Thank you for pointing us to an interesting blog.

Don't be worried about your backsplash choice yet. Many people here have a concept of what they want, then get in the cabs and counter and wonder what they should do. Some go years without a BS before they decide. Yesterday I was surfing about this forum and found the planning post of a very "famous" (on this forum) finished ki tchen. She posted several thoughts about what she was going to do for a BS. Then I went to her finished kitchen, wondering which one she had used. Guess what -- none of those she originally listed.

I am in the process of WAITING to start my kitchen (demo in 2 weeks!) and think I have everything planned, except for my backsplash. Many tile stores have told me not even to start until everything is is. In the meantime, I look here and get distracted by such pretty, shiny examples. Love Rufinorox (spelled wrong), love Segbrown's, love Cat_Mom's, love Robinst's . . . . but until FL Joshua get's those countertops in, I'll just continue to lust after the many beautiful examples we have here. So, don't be tooooo worried about it yet.

And post pictures!

I am just finishing my kitchen and painted my cabinets white and my granite is a soft white and tanish green called Colonial Dream. I love it so far and have been struggling with a backsplash. I am thinking of using one of these two choices. I really liked the 2 x 4 subway travertine too but the colors are just too yellow. I was just going to post to see if anyone has any pictures of these in their kitchen.

http://www.buytile.com/home.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=&products_id=7294&szid=225

http://www.buytile.com/home.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=139&szid=178

Dear Maryb,

I can't really answer your question about tumbled marble since I don't have it. I do agree that it is used a lot. (Whether it is over used is a different matter -- perhaps it is, but then so again is subway and mini glass mosaic and we all like those.) I've seen some great kitchens on this website and others in which it is the perfect choice.

You really have to make your decision in the context of all your other design choices. I agree with rjr that you may want to wait until everything else is in place. On this forum beekeeperswife is a good example of someone who took a while to pick a backsplash after all her other choices were made -- and it is going to be so perfect.

By the way, I am so glad you sent the link to Paul Anater's design blog. I had never read it before and I super enjoyed it. I like it that he is opinionated. Opinions are helpful.

I think you're better off going with what you like, what will be functional and what will go with your kitchen rather than worrying too much about what might appear "dated". Kitchen mags will change directions every few years and no matter what you pick will fall in that category to someone who's religiously following the latest trends. If it looks good in your kitchen though, the average guest/homebuyer won't think twice about it.

As another poster said, I think a natural stone like tumbled marble is likely to seem dated or trendy than something man-made.

Travertine is often called marble, but it is not marble. If travertine was left in the ground under heat and pressure for a few million more years, it would eventually get harder, denser and form the more crystalline structures it needs to be classified as marble, but for now it is a limestone. It is softer and more easily damaged than marble.

I disagree with the blog writers rather harsh and uneducated assessment of it. It can make a fine back splash! I have it in my kitchen and find it to be no trouble at all to keep clean. It is tumbled, so it has a slight gloss to it. Splatters wipe right off, even spaghetti sauce splatters that got overlooked for a few days. It is used quite a lot but so is virtually every other tile. Subway is used a lot....glass mosaic.....square....etc. Chances are in 10 years whatever you use, it will look dated. I love my tumbled travertine and would do it again in a second.

Wow, thanks for all the replies! I agree that I should just go with my heart and stop worrying too much about it. I think I will carry on looking at different inspiration pictures and make the final decision later on. If anyone has links to share, that would be great :)

Another quick question, what do you think about having some granite go up the wall and then tiles after that?

I think you have to go with what you love and not let trends dictate your style. Natural stone backsplashes are classic - it's the elements you pair it with that can make it seem dated. Everything eventually will be dated, and then years later it will be back in style again. Look at how many people on this forum are using inset cabinets with white subway tile and farmhouse sinks! I also love natural stone and used honed marble for my backsplash in a subway pattern with creamy cabinets and creamy granite. Here's an in-progress photo -

{{gwi:1571213}}

I personally don't like the 4" granite strip starting off the backsplash. If you look through the finished kitchen blog, most folks are either doing the strip and then a painted backsplash area, or they are doing tile all the way down to the countertop. My opinion....that 4" strip is most often seen in builder's spec homes. It's kind of a dated look. The granite installers like doing the strip though so they don't have to be terribly careful about templating. They know their thick strip of granite will cover the gap so they dont have to template tightly to the wall. The best thing about the strip is you don't have to tile your backsplash at all. You can just paint your backsplas area whenever you tire of it, changing the look whenever you want.

The bottom line is look at tons of pictures and buy what you like. The finished kitchen blog is a great place to get ideas.

Marcy96,
Love your space. Beautiful!
~boxer

Hi Maryb2010,
When I first started thinking about my reno. I had a few
specific ideas, after 4 months those ideas changed. The
more I am around kitchens, looking for my own planning,
helping others, ides on GW... the more I see things I love
and those ideas I had when I started have faded or changed.
One way to start is to figure out your "Do or Die" list.
What do you love? And it does not matter who else loves
it but you and your DH of course. And from there plan
your space.

The Sweeby test is a great tool to help you figure out
what your "Do or Die" is. It sounds like you love white,
cottagey and that is a super start. And a search through
FKB (Finished Kitchens Blog) on GW will help with seeing
what others have done. FKB can give you ideas and help
those creative juices spark.

Here are a few white cottage kitchens with pale counters.
And tumble stone marble bs are great. Get what you love!
~boxer

I have tumbled marble in my bathroom shower and tub decking (with Oceanside glass clear iridescant). I love it there. My mom has the exact same tile for her backsplash. I looks really nice. As many others will probably say- get what you want if you plan to be there for awhile.

That said, I agree with another poster that you probably don't need to worry about that yet. As your design evolves with each stage of planning, you may change your mind anyway. GW has a way of doing that. Take the Sweeby test and figure out the MOST important elements. Thankfully, you don't have to decide on a backsplash until the end, so you have some time.

I agree that tumbled marble is used alot, but that's because it looks great! It is still quite neutral...

I think it doesn't make sense to rule something out just because you think it's overused. It's a factor to consider but shouldn't be the only or primary one. I started off wanting a timeless kitchen, but ended up opting for some "trends" (contrasting island, ORB hardware, glazed ivory cabinets--our backsplash is TBD).

You could explore subway tiles if you want something a bit less trendy, but still a nice clean look.

May I ask what granite you chose? Whatever you decide will look great--can't wait to see the finished product!

Hi maryb,

I agree with others who say you should get what you want. I have a tumbled trav backsplash and it cleans up great, even behind the cooktop. And it's a lovely look, at least to many people (and most important to the owners.)

I've read a few entries of that guy's blog, and he is scathing. Anyone who does something that isn't his taste he says is "stupid" "cheesy" "tacky" and "makes my eyes bleed."

He calls himself a "real, live, professional kitchen designer" but based on his "my way or you're studid" opinions, my guess is that he designs for his own taste rather than for his clients'. So I personnally take his advice with a grain of salt (or more like a whole huge commercial box of salt.)

Look through the finished backsplash slideshow and you'll see gorgeous backsplashes of all different styles. None of them are "wrong".

Here is a link that might be useful: backsplash slideshow

I just installed tumbled marble, which I chose at the same time I chose my granite. The combination worked perfectly, and I knew the minute I saw it. I understand why people say to wait, but from my perspective, it was great to choose the backsplash in advance. It certainly sped up the process of completing the kitchen and it was a big decision to cross off the list. I have had nothing but reaffirming comments from everyone about our choice. A designer who is helping with our floors in the rest of the house described it as "timeless" (and we are going to tile our entryway in a similar looking porcelain). One thing I will say is that it definitely looks more rustic than shiny/new--and overall made a fairly strong impact on the space.

I guess my kitchen is going to be cheap, cheesy, and dated too, because I'm using tumbled marble for my backsplash. I love it, and it goes perfectly with my other choices (which are probably cheap, cheesy, and dated as well). Amazing how much money you can spend on cheap and cheesy stuff which looks better than 99% of kitchens in the world and is supposed to last a lifetime. That Anater guy is a pompous idiot.

Maryb, pick out whatever looks right for you.

I agree with chicagoans. I read that guys blog (or part of it) and just closed the browser. I'm not sure what type of authority he thinks he is but the fact of the matter is there are a lot of beautiful tumbled marble backsplashes. Consider this: you love white kitchens with a cottage feel and neutral stone colors. You've probably been going through a million magazines and web sites looking at pictures of those types of kitchens. But how many people do you know that actually have it in their kitchen? For me the answer is one. I'm also the only one of my friends that is going in that direction. My friends may all like the look as well but they didn't do it. And I can think of a few other backsplashes that would be on the list of "soon to be dated looking" before marble. So I say fooey to that guy and do what you want!!!!

Thanks again!

I must say I have seen some beautiful kitchens using tumbled marble and still think it is top of my list as far as backsplashes go. I really love natural, neutral things so it really does suit me perfectly. What this has done however is make me see other backsplash designs as ideas too, so I might even surprise myself with my final decision! Marcy96 your kitchen is stunning and Boxerpups thanks for the great pictures. This forum really has been great so far. Janine09 here is the link to my inspiration pictures, we are thinking of this granite (Kashmir white) or something similar, there is a shipment of pale Indian granite arriving in two weeks so we will make the final decision then.