I like the look of the first picture.

Option A has my vote.

I don't know why, except it looks much cleaner and simpler, and I'm always drawn to that. It's just calmer to my eye, more elegant.

I like them both but I think I prefer your first set-up. I'm feeling like your switchplate is the accent in the 2nd set. I would like to see a sample of one row of subways then your pencil liner, 2 rows mozaics and liner. (I wonder if that would work out under the window?) I'm just a LI Mom, tho...certainly not a kitchen expert! But I DO like the mozaics in there, somewhere!

I would do the glass tile accent either completely above or completely below the outlets or switches so that it was not interrupted by the switchplates at all.

Okay here is an Option C
I get rid of the pencil tile and have 4 full travertine
tiles and a small bit of one at the top of the backsplash (out of sight). The outlet is still on the mosaic but near the top edge.


{{!gwi}}

This will save me $300 in pencil tile:)

Re: the glass tile accent either completely above or completely below the outlets..

The problem is that above makes it to high on the backsplash and out of sight and below is to low IMHO. It would be only 3" above the counter.

I like option A the best of all. I can't even explain exactly why. It's a bit simpler. Maybe B and C seem too contrived because they're smack dab in the middle. Option A looks great!

My vote is still for A. You can paint the switch plates with spray paint specifically made for plastic- I used Krylon for Plastic, which can be used on lawn furniture, so it is pretty tough. Works great.

Mike, I like A too, and any money you save on the pencil tile you could spend on travertine outlet covers : ).

I think stainless steel outlet covers might also look good, and would be cheaper than the travertine ones.

Becky

Here is a link that might be useful: Stonewall plates

Mike, you don't want to overpower the backsplash, only accent it. I don't think I'd go with more than the three rows.

I'd lose the glass tiles and keep the pencil tiles for a more simple and serene liner. Your counters are beautiful and the "star" of the show. I think the glass competes with them and adds 1 element too many.

If you do go with glass, fewer rows looks better than the pics with a wide swath of them.
BTW - I like the glass tiles and love the look of a well done liner in a backsplash, I am just not feeling it with your combo.

I was almost afraid to post this because it is option 1 which nobody seems to like, but I thought it might help you decide. Ideally I just wanted three rows of mosaics with the pencils but kept running into outlets and the pencils were too hard to cut around the outlets. The pencils were really expensive and I had already bought them special order. This was the only way we could make it work. If you just want an accent why not try eliminating pencils and one row of subways then three rows of mosaics?

Option A definitely has my vote.

I like Option A best.

can you raise or lower your outlet and turn it horizontally so it "sit's in" one of the pieces of travertine?

Marybeth1,

That's a beautiful, elegant backsplash. I love it.