Yes, they are a dated look. Also, they are harder to clean when splatters from the stove happen, due to more nooks and crannies. If you want a focal point above the range, perhaps just do the herringbone there without the frame.

Pay attention to how they installed the outlets in the backsplash, which was well done in that photo. Low and horizontal. People overlook this detail, and install outlets vertically in the upper middle of the backsplash. Make sure your outlets in the backsplash are installed low and horizontal like in your photo.

As an aside, that pic shows an inadequate exhaust situation. The mesh panels too small, not covering the cooktop by any means, and baffle filters should have been used, not mesh. Given how that pic looks like it was an expensive kitchen, a shame how they cheaped out on the exhaust set-up.

They are perfect for certain kitchens, others look dated and busy. I'm skipping an accent because I'm doing a pot filler, and with everything else that I will have going on, in my case it would be too much. But I have seen many beautiful ones where it completes the kitchen. If we all follow the same design rules...we all end up with similar kitchens...where is your style and personality...

Rather dated and fussy, unless the look you want is extremely traditional. If you want a herringbone spash? Just do the whole darn thing, no need for a "picture"

IMO unless you have a huge Tuscan kitchen they are a dated look but it is your space and honestly if you love it do it I have never understood the need to high light the wall behind the range.

If you like the look, then you should do it. It's your home and you should smile every time you're kitchen. You mention using glass, that's more contemporary in style; what are the other selections?

It's a lot like any other fashion - you'll wear a Chanel suit your whole life, you'll wear your gap jeans for a couple of years. If you have a classical kitchen, choose a timeless inset, like the marble one in your example, and you're good to go. In my MCM kitchen? Or with "accent" tile? No way.

Forgot to post a pic to this thread...here’s our finished product...I love it! Do what you love :)

eam44, with respect, I would never wear a Chanel suit because that just isn't me, never has been, never will be. I do, however, wear my Gap jeans almost daily, and have for decades : )

...And that is why I changed my mind about not doing a 'feature' above my range... I saw a gorgeous tile feature that I loved, perfect coloring, and it was 'me'. The feature tile is fussy, it sits inside an inset, which is arched, and we have a deck-mount pot-filler which is offset to the inset. And our granite is busy. Way out of trend, very dated, and utterly gorgeous in my eyes. I cannot wait to have the backsplash installed now. Prior, after endless seas of plain jane subway (and our backsplash will have subway tile, BTW), I was lukewarm to despondent over the backsplash choices I had seen.

meluky, if staying on trend is important to you (and that's fine if it is), don't put one in. If, however, it would make you smile every time you walked into your kitchen, and you didn't plan to sell your home in the next year or so, put one in.

I agree with Momofthree Ma, "Do what you love".