Don't be swerved away from hand painted tiles! The best way to add colour and originality (I make hand painted tiles so I may be biased). I would take the tiles to just under the bottom shelf, and up to the hod. We have had tiles behind our cooker for 21 years, and we don't find the grout staying clean a problem. By the way - I think subway tiles will look dated in a few years, as anything bang on trend tends to do.

Hi I am having a kitchen fitted and getting a splashback - the kitchen is high gloss handless cream and the worktop is wood with a 100 MM plinth in wood - walls are being painted beige trying to decide on the backsplash 1. Kitchen maker says black to match hob 2. I'm considering having it made cream to match the kitchen would black be too busy - it's an open plan living kitchen area many thanks in advance

I was thinking the blue subway tile that in the pic by the stove but now thinking it might be too much??

here it is at daytime