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kitchen backsplash 6x6 vs 4x4 vs subway tiles

12 years ago

I have a very busy granite on my kitchen counter and island - jupurana bordeaux. I have white cabinets. I am switching the backsplash to a honed limestone and will do a similar stone on the fireplace in the room across from the kitchen.

I was going to go with a 6x6 stone tile set on the diagonal with 2x2 oil rubbed bronze inserts say every third tile or so. The lady at the tile store says 6x6 was popular 6-7 years ago and advised against it as it is a dated look. She suggested either 4x4 or 3x6 (subway) tiles. I wanted to avoid too many grout lines because the granite is so busy. (Jupurana bordeaux has some terracotta, burgundy, salmon, gray, black).

Is 6x6 tiles on the diagnoal outdated? I want a more classic look. Would you do the 4x4 or the 3x6 instead?

Thanks

Featured Answer

Deborah lippitt

6 years ago

When were 6x6 tiles popular? We had a 1916 house..subway walls and small hex on floors..50's 60's no 6x6 just 4x4..so when were they popular? I'm thinking they are the current trend.

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Comments (6)

mamameme
12 years ago
Regarding the grout, if you're doing a grout color that is in line with the color(s) in the tile it shouldn't look too busy in any size. I saw a stunning photo the other day of a pretty busy granite, light splash tiles and super dark grout so it doesn't all have to be super muted to blend.

As for what the lady said, if you love the 6x6 more than the others, do it. I have short splash on both walls of my kitchen due to cabs and a window so 6x6 would never work but I like the looks of them and didn't realize it was a trend, but what do I know? It's not like squares are some fancy new, trendy shape. ;) Maybe someone else will have better advice on that.

Here is a link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mostly 6x6 backsplash tiles
maisoui1
Original Author
12 years ago
It was something like this that I was thinking of. We did that on the remodel of our last house and loved it. When the lady at the store said the style was 6 or 7 years old it clicked to me that that kitchen remodel was in 2005! - lol. My time flies.

Here is a link that might be useful: 6x6 backsplash
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My tile contractor, who lives next door, says that he much prefers 4x4. He feels that the 6x6 is just not the right scale. He has also been installing quite a bit of subway tile lately. These are just his opinions, but I thought I'd pass them along. I had a designer tell me to go 12x12 as well, but I agree, I don't care for the look. His theroy was that when you do 4x4 of 6x6 in the field tile, it is hard to differentiate in the focal point behind the range if you want to do something different there. With 12x12, you basically get one tile, then two pieces in a normal back splash. I guess I am going 4x4.
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I am dealing with tile size and proportion with my small fireplace now. I would strongly suggest mocking both sizes up in person. I predict the answer will be clear to you immediately if you do that. Tile that is too big for a small space can look really weird because only a few tiles cover the whole space. There isn't enough tile repetition for it to look right. You could continue your counter top material up just behind the sink to take care of the window issue. Like this:
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mamameme
12 years ago
My last post just disappeared. Sorry if this ends up a duplicate.

That's really nice. This is a hard decision since there are trends even in simple things like subway tile but IMHO if you go simple in color and style and you're in the ballpark of being natural (unlike say black lacquer) you're probably ok regardless of shape or size. I'm trying to make some of the same decisions and I'm in the same boat and want to balance what I love now yet won't hate 7 years from now. I'm looking at subway suddenly as well after having thought I had my backsplash decision made.
hosenemesis
12 years ago
I like 6x6 tile. The current trend is subway tile and glass mosaic, but those will be dated in another 6 years, so what can you do? I think it's best to go with what pleases your eye. Your last home's tile was beautiful.
Renee
Emily
12 years ago
I also like the 6x6 tile. I have never been a fan of 4x4 tile though.

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