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Backsplash quandry - what do you think?

16 years ago

Here's a picture of the new my new countertops.

{{!gwi}}

The cabinets are original to the house. We are having tile laid this weekend on the kitchen floor which is an light coffe color with some dark movement and aged iron "spots" randomly placed. All appliances are stainless and will be installed hopefully next week. The wall colors in the kitchen are now Porter Paint "Griege" which is a beigey/taupe'ish' color, trim is white. The granite is Verde Butterfly and I loved this piece because it has a lot of gold specks, red specks and quite a bit of white. I have picked a backsplash with the help of the dal-Tile lady, but I'm not sold on it. We picked a "gold sienna" and used an accent piece, but I'm afraid its going to cost too much and that I won't love it when it's up. I told her I wanted to highlight the gold in the granite and play on what little gold color there is in the cabinets. But I worry that something that light against the granite will be too much contrast. Any ideas?

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Comments (8)

callie8799
16 years ago
Looks beautiful!

Just wondering if you cross posted this on the kitchen forum and have you looked at the kitchens in the "finished kitchens blog"?
squirrelheaven
16 years ago
I'm thinking you're going down the same road as another poster here did. The backsplash tile also has a lot of pattern to it. Does she have any pics or kitchens she can show you of the two together? You also mention that the floor has movement in it. All depends on the look you're after. I guess the Champagne Gold wasn't in the right tones.

Have you also looked at porcelain tiles? There are beautiful ones to select from. No need to go all stone. I'm sure they'd love everyone to! Do you even need to do a tile backsplash? as that would be a lot of hard surfaces in the kitchen. Maybe just a narrow splash and paint?

If you're not comfortable, just wait until you find a combination you love. There are tons of selections for backsplash applications. No need to rush or settle on something you're not sure of.

Definitely pour over pics!
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Re: Bands, I have seen some pretty ones but generally I just don't care for the look. It breaks up the splash and floats in an odd place that will most likely be covered some of the time around the kitchen and they remind me of a racing stripe. Especially if there is great contrast in the tiles. I don't understand it. For me I would do one or the other but not both (either all field tile or all band tile I mean). I don't mean to offend if someone loves it but that is my explanation for my feelings about bands. I have to agree that the one in the photo does look nice.
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It's funny the way the camera views things differently. IRL, the 3rd wood looks much closer to the tile color, but I'm not sure that's a good thing. The dark floor we have now really shows the dust - not good for a lazy housekeeper such as myself. I do fine with the halls and kitchen, but I don't even notice it in the big room, probably because I seldom go in there except to walk through it. Another thing I've been wondering about is the feel of the wood. Our current floor has, or had, a smooth finish. It didn't look plastic, but had an obvious finish coat on it. The first two samples here don't have a smooth finish at all, almost like they need to be sanded a little more. The salesman said they have a scratch resistant coating and they are hand scraped. The third sample has a finish that feels smooth, more like furniture.
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Evoking, you remind me of an acquaintance who prefers all things "alternative" and outside of the norm. You reject things that are "typical" and how they're "supposed to be". The thing that I find interesting about that approach is, that since he rejects everything that is popular or well-revered - then he's closing himself off to things simply because they are the "norm". Which is no better than "typical people" who reject things that are outside of the norm. I find the rejection of both the "norm" and the "alternative" to be equally close-minded. Please consider that - just some food for thought. My point is, don't close yourself off to something just because you think it's common. And don't assume because some people don't like your tile treatment, that it's because it's unusual. Even if you are partially joking/teasing, to me it comes off as a bit hurtful. I would argue that the people on this forum are more visionary and open then the average people, because we're on this darn forum everyday researching and educating ourselves on design and renovations. I think some of us misinterpreted your original post as seeking guidance. You obviously are tickled pink about the tiles. That's all that matters. Enjoy them! And enjoy all of the opinions and amalgamated knowledge and research on this forum. That's what it's here for!
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The wife and working partner of the tile installer was here yesterday and loved the tile and said it's not out of date. They've been installing a lot of it lately. I know she said this to make me feel better: "With that crackle, it's got kind of a subway look anyway." And the tile designer was very enthusiastic about it too. The photos don't do it justice; it really is pretty. But here's something we didn't expect: the installers are booked to (or through) July!!! But she said they're doing mostly bathrooms, so there might be an open day that comes up where they can do a backsplash. She said her husband will lay the tile in one day and she'll come back and grout it in less than an hour.
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patricianat
16 years ago
KISS. That movement will make you cry every time once it is immobilized a/k/a affixed to your wall where it cannot be removed without damage to cabinets. Be very careful about flooring and backsplash. Keep it very simple, Sweetheart, Granite movement and backsplash, with floor movement reminds me of being in a room with everybody talking at the same time. JMHO. Let the tomato throwing begin!
motherpam
16 years ago
We just had our Verde Butterfly installed and it is gorgeous. I picked my backsplash "on the fly" because deadline was looming. It turned out to be just the perfect thing with VB. It is 3" x6" subway style, but a honed marble that is the light color of travertine. I wish I could tell you manufacturer, but the name is Kekova. It was only about $7.00 a square foot. Our Amazing Tile Guy put it in with almost no grout line at all, and a little variation in levels. Lit up by the UC lights it is spectacular.
If I had the time to learn to post pics I would.
cburch
Original Author
16 years ago
momskitchen: I'm thinking along the lines of subway style, maybe something in a light green. Just need to fins something resonability priced ...... I'd love to see pictures!!!

Christy
annzgw
16 years ago
Check out the blog below. The catagory column on the right has many, many pics of finished kitchens.

Keep in mind the lines that your flooring will have. I don't know that I'd want it repeating the flooring in design. Have you considered something on the diagonal?

Here is a link that might be useful: kitchen blog
squirrelheaven
16 years ago
How about beadboard? You could then paint it the perfect (changeable) shade for your countertops.
patricianat
16 years ago
What Squirrel said or buy remnants of your granite (you can find them if you look that match) and use a short backsplash in that area. I have backsplash in bathrooms matching granite, in kitchen different. The one in my kitchen looks great but I just could not find anything other than the granite for the bathrooms that did not make me feel "unsettled."

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