Tile Conundrum - Raised Border Subway Tile and Backsplash Outlets
Hello Houzzers! I am getting the last GC bids for my kitchen/laundry/powder room renovation and have come across what appears to be a big backsplash stumbling block. It took forever to get hubby to agree to anything other than a smooth glossy 3x6 subway tile but I'm having an issue with the selection of choice. We both agreed to Imperial Blanco Frame Gloss Ceramic Subway Tile in the 4x12 inch (L O V E the 4x24 but not enough uninterrupted wall space for that). I'd like to lay this in a third offset instead of a half offset.
Cue the electrician and one GC who said that we can't use this tile because of the raised frame (the reason that I love it). They said that it would create issues with the outlet covers being raised far above the outlet or alternately cut ends of the frames being exposed to sink covers. I called the tile shop to cancel my order but the manager told me that they've had this installed in a number of kitchens without problem and launched into an explanation of how to do it that immediately slipped away after I finished with the conversation.
Has anyone used this type of tile in their kitchen? If so, how did you get around the whole cut end/outlet cover issue? I found a wavy surface gloss white 3x12 subway that is ok and have a sample of the same type in a 4x12 (MSI) arriving this week. I still like the raised frame tile best though. This is my one shot at having a nice kitchen. If install is truly going to be a problem then I'll have to let this tile go but if it can reasonably be installed I'd like to use it. Thanks in advance for any advice, I really appreciate it.
I've posted some pics of the tile and CAD drawings of the sink and range walls (markups were for GCs). The sink wall will have open shelving on either side of the window to open up the feel of the kitchen. Also planning on using can lighting throughout and 2 pendants over the island.
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more countertop/backsplash conundrums- mixing quartz w/ marble bs
Comments (29)Fwiw, I just mixed faux-marble quartz (Lagoon) with a Carrera backsplash and at least in it's pre-grouted state, I'm really happy. It was hard for me to find a backsplash that worked well with the grey-ish tones of the Lagoon, mostly because my cabinets are painted taupe. Anything that "matched" the cabinets seemed too brownish for the counters. The Carrera blends the two perfectly. I think it also works because I wound up using a very small-scale herringbone pattern, so the patterns in the marble tiles are less pronounced. Fwiw, I don't see the calacutta tiles that the OP posted working with a greyish quartz that's similar to Lagoon, and I'd also be concerned about pattern overload with a subway tile. But having worried about the fake-next-to-real problem, I wanted to at least add my experience that it can be done. One of the prettiest kitchens on here, done by a pro, is GW user @kompy, who used a different marble subway with Lagoon counters, and it looks stunning....See MoreBacksplash border and Electrical outlets/plugs
Comments (10)Sophie - first, I love Sonoma Tilemaker's tantrum glass tiles. LOVE IT and it will look great with your blue island - what fun. Second - I like the last sketch you did but before I even saw it I thought if the blue tiles as a solid block is "too" much behind the backsplash, why don't you use the subways to make a grid and put the small tiles inside the grid squares. It might be too difficult to figure out the math/layout/dimensions but just something that came to mind. Or maybe something like this but obviously with your blues and whites. [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Venegas and Company Or this: [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by atlanta kitchen and bath The Furniture Guild I don't love these colors but perhaps as a design layout, it is okay: [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Mike Cavallaro Looking at the pictures I posted, you'd have to add another tile shape to your desgin but honestly, another shape, like square might be a nice addition to your small mosaics and subways. Maybe get 4x4's in the tantrum blue color....See MoreTile or granite little backsplash between levels of peninsula?
Comments (7)Another vote for granite. I have something similar but I'm using Caesarstone. I thought about using the tile for our bs but decided to run the CS along the 4" (6"?) or so that we have as the space was too small for the bs tile to look right. Though I really wanted the tile to work there! And I'm not sure what you should do re: the cabinet. I understand what you're asking but not sure what would look best....See MoreBacksplash conundrum
Comments (22)You definitely have enough room to tile to the floor. Ignore the posters who can’t be bothered to read the actual issue (the light switch) and just post comments about bullnose. As far as the small area for the pattern: yes, if you were only looking at that 4” wide strip, it would look weird. You won’t be, though. Your eye will automatically connect it together with the backsplash that’s above the counter, and it will look great....See Moreeaw 513
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4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoYou have the same gapping issue with beveled tiles. The ”solution” is backer rod and color matching caulk. Or learn to love the gap. Or do plug mold.
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