i have the same kind of area and my plan is to leave it painted. i have seen some people do tile but like you i would find ending it awkward.

As it is so far from the sink, I think paint would be fine.

You could, as you say, tile as far out as the uppers, to the counter edge, or I've seen people step down from upper to edge. If you were to tile, my aesthetic preference would be to go as far out as the uppers. But if you think of your bs as a way to protect your cabinets and drywall from water damage, the best option would be to go to the counter's edge.

Is this the only place in the kitchen where you have this dilemma?

I think it looks good the way it is right now. I wouldn't continue the tile onto that wall. Just my opinion. If you were going to do it I'd end it below the cabinet there.

Don't tile it.

Take the deco strip and the tile under it around the corner like the heigjht of a traditional side splash.

Holly, I like that idea! I vote for the sidesplash. That way you get your counter-depth protection without the (in my opinion) questionable aesthetic.

Just paint it. It's how most people are doing it nowadays.

Nice to see your kitchen coming along as I remember your layout.

From looking at your photo, I think I like the painted wall better. I have a similar dilemma. I really like the mosaic tile placement in your bs. (I'm still in the abb).

I think Holly's suggestion is a great one. At first I thought leave the paint, but picturing her idea, I think that would look the nicest.

I like Holly's idea or just leaving the painted wall.

Paint. Aesthetically, I don't love side splashes. I think you'll be fine, though with either one - just do the one you think looksbest

The paint would look best, I think. Don't want to thread hack, but could you tell me the paint color in your dining room? It's beautiful.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! We decided to go with painting the wall. We are also saving the tile, just incase we change our minds in the future and want to tile the area (and to have extra tiles in case something cracks).

KTJ459...thanks, the dining room color is California Paints Antique Pine. and the kitchen color is Benjamin Moore Iced Marble