Personally, I would do an accent strip only if horizontal lines were a design feature that a liner at that level would be just right for. They are used too much IMO just to add..."something" to the plain field the owner's focusing too exclusively on. Fortunately not as drearily ubiquitous as those genuinely attractive medallions and tile pictures behind the stove became (usually easier to just not notice), but...still. How about using art and/or other decorative items that can be stuck to the tile and changed out whenever it takes your fancy? Of course, any small appliances, etc., sitting out will add their own "something." Do your design diagrams include any you might be using?

BTW, this is the same suggestion I gave for years when people were trying to choose the seemingly "de rigeur" medallion or whatever for above the stove.

GWer mamasheshe used a horizontal mosaic accent and then ran that mosaic vertically behind her cooktop. Her tile is very colorful and makes a fabulous statement. I hope she doesn't mind me posting her picture but I thought it would let you visual how yours might look. I do like your tile choices. If you decide to use both horizontal and vertical, maybe you should consider putting the horizontal at the bottom like mamasheshe did.

I just noticed after I posted mamasheshe's picture that her horizontal stripe actually has the mosaic tiles placed vertically within it.

rosie - you have me thinking now. I don't really have any horizontal lines in the design. I might put a black & decker toaster oven on that side of the counter just to break it up a little.

badgergal - thanks for the photo! That really helps. I was trying to search for one but did not come up with anything.

Super. That said, "similar to what I've been wanting" - ! Evaluate to make sure that particular detail is really what you want is all. After all, Nixit's kitchen does look very nice.