Breaking up long backsplash with tiled walls and a shelf

11 years ago

The backsplash area along my cooktop wall is a long stretch (16' long). I came to the conclusion (all on my own, WOOHOO!, so I'm probably wrong) that I could do either a bold large tile flush along the whole backsplash or a simpler square tile with some sort of built out/ built in shelf behind the cooktop.

Here's a bold option (photoshopped).

Close-ups from side:

The cooktop area is pulled forward 9" from the back wall and I don't use the countertop space directly behind the cooktop as it is now. It feels far back and just looks empty. I'd like to add appeal with a tiled display area but don't want a flat tiled focal point on the vertical wall; rather, would like a tiled horizontal focal point for displaying objects (if that makes sense).

I think having a raised shelf of some sort adds appeal and would be a nice display spot. I've had a temporary shelf in place for a few weeks and like the feel.

I would plan on tiling the shelf and building a tiled structure to support and surround it. I'm planning on a simple square 4" or 6" Heath tile but am not going to discuss color in this thread :)

I'm presenting two options below which I created with Google Sketchup and would like the your input on which option looks better.

Would this add to the kitchen or will it distract? Do you have pictures of something similar?

Option 1 - Side Walls Extend Depth of Shelf

From top:

Option 1 from left side:

Option 1 from the right:

Option 2 - Sides Extend Full Depth of Upper Cabinets (18")

Option 2 from the front:

Note I dislike this look (where cabinets look plopped on top of countertop). Hopefully I will avoid it if cabinet sides adjacent to cooktop are tiled?

Traditional Kitchen design by Vancouver Interior Designer Enviable Designs Inc.

Hoping very much for some inspiration from you all... I just want to order tile and be done with it.... (and have it look nice of course). THANKS!

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Comments (7)

claybabe
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hmmmmmm. I love your shelf, and completely understand your dilemma with the thickness and depth of the side pillars. I kind of like the smaller one, since it is narrower, will give you easier access to the other side of it (though I am sure with your mock up you have found that this isn't an issue or you wouldn't be presenting it), and the narrowness (from the front) seems in keeping with the shelf. I expected to like the thicker deeper version better since it seems tied to the cabinets but if you are tiling the uprights as well as the shelf maybe I slightly prefer the smaller profile.

Restating the obvious: The reference point for the thicker deeper one is the cabs and for the smaller one is the shelf. I will be interested to see what others think about this.
claybabe
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
And maybe you answered your own question if you dislike the "cabs plopped on the counter top" as in the photo above. The thicker deeper version is more like that...
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No, Beth, what I said was that I wouldn't tile above just one window when there's two windows in close proximity. I would treat them equally. In that scenario the charcoal tile would be everywhere and it could make it appear cave-like. That means charcoal tile on the stove wall, the entire wall around the main window, the smaller window, around the door, the nook, and the side wall up to the ceiling. Since snarky is not tiling the main window, I don't see the need of tiling around the small window. It would look better to continue the paint color that's around the main window around the small window. That's IMO!! You have yours, which I am not rudely criticizing. If you're going to tile the side wall near the nook, snarky, take it to the ceiling. Don't just float it on to the side wall at shelf level.
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rosie
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I like your idea of further defining the stove area with quiet tile and a shelf. It looks good in your temporary shelf mock-up (the left side).

HOWEVER, your real-life pictures have a lot of stuff on your counter--very unlike your photoshopped backsplash picture. I suggest that all planning pictures include everything you tend to keep out, plus everything you might tend to put on that new shelf. Then decide. Then cook a meal, stop halfway through, take some more pictures, and finalize your decision. ! :)
oldbat2be
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Despite being long winded, I was not clear, SORRY!! Claybabe, thank you for your help in restating.

Goal is to have a simple, 4" or 6" squared tile all the way across the backsplash, with shelf and adjacent walls tiled in SAME tile (in lieu of bold backsplash which runs the length).

Rosie - you're entirely correct. I always have lots of stuff out on the counters (another reason to avoid the bold backsplash I think).

I just realized I can tile easily in sketchup -- love that program! -- here hopefully is a much clearer presentation.

There is a little bit of a jog in, 2", between wood hood and adjacent cabinets. Tiling this makes everything look much better and I'm liking the full extension.

{{gwi:1890885}}
badgergal
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I like the overall look but to me the shelf looks a bit too low. Maybe you could raise it up to one more row of tile.
rhome410
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I wouldn't want to hem in the sides of the rangetop like the full extension... And have you figured how you'd work with the trim around the bottom of the upper cabs?

I like that our counters are deeper behind our rangetop, because a lot of the splashes and splatters land on that instead of the backsplash. I think that will all land on your shelf and the items displayed there. Will that be OK with you?

When you have pots on the stove that are taller, and in front of the shelf will that be a problem?

Have you thought about building, what appears to be an inset shelf area above the rangetop by building out within the area between the uppers, instead of extending out under them? I would go a little shallower and have the shelf part a little higher. But I can't tell if that will interfere at the point it reaches the vent...
oldbat2be
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks rhome410. Good questions. A lot of my inspiration pictures have the 'enclosed' cooktop; I do have 9" of space on either side as well as the 48" cooktop space (and I have yet to have all burners going at once though I came close for one party!). Trim... I think we can figure out.

I really just can't reach back behind the cooktop... and haven't had to clean there regularly after cooking, so think I'm OK. (I usually cook on front burners, though).

When I talk display, it might be various cooking utensils/containers/flowers... so fine for those to get dirty. No fine art planned :)

I will play with your suggestion for building out the area. It reduces my sump/capture area by 6" but... it's still quite large. Thanks!!

***** Closing this thread (too longwinded on my part). I created another one; please post any replies to that one instead of this one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Please post any replies in this linked thread.

Breaking up long backsplash with tiled walls and a shelf

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claybabe

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Breaking up long backsplash with tiled walls and a shelf

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