reminds me of one that I saw at Williams-Sonoma.

p.s. Love the patterned tiles, but I think you have to really be sure when you do a whole wall like that.

It looks to me like you don't have much wall space to really get the impact of full patterned tiles. I think they would be too chopped up; your inpiration picture has a lot more wall than you seem to have.

Benjesbride- thanks for your input! Let me get a better picture up tomorrow from a different view and let me know if you still think the same please. I cannot make a decision!!

I think the mariakillam.com article, "Encaustic Tiles: Should You Embrace The Trend?" is worth reading. Link: HERE

l love both looks as well. What kind of look/feel are you going for? Back splash up the the windows feels vintage to me, like a 1940's kitchen. Which I love FWIW. A full wall of tile has an European or exotic flavor for me. Think old world or Moroccan kitchens. Either will look great, but I would choose something that flows with the rest of my house.

Benjesbride- thanks! Deep down I know it's not a good idea...but until I find something I like more - I don't know what to do hah! I was set on calacatta marble for countertops- knowing its an extremely poor choice, as we are not clean cooks and love red wine- and am happy I found a Quartz alternative that I like just as much! Any ideas for an alternative backsplash? I'm bored of subway tile- I mean I love them- but with the encaustic tiles (thank you for teaching me a new word today) it gives some energy to the kitchen and makes it feel homey to me- Dresses up the white/gray/blah. I love accenting with color which is why I stick with neutral, so maybe when I get some art/dishes/food out etc it will start to give me a better vibe?

sasandfat- I have a very eclectic taste According to Hudson Valleys lighting style quiz - "vintage chic & industrial". I don't go by the rules- I'm guessing if I post end pictures of my house some will be saying "wth was she thinking?!".

any other ideas??

Brittle- Eclectic can be challenging, but always a lot of fun! Our kitchen is definitely unique : )

Edible- Here's a link...and a few more pictures. It was the kitchen in the 'barn' home.

http://www.hgtv.com/vertical/shows/fixer-upper/fixer-upper-a-very-special-house-in-the-country-pictures

Oh that kitchen and house look amazing!!

Lavender_lass - any pictures of your kitchen I can see??

I should have added our house was built by the previous owner and it's just a tiny house built of stone on 2 sides- built in '77...no real architectural style.

I need to take new pictures...hoping to finish painting next week, as soon as we get the new garden finished.

Here's a few older pictures from last fall...

Oh...I REALLY need to take new pictures! LOL I finished the wood floor and moved the butcher block to another area. Slacking : )

Lavender Lass, thank you!!!!

Brittlenay, that barn was built in 1980 and was pretty devoid of style, so it's amazing what can be done.

Love the idea that cawaps mentions about putting up photocopied tile to see if you like it. Now, I have to go check out that reveal.

Cawaps- thank you!! So smart!!! I'm going to do that!

Lavander_lass - so cute!! Love the patterned drawers! And the green- so much character!

Wendy- thanks! We gutted the entire house and are done with everything but kitchen and main floor bath. Shaker 3 panel doors, shaker cabinets, wide shaker style trim. We used tongue and groove knotty pine boards and reversed them on the ceiling and painted white - so there is some cracking and wearing, turned out great! I did black octagon floor tile with white subway tile for wall in downstairs bath and got sconces from RH. I don't know, Ha- I think it's going to be vintage chic farmhouse meets rustic / industrial?! :)

Ah, okay. Then you do have a style going. I can delete then.

Sound great, btw. Would live to see pics!

Thanks Wendy! I will definitely upload when a bit more finalized! Any votes for tile vs carrying counter top up for backsplash OR???

I vote for tile. Love it!!

Love the exterior of the barn house. Thanks Lass for sharing the link.

Plus that green is super sweet.

If you love the tile, then you should do it. Are there pictures of your downstairs bath posted anywhere? Sounds really nice.

Saw this pretty tile and thought about you.

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I hated tile for the backsplash, give me a painted wall any day no issues with putting something on the wall....that being said you should note that the great tile pictures all have lovely large wood trim around the windows etc....

293summer, that was the inspiration photo I showed the architects! I love that kitchen. In the end, we went more modern than those tiles and my husband wasn't too bummed, because those Ann Sacks tiles are PRICEY.

Brittlenay, I love the wall of tile, but I agree that it should be done only if there is enough wall space. With the right tile, it could be stunning. And I love the Xerox mock up idea.