Please give me suggestions and photos for backsplash tile

13 years ago

I can't believe that I am down to the last thing to pick out. Well, not counting a window treatment and crown moldings and ... okay, a few more things. The sink and faucet are not hooked up yet but will be tomorrow. I need to choose my tile this weekend.

Here's what I have:

Medallion Cherry Pecan cabinets

Natural Red Oak Floor

Ubatuba granite

BM Straw paint (shows better in second photo) and White Dove trim

I like more of a traditional look (though not really country) rather than modern. I'd love to hear your ideas and see photos.

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Comments (20)

Fori
13 years ago
Ohh I like that! I'm a Motawi fan. If you like that kind of tile, they are lovely to work with. Check out their Poppy stuff.
ellendi
13 years ago
Boxer is our resident picture expert! My kitchen is white and cream so no help there for you. But, it looks like there are different colors in your granite that you might be able to draw on. Other than the green, what else is in your countertop? Although, the right shade of green tile would look nice Someone here has posted a great looking fire and ice backsplash that blends perfectly with the wood tones and the granite. Did you look at the Finished Kitchen Blog? And the Backsplash slide show?
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Just wanted to thank you all for taking the time to respond and help me with this even though I don't have an amazing kitchen like many of the glorious transformations here! I know there are a ton of backsplash posts and I try to read them all and learn from them but it's hard to translate those ideas into my kitchen b/c my cabinets are so strange. I can't find one single kitchen in any post or on the finished kitchen with the same type of cabinets as mine. They have a white washed blonde finish that's almost the same as completely unfinished wood. I have a really hard time picturing what things will look like even with a small sample. I've made so many mistakes with the changes we've made in our "new" house so far and I just really want to get this one right!
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HI all-thanks for your comments/suggestions itsallaboutfood-that is the company I am considering. I like the white washed silver so I was thinking I could buy the antique silver prime it and paint it the same color as the cabinets(I have acrylic "soft white" paint from Shiloh)then distress it to let the silver show through. It would be significantly less expensive, about $15(24"x24") compared to $38. cottonpenney--that BS looks great. Aren't you the poster who loves "plain English" kitchens ?(I do too)If you are I am happy to see your electric kettle. I put in an outlet near the sink just so I can get one for my sweetheart who drinks many cups of tea... CEfreeman--those tiles are nice. I would use the tin(instead of styrofoam) myself. I just think it would hold up better. I contemplated a tin ceiling also. I may still put one up but want to sit back and think about for awhile... Beekeeper-your idea was nice looking(& creative) too. Mrs.Shayne--that looks really good and I think your new kitchen looks even better(the granite you picked is nice & unusual) writersblock--that wallpaper is beautiful. Do you think it would be a problem to remove if I wanted a change ? thanks again for posting all the photos--it's great to get ideas.
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hungryheart
Original Author
13 years ago
The granite is dark green with crystals of gray and gold in it. I don't think I can commit to a green tile too! Yes, I have looked at the blog and slide show. I liked the fire and ice but my husband did not. Maybe I can convince him to look again. I have no idea what Motawi is. I will Google it.
boylanite2
13 years ago
Love your pendants....where'd you get them? Do you have the name of them? I am currently searching high and low for pendants that will work with our current chandelier and these just might fit the bill.
hungryheart
Original Author
13 years ago
boylanite2: The pendants are Quoizel Genova. We already had the chandelier and were so pleased to find that there were pendants in the line that matched them. Be aware that there is some copper in them, which we love.

Here is a link that might be useful: Quoizel Genova Pendants
sabjimata
13 years ago
How about Modwalls glass subway tile in Almond...or Dune? Not sure if the color works with your wall color.

Here is a link that might be useful: almond subway tile
tracey_b
13 years ago
Our cabinets are similar, and I have dark granite, too (dark peacock). Here's our back splash:
boxerpups
13 years ago
Hi Hungryheart,
Here are a few ideas.
~boxer

Fresh Space Design

Kitchens Jackson

Trinity distinictive designs

ubatuba by Icon Stone and Tile Co.
PRO
Rachiele Custom Sinks
13 years ago
Your cabinets and countertops are similar to mine. We used tumbled marble with copper accents.

Here is a link that might be useful:
calimama
13 years ago
Ooh! Hungryheart - I love your choices! Your island looks like it could be the long lost twin to mine, except maybe they were separated at birth and yours went to a more formal prep school!

Backsplashes are tough! It took me a year to figure out what I wanted. I am sure you will find something you love! Good luck!!
PRO
Rachiele Custom Sinks
13 years ago
We used tumbled marble with copper accents. Tried to find the lightest color marble so it would accent the cherry cabinetry and dark countertops.
hungryheart
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming!
Drachiele: Our kitchens are similar! I do like your tile and the copper accents. I have copper accents in my lighting fixtures. Can you tell me the brand/style of the tile?
Calimama: Post a picture of the island twin! I'd love to see it.
Boxerpups: Thanks for the pics. You are amazing, as always. I like the third one down under Kitchens Jackson. Do you know what it is? Thanks again to all.
elle3
13 years ago
First off, I have to apologize for not having any pictures, which is what you are looking for. I have virtually the same kitchen, but it's cherry pecan from schuler, bought through Lowes. I even have the same edging on my uba tuba :) I have lived with a painted backsplash for 4 years! We have just recently decided to go with polished crema marfil (also from lowes).
I fell in love with some of the crackle tiles I've seen on GW, but unfortunately, DH didn't love them. Look up cpartist's kitchen. She used a crackle tile called jeffrey court irish lace in donnegal, I think. It's gorgeous! She has a similar color scheme going. I had seen samples in another color called tipperary, which I loved also.
Another backsplash I love on GW is lucretzia's, which is a quartizite slate. (Although her cabs are white, I thought the coloring would go with cherry and uba tuba. If you do a search for her name, you can probably find it.
I find the uba tuba goes very well with tumbled travertine stone, but we ended up liking the crema marfil a little better. We are waiting for the contractor to get back to us for the install date, which probably won't be until April.
At least I gave you some ideas to search for :)
boxerpups
13 years ago
I wish I knew exactly which kind of tile but I am
pretty sure you can find tiles like them from

Modwalls or Daltile.

Modwalls has a product called Lush blends, you design your
own BS by choosing your own colors and pattern. I think you
can even download patterns.
Modwall.com

daltile is an even bigger site with even more ideas
They have several products but the one that comes close
to my mind like the image is called Natural Hues.
daltile.com

~boxer
calimama
13 years ago
I will try to post my twin island a bit later, I am trying to meet my procrastinators deadline!

Check out Tateland's backsplash on the coming soon kitchens on the FKB - it was the one that inspired me. She has natural cherry and uba tuba, with the beautiful GoldenGate quartzite. My husband also was not thrilled with the Fire and Ice, but he loves the GG we have. It is very similar to the F&I, but no glass inserts, and a lot less expensive. It adds a very calming, organic element to the kitchen. Not sure if that is the vibe you are looking for.
hungryheart
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, Tateland's backsplash is gorgeous! My husband is not into the stacked tile so ... stopped at a tile store today and brought home a few samples. Will look at them in the light tomorrow!
jtkaybean
13 years ago
Just checking in to see if you made a decision yet?

We finally got our backsplash installed and they' ll do the grout tomorrow.

So glad it's done, we'll except painting.
tigergirl123
13 years ago
TRACEY B
I want to thank you for posting that picture. That is EXACTLY what I had in mind for our backsplash (we are completely stuck and I have a hard time explaining my "vision" to DH!). Our counters, cabs and walls are the same as yours, even our stove wall has the same setup - 36" cabinet/ 36" cooktop/ 36" cabinet! We have the same as you - drawers on each side and cabinet doors in the middle. lol! This is a wonderful find for me!

Are the slate tiles in the center, 4"? What are the little ones in the corners of the 4" - are they little squares of slate? Less than 1"? I like that a lot. and the subway tiles 3" tall? Thank you!
hungryheart
Original Author
13 years ago
No decisions yet - had some other stuff to work on the past few weeks (non-kitchen related) and am back to the drawing board! Jillsee: Can you post a pic?
ghostlyvision
13 years ago
There are a lot of backsplash pictures on this blog (I have no connection with it, I just fell in love with the tiles on pic #2 and saved the link. lol)

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Backsplashes blog