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Further thoughts on backsplash/tile - comments and ideas?

16 years ago

Hi all -

Am getting more ideas about tiling and backsplashes now - once again, this forum is just an amazing resource, and special thanks to Bill Vincent for talking me down off my ceramic window ledge!

I finally got to see some tile "in real life" which helped a lot - took a while to find the local stores, but hands on made a big difference in my understanding of how it can all work. Anyway, saw some things which gave me ideas, and I'm now ready to move on a little further.

My current thought (definitely NOT a definite yet - just brainstorming at this point) was inspired by the Arts and Crafts repro tiles linked below, which I have just fallen in love with (I'd want to use Cumbria, Norwich and maybe Argyll and Nottingham)

Now, we couldn't afford a whole backsplash of them - and they'd be WAY too busy with the countertop - but what I was wondering is whether picking a neutral beige/mocha-ish background in basic tile (perhaps picking up the predominant background colour in my quartz counter - maybe adding a molded or rope edge at the top?) which would also pick up the same colours in some of the tiles, and then dropping maybe a dozen or so of these ornamentals as occasional accents (perhaps random placement?)might work.

What do you think?

Again, the cabinets are Mission Style, the house is 1928, and as the kitchen will indeed be open to a dining area, I'd thus like to "dress it up a little" rather than have it be strictly utilitatarian.

Here is a link that might be useful: Arts and Craft repro tile

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Comments (2)

raehelen
16 years ago
I think that sounds like a really neat idea. I think that throwing Nottingham into that mix may be a little too busy (but may work if it's in a separate area?). The other three seem like they would go together quite well (from pics anyways). Tile looks so different in 'real life'.

Boy, you're going like gang-busters! Supposedly, my granite is being installed tomorrow (but I've heard that before...:>(, and I thought I'd wait to see how everything comes together, flooring, cabinets and counter before I get serious about the backsplash. I gave the backsplash area an extra coat of paint so that I've got time to think.

Does one of your local stores carry that Arts and Crafts tile, or would you have to special order it?
divamum
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, we're nowhere near INSTALLING the backsplash yet! But I know that when these guys get going they move fast so I need to have my choices approximately sorted out in my head, even if not finalised. And, of course, backsplash can always go in months from now, but still - it'd be nice to get it done while they're on the job! And I keep hoping that backsplash may give me an idea for paint, since I STILL don't have a colour-scheme plotted out yet. Oy.

Today, they've hung the rest of the upper cabinets, we've hashed out the final details of lower cabinet placement and how to build a fridge box out of the oven cabinet that came with the set (remember, 2ndhand cabinets so we're working with what we've got rather than ordered exact design) and they're now working on the beam where the old wall was, and punching the holes in the extension walls (which turned out to be cement block - YUK!) for outlets, sink pipes and gas line. It's actually been a slow week by their standards, but they're picking up steam so they can tie off a few things before the weekend! For a two-man operation, they're nothing short of amazing :)
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Wow, thank you tanders and kitchenredo08 for being interested in how it turned out. I PROMISE to put up some pictures within a week. This project has had a lot of ups and downs. First, it took about three weeks for the material to arrive. When it came, I was thrilled; it was exactly what I hoped for. Then came the really fun part: installation. I was talked into the idea that we could do this ourselves. Hmmmm, not sure how to characterize that decision since this post could potentially be read by the other party to the decision ;-). Anyway, let's suffice it to say that stone tile, especially a split face is not for the novice installer. But we got it installed with just a few snafus. Then it was time for grout. We started using the pastry bag method, but abandoned it when my hand began to cramp. Switched to a float. BIG mistake. Grout EVERYWHERE in ALL of the nooks and crannies. Three weeks later and we're still chipping out grout. But we're getting close. Close enough where I'm loving it again. So anyway, it's been an adventure. My advice to anyone who wants to do stone; hire a professional. Again, I PROMISE some pictures very soon. I'm too embarassed to post my kitchen right now with chisels and nano scrub and sponges everywhere. Karen
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I'm not sure how I came across this post, I think it was displayed on the right side and I clicked on it being intrigued by the tile making. I was at one time interested in working with papercrete and hypertufa. But after enlisting my brother, who wasn't as enthusiastic, and my niece, who poured cement down my laundry room sink, which original to the house had lasted 70 years, and ruining three blenders, my interest waned. True to form, if I come upon difficulty in a project, I think of it as a sign for me not to continue. And really, after all these years of trying various crafts that result in crap, I should know better. I also should have known better than to ask my brother, who always says it can't be done to any of my unique design ideas. And I should have known better than to ask my niece, who once stayed up all night before having to drive to LA for an art show, cutting mat after mat after measuring once, twice, sometimes ten times, but always coming out with the wrong size. I think we both have math dyslexia. I should video us trying anything crafty to see where we go wrong. I think both of us having ADHD might have something to do with it. Sorry for the backstory and run on sentences. So, I just wanted to see if you continued with your venture. And to say sorry for whatever tragedy occurred to cause you to have to move to Florida. Not that there is anything wrong with Florida, but it isn't Panama. Which is one of my favorite places in the western hemisphere. I hope no one is upset that I brought up a seven year old post.
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Thanks all for the great ideas. Thought about paint - I may ending up doing that . I will need to put something whjere the wall and counter meet- a strip of a metal or tile like metal something. I also thought about painting rectangles with magnetic paint. Hey lightly starched- I checked out ALsa Corp- interesting but not right for my kitchen. I Elizgonz- I did cechk with local glass shops and priced the Spandrel which is tempered glas with paint on the back -it would come out to $100 sq ft- a little pricey. THanks all for the input. I appreciate it. PJS
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I think a 2" line of the counter material along the entire perimeter would have been my first choice. With beadboard cabinet doors and fridge enclosure, I'd stick with plain subway tiles if you decide to tile. Keep it simple behind the range with the high-back stove. I think you could forego tile under the hood all together with that range. You don't need it for function or form as the windows and wood hood provide the interest on that wall. It can't take much more detail. The prep sink wall does need protection though. A photo with your art hung might give an entirely different perspective of what to do on that wall. Right now it looks bare and needs personality, so the inclination might be to provide that with tile.
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