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3 x 6 Subway Tiles with Inserts ???

13 years ago

Kitchen is finished - - -with the exception of the backsplash. I have medium brown maple cabinets, typhoon bordeaux granite, stainless appliances, and beige porcelin floor tile. Thinking of using tumbled marble 3 x 6 subway tiles for the backsplash - but wanted some type of accent in stainless or silver tone.

Is there any way of using a diamond type insert with a subway pattern ? Not sure that I want the 3 x 6 tiles to line straight up and down. Seems like I have to choose to either go with square tiles or not use a diamond type insert at all. Any ideas ? The only stainless inserts I found were 2 x 2 so that's why I'd have to place them in a diamond pattern as opposed to adjacent to the 3 x 6 tiles. If I could find a 3 X 3 stainless accent tile, that might work.

Your help, as always, is greatly appreciated !!!!

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Comments (12)

bill_vincent
13 years ago
Sure you can. Instead of clipping the corners of 4 tiles, you clip the corners of 2, and then make a "V" shaped cut in the middle of the third. A little more time consuming, but not difficult at all.
ladypie
Original Author
13 years ago
Do you have a picture of a backsplash that uses that pattern ? I didn't think that could be done. But it makes sense. Would love to see a finished backsplash with that layout. THANKS !!!!
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bill_vincent
13 years ago
I don't have any pics, but I HAVE done it.
meg711
13 years ago
Pretty sure this is what you're talking about, except ours are glass 2x2 tiles in a random (but symmetrical) pattern. That way we had pops of the amber glass, and could work around the various outlets and switches. We also incorporated the diamonds in the framed area above the range, with some herringbone, which I love. All the tiles are from Daltile.

(BTW, that one tile that looks like it's popping out was fixed.)

I'm not on this forum that often so I'm glad I saw your post. Good luck!
ladypie
Original Author
13 years ago
Bill and Meg - Thank you both for sharing your ideas and pictures. Now I can see exactly how it will look and I like it ! Next step - just to figure out how many inserts I want to do. I don't have outlets to work around but don't want it to look too busy either. Maybe I can do something "fun" on top of the window behind my kitchen sink. Thanks again !
roamer14
13 years ago
We just finished the kitchen remodel this weekend, DH cut the corners and v's not real hard just time consuming
ladypie
Original Author
13 years ago
I was typing my response when the web-page crashed. I hate that !

Anyway - just wanted to say thanks to Roamer14 for those additional pictures. The tiles look great. Is that typhoon bordeaux granite by any chance ? It looks similar.

I went to a tile store on saturday and they told me inserts could not be used with 3 x 6 arranged in a subway pattern. Obviously they were WRONG. I'm so glad I decided to post and ask this forum for advice and pictures.

I'm FINALLY ready to order my backsplash tiles this week ! Hurrah ! Thanks for everyone's help.
roamer14
13 years ago
The granite is sienna bordeaux, another granite yard called it typhoon
babushka_cat
13 years ago
meg711 - i like your countertop - can you post what it is and name?

thanks!

babushka
meg711
13 years ago
Thanks Babushka! It's called Colonial Cream granite. Rumor has it that the quarry is now closed so I don't know if it's available anymore. I'm pretty sure there are other, similar, granites though. Good luck!
babushka_cat
13 years ago
meg711 -

thanks so much for the reply! i had put that one on my list from seeing a sample, great to see it in a kitchen. i am looking for something light, creamy and subtle. is yours honed or polished? i am thinking honed for me.

babushka
meg711
13 years ago
Hi again,

We have polished granite. I don't think I even thought about honed. The good--and bad--thing about this granite is that with the pattern, everything kind of hides on the counter. You can lose bread tie twisties, etc. and tons of crumbs. Which means that my family is not inclined to wipe down the counters because they always look clean. But if you look at it at eye level, it's gross. Just a warning!

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