I'm getting ready to install the backsplash tile and it will be going up first then the rangehood and chimney. My reasoning, my sister remodeled and her GC installed her hood and then tile was applied up to the ceiling in a herringbone pattern, 2 months later the hood malfunctioned and research showed a defect in the electronics. The new hood that was selected didn't match the tile layout outline and the tile had to be taken down to just above the range, her nightmare continued when she learned the marble tile had been discontinued. I figure its easier to chip out the tiles containing the anchor mounting hardware and replace them, than a whole wall of marble tile. Having done many kitchen tile jobs if the wall is flat, the tile will be flat.

lmao. what Jan said! Although, I had to help out my guys who did my herringbone wood floor. it's the starting point where everyone gets messed up. after that, it's simple. Look up how to properly start a herringbone layout and read it. you need to use a speed square at the end of your tile in order to get the proper middle starting point. much easier to illustrate than trying to write it out here. This is how I showed my guys how to start it. see the blue tape w/the two lines? you have to start on the middle after you mark your corner. that's the only way you will get perfect even cuts on both ends. this is how most do it, and it's not correct IF you want perfectly symmetrical left/right borders. All he's done is set the corner of the tile on the line. doing it like this will leave you w/one side smaller than the other: see how the sides of the window don't match? this is what you don't want. your tile guy should be doing a dry layout in order to determine where he starts so he doesn't get this look or these tiny triangles. Again,,,see how the ends don't match below? the right has longer tiles than the left edge. that's because of the way he started his first tile. And don't do these vertical tiles for your edging. get proper bullnose tiles, pencil liner or a Schluter edge. This is a layout board of my herringbone for my shower. took a few hours in order to get this almost perfect. since this was an odd size, and the tiles were even at 3x12, it couldn't be perfect. the right bottom corner triangle is the only portion that doesn't match. luckily, it's not readily visible! Even the subway tiles are perfectly matched. this layout took hours to get exact, even around the niche. 2x6your 3x9 will be 1/3 larger. 3x9 is a good size for a backsplash. this is a regular 3x6. again, a 3x9 will give you 1/3 longer.

The better idea is to remove the backsplash tiles. Otherwise, you get the proper bit and drill a hole through the tile, then screw into the stud(s). Not drywall screws. They break. Probably a good wood screw at least 2" long, whatever the directions states.

Would it be tacky (tackier) to use a chunk of flooring there? The floor is 8x16 gray slate. I have a huge amount left over due to a GC who didn't math well, some in much larger sizes that we used in a larger room. I could cut one down and stick it up. I even have a tile saw! (I'm planning to DIY whatever I do. Our town is still pretty covidy.) Even if it weren't tacky, would a rectangle of gray in a bland whitish room stand out too much? Guess I can chop and prop one up and see. (We have so much extra we considered using it for a patio and pool deck. Too hot!) I will have to get some better photos.