One thing I'll add about my storage of pot lids over the stove... another reason why it is so convenient is that (I confess) I feel that pot lids don't need to be washed after every use. This is perhaps my version of the drip cabinet, as I recently read... somewhere... is a Scandinavian idea. I have an absorbent cloth under the rack that holds the lids, and so a lid can be put away immediately even if it has some condensation on it (say, from boiling water for pasta). Karin L Here is a link that might be useful: modern version

What sort of finish are you planning for that undersurface? It has to be fireproof to a certain degree, so check to see what exactly is required by your local code. Some folks use Hardibacker cement board and tile it. We built an all-plywood hood and tiled it. Some folks have a big piece of stainless custom-formed to fit. Tile, plaster, etc, has to be finished before sliding the insert up into it so that the edges are covered nicely. Depending on the brand & model of your insert, you might find it helpful to use the 2-3" rectangular liners they often sell along with the inserts, which gives you a nice stainless-lined rectangular opening. But you'll need to decide what the underside is going to look like: tile? Plaster? Your inspiration photo looks like it's 'tiled' with mortar and stone. Good luck and looking forward to seeing the finished project!

Image 2 made me all weak in the knees. What a beautiful stone you chose! If it were possible to use the same stone as a bs I wouldn't hesitate for a second. If that's too Stonehenge for you, and you want to sneak in the refinement of an elegant bs tile, I think the arabesques would be fantastic. Their uniformity in color keeps them from upstaging the counter, but their shape provides interest. You've already had this idea and are looking for alternatives, so here goes. Classic polished grey marble hexagon tile Outrageous marble bubbles in homage to the splotches on your stone. Gunmetal Grey sticks A 3D woven tile like Madeline616's below This post was edited by EAM44 on Fri, Mar 15, 13 at 10:43

A large piece of frosted glass? (Altho I love stainless steel, and there are several catalogs that sell self-adhesive "tiles" of it, so it could be a DIY job.) My sister has a large piece of glass that her kitchen reno team painted (for a reason that I think was the heat factor of the stove, merely putting clear glass over the painted wall wouldn't work).