Of those options I like the handmade artsy tiles. Your kitchen is lovely, with the clean lines, warm wood tones and I think this would just give it a punch of personality. I love your ceiling treatment.

*This post should come with a warning that I have nearly finished my own kitchen and still have not made a decision about my backsplash. In fact I have not even narrowed it down to a few choices. It is a very difficult decision. I was thinking of stone but so many quesions that I can't seem to find answers.

I don't think the handmade tiles would diminish the resale value of your home if you don't get too crazy :~)

Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you like the ceiling. It is knotty pine. After I pulled down the sunshine ceiling and two layers of accoustic tiles, I discovered tongue and groove boards on the ceiling, but they were too damaged to keep. So the new pine ceiling a kind of homage to the original house, although I know it's not really in fashion these days.

I agree about the kitchen needing personality. I have been trying to keep things simple and natural, but it looks a bit plain. I'm hoping a backsplash, window treatment and a few accessories will help. It's so exciting to be at the decorating stage after the difficulties of major remodeling.

But yes, the backsplash is hard. I want to choose something that will add interest, but I don't want something that will be look dated fast or that will take value away from the reno.

Other ideas? I am open to any ideas, including ones I haven't mentioned.

Thanks!

Your kitchen is beautiful. Have you tried looking at the backsplash slideshow? All the backsplashes are from gardenwebbers' kitchens.

I find it easier to narrow down my choices by weeding out what I do and don't like. With that said, I think that the backsplash is one of the hardest decisions in a whole remodel. Way too many choices now.

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Backsplash Slideshow

Thanks kitchenkelly! So many beautiful backsplashes. It just widens the field. It also reminded me of some other possibilities that I have mulled over. I've considered subway tile, but in a soft green rather than white (to add interest). I've also thought about mini-subways. When I was gutting the kitchen I came across a single tile that must have been part of the kitchen at some point in its history. It is a white mini-subway with a raised pattern of tiny sunbursts. It is quite pretty, and I like the idea of recreating some of the house's history. But it is quite bumpy (would be hard to clean) and might look a bit busy (but maybe not, since it is white). Maybe a mini-subway tile with some kind of crackle pattern or natural stone texture might recreate the same feel.

Have I totally confused you all yet? I also really liked the copper accent tiles that I saw on some of the slideshow kitchens. My cabinet hardware is dark brown copper and it might be nice to echo that in the backsplash.

In terms of what I don't like, I'm pretty sure that I don't want tumbled marble. No offence to anyone that has it, but I find it a bit beige for my taste. I'm also sure that I don't want a slate backsplash. I think it would be too much slate (slate floor) and a bit too dark. The room is cozy, but I don't want it to be dark.

Sorry if this is all a bit much -- I'm sort of thinking out loud here. FYI, the paint colour is BM Olive Branch -- it looks a bit washed out in the photos.

Thanks for reading!

How about something like this?

Your kitchen is really beautiful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marble Mosaics

Ooooohhh. I do like that. It is not too dark, but it picks up on some of the darker tones in the room. The color variation makes it interesting looking -- not too plain. At it is a natural and warm material, which I really like. And the mini-subway to pick up on the house's history.

My only worry is that it might be a bit busy for the space. What do others think?

I love this board. You guys helped me pick out the paint color too. There is so much great taste here.

Beautiful re-do! Love the ceiling detail.

I think the tiles posted above are too busy for your space. The crackle finsh subways would be wonderful and get my vote. They are clean and simple, yet have character and aren't just plain. Since resale is going to be an issue for you sooner rather than later, I would advise going w/ a more simple design.

What I can see is adding a couple/few period tiles as wall art. Search the net and you will be able to find period carved tiles of wheat sheaves in several colorways. These could then be either framed or just hung w/ plate hangers in your open areas. That way you can have a simple backsplash but also bring in the period look at the same time. Plus, you can take the hanging tiles w/ you when you leave!

Soft green subway tiles popped into my head when I first saw it. What's your flooring like? I was also wondering what slate would look like?

Thanks syllabus and lindybarts! I appreciate your thoughts.

Syllabus, I do love your idea of crackle subway tile with hanging art tiles. It's period-appropriate, budget friendly, good for resale -- and I can still add my own sense of character. Do you think that coloured subways or white/cream would be better?

Lindybarts, my floor is golden slate (not laid yet). It has a lot of color variation -- shades of olive green, gold, and rust. The floor is heavy on color and texture, so I'm thinking that something a little simpler for the backsplash might be appropriate. I do love the look of soft green subways. My one worry there is resale -- if someone doesn't like green, they can paint over the walls, but not the tile. Then again, maybe some buyer would just love green tile. Sigh -- I hate thinking about resale. I just love my house so much and I have put so much work into it. But it is very small, and I am hoping to have children, so I imagine I will have to sell it at some point (I hope so, anyway!).

I, too love the idea of green tile and it sounds like it would also go w/ your floor plans... but my gut advises you to go w/ white or cream. I love green and have it throughout my house, but I have friends who really aren't lovers of the color. Blues and greens are very emotional colors and everyone has different reactions to them. By sticking to the basic white or cream and bringing in additional color w/ art, textiles, flooring, etc., you can easily prepare yourself for resale to the greatest # of buyers.

As you say... anyone can change out the paint and create an entire new look. But green tile will ALWAYS be green tile.

If you were planning on staying there a lot longer I would say go for the green. But 5 years really isn't all that long and you are wise to be thinking of what will work w/ the greatest # of buyers.

Plus I love the shade of paint you have on the walls now and have doubts that you would find a tile to compliment your current paint. Picking out a different paint might not be that big of a deal to you and only you can decide that. Might be worth finding out what tile is available out there and getting a few samples to do a test run.

Syllabus,

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I think that your advice is very good. I will search around for a nice crackle subway tile in a color that matches my trim (BM Ivory White). Any suggestions for a source anyone? I think I will pick a soft grey grout, since I hate the look of stained grout.

Thanks for the compliment on the paint color (BM Olive Branch). I love it too. But this summer my friends who were helping me paint told me that they thought it was dark and dreary. I went to this board and the people here encouraged me to go with my instincts and my taste. I'm so glad I did. Interstingly, white subway was my original choice for the kitchen. It seems like our first instincts are often best, doesn't it?

I'm enjoying this thread. Love your new kitchen! I'm biased because it looks a lot like mine. It shows how beautiful oak can look. I'm also needing to decide on a backsplash.

I wonder about the crackle subway tile with some kind of special tiles over the stove. Maybe, you could do some kind of pattern with different tiles of the same finish as the subway tiles.

Many people like wheat and that type of accent tile would please you and probably potential buyers.

I hope others will share their views.

Take a look at this site, in the Our Tiles and Gallery sections. This is one of my favorites for backsplash tile.

Here is a link that might be useful: meredith art tile

Thank you lkremodel and kec01 for your suggestions. I love looking at art tile. I collect pottery and I love the colours and textures. Actually, there is a lot of pottery produced in my area, so I will probably browse local chaft shops and craft fairs and see if I can find something beautiful for over the stove. I like the idea of supporting local artists.

That said, I have been surfing around (of course!). How about something like this over the stove (it's 12" square), with matching cream crackle subways elsewhere:

Pretty, isn't it? My concern is that this is a bit traditional looking for my kitchen. I think something more stylized (arts and craft or art nouveau maybe) would be more suitable.

I'm open to any other backsplash suggestions too, of course, including ones that I haven't thought of yet. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to see things in a fresh way.
Thanks!

You could easily do white subways (I'm partial to them since they will be installed in my kitchen next week) with a focal point above the stove in either copper tiles or something like the one you show above. The white subways will make your focal point stand out more than matching subways.

In the kitchen forum there is thread you might like:
Subway Tile - What grout size and did you go Epoxy ?
They have pics of crackled subways in white and beige. Very pretty.

DIY, I answered you on your other thread about the fabric :)