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Question for those of you with a Mother-of-Pearl backsplash . . .

10 years ago

What color grout did you use? And, were your MOP tiles pure white, or slightly tan (or other color)? I'm planning to use the small MOP bricks, with a very slight tan color. I have slightly off-white cabinets and coffee colored counters. The tile place recommends white grout. However, I'm wondering if a slightly off-white might be better. I was just wondering what you used. Pictures?

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sanjuangirl

10 years ago

Here's a photo of my white mop with white grout against beige cabinets at Christmas time.
I'll post close ups too. Can't seem to get more than one photo on a post.

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Comments (8)

sanjuangirl
10 years ago
Here a close up with just ambient morning light.
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I recently used some MOP tiles for mosaic/art work. They were actually called "abalone," but I think they're the same thing. They're available in several colors, and are shimmery and gorgeous. These puppies are amazingly HARD! They are impossible to cut with regular 2-wheeled glass tile cutters, so I used them whole and mixed them in with glass tiles. They look completely different from glass tiles. I don't think you could reproduce the look with glass. Yes, they are quite thin, but they are strong as can be--much stronger than glass or porcelain tiles. I back-buttered the abalone/MOP with extra thinset b/c they are thinner than the glass tiles I was using. No problem. Grouting was not an issue in any way--there was no staining. I don't understand what the concern about grouting might be, in fact. They grouted up and cleaned up just like the glass tiles. Because I was using these for an art mosaic and not a standard installation, I did not use mesh. The tiles were loose, so I can't comment on any mesh-related issues. Hope this helps.
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cigi, in our last house the previous owner installed tumbled marble in a mauvish tone which IMO looked awful with the St Cecilia granite. Even though the tile was expensive, I tore them off and left the 4" granite backsplash, patched and painted the rest of the wall. The sink was the only working area as the cooktop was on the island. No problem with water as I used BM Aura, but Pittsburgh Paint's Manor Hall Timeless is just as good with a more flat look and lifetime warranty. I'm pondering the issue for my current redo. In various houses I've had paint, wallpaper, white tile with abalone inserts, plain white tile. Right now I'm weighing white tile with a beautiful insert, just paint with no granite backsplash since this area has only a counter but no cooking/wet functions, paint with granite backsplash, or a simple glass tile backsplash with listello over it a la Chinchette. I'm attaching a photo from Chinchette's beautiful kitchen (hope she doesn't mind seeing hers cited as a great example) which shows the last option. In any event, I echo others' advice to not worry about that decision immediately unless you absolutely love a certain look. Just use good paint. Here is a link that might be useful:
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sanjuangirl
10 years ago
Here it is again with the under cabinet lights on.

I also tried an off white grout called Alabaster. We ended up using Snow White grout since it seemed to blend better.

Good luck. I love my mop, it's beautiful at all times of day. In the evening it looks beautiful in low light, it twinkles and winks at you from a distance!
sanjuangirl
10 years ago
One more shot where you can see the true cabinet color against the back splash. The first photo was a bit dark.
Linda
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you sanjuangirl! Your kitchen is truly gorgeous! In fact, it is one of my inspiration pictures. Interesting that the pure white actually worked better for you than the alabaster, since the tiles do have more of an alabaster tone. Did anyone else have any different experience?
sanjuangirl
10 years ago
Thanks, hopefully you'll get some other opinions.

I remember when I was in the planning stages, someone posted about using Alabaster grout so I bought it as well as the snow white. We did samples of both and choose the whiter one. As I recall, the Alabaster was lovely too.

Good luck!
williamsem
10 years ago
I used Mapei Frost grout, and my tiles were considered "white" in the description, though they still had some yellow and grey in them.

I took a sheet to the tile place and put several colors agains it. I picked the one that blended best. The tile lady took one look and said "Frost", but I had to convince myself.

I like how it came out, and plan to use the same when I gets redone in a few weeks (no date yet).

And while I'm here...for SJG, a pic of the problem I have, three seams highlighted to show the break in pattern...
sanjuangirl
10 years ago
Sorry Williamson. I can only imagine the bummer of having to go through a redo after such a reno. It must be disenheartening.

Your kitchen is beautiful. It's hard to see the break in pattern from the photos, but I know it must be obvious in real life. I hope it works out perfectly for you.

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