Think about what they will be reflecting. Your bustline? Dirty dishes? Or a dining room?

Yes- everything! 5.5m of mirror. I'm not sold.

As far as the window splash back goes, what is the view? The children? Gardens? A pool?

I vote no- I think it just adds to the feeling of mess and clutter and the constant cleaning would be annoying.

I did see a pic this week of a mirror splash back that was deliberately aged. It looked cool, and you wouldn't be able to see finger marks.

you have to use special mirror that's heat and shatter resistant,talk to your glazier.

These only give you an idea, will try to find better

http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/query/Aged-mirror-splashback-backsplash/nqrwns

Put this into Google and select images

aged mirror backsplash splashback

There are lots of good ones.

The view- not much. The wall of our neighbours house that sits on-boundary. We'd planned to grow something on the wall. So it looks out on a 700mm side passage.

We don't particularly need the light as we have 4m x 3m glass stackers in that room. I suspect the architect who drew the plans wanted to add visual width to the room as it is only 4.5m wide.

For us to change it to a mirror splashback- it would be a 5.5m run of mirror. Yes- it will need to be toughened due to the stove. I am also considering dark-coloured kitchen cabinets. I'm concerned about it being a bit too 'blingey' and the cleaning. I've had the plain glass splashback before, and they are ok and quite 'forgiving' of fat smears. I'm not convinced mirror will be the same.

What will the mirror reflect?- the opposite wall. So, not the garden.

I just looked at the aged mirror. It seems to soften the impact of the mirror. Definitely a consideration if we go ahead with it.

That's a matter of taste. If you are planning to sell in the near future it might not appeal to all buyers. If not, decorate for you.

Which direction would the window splashback face? The architect might have wanted to add natural light to the work surface. A window somewhere else wouldn't do that as much because of your shadow.

Maybe. It faces west, but is in a position such that it will never see direct sun due to the neighbouring house. I think the quality of light that will penetrate it will be poor, probably not functional light.

I think I've made my mind up. Now to go have the discussion with the builder.

We'll go with the window. Being a semi, I think we owe it to ourselves to get whatever windows are possible into it, given there is an entire side that we can't.

Light is light. If it stops you cutting your finger. Sounds like a plan.

instead of a traditional splashback we have frosted glass sliding doors that conceals shelves to store spices, sauces etc (3m wide 60cm high and 10cm deep) we are very pleased with it and the faint view of the contents and the frosted glass disguises the fingermarks and stove splashes

Clever idea!

We probably wouldn't want to lose too much of that 700mm as it is our only side access but certainly open to any suggestions of plants.

Will any of the windows open? You could grow herbs in window boxes.

Hi Karen, no the window can't open due to fire rating restrictions. We live in an inner city area. The houses are very close together.

Geepers.

Kerryy, that would drive me crazy. I'd be letting the kids throw the ball in the kitchen

Dodgey...you'd have to wonder if it's toughen glass or if he has just used standard mirror.

Mirror splash backs would look lovely in a show home. Mirrors are only stunning when there sparkling clean. They would annoy me if they were constantly needing to be cleaned. I think you would be creating an on going chore for yourself, like Karen Mc, they would drive me crazy. Why don't you have a look at some of these https://au.pinterest.com/GDBully/kitchen-window-splashback/ There are endless choices, I wouldn't be making work for myself. Depends I suppose how long you are going to live there.

Yes, I've had the conversation with the builder. Window it is!. All I could think about was all the day-to-day 'stuff' the mirror would reflect back at me- baskets of washing (like I want to see more of them!), kids school bags and homework, every dish/glass that the kids haven't found a way of putting in the dishwasher! No way!!