backsplash question: mixing polished,tumbled marble -- with kitch

15 years ago

Finally, my kitchen is almost done. It's very traditional, with stained maple cabinets and wooden hood with arch, honed limestone floors, Madura Gold granite countertops.

The last hurdle: designing the backsplash. What I'd like is a framed (in cream/gold-ish tones) harlequin design under my hood and a light coordinating 4x4 field tile to go with it --preferably in a honed stone, but the closest harlequin pattern I've found is by Walker Zanger in polished marble.

The style is called Opus Antico -- they are small 1-1/4 by 2 inch harlequins in Dore Royal and light travertine. Problem is, I can't find a honed marble to go with this (I wouldn't want more polished). The question -- finally -- is will polished marble look strange with a tumbled marble field tile?

Thanks, and any other backsplash suggestions, photos would be much appreciated.

OK, so here, if I havefinally figured out how to post, are photos of my kitchen so you can see where the backsplash witll go:

http://picasaweb.google.com/alanagresti/Kitchen/photo#5212139677952445154

http://picasaweb.google.com/alanagresti/Kitchen/photo#5212139427965216178

http://picasaweb.google.com/alanagresti/Kitchen/photo#5212139620666707154

http://picasaweb.google.com/alanagresti/Kitchen/photo#5212139651008162546

http://picasaweb.google.com/alanagresti/Kitchen/photo#5212139662924876546

Some marble examples: The first just shows color -- we would use harlequin pattern without Roman-type border.

http://picasaweb.google.com/alanagresti/Kitchen/photo#5212139243555152002

and here's am example of tumbled marble harlequin, but I'm afraid the color may be too warm with my very warm kitchen. It does show a good picture of my granite.

I am sorry I couldn't get photos to embed.

Thanks!

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Comments (10)

amy0406
15 years ago
Here's a link to your album

Here is a link that might be useful: fromflorida's kitchen
fromflorida
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks so much, Amy. Sadly, I still haven't gotten the hang out of posting photos. Now if anyone has some backsplash inspiration, I'll be very grateful!
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I was going to do a medium-grey soapstone (still sad I'm not doing it, actually) and I think that would look great. Or obviously if you don't want soapstone you could get something like either grey or charcoal-colored Ceasarstone which is pretty nice I think. Whatever you do, it shouldn't have too much in the way of speckles, sparkles, swirls, veins, in my opinion. If you get a soapstone, I'd get one that has very little veining. We've made the crazy decision to do stainless w/ marble subway tile backsplash. I would NEVER have gone for this (I want a period kitchen in my 1913 house) had I not seen very inspiring pictures online and in magazines, that show a stainless counter w/ white farm sink in an old house, with marble backsplash, white cabinets, wood floors and an island with either a marble top or something that contrasts with the stainless such as butcher block or soapstone. I prefer to have my island's top be a nice rich wood, just cause it warms up the coolness of the stainless steel, and was often seen near the steel counters in the early 1900's homes (only back then, instead of stainless, the counters were zinc...so really, stainless isn't too far from period). Anyway, I digress, obviously (still trying to talk myself into the decision I've already made!), but wanted to point out that if you're not going to be as nutty as me and do stainless, any greyish color that's pretty simple/uniform would be beautiful. I even think wood would work, if the marble had some tan in it. Here's a nice gray caesarstone: http://www.caesarstoneus.com/catalog/product.cfm?ProductID=111 Here's the marble subway tile that inspired me (when I thought I was getting dark grey countertop): http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0222343629720.html Here's the stainless pic w/ marble backsplash that most inspired me (although I prefer subway marble): http://picasaweb.google.com/quapaw/Our1890HomeAndKitchenRemodelRestoration?feat=embedwebsite#5252790674989404962 This is my favorite soapstone link (from gardenweb). It's got veins but very subtle: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0110311030000.html?11 And here's some beautiful marble minibrick subway tile, w/ black or dark grey countertop: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg101250599127.html HTH, and sorry I don't know how to put in proper links (sorry you need to cut/paste)!
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fromflorida
Original Author
15 years ago
I'm bumping this up -- hope it works.
annekendo
15 years ago
If you are concerned about mixing honed field tiles with the harlequin pattern tiles, you may want to make your own harlequin-inspired pattern under the hood with the field tile. If you set the field tile on a diagonal and get some trim pieces around the design you can do it all in the same material.
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
I went through the album and I'm not sure which tiles you're looking at, nor whether colors are reproducing accurately, but are some of the tiles under consideration very close in color to the granite? Will it be all right because they are such different textures? I don't have an answer on the tile question. I do like your cookbookcase setup, btw.
fromflorida
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Annekendo and Bluekitobsessed: Annekendo -- your idea is a good one. I've had my heart set on real harlequins, but that option you mentioned could work. I really am trying to figure out what would look good as a backsplash in general.

Bluekitobsessed -- Sorry about the confusion . I was trying to embed just practical pictures of tiles, but couldn't make it work so Amy kindly posted the album for me. Some of the harlequins you see in the album are very close in color to the granite, and I'm now thinking that anything with too much gold-red will be too warm for my alrady very warm kitchen. Glad you lie the cookbook set up. I actually also have fit two sets of china in there! I needed to maxiize storag because I don't have a pantry.
annekendo
15 years ago
I just saw these pics where someone made the diamond tiles for the harlequin pattern by cutting cheap field tiles. A lot of work, but I thought I would pass it along

Here is a link that might be useful: diy harlequin backsplash
bill_vincent
15 years ago
Actually, It's not difficult at all. I do the same thing to make up quilting inspired feature designs. It takes two jigs on a saw-- one straight and one diagonal, and then it's just a matter of popping out piece after piece.

below is a link to a PDF web page I put together for another site on how to make the quilt designs. If you go to the second paragraph, it'll tell you how to make the rhomboids (harlequin diamonds).

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilt design instructions
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
Bill, the quilt pattern is called Lone Star aka Star of Bethlehem. It's a difficult pattern from a quilter's point of view. I'd love to see a collection of quilt-inspired tiles. A few others that IMO would work are Ohio Star and Variable Star aka Sawtooth Star, both of which end up looking similar to Lone Star but are easier for quilters -- no rhomboids.

All my quilts are blue too.
fromflorida
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to all so much --
annekendo -- that kitchen blog was so impressive. I'm trying to imagine a whole kitchen remodel for $12,500!

Bill -- your quilt design is just another example of your work that is just incredible. Your clients are very lucky, indeed.
From what you have both shown, custommade harlequins would be an option if I can't find what I want. I actually have much of my limestone tile left that I could perhaps incorporate.

If I could find honed marble 4x4s to go with the WZ Dore Royal and Ligt Travertine polished marble harlequins I found, I think I would be in good shape. All along I was sure I would go with tumbled, but after my kitchen came together I thought it might be too busy with my granite, floor, etc. What do others think after looking at my pictures? Thanks!

backsplash question: mixing polished,tumbled marble -- with kitch

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