Backsplash in - Weird part around window

15 years ago

So he finished installing all the tiles today. It's not grouted yet. There's a weird part around the window. We wanted the height to be the same as the tiles under the cooktop. But because the wall showing around the window is so thin, he cut small pieces of tile the same size and stacked them on top of each other.

I know it's not grouted yet, but does it look weird to you? Is there a better way to do this? I don't think it would look right if the tiles ended at the bottom of the window. DH thinks it looks fine so maybe I'm just overanalyzing. Remember that the grout will be white, so the seams will be less obvious.

On the left side, he could have alternated with a thicker piece and a really thin piece but it would have been super thin.

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Comments (13)

lightlystarched
15 years ago
I honestly think it looks fine. On the right side, if you pretend the tile extends behind the cabinets (the cabs were installed over the tile) it would look exactly like that. On the left side, its a bit more noticable *if you are looking for it*, but it doesn't stand out as strange.
jessie21
15 years ago
I think it looks fine too, but if it were me, I would take out the top 5 teeny tiles. They look kind of extraneous. Your kitchen is looking great!
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remodelfla
15 years ago
It looks fine... really. But, I might prefer it to end with the full row just under the cab or tile up and around the top of the window.
clax66
15 years ago
Hi Redroze,

I'm looking at your photos and I'm thinking...
yeah, you're right, something looks off.

I'll be facing a similar dilemma with my bay window (once I choose those tiles). I've envisioned ending those tiles so they're parallel to the bottom of both cabinets. So I agree with Jessie in perhaps taking out those 5 small tiles and then seeing how everything looks.
redroze
Original Author
15 years ago
Something definitely feels off. We actually have a whole box of extra tiles as our tile guy was very good. Do you think that tiling up to the ceiling would solve it, as Remodelfa suggested? Or would it still look weird because there would be thin pieces of tile all the way up on either side of the window?

I wish I had done end panels on the uppers on either side of the window. It would have solved the issue of the thin slices of wall on either side, as that would make it so it doesn't require tile. Live and learn, but something for others to consider (Clax66).
nomorebluekitchen
15 years ago
Hi, Redroze. I see why it was done that way, but I think it would look better without the 5 teeny ones.

I think it would look somewhat like mine, as your tile reminds me a bit of mine (elongated subways) and I have my backsplash tile to the ceiling by the cooktop. By the sink, we stopped at the same level as the cabinets. I'm not sure if you can see in this first photo, but the top tile is notched around the light rail. Please ignore the post-Tgiving mess.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Anita
footballmom
15 years ago
I would remove the tiles. I think the fact that they are just stacked draws more attention to the fact that the cabinets are not the same distance from the window on both sides. I think it would be less noticable if the tiles weren't there, but I would have to see the area naked first. Beautiful kitchen BTW....
natesgramma
15 years ago
Is the wall color above the window the final color? If not, what color were you planning, any window treatments? I think if you were going to paint the above area a darker color, the tiles would look best at cabinet level.
favabeans5
15 years ago
i agree with the others.. just take those top tiles out..it will look fine without em..
cat_mom
15 years ago
I would remove the tiles that go up the wall higher than the bottom of the upper cabs--like Anita's (which are gorgeous, too, BTW!). But that's just my opinion...
redroze
Original Author
15 years ago
Looks like a consensus then... I'll take out the top 5 tiles. The 6th tile down is coped around the bottom edge of the cabinet so I'll keep that one in.

Natesgramma - The paint around the top portion of the window is the same paint as the rest of the kitchen. A white crown molding will go all around, including above the window area. I wasn't planning on doing a window treatment as I like that particular window bare.

Yes, I love Anita's backsplash. At first I think the tiles should be the same height as the ones under the range hood, and noticed Anita's window and range hood are on two different walls. BUT I think mine will look fine if they're not level. If anything, I think it makes the area under the range hood more of a focal point.

Thanks all, I needed a confirmation that it wasn't just me.
DH isn't convinced but I'll show him this post. How long can we wait before we pry off the tiles, I wonder?
mpwdmom
15 years ago
Late to the party but I agree, it doesn't look pleasing to the eye - take them out.
redroze
Original Author
15 years ago
Here's the followup to this post,

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg1112210628987.html