Yes.

May I have some pie, please?

Rather goes with the imaginary pie that is cooling in my imaginary kitchen with the lack of flour coating every surface in the kitchen.

...or, if the window trim weren't already finished, you might have considered running the wood all the way down to the countertop:

Plllog!! That wasn't much help, since now there are more choices than 'yes' or 'no'. ;-) I was counting on more from you with your artistic eye.

OK...DH says that he'd have to pull out and redo the whole window trim setup in order to replace the sill with one that has the extensions, since all other parts sit on the sill. But he's the one who really, for sure, wants some tile there, so maybe he'll have to decide whether it's worse to redo the trim or have no tile...

Bmore...The flour just doesn't show too badly in the photos! Believe me, we're never without some somewhere. ;-)
But I do tend to wait to take postable photos when it's been cleaned up a bit!

Abbycat, I have actually thought about replacing the apron for one that comes down all the way. It still gives me a little case of nerves to think of water pooling up against wood, even though I believe in Waterlox so much.

Susied3, I forgot to answer your question! Although, I'm not sure what all you'd like to know. The range area tile is a special order 'slate' from Home Depot. (Found on a spinning sample rack in their special order floor tile section.) The color is Artic (sic) White. I suspect it's actually quartzite. It was less than $3 per sq ft, so I couldn't beat the price, but ordered plenty extra to make up for a little breakage and because of the variations in thickness and color.

Anyway, feel free to ask more questions if this isn't what you wanted to know. Either email me through 'my page' or ask here. :-) I'm linking the album below that I created for Starpooh to include in the 'Kitchens in Progress' section of the FKB.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen album for FKB

I know I'm late...but I like BmorePanic's first idea and the resulting middle pic in your "Fri, Feb 19, 10 at 17:30" post. I think the wood "strip" also carries through the design that you have on the range wall w/the wood strips b/w the two backsplash tile types (see the 4th picture in the original post).

I vote for no backsplash. It would take away from the focal hood wall. I don't like the idea of extending the wood trim horizontally. Sometimes less is more.

I like no tile, or tile under the window (and across the bottom of that wall) without changing the sill, because then the height of the tile looks like it would match up with the bottom of the shelving to the wall on the left. This seems like a more natural place to end.
With the changing of the sill, the tile comes up higher and sort of ends at a random spot when comparing it to the shelving cabinet to the left.
Finally, if you do tile, I prefer the smaller one for sure. I think the big ones are too heavy for that small line of tile.
Oh yea, I am speaking about details here. None of the choices look bad.

Although it looks fine without I think you do need a backsplash behind your sink for the water issues so you don't worry about it. I like the idea of extending the sill removing the apron and running the tile under it. Either tile looks good.

Well, I'm going to respectfully disagree with the majority opinion. Cost permitting, I would put up the mosaic on the entire window wall, all the way up -- up to the hutch line on the right. You could discuss how to "finish" the edge there but you've done it on the opposite side and I'd do it the same way.

Why?

1. Because it ties in to the other wall
2. Because it will never need to be painted
3. Will have 0 maintenance (better to spend time cooking)
4. Will look great and IMO be very glam.
5. A lot of time is spent at that sink

You've got a lot going on in that kitchen and I don't see paint as adding anything. But I'm a tile junkie so I always want more. But again, cost permitting.

OH Rhome, please forgive me, I must have had a major brain zap! Of course I know your kitchen! Yours is the one I've been trying so hard to "copy"!

I saw the slate behind the range, and was thinking about my bathroom, and just totally didn't pay attention.
Sorry!

Rhome -

Drool. Love your kitchen. I love the idea of putting backsplash just under the window ledge height - that was my first instinct too...if anything at all. I agree with what your wrote about the nice contrast of keeping it less busy. I'm not sure which material would look best though - I'm having a hard time there. Maybe the same material as countertop or else the smaller tile you were considering in the first place?

It still seems like doing nothing is in the lead? Although I haven't counted to see. For those of you who think I 'need' the tile, as opposed to any aesthetic reasoning, is it because you fear damage to the sheetrock? Paint won't protect enough?

I really do appreciate the input, and hope you all know me well enough to understand that when I disagree or explain why an idea won't work for me...

Rococogurl, to be honest, I can barely face doing the tile 18" up on that wall, so I can't imagine trying to tile the whole wall! (I am our only and very inexperienced tile setter. The mosaics, when mixed, end up to vary in height and are, additionally, a bear to grout.) I don't know how I'd stop without going all the way around the door. I view painting as an easy and cheap way to change the personality of the room when the mood strikes me, which in previous houses has been pretty often. Not sure I will have that same desire in this case, though. I may spend a lot of time at that sink someday when I don't have dish-doers around, but I rarely use that one. ;-) I do, however, see that wall while I'm baking, etc.

Buehl, the strips of wood on the stove wall are place-keepers for corbels that will be gray to match the range area cabinets (they kind of show in the renderings). Does that change anything about your viewpoint?

Fleur222, unfortunately, bottom of the window trim doesn't quite line up with the inset shelf. It may look close in the photos, but it's really not. I could maybe have DH shorten the apron on the window a tad to make that happen. But then I have a very narrow strip, only 5 tiny mosaic tiles tall, across the wall section to the left of the window...Will that look too wimpy?

Theresse, when you say 'under the ledge,' do you mean even with the underside of the sill? Do you think it'd be OK to leave the apron or would you want it out like in the above drawings?

Susied3... :-) I had wondered what happened to you! How is your project coming?

OK, what about this for those who are pro-tiling and like the wood trim as a stop... Whereas I have no trouble asking DH to remove the apron, I do not like the idea that the whole trim job would have to come out in order to extend that sill. Would it look bad to do some sort of small wood sill on top of the tile if it were up further..about even with the bottom of the upper cabs on the stove wall?

So here is that last idea, and I think, what Theresse meant, which does seem like it adds the tile while staying fairly simple:

I like the way it looks in the top pic above, but I would leave out the wood trim piece. I'm not quite sure how to suggest finishing it, but i don't think the wood works, because it's not tied into anything else in the kitchen that way. Can you just do the mosaic to the same height as the range wall and leave it?

Let me preface this with, I am no designer, so my basis for making suggestions is far from any professional opinion. I do have some art background, which makes the color/specific element questions interesting to me.
I think the question is where would tile end on that wall if you were to use tile so that it looked balanced ?
It is not that any of the ideas, would not work, but maybe one seems more logical than others. I think I have another idea....
What about tiling under the window and up as high as it would equal to the other wall which is tiled to the point that it would be even with the tile ending under the cabinets? Making sense? Like drawing an imaginary line from beneath the upper cabinets on the range wall across to the sink wall. That way, it is not random.
It would look similar to the 1st picture in your last posting, but without the wood trim.
Oh my gosh, I think I just said the last thing as the person that posted before me! Only mine is typically much wordier!!!!
How about ditto!

Thanks for weighing back in Malhgold. I think I have to have some sort of trim piece, but I suppose I could make it much lower profile and paint it gray or the wall color to make it disappear.

Fleur222, I completely understand...and that was the intent with that height...to equal the height on the other wall.

You're probably all tired of this, but my oldest dd is home and helped me gaze at it and the tiles this morning. These are the 2 options we came up with...

1: No tile, but increase the apron to be more of a backsplash for the sink. I think the Waterlox will protect it and if it ever looks bad, it shouldn't be bad to replace.

OR

2: Using the theory that 'more is less' ;-), bring the tile up higher than I'd considered...lining up with the window division and having it look more like wainscoting. (The hutch doors aren't made yet, so they don't factor in at this time) This, we think, will actually make it seem less cluttery at eye level, simplifying the overall look. I'm not sure you can get the idea as well from a drawing as standing in the room, but it means that we'll look mainly at the tile instead of the tile, transition, and wall all at once. So a cross/compromise between regular height backsplash and tiling the whole wall. Again, the top trim could be fir or blend more with the tile and wall.

Part of the balance problem is, I think, that the dish hutch is overbearing...too wide. But I needed the room, so function trumped the look. :-(
Thanks for bearing with me. :-D

I agree about the trim piece, but can you get a quarter round that matches? That would be cleanest, but might be too chunky.

This is stone mosaic, right? I think you could pull tiles from the sheet, turn them, and use them as a cap. Very clean. Very subtle. Not hard.

I really don't like the line that matches the window divisions though. It makes the splash very heavy and it's not a natural symmetry. I'd either do the window sill height thing (though that isn't my favorite), cabinet height to tie in to the rest of the tiling, or the whole wall.

It really is okay to add another line to a wall with lots of lines. I'd choose the normal backsplash height.

The hutch is fine. It screws up the symmetry of the window wall, but in a way that provides visual tension, rather than looking bad. In other words, it makes the wall interesting looking because the eye wants to "fix" it. But I think finishing the backsplash will help by giving it a counterweight.

I'm going to chime in before reading other responses... may be much less helpful if what I say has already been ruled out, but I can give my first impression that way.

I vote no. You already have three different styles going on, and while this would be the same as the nearest wall that already has a splash, I think it would busy the space too much. The wall color unifies the whole space already. Plus, with the sink wall not having symmetry, it seems balanced to me with just paint but if you add a wide strip of tile to the left side and a narrow strip to the right, it feels like it would be unbalanced.

[OK, the post just before mine is staring me in the face saying exactly the opposite, that the backsplash would balance the hutch -- I tried to look at it that way too but I like simple almost every time so my preference still said no splash there.]

If anything, I would limit it to the level below the window so it will be the same on either side of the window.

I'm no designer, and I don't have the skill of articulating visual things, that's just a gut reaction, so of course take it FWIW.

Your kitchen is beautiful either way but I vote for no tile and no extension of the sill. No apron, either.

That gorgeous window and trim and the view is the focal point. All that 'stuff' minimizes the window.

Extending the sill makes your eye search for the 'missing window' that should be above the extended sill.

I think the window, as is, has the weight to add symmetry to the sink wall and provides balance against the weight of the cabinetry. I think it accomplishes your goal of a serene, nature-place, organic room.

The paint color is perfect. Your gut is right.

I actually like it better up higher, because it appears to match the height of the stacked stone that is under the range hood. Wondering if you have anymore/want to consider doing the stacked stone on the window wall as it would tie into the stone at that height behind the range. Not sure that is the look you were going for though.

Plllog, I love the idea of turning the tiles for a cap. I sure know about pulling tiles off the mesh, since I have to pull off every-other-one of the gray, and all of the other colors, to create the color combo I'm using. (My fingertips do not love me for that.)

I'm not a big fan of symmetry, anyway, and was going for the asymmetrical/tension balance thing. I actually felt the wood trim at the top of the tile would be a good horizontal counterbalance to the hutch.

It's OK, Jsweenc...That's the problem. Considering the voices here on the forum, and the voices here at home, people either like it one way or the other, but there's not a clear consensus and I see both sides...

Westsider40, thanks for the encouragement and support. You express my thoughts exactly when leaning toward the no-tile option. DH is just so against it still, that I am trying hard to see another option. And, I love the materials, so it's hard not to use them!

Malhgold, dd and I looked more at the bigger stone. I would have to order more, and I'm not sure of the availability. I initially wanted that to be unique to the stove area, so will probably stick with that plan. The last thing that convinced me not to use it was when dd noticed is that on the hutch side, there isn't room to stagger it at all, so it would just look like square tiles all the way up that side...A weird visual rhythm to add to the mix.

Rhome, I didn't get to read the responses, but my vote is NO tile backsplash on the sink wall. I LOVE how your kitchen feels now, and I think it's b/c that paint color on that wall just really is nice and works so well with your cabs... so I think it looks great as is. :)

My fav. choices are
1. No tile
or
2. Small tiles, but not too high up on the wall. I say under the sill or just above it, where it might line up with the bottom of the glass pane. I think it gets more distracting as it gets higher. Maybe measure how high that would be. Aren't many back splashes about 4-5 inches when they are made of the granite to match a granite slab? Seems that is all you need on that wall.
Good luck!

I like very much the look of the wood-trim apron down to the counter. The extra visual weight of it (IMHO) looks good with the presence of the dish hutch.

Have you thought about repeating the stainless from the range wall counter, and just putting a narrow strip of stainless under the existing apron. I would only run it under the window and not carry it beyond the apron because I love the look of the wall paint coming all the way down to the counter on either side of the window. It lifts the ceiling on that wall and makes the window look so huge.

I like with tile a little more, OR to add some art where the angel is.

Really cool kitchen!

Oh! I thought you weren't liking the wood trim. I think the wood would look fine, especially since you have the wood trim between the stove splash and the mosaic. Especially with the wood though, I wouldn't do it inline with any other line, unless it were the same wood, like the sills. I think 13:53 looks very good. Whether or not to do the wood is something you can test IRL.

Even the photo with the sample looks better where the sample is. The mosaic adds interest and movement to the wall, which otherwise is kind of odd out. It makes the wall look dressed.

Yes, it does make a difference (the fact that the wood trim on the range wall will eventually be gray corbels). I'm actually leaning toward no tile now...

My vote now is for either no tile or the second picture in your "Feb 20, 10 at 13:53" post.

What buehl said above - "My vote now is for either no tile or the second picture in your "Feb 20, 10 at 13:53" post."

I think what makes that second picture look like it would work so well is because the photoshopped splash matches the color of the counter. that looks really good. Can you get a strip of your countertop to do that little splash? I am sooo tired right now and can't bring myself to look back - what is your countertop? sorry if that's already been answered.

Dang. I went back and found that picture and totally forgot the corbels. No to the wood trim then.

Yes to the tile.

It's been suggested 2 or 3 times, but since I see that whole wall with a more organic, softer look, the one thing I can't imagine is the stainless there.

Our counter is laminate, so I'm not seeing that work either. The laminate was supposed to look like the concrete we didn't have the time to accomplish during our DIY house-build.

With things like the fruit bowl and compost canister on the counter, if I do it like picture #2 at 13:53, I don't think it will even show...Is that the point for you who have chosen it?

Plllog, did you mean that one or the one with about 18" of tile at 13:53?

Thanks so much for continuing to help me out with this! It seems to get more complex and confusing as I weigh options...but I know there's an answer and it will be OK.

Forgot to say: Thanks, Reyesuela and Shelly_k, for the compliments!

Reyesuela, was there a certain tile configuration you favored?

Again, thanks to everyone.

RHome - after reading everything that's been posted - I still say no tile! :-)

Eliz

Well... after reading everything again I've changed my mind to no tile since most don't think the splash from the sink will be an issue. I like the look of no tile but if you are still concerned with water issues I would just put a row of tile under the sill, I wouldn't bring it above it. Have you decided yet? I'm dying to know what you do :)

I'm sorry - I like the hutch and don't feel its overbearing.

Whole hog - to the ceiling! Except I'd be tempted to put another cabinet and crown on top of the hutch so it had someplace to stop.

i didn't realize your kitchen wasn't complete, it always looked great! i'm with you, i really like the clean look of the sink area and don't think installing the backsplash would add anything. that said, it certainly wouldn't take away anything, either. but i'm thinking the uncluttered look you have there has a nice, modern appeal while the addition of more tile could swing it into a more traditional ...or rather "expected" look. i vote no tile!

of course either way, it will remain stunning. i can't wait to hear what you decide.

Bmore, you don't have to be sorry that you don't think the hutch is overbearing! ;-) I'm glad!

Thanks again to everyone for compliments, encouragement, and taking the time to consider and give your opinions.

I think that DH feels so strongly about it, I need to do some amount of the tile. I'm feeling what Kate expressed...That no tile is a clean, more contemporary look, while the tile will bring it back toward traditional...which isn't necessarily a bad thing. "Expected" is something I kind of rebel against, but have to wonder if that reaction is always necessary or best! If I had to guess right this moment, I'd say I'll likely start tiling and when I think I like it...stop. I really can't imagine doing up to the ceiling when it can't be the whole wall. Either I'm short-sighted in that regard, or have a better feel for the whole room than you get from the pictures...Could be either or both.

I feel like I should have never brought this up, because whatever I decide, now you'll all look especially at that part of the kitchen when I post the finished pics (Yes, I believe that will actually happen) and wonder if I did the 'right' thing. I'm betting you wouldn't have even thought twice about it, tile or no tile, if I hadn't made such a big deal. :-)

Decisions, decisions! I'm actually going to relax about the whole thing for a few days or a couple weeks, and see how I feel without the obsessing. Maybe DH will surprise me and change his mind...Who knows.

thanks!

I agree with plllog; I think the tile will look great. The kitchen looks great now, and I can see why you're attached to the idea of keeping it the same, but I feel like the tile will finish it and balance the hutch and other cabs. I, personally, would bring it up to the height it would be if there were uppers on that wall, and I'd probably finish it with tile, instead of wood, just because it would be more subtle.

I seriously doubt this will be a lingering concern when people see your gorgeous kitchen in the future, rhome! As fast as this board moves...everyone will get over it quickly, I'd imagine ;-)

Yes, I meant the first picture at 13:53, with the 18" of tile and the wood trim. I'm always a little late finding your thread. Probably because it's so active that it's never on the page I'm looking at.

You had said something about liking the wood trim when I said turn the top tile, so I said, "Oh! I thought you weren't liking the wood trim. I think the wood would look fine, especially since you have the wood trim between the stove splash and the mosaic." But then I was reminded that the verticals were in place of the corbels. So then I said, never mind.

Especially with the stuff on the counter, the compost bucket and the fruit, the tile will separate the working counter from the window view, by making a backdrop that contains the various stuff. No tiling does create more visual tension, but I think it also demands a cleared off counter, or else it just disappears into clutter.

If I had to guess right this moment, I'd say I'll likely start tiling and when I think I like it...stop.

That sounds like a plan!!!

I would like to echo everyone's compliments -- your kitchen is great! I love how the different colors and looks all come together.

As for the tile, I'm in the "without" camp. I like the visual break on the little wall just to the right of the stove, and then the attention focused on that beautiful window above the sink further right. But whatever you decide, I'm sure it will look fabulous!

So based on your comment I'm thinking you'd like this thread to start fading away, but I can't let that happen without commenting one more time. I am REALLY surprised that the majority of posters want to leave the wall alone. When I posted the first time, I did vote for tiling and I'm sticking with that. You know I'm not one for being matchy matchy, but I just feel that you have tile on your other 2 walls and this wall would look like "odd man out" if you didn't do anything. I just feel that it would balance the space more instead of 1 wall without tiles and 2 walls with. Anyway, that's my last push for convincing you to tile the sink wall. We all know how agonizing these decisions can be!!!

I'm bucking the trend, too. I like the tile and I think it would be a plus to protect the wall from sink splashing. I also like the window trim extended to the counter for that reason.

I didn't pipe up earlier because I couldn't make up my mind about how far up the wall you should tile. I think I prefer the one that lines up with the tile height on your rangetop wall, topped with wood trim. And hey, that's what plllog likes best, too, and she's got great taste so I'm in good company.

I think whatever you do will look great, rhome. You have such a gorgeous kitchen.

wow, I've been away a couple of days and there's been so many great ideas!

My very inexperienced, non-artistic eye likes 2 options best:
1. the little tile half way up the wall. I actually kind of like it meeting the window grill lines. you have the material, it's beautiful, now you just have to do something to safe your fingers!
2. extending the wood trim down to the counter. keeps it very simple looking, provides a barrier for splashes.

best of luck in your pondering, no matter what you have a gorgeous kitchen!

No tiling does create more visual tension, but I think it also demands a cleared off counter

Ha! I have no delusions that that will ever happen! ;-)

I don't mind that people continue to respond, Malhgold...I was just not coming to a conclusion, so felt I was wasting everyone's time. So many responses, and I was still saying, "Oh, but I really don't know..."

I actually, though, think I'm realizing from these posts today that, in the face of majority opinion, I really don't think I'll ever feel right about it if it's not tiled. Even though there are reasons I like it as is, and it certainly would be easiest, I think that in the back of my mind, I feel it's unfinished. --What I'm afraid of is that the lack of tile makes for another different finish in my kitchen. As Malhgold is saying, the tile will create some continuity with the rest, instead of being 'another different thing going on' with that wall. I think I have enough of the 'unexpected.'

Tile: Yes.
Height: TBD...Still can't commit on that one. 18", then we'll see. :-D

Thanks!!!!!!

Since I'm already throwing my opinion around.... ;-)

I think you should hang your angel lower on that wall, too. She's so lovely but I feel she's floating too far up and not really connected to anything. If you tile 18" up, try centering her between tile trim top and window molding top and see how she looks.

If I end the tile at 18", I think you're right, Lisa, that the angel should flutter down a bit. I am seriously considering going to about 28", so she might look fine then. She can stay up out of the way until that's decided. :-)

...Or, on 2nd thought, she might be replaced by my grandma's bowl (one of a set that she always used to serve ice cream to guests), which is a kitcheny symbol of love, hospitality, and warmth to me. Then the angel will find a new spot. The artistic angel seemed to suit the blank wall, but the bowl might suit the warmer, more traditional tile, and will tie to the colors.

The green paint and the wood are the unifying factors in this kitchen.

Loss of the green would be a loss but increasing the wood trim to make an apron below the windows would counterbalance the loss and would give the window the same aesthetic that is given in picture frame matting--the deeper matt is at the bottom of the frame. You would need some good wood finish that can tolerate the moisture and you would need to train the family to be diligent about caring for the wood. Once the hutch area is finished, you will feel the weight that it makes on the right side of the wall and will be glad to have the wood under the window to match it. Unfortunately, you would have to figure out what to do with those outlets under the window, sigh.

I don't think that more little tiles will improve your design. If you need it for reason of utililty under the window, keep it as minimal as possible. Retain as much green as you can. This color will complement the view out the window and would enhance the look of foods. Bring in more of the green when you can--hand towels, a vase on the mixer wall, green stuff in the hutch if the hutch has glass in the doors, etc.
____
I need to think hard about my own advice. It applies to me as well. Am trying to decide about continuing the tile from a stove area to the space below a bank of windows on the next wall. I think I agree with other posters here--it's better to have the paint. Will I take this advice myself?

Thanks for the input Florantha. It's always good to hear how others see your space, and it helps me clarify my vision, even if it disagrees some.

Whereas the wood is definitely a major factor in the room, I think gray and burgundy are my other major considerations--- and the green walls are supposed to fade into the background and be downplayed. They are supposed to add a fresh ambiance while not bringing attention to themselves...As I said above (but hard to find probably), I really felt that they turned out greener than I'd hoped. I do think the stone in the room is also a unifying factor...Both tiled walls of the room use the same materials and same size and colors, but in different proportions of the colors. The sink wall is connected to the stove wall in more ways than physically, which is why I'm leaning toward the same tile there.

Thanks! And best wishes with your project. I hope you share photos when you're ready.

Compared to the rest of the room, the sink wall looks unfinished to me so...tile at some mid-height (level with bottom of gray range cabinet?) + wood trim to echo the range backsplash.

So rhome, what did you end up doing? If you haven't done anything yet, I would like to see what it would look like if you lined up just one row of your extra, larger tile all along the wall leaving the window trim as is. Since you don't like the green color I would try one of the other organic colors in those large tiles.

Whatever you end up doing, I'm looking forward to seeing it. It's gorgeous already.

Oh, Beejay27, I am not that fast! :-) I haven't started anything yet, but as said above, I plan to use the small tiles up to 18", but maybe up to about 28". It's the green of the wall I want to downplay. I decided I prefer the big tile as a unique feature to the range area...A little too heavy when I tried it along the sink wall. Thanks for checking in and offering an idea, though. I love all the input I can get.