Granite/Backsplash advice & Walker Zanger

14 years ago

I have been looking through all of your gorgeous finished kitchens and scouring magazines and the internet for inspiration..but am paralyzed with indecision on a granite countertop and backsplash. People have said to pick the countertop and then figure out the backsplash. I've seen granites that I like but not any that I felt was "the one". I have found some ceramic tiles from Walker Zanger that really like but they don't seem to work well with the granite I've seen. The one I like is blue/gold with a hint of reddish pink. This is the design (not the actual color)--http://www.walkerzanger.com/catalog/series.php?mat=Ceramic&coll=Avignon&tab=Products&page=2

Has anyone used this? I haven't found any photos of the Walker Zanger Avignon in finished kitchens except the one on the WZ site and it is not the same design. My cabinets are Kraftmaid in Canvas (slightly off white).

The other tile I like is Cosa Marble Co - a fleur de lis marble mosaic design. This would probably be easier to match to counters...

Do most people pick counters and then figure out tile or vice versa?

Thanks for any advice!

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Comments (4)

kelleg69
14 years ago
Ok, I am not really following. What color is the tile you like? And, Cosa Marble Co? I think if you have a tile you really like, then yes, you could match your counters to that, especially if you aren't in love with any countertops.
colld
Original Author
14 years ago
Sorry...I realized my message wasn't very clear...I shouldn't post late at night after a long and overwhelming day trying to figure all of this out! The tile is the fleur de lis design with a blue-ish fleur de lis with a golden yellow background with a few reddish pink accent dots [Avignon - Rhone]. I have a few ceramic pieces in my kitchen now that are blue and white that I'd like to keep. I was hoping that I could do a golden toned granite and that the tiles with the blue and gold would tie it together, but I haven't seen granite yet that looks particularly good with those tiles.

The Cosa Marble brand tile is my second choice--Fleur de Lis in the giallo color--so I thought maybe I should give up on the WZ tile and just find a granite that I like. Most likely, whatever golden tone I choose would go with the Cosa Marble tile. I prefer the WZ tile, though. Thanks.
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callieandkarin used one of their green glass tiles--it looks awesome (as does the rest of her kitchen!). Expensive is a relative term. The Artistic Tile we used for our splash was in the $30's/sq ft price range with our tile guy's discount (he passed some of his discount onto us), I think it listed for $43 or $45/sq ft. Not cheap, but compared to the $13 per tile (~$100+/sq ft) we'd initially fallen for, it practically seemed like a bargain! You really have to decide what type of look you like, and decide if you want the splash to stand out from, or support the other elements in your kitchen (counters, cabs, etc.). For example, we wanted something that blended in, yet had enough going for it to keep it from being boring. We wanted it to be simple, but still special, without being busy, since we didn't want to detract from our cabs or our granite. If you look through the backsplashes on the FKB and samples at tile stores, that should help point you in the right direction. Even if you can't exactly lock in what you want, it's pretty easy to start noticing what you don't like or want. That helps to narrow down the field a great deal.
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cigi, in our last house the previous owner installed tumbled marble in a mauvish tone which IMO looked awful with the St Cecilia granite. Even though the tile was expensive, I tore them off and left the 4" granite backsplash, patched and painted the rest of the wall. The sink was the only working area as the cooktop was on the island. No problem with water as I used BM Aura, but Pittsburgh Paint's Manor Hall Timeless is just as good with a more flat look and lifetime warranty. I'm pondering the issue for my current redo. In various houses I've had paint, wallpaper, white tile with abalone inserts, plain white tile. Right now I'm weighing white tile with a beautiful insert, just paint with no granite backsplash since this area has only a counter but no cooking/wet functions, paint with granite backsplash, or a simple glass tile backsplash with listello over it a la Chinchette. I'm attaching a photo from Chinchette's beautiful kitchen (hope she doesn't mind seeing hers cited as a great example) which shows the last option. In any event, I echo others' advice to not worry about that decision immediately unless you absolutely love a certain look. Just use good paint. Here is a link that might be useful:
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Hi! I have been searching non-stop on Houzz for inspirations for kitchens ever since we built our home two years ago, and have a pretty good idea of the look I want. (See two photos posted from Houzz that I especially adore!) However, it's not easy to make an educated decision on a backsplash when what you receive as a sample is a 3x6 tile! I was hoping maybe someone with similar finishes would be willing to share photos with me. I don't have photos to post right now (they all came out terrible) but our kitchen has a European flair. White cabinets, with a glaze (they are creamy, maybe even with a touch of yellow). Definitely not a true white. The granite is "Yellow River"....lots of movement, with primarily golden, rust, warm tones. Our kitchen island has a dark stain wood, and our floors are a cherry-stained oak. I'm looking to achieve a "tone on tone" kitchen, and since the granite is so dramatic, I'm set on crackle subway tile. Of the four local shops I've visited, the contenders are (and not in order of importance) 1.) Rixi in "Crema" (but maybe too light?) and also "Dore" (but maybe WAY too yellow?) 2.) Sonoma tile Star Tribeca in "Butter" 3.) Walker Zanger Gramercy Park "Hamptons Beige" (don't have a sample but the store said they could order one) 4.) Jeffrey Court "Sandbar" (I think this may be too dark) I really am set on a crackle subway, based on some gorgeous kitchens that look similar to my own on Houzz. Yet, I'm stuck on the "right" cream/beige color! I also LOVED Encore ceramics, but the store quoted $40/sq ft and that's just not going to happen. I have a list of contractors to call, so I'll see if they can do better on pricing. That way help sway the decision. Does, anyone have Yellow River granite and light cabs with a crackle subway backsplash? Does anyone have a photo of Sonoma's "Butter" that I could see? It's like trying to choose a paint color based on those tiny paint chips! SO difficult to get a feel for what the surface will look like entirely covered by the tile! Thank you!
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kerrygw
14 years ago
That WZ tile is beautiful (to find it more easily, it's on page 56 of their online catalog). I couldn't find the other one. Have you looked at a lot of slabs? I would think something with whiter undertones (like a bianco gold or a golden riviera) might look fantastic, depending on the field tile you are going with. I'm assuming the fleur de lis tiles would be accents? This isn't my strongest area but I think the colors on that tile are beautiful and unique and if you love it I'd work on finding a granite (or a marble if you were up for it) that works. Good luck!
colld
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the granite suggestions--the Riviera Gold looks similar to one I saw where I liked the sample they had, but it was a different lot than the actual slabs in stock. It was called Malibu Gold. They must have given it their own name because I haven't seen that color on any of the sites I have searched. I think I will go to a few other suppliers to see what else it out there. I'm in Philadelphia if anyone has any suggestions. I've gone to a couple places along Washington Ave and also out to Malvern (Tropical Stone). Thanks.

Granite/Backsplash advice & Walker Zanger

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kelleg69

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Granite/Backsplash advice & Walker Zanger

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kelleg69

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colldOriginal Author

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colld
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