Check out the thread linked below. Bill Vincent, our resident tile expert and all around great guy, has posted a few pictures in that thread of tiled countertops (and floors).

Here is a link that might be useful: soaptone vs. porcelain tile???

I have recently seen some gorgeous tiles at the local tile store...24x24 granite and marble that are made specifically for countertops ;) You should see what you can find. I'm thinking of using them in our rental because they're comparable in cost to the "cheap" preformed granite, and they offer so many more choices in color.

24 x 24 sounds like a great option. Would dictate hardly any grout lines.

Thanks buehl, I saw that thread when I was searching.

I saw Blue Pearl granite tiles and others at a tile outlet in Nashville . . . they had bullnose pieces at least for the Blue Pearl. I didn't ask about other bullnoses.

Well, I don't like marble or granite, and didn't want to deal with natural stone of any sort anyway, but I wanted a slate look.
These are Crossville Color Blox in the black-black (something like that). We used 12" tiles on the counters with 1/8" epoxy grout and Schluter system edging.
Many of the folks that come in the house ask if our counters are slate, so I'm happy that look worked!

Here is a link that might be useful:

Here are our granite tile counters. Tile is 12x12 from Emser, called Bianco Catalina.

kim, I can't see too well. What is the edging? Is it a bullnose? Do you have grout lines? I can't see any?

Thanks everyone for your photo's.

Yes, the tile has bullnose edging. And yes, we do have grout lines. They are a medium grey expoxy grout and very small (1/8 inch maybe). Here's a closer picture.

I asked for pics of tile counters a few months ago. You might do a search (although the thread may have fallen off).

Also -- in our area, we can now get prefab granite counters in several popular types including bullnose edging, at a very good price. Not sure what you're looking at (I was interested in dark counters) but they had uba tuba, absolute black and black galaxy in addition to non-black granites. HD's price for the granite slabs has gone WAY down here as well. You might check around. You could be in luck.

kim, thanks so much for the close ups, it's beautiful.

We'll be installing our own tile if that's what we go with. We wouldn't even try to install a slab. We know our limitations. LOL

Here's a pic of part of our marble counters. {{!gwi}}
I haven't polished the edges yet, but that's the plan.

coco, very pretty. Thanks

Many other countertops to check out at the following link:

Here is a link that might be useful: my gallery's countertops section

It's $2sf marble from Lowes- I love the way it looks, but it is very, very, very fragile- we broke 4 pieces just trying to do the sink cut out (one just split in half while being held with both hands!).

Thanks bill for all those photos. Let me ask you. We have seen applications of granite tile (on TV) that has the bullnose attached to those tiles that are used for the front of the application. In other words, the bullnose is not a seperate piece, it's already built into the tile as one piece. Do you know what I'm talking about? Do you know where we would look to find something like this?

Also, we are now discussing the possibility of putting a solid slab for the island because of the curve that we want. Trying to tile that would just not look very good. However, to save money we thought we'd granite tile the portion of the kitchen counter that runs along the sink wall.

Has anyone tried this application or even the application of having 2 different colors on different counters in the kitchen? Our kitchen is so small I'd be concered that 2 different colors would be too much and I'd better try to match the two. Let me hear your thoughts and experience on this. Thanks

brutuses,
Bill will probably be back to answer your question... but FWIW our top tiles along the edge have a bullnose edge. We had it done by a local fabricator. It cost about $300 for all the needed edge tiles to be bullnosed. If you live near a metro area, you might find a "Bullnose World" to do it. You may be able to purchase some granite tiles already bullnosed. Here is a link to a recent discussion on this topic.

Here is a link that might be useful: recent thread on topic

Brutuses, I'm completely sure my kitchen is smaller than yours (maybe a motorhome's is smaller, lol) and I have four different countertops going on. White tile under the cooktop, remnant granite piece on one side (was about $100 for a fairly small piece I found at a reuse center to be cut to the right size, fyi), clearance teak butcherblock and a honey-colored handmade basketweave tile from ebay under the sink. It can be done! I say don't worry about doing it so long as the elements are different enough to make it look purposeful. For example, I'd be leery of teak on one side and maple on another. Lighter granite and darker granite would work well.

Brutuses-- you're talking about one of two systems, most likely-- Do a search for either Bordura ot Benissimo. The only problem with those systems is by the time all is said and done, you could almost buy slab for the same price.

I have granite tiles in my kitchen. (sorry no pics) They are 12x12, and have a bullnose edge, like kimkitchy's. Our grout lines are very small-just about 2mm or 1/16". I chose a grout that was a close to the tile colour as I could get, and it has held up beautifully for 6 years. I think the tile colour is called sunset gold.
Our counters were standard with the house, and upgrading to a slab was too expensive at the time. I was worried about the grout lines, but they are so small they don't show, and the counter looks perfectly flat, unlike tile counters with wider spacing between the tiles.

maple, I was actually checking out the sunset gold. It would be a color I would consider since I'm hoping for antique white cabinets and my rich cream walls.

erin, thanks for putting my mind at ease on that mixing of tops.

Bill, I visited the Bedrock site and the Bennissimo sights. I think it is bedrock that says they can offer their cutom tiles, including the fabricated bullnose tiles for 1/3 the cost of a slab.

I contacted a local fabriator who does all the work for the local Armstrong store. He's a master at his craft. I asked him if he could customize some granite tiles for me with bullnose and he said, yes, no problem. So I'm going to talk to him further about the cost and see if he'll be cheaper than ordering the entire thing from Bedrock. Bedrock does offer what seems to be a nice package. It includes all the tile, corners, etc. You send them the measurements and they send what you need to complete the job. Sounds pretty neat to me. Unfortunately they have to ship and when you start adding up those shipping costs, yikes!!

So I'll keep y'all posted on what we decide to do and who we go with to help us get what we want.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, I really do appreciate it.

I too thought, after getting several estimates for granite, that I couldn't afford it. I priced Benissimo and Bedrock also. But then I found a small shop that would do slab granite for the same price as granite tiles. And that included their installation as well, so no work for us!

As a side note, I have a travertine tile countertop in our son's bathroom. Maintenance is easy if it is sealed and I love the rustic look.

I am installing Bianco Catalina tiles in my master bath. Where did you find the bull nose pieces???

I, will try to post some pictures of my tile granite. My husband, put the grout lines as small as he, could. When you, stand back it looks just like a slab. Any questions please ask.

FWIW - I have granite tile (uba tuba) and it has held up well. However, the island tile drives me nuts. i long for an uninterrupted, grout line free expanse.

I think it looks pretty good - but I am getting ready to replace the island! Now I just have to tell DH! BTW - the kitchen is about 8 years old and the tile is in fine shape.

{{!gwi}}

Hi Patsy, do you have a slab yard in your area? If your space is not too large, many times you can pick up a piece/pieces on sale because they're too small to do an entire kitchen, many pieces are needed and colorations are extreme, etc. The slab yard can probably even recommend a fabricator.

If you end up going with the granite tiles, butt up the edges, don't use spacers. Even though porcelain is better than ceramic, you still have to deal with that dang cleaning of the grout. Good luck with your decision. ;o)

Sorry to hijack - kailuamom - do you have any closeups of your backsplash? My cabs and countertop will be very similar and I like what you've done!

Patty, we're still up in the air about counter tops. Now that we are going with Armstrong cabinets, the guy who is the manager is sending me with my plans over to their counter guy. He said he's great. He has his own stone yard, does the delivery and fabricating himself. He does all of Armstrong's work plus tons of family members and friends. LOL With the money we will save by going with Armstrong cabinets we may just be able to get the solid surface. If not for the entire kitchen, at least for the island and then maybe we'll just tile the sink wall of counter. We'll have to see how far we can stretch our money.

Patsy, think TWICE before you tile/granite your complete backsplash. IMO, it makes for a lot of hard surface, with little room to add decor items if walls are few. I have about 9" of tile. ;o)

Patty, I'm not putting the granite as a backsplash. That's way too much granite for me. Just on the counter surface.

Hi Inkycrab - Here's another shot

{{!gwi}}