Hi! I'm new and I'm confused about backsplash choice!

15 years ago

Hello! I have never seen so many great kitchen ideas and gorgeous kitchens in all my days! Some of the members here could be professional designers! (and come help me!)

We are only doing a minor kitchen update as we plan to sell in a few years after our youngest graduates high school. Replacing formica with granite (uba tuba,bull nosed edge) adding a backsplash of 4x4 tiles and a new cook top.

I just have a couple of questions that I hadn't even thought of and the granite and tile guys come on Tuesday so I better make my decisions fast!

My downdraft electric cook top is under the window (ugh,but I've lived with it for 15 years and a major remodel to move it!)

There is 10.5 inches from the bottom of the window to the counter/cook top. I am planning to put the backsplash tiles on the diagonal elsewhere but I was wondering if I should do something different behind the cook top? I was thinking of putting the tiles on the square there. Would that look odd?

Also, I am adding some 2x2 decorative inserts and I was wondering if they should cut out my 4x4 tiles to inset the 2x2 or do they somehow affix it on top? I always thought it would be the former but I have been looking at photos in the finished kitchens blog and have seen some where it appears they are set on top.

I am adding a picture of the kitchen and excuse the mess and chipped paint on the cabinets! Must touch that up! We are in remodel mode. New floors are being installed Friday and my husband is currently replacing the wooden spindles on the staircase with iron! Dust and junk are everywhere!

I hope my pics aren't too large! Thank you for any suggestions!

Comments (4)

kelleg69
15 years ago
I am not one who could be a designer, but I'll throw out my opinion. I think I would keep your tiles the same throughout the space, especially b/c you have the window there. If you didn't, treating that area differently would make more sense to me. I think you want people to look at the window more than the space below it.

I don't know anything about where the accent pieces go. I am sure someone else does, though. Good luck.
gshop
15 years ago
I agree with Kelleg, I'd keep the diagonal going all the way around the window. I love the tile and accents that you have selected, it should look beautiful!! Here is how we did our window, we wrapped the diagonal around the corner. Good Luck!
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OK, I don't like the tile I posted and wish I'd been more precise. You're not going to go wrong with white subway, but if you wanted permission to walk a little bit on the wilder side, I think your kitchen could pull it off. What I was trying to suggest was a shape idea, like this perhaps. I disagree about using a traditionally laid herringbone accent, especially with a thick border. I would think it was too stodgy if this were my little kitchen, (except maybe the sideways pattern in eam's first two examples.) If you want an accent and use subway, you could also consider a stack or a chevron pattern. Here they use that pattern for the whole backsplash. Or do the BS in matte tile and the accent tile in a gloss finish. Or lean a large, funky handmade ceramic plate behind your range and support a starving artist. Your kitchen is darling. You didn't ask but I'd paint the stools. I'm just full of good ideas for your time and money, aren't I?
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remodelfla
15 years ago
I agree with keeping the diagonal. Is there an adjoining room or is the kitchen open to another room that has a color you'd care to bring in in lieu of the metal accent? Just another idea.
subinse
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi! Thank you for your replies. I will definitely stay with the diagonal now.

ngng: Your kitchen looks so lovely! I want wood cabinets in the next house. Mine were an ugly, grainy, weird oak so I painted them some years ago and don't have it in me to redo them again since we plan to move in a couple of years.

remodelfla: My floor plan is not an open one. The kitchen/breakfast area is separate from the family room. However, I like way the bronze Fleur de lis picks up the bronze looking flecks in the granite. I thought about smaller squares of the granite used as an accent but wanted something a little different.

It's so hard to only do a bit of updating! I start to get carried away as so much needs to be done, but I really don't want to invest anything (time or money) since we aren't staying here. But it's so outdated and yucky!!

We rented this house before we bought it 15 years ago and only bought because I was having a baby when the owners put it up for sale and didn't want to face a move after only just moving in a year prior! I never really liked the layout of the kitchen or the floor plan of the house! And here I am 15 years later! Time flies!

Thanks for your suggestions! It has helped me!

Hi! I'm new and I'm confused about backsplash choice!

Comments (4)

kelleg69

gshop

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Hi! I'm new and I'm confused about backsplash choice!

Comments (4)

kelleg69

gshop

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remodelfla

subinseOriginal Author

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subinse
Original Author