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Final strech: Backsplash help, please (pics)

14 years ago

Finally getting to the end, but I'm going nuts trying to decide on backsplash. My initial vision for the kitchen was to have it neutral colors with white cabinets and white subway tiles for the splash. When the granite went in yesterday, however, I can see that I may need to change my plan. There is quite a bit of creamy white in the granite, and I'm wondering if I need more contrast than white subways (even with a textured surface) would provide.

I'm also liking this glass subway. What do you think of matte finish, rather than a shiny finish to provide some more textural interest?

The glass (middle row, tiles 1 and 3) is very close to the color of the paint currently on the walls and in our family room the rest of the house.

Too little contrast? Too monochromatic? Other ideas? HelP!!

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Comments (6)

brickton
14 years ago
Wow. Can I just say wow one more time at your granite? It's crazy. Can you please share it's name and source? It reminds me of a painting, really... great.

Anyway, for the backsplash I think you want to not distract from your granite. White subway might be just fine because it is so mono-chromatic and not terribly eye-catching. I think that I would avoid the tile that matches the wall color, just because it be odd to get a 'near-miss' in terms of color and texture. The white glass in matte or shiny though might be an alternative to the subway. Either way I would suggest getting samples and putting them up on your walls, I know it's changed a lot of peoples minds about their backsplash.

And one more time about the granite: wow.
tamdave123
14 years ago
Gorgeous granite! I agree with brickton in that the color backsplash you're considering is too much of a near miss. If you want added interest, maybe intersperse a bit of the dark (gray or black) color from your granite in a white backsplash?
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Lovely kitchen. I think I'd complete it with a backsplash -- this is where everyone's eyes are when they come into the kitchen. Take your pic & granite & cabinet sample if you have to a tile store & get ideas. There are some wonderfully understated glass tiles or subway with crackles -- something a little unique, but doesn't have to have a lot of color or splash. It will be icing on your cake. If the $$ are too high at a specialty shop then shop around you often can find similar picks at other stores. You can finish it with a thin piece of matching tile to use as molding or an accent piece. These days every tile doesn't come with a bullnose. Good luck!
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Thank you so much for posting pictures! We too are doing a mini-remodel, which includes keeping our cream cabinets but replacing Corian with titanium black granite (which we just love). The Hubbardton Forge lights have been ordered, for the most part...now the discussion about backsplash has begun. We also have a small space over the stove, and I didn't think we could do any sort of medallion design....but seeing yours makes me think again! And the color is perfect, with just the right amount of accent. I'm one of those people that just can't visualize design...I need to see them. This helps so much! And it is so nice to see a kitchen that is actually used! I see so many pics of kitchens with nothing on the granite countertops other than the barest of essentials, and I wonder, how do they live? I have friends that bring out the toaster and coffee pot from under the counter everytime they need them...we just don't have the time or energy to do that!
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Just to clarify, because I'm a little confused. The tile is all going to be stacked and all the same size regardless if it's the glass or the opaque? The glass row will only be 1 tile tall, so you're trying to decide how many stripes and that will tell you how many tiles high of the opaque tiles you will use? Yes, mahlgold, you've got it right. My head was starting to spin, trying to explain it! :-) Thanks for asking for clarification. I have wanted glass mosaic all along, and I had something very similar in my last kitchen, so I am ready for the grout lines. The challenge was to bring a subtle suggestion of horizontality (is that even a word?) to the wall, to help ameliorate what I perceive as an imbalance on the range wall, as you may recall. So, yes, it will be quite different from the inspiration pic in overall effect. But, that was one of the ways I found to bring in a "horizontal" element. Yes, I do feel lucky at the moment. I see you are continuing to struggle. It is so hard. And, often when I think I am there, something shifts. I always wonder when it will end and if this time I really have it right. One thing interesting my husband said yesterday as we discussed all the different ways to use the Sandstone and pale blue together was that really any of them would look good. He's right and it helped me relax a bit. Just a bit. :-)
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I'm aassuming that you have a cabinet with counter in the base of your alcove. If so, I like the "tile up to the shelf" photo. From the style of your brackets, it looks like yours is a traditional or even period kitchen, no? If so, then what was done in the inspiration photo should work fine. There is a strip of wood run vertically under the shelf, and the brackets are affixed to that (probably through the vertical piece and into a stud). Then the tile runs up to that strip of wood - clean and no fuss/no muss. Your "tile up to the brackets" photo shows what appears to be a shelf "unit" where there is no bracket under the lowest shelf -- the lowest shelf appears to be hung from a bracket above it. That is also a good option, but a bit more contemporary looking and doesn't make use of your brackets. In a period/cottage kitchen I don't see the need to tile to the ceiling in an alcove that doewsn't hold a sink or a range.
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azmelt
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the backsplash feedback and for the granite comments. The name is Kodiak (sometimes called Splendor) and we got it at Bedrosians, which, I believe is a national chain.
I'm off to the tile store for more samples.
David
14 years ago
I was initially looking for a glass back splash, but ended up with porcelanosa tile
julie94062
14 years ago
Actually, I think the "storm" brown tile would look great with it. You have natural light from that window over the sink (and in general), plus the light cabinets and a lot of light in the counters, so I think a dark backsplash would be fine! I think the matte subway would be perfect.

Many of us need a light backsplash to deal with lighting issues, but this doesn't seem to be the case for you. So I say...go for it!
petra66_gw
14 years ago
I too like the Storm brown tile, though not the matte one. For me glass is sparkly, not matte.

Good luck, Petra

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