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Backsplash wrapping question - updated with photos

15 years ago

Okay! Figured out the photo thing. So my question is whether to wrap the backsplash onto the wall with the window, or whether to leave that wall "clean". If not, how far to bring backsplash? For the stove wall and the sink wall, I was going to bring it up to under the cabinets. So, the options I can think of is continue the 18 inch high splash on the window wall, no splash, or have a smaller splash on that wall only (maybe 4 inches)? I am worried that any splash will call attention to the fact the cabs are not centred on the window.

I am also including pics of my proposed splash, not purchased yet so honest opinions are welcome - and my floor so you can kinda visualize .. appliances are stainless kitchenaid architect series. If I keep this tile, don;t know whether to offset it (brick style) or keep it in rows. We are trying for a transitional/modern look. And it is a condo we will sell in a few years so need to keep it neutral. Thanks!

Here is a few pictures of the area and the cabinets the day they went in:

The little grey glass splash tiles:

Different colour but a better angle to see the tile:

The floor (medium engineered Doussie):

Counters (caeserstone eggshell):

Thanks to those who responded to my post below and asked for pics!

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Comments (12)

chrissyjamed
Original Author
15 years ago
One more thing - other option for splash under consideration is this porcelin tile - about $150 cheaper in materials:
ccoombs1
15 years ago
I would run it down the straignt run of wall only and not wrap it onto the wall where the window is. Make sure they do your countertops all the way to the wall with no gap. Tell them you are not putting a BS there so that they will be sure to make that a tight joint.
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Wow, so sorry I missed your posts, Buehl and Alice462! I need to check this more often. I'm supposed to get emails when someone posts to avoid this, but that I only received them the first couple of days. Alice, the drawers around my rangetop are, from top to bottom, 6 7/8", 10 1/2", and 10 1/2" tall on the faces. Inside, the top drawer boxes are 3" tall, but have 5" of clearance because of being shorter than the space available. The 2 bottom rows are 6" deep with about 8 1/2" of clearance...So I can put pots and pans that are taller than the drawer box, but they don't scrape the drawer above. Does that make sense? My main sink counter and the breakfast area (30" wide to the left of the single fridge) are at 36" in height. I don't like to go lower around the cleanup sink, because it hurts my back to reach down that low into the sink. But where the mixer is, the island and the rangetop and counters beside are at about 34". We like the lower height for chopping, kneading, rolling, and even putting together sandwiches, etc. It's also better for looking into the mixer and into pots on the stove. I'm a bit over 5'3" and the kids are about my height or smaller (so far), so it works great for all of us. DH works in the kitchen occasionally and it doesn't seem to bother him. If he ever did something that took awhile and he wanted a higher work surface, he could do his working on a butcher block or something that would raise it. I don't have rollouts in this kitchen. I had them in my last and didn't like them. I tried to get too much in the cabinet and things would slide or fall off when I pulled it out. I also didn't like that I lost about 3" of cabinet width to the hardware and the pullout sides. I guess it's the same loss as with using drawers, but I find the higher sides of drawers to be much better, and I don't have to first open a door (or 2) to pull them out. All that said, I may add one rollout to one of the island cabinets, because my bread mixer has very grabby rubber feet and it'd be easier to get out if I could pullout it out and lift. I'm considering changing the doored cabinets in my island to drawers, so that would solve the problem, too. I'm so sorry to be so late in answering your questions. I sure hope you check back!
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Hi. We installed out kitchen in 2012. We still haven't chosen or decided on a backslpash - it's the painted wall. I have a creamy Egyptian marble, - don't remember the name. I like unstructured European vintage-y kitchens. Many of them don't have backsplashes either. My stainless range has a stainless backsplash directly behind it. I had picked out some mini-clear glass subway tile for the backsplash that coincidentally matches my Prescott Green paint color perfectly but what if I decide to change wall color one day? Just this week I started thinking maybe I made my backsplash tile decision three years ago which was to have none. Our marble installers tried very hard to discourage us from marble in the kitchen but I have not regretted it. All those kitchens in southern Europe can't be wrong. FYI - If you are considering glass backsplash look at a product call 3-Form it comes in an amazing variety of colors,textures and imbedded items, two good friends used it in their kitchens. http://www.3-form.com/ Do what speaks to you in your home. Best.
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didn't have time to read all the answers. I have no backsplash and have never regretted it...been over 6 yrs. It is painted with BM matte...which has ceramic in it. It is as beautiful now as it was when first painted. I love the fact that I can showcase other things ...art etc in my kitchen and no competition. Also if I ever want to change it is as quick as a paint brush...expense is minimal..paint only ! All in all I think it is serene as you point out . Here is one pick. Since I have a lot of high heat cooking in my kitchen..built in deep fat fryer as well as gas cook top I can definitely speak to the longevity of paint only. c ( more at this album )
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I have a similar question five years later: Is the 4" matching back splash now out of style? And how long will it stay out of style? Doubt that it would be possible to get a full matching back splash 14 years after the home was built. I am considering removing the 4" back splash and going with a complementary tile or, perhaps, a colorful wallpaper. Thoughts as to how long the short back spash will stay out of style? (I'm old enough to remember bell bottoms - the first time they were in style.)
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chrissyjamed
Original Author
15 years ago
Ive been thinking about it all day, and I think those mini grey tiles will be too busy with all the grout lines... I also have a glass tile in a 3 x 8 inch tile which I could lay as a subway in the same grey. Do you think the grey colour is too dark with my cabinets? Maybe I should just be less worried about not quite matching whites and get a shiny porcelin white subway tile - it is everywhere but would offend the least people. Just seems boring at this point - but maybe clean and fresh is not boring???
boysrus2
15 years ago
I would leave the window wall clean and not wrap the backsplash tiles. I like the little gray glass tiles. The white splash and white counter are a lot of white IMO.
daki
15 years ago
Another vote for no wrapping around. The 3x8 option sounds nice and would be one I would consider. I like your grey glass tile, but that pale green mix would look pretty cool as well. Stick with your initial gut feeling and go with the glass tile :).
chrissyjamed
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi daki - the mix I posted was actually a creme/white - maybe I should look for a green mix now!! The nice thing about the bigger tile is that it would look more like a wall of glass - I am just thinking now that I might see a wall of grout on my 1/2 by 1 inch glass mosaic. I was going to use a grey grout, but even so - and would all that grout be hard to clean behind the stove?

I am glad that you dont think the grey would be too dark with the dark cabinets - I have a friend who is afraid it will be too dark and she is the one who is pushing 3 by 8 white subway tile as more neutral on resale.
ccoombs1
15 years ago
I like the glass tiles, just not sure if that's the right color or not. I really don't like the white tiles. It's hard to do two whites in different materials and get them to match. One usually ends up looking dingy. A pale gray tile on the BS would look wonderful. Your cabinets are really dark and that's the only reason I am a little leary of the darker gray tiles. Will you have undercabinet lighting to brighten things up?
jennabanenna
15 years ago
I'm with everyone else. The white on white is not a good plan. No need to wrap the tile, that window speaks for itself. The glass tile in another color, or 3X8 in another color.
I'm gonna be begging for the same advice in about two weeks..
mcps
15 years ago
Another vote for not wrapping! I also thought that was a little green mixed in with your grey. I think that would look nice.
chrissyjamed
Original Author
15 years ago
Crap. Glass tile is SO hard to find the right colour. We will have undercabinet lighting. I don't know what to do... I have left this so late that I need to purchase this tile by tomorrow, and I am limited to what is "in stock" in Vancouver...

I know what you are talking about Daki! The close up picture of the detail tile. Unfortunately in real life that green colour is a turquoise blue, which I dont mind but I think would not stand up over time.

What am I going to do? Who knew it would be so hard to find a neutral backsplash for this kitchen?!
ccoombs1
15 years ago
Backsplash can be done later....even years later. Don't settle for something just because it's all you can get on a moment's notice. I'd hate to see you posting a thread that says "help I hate my backsplash! please help me pick a new one" in two months. You won't be the first one to do it though! lol! Backsplash is a very hard thing to pick because it is such a prominent feature in a kitchen! It can make a great kitchen look terrible, or a terrible one look not quite so bad. Take your time on this. Really...you will be glad you did.
raehelen
15 years ago
Chrissy,

If you are in the Vancouver, BC area there is an eBay seller based in Richmond (I haven't gone there yet, but have him earmarked as a favorite seller)who has excellent prices on all kinds of mosaic tiles. Here's an example of one tile that might work for you. This one is listed at

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