I love the dark grout look right now, but worry about whether this is a fad. Of course in 15 yrs we will all look back at kitchens with subway tile backsplashes and think "2010s, how dated"

I love that subway tile with the dark grout. I think if you go much farther up than the bottom of the hood it might look like a fireplace. I mean, if that's the look you're going for I can totally picture it.

I voted at the ceiling. I think if you bring the tile all the way up, around the hood, it will really even it all out and at the same time add height to the ceiling. That is a really nice hood and it's something your eye is drawn to, so to bring the tile up, you will be 'showcasing' it even more, where as IMO, if you end it to short, it won't balance the hood out.

I think that sticking with the classic white grout is the way to go. The space will look bigger and the granite will still be the show piece instead of the $12.00 carton of grout. I don't think you will ever look back on a classic white subway with a white grout and think it looks dated - I think everyone jumping on the dark grout train is going to have regret in a few years. I'm very opinionated when it comes to tile, grout and granite - perhaps that's because it's what I do for a living.

I like the white tile with the dark grout! It's very refreshing (I feel like you're always told to "match" the two). I voted #2... this way, the tile will go up the hood but not the entire way up to the ceiling. I think that would be too much tile (especially since your cabinets are a white color, too) and we'll still get some of that pretty wall color!

Feel better! :)

I voted for the top of the cabinet. The other not-so-brilliant idea I had would be to build a hood cover that is wider (spanning from cabinet to cabinet) and stop the tile at the bottom of the hood.

Oh and I completely love subway tile with dark grout! That's the route we're going for our guest bath.

Important question - are you hiring this out or doing it yourself? I would not want to tile around the hood, so I voted for going to the bottom of it. I think that would look the best, too. I don't know how I feel about dark grout with white tile. It would be easier to keep clean.

Hey! I'm in backsplash purgatory too! So.. not the best person to ask. Maybe. Hey look! I just pulled out some hair for you!

This might just be a Pinterest problem... *someone* out there has had this dilemma before, and blogged about it, and now it's on Pinterest. AND YOU WILL FIND THAT INSPIRING PHOTO. I believe in you.

I really love the white tile/dark grout look but I couldn't convince my husband to go along with the idea. So, the white subway tile backsplash that we installed a couple of weeks ago got white grout.

Thinking back now, I'm feeling like white grout was likely the best choice because because it blends in well and hides the little DIY imperfections that I see in the tiling job when I look closely.

Seriously though, the subway tiling job was easy! The tiles that we bought had extra little edges on the back that meant that we could push each tile right up against the last and we didn't need those bothersome tile spacers at all. It seriously only took us a few hours and we were done!

I love the look of the small glass tiles for a back slash...especially the light sea blue/green ones. That would look beautiful against your white and stainless steel!

You know I'm a big fan of white subway tile with dark grout. So, I'm all for this! I'd take it up the bottom of the crown - I think that would give it more "presence" than just to the hood.

I honestly don't know much about decorating, but I voted for "the top of the cabinet" - and I thought maybe you could put a piece of crown molding that matches the top of your cabinets across the top so it would finish it off. Just a thought!

I know that so far all the up to the ceiling is out voted... but check out this link to this amazing kitchen in the home of designer Amy Howard. The color is reversed from your idea, but you will get the general idea.
Good luck with your project when the zombie get's his life back.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yuZ6-Lcuu6k/T1Sb6DVR8AI/AAAAAAABUc0/uCaKq4XAJQ8/image_thumb124.png?imgmax=800

I love subway tile. If we ever get around to redoing our kitchen I want to add a subway tile back splash. I'm with Kim-- take it to the bottom of the crown.

I absolutely love subway tile, I have never given the black grout any thought though, maybe because I have some grout issues in my house. Your kitchen will look fantastic with either choice.

I think taking it to the ceiling would make an awesome column that would make the room look taller

I went with the bottom of the hood. Just seemed the logical way to go about it. Hope you're feeling better!

I love the subway tile idea. It will look really nice.

That said, I personally prefer solid back splashes, because I HATE trying to clean stuff out of the grout lines of tile, and I'm pretty messy in the kitchen sometimes.

I went with #2. I'm not sure why, but it sounded right in my head at the moment. I can't wait to see the end result! Totally digging in the subway tile with dark grout.

We did white subway for our backsplash and I LOVE it. We did white grout because I personally prefer the look. I'm not a fan of contrasting grout in my own space but I think it looks great in other rooms. With your white cabinets and dark counters, I think it could work beautifully. I voted to the top of the cabinets. Looks like bottom of the hood is winning right now but I think it would look great to pull the white up more to lengthen the space.

I LOVE white subway tile with dark grout. Its so sleek and modern, but still classic. It would look amazing in your kitchen, especially with your new pendants. Also, nice gumball machine on your counter. Seriously. Love that!!

Gah, I don't know where I would end it. I'd have to create a poll for help too because I'd be afraid I would hate it later and have it all messed up!

I'd end it at the top of the cabinet (choice 2). The space would look more polished if the crown "crowned" the backsplash too. I love the idea of drk grout vs white if for no other reason but it will be easier to keep looking clean. White tile can wipe clean, white grout is another story.

I'd go to the ceiling. I agree with everything Kasey said! It'll make the room seem taller, and I love the idea of showcasing the hood. I think it would look awkward if you stopped halfway.

Just do a Google image search for "backsplash hood kitchen" and see what other people have done. I LOVE subway tile as a backsplash!

I love the subway tile with dark grout! I voted at the bottom of the hood, because it looked more cohesive to me.

I'm having the same dilemma here too! You have low cabinets so I feel like you shouldn't go too high since that would leave a big strip of wall to each side which might look weird. Maybe try playing around in paint/photoshop and see what you can come up with. I always need to see things before I can decide.

I like #1 as a small budget-saver, and #3 as a close second, because it'd also be slightly more expensive. Hope you both get dezombiefied and unvirused quickly!

i voted for #1, but i would personally like #2 as well. i think #3 or #4 is just too high and it is going to look strange, like a skinny strip of tile running up the wall.

good luck with that dilemma!

I think that when cabinets are varying heights that the best thing to do is go up to the ceiling. Otherwise you've got way too many lines cutting across the wall. I adore dark grout with white tile and as a benefit it's a heck of a lot easier to clean:)

Hmm...since I'm not the one paying, I vote to the ceiling for the same reason Carol said. ;)

go to www.kony2012.com

I voted for option #4. Go big or go home is my motto.

I voted for the bottom of the hood. I too am in love with white subway tile with dark grout! Last night I was eyeing my bare kitchen walls and dreaming of them all tiled.. someday soon!

I adore those white subway tiles but I already adore your kitchen wall especially the white cabinets! :D

Love the subway tiles! I voted for 'at the top of the cabinet'. At first, I thought, "bottom of the hood, of course!" but then I pondered about it. I think that if you did it all the way to the top of the cabinet, it could really highlight the hood. Honestly, either would love great. Can't wait to see it finished!

I'm actually digging the idea of the white on white... But knowing you, whatever you do will turn out absolutely fabulous. C'mooooon April 15!

We are going all the way to the ceiling with our back splash with a similar hood vent. Our only difference is our cabinets go to the ceiling as well. In your case, maybe somewhere in the middle of 1 and 2?
I have NO idea.... I usually search the web to see what I should do in my house. I never provide the advice ;)

I was uncertain about how bringing the back splash up to the top of the cabinets would look, as it's sometimes hard to visualize, but then I stumbled across this picture (http://www.homebunch.com/wp-content/uploads/lake_02.jpg).

With subway tile & a similar range hood it really made it easy to see how the look would turn out. If you're still undecided about where to bring the backsplash to, check it out, maybe it will help you wrap your head around the decision. :)

I would go just above the bottom of the hood where it narrows.

My parents have an almost identical kitchen to yours (both are gorgeous!). Their tile back splash goes up to the hood, and it it beautiful. I know that you have a picture in that open space, and they have accent tiles in a geometric shape in that spot. It creates a nice backdrop for that kitchen accent. I can't wait to see it when it's done!