Finally Found The Perfect Tile!!!

13 years ago

This is the first photo I have posted of the "80% done kitchen"!!

So as I'm sure most of you know backsplash selection can often be the most difficult choice when designing a kithcen.

Hubby and I have been back and forth during the entire reno. I want simple white subway, he says its too boring. Wants something with little design and character. We try to compromise and keep looking. Not a lot of choice where we live and shipping tile purchased on-line to Eastern Canada would be extremely expensive.

Last week we found locally a tile and design that we both agreed upon and loved! The little black tile picked up the Uba Tuba, the other golden tile was a great match for our BM Wilmington Tan and the off white of the main tile was enough for a little contrast with the cabinets!Hooray!

And guess what!! It's discontinued!!!!!!!!I'm sure the salesperson heard the little sob I let out when I called to place the order and he told me it was no longer available!LOL

So we start again!! I"ve been through the Finished Kitchen and Backsplash galleries until my eyeballs almost popped out! Any suggestions or photo links would be appreciated!

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Comments (14)

cpartist
13 years ago
I used Jeffrey Court Irish lace subway tile in their donegal finish. It's a PERFECT match to the wilmington tan on my walls. The tile is a crackle finish. Here you can see the match even though the color in the photo is a bit redder than in RL.

What I did was add a backsplash only to the area behind my cooktop.

Maybe that will help you with some ideas. The backsplash area is glass. What you can do is use something like the Jeffrey Court field tile and then do a border in glass tile that you find. Or even use the Jeffrey Court tile in their small squares and insert glass tiles instead of the Irish Lace tile in places. Sometimes you need to change up a bit what is available to make it your own.

The link to jeffrey court is below:

Here is a link that might be useful: Jeffrey Court Irish Lace Tile
Jbrig
13 years ago
Oh, but crafterbeth, don't give up on your fav tile yet! Either get the sales guy to call the tile manufacturer or you might even try calling them yourself. Since you're only looking for enough for a backsplash, they may be able to scrounge up enough. I know w/ Daltile, they can do a nationwide inventory search to see if they can find enough for your job. Keep trying! :-)
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corgi_mom
13 years ago
Sometimes it's hard to find something you both like. jbrig has the right idea. Good luck!
ellendi
13 years ago
Yes, do the above. And also, don't give that sample board back just yet. Take it to other tile stores and see if they can find something similar.I went to many tile stores and it is amazing how many different tiles there are! At least you now have a vision and an example of that vision. Good luck and keep us posted.
pussuskattus
13 years ago
Crafterbeth -
The tile you picked out is lovely in your kitchen.

If you keep the sample board, you may be able to re-create it - get the main tiles locally, and then order a teeny bit of something that looks like the middle tile band from the internet. You can keep the costs down by just shipping 10% of the backsplash.
mbw1
Original Author
13 years ago
Sorry for taking so long to get back and thanks everyone for their replies.

Of course what everyone would want in the final stages of a reno one week before Christmas and totally unprepared, is to end of at the E.R. and be put on bed rest and be told an operation is in your near future (nothing too serious, female stuff)!LOL Even better when you are a marathoner two weeks away from starting a new marathon training cycle!!! grrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Anyway,,,,,,,,,cpartist your kitchen is gorgeous
puss, that's what I'm going to try and do when I'm up to
draggin myself around again!LOL
muskokascp
13 years ago
I am also in the East coast and have found stone slab selection to be disappointing - compared to the wonderful varieties I have seen on GW.

For backsplash tile - if you are near Moncton drop into Dominion Tile and ask to see Franca - take your samples with you and the granite too. She knows everything about tile and then some and I bet she can come up with something special. Good luck.
mbw1
Original Author
13 years ago
muskokascp,,,thanks so much! We are in Saint John! I think
I need to take a drive up there over the holidays!
boxerpups
13 years ago
Hi Crafterbeth,

Saint John!!! I have heard that is a little piece of heaven
in Canada. Is that where you are?
If so, I am sure you are a long drive away from a
tile supply place.

Have you thought about paying for the shipping and getting
tile delivered? I know it is terribly expensive to ship
but maybe you could find your favorite tile through
one of the large distributors.

Have you been to Maine? I do know the selection is not
super. I too live on the East Coast but just maybe you
could e-mail places in Maine, NH and even Ma. Send the
tile stores an image of what you are looking for to
see if they have it before you drive down. And make
a long weekend of your trip.

online tile
http://www.tilesupplyonline.com/white-cream-tile?osCsid=564c32266c8ed3a48b2a42f4d0630c6b

Stone Tile.com sell in Canada
http://www.stone-tile.com/index.html
cpartist
13 years ago
Thanks Crafterbeth. Most importantly take care of yourself and feel better.
mbw1
Original Author
13 years ago
Boxerpups, yes we are about 20 minutes outside of Saint John in the "burbs" in a lovely little community of 15,000 on a 1 acre lot, 20 houses, dead end street. It truly is gorgeous here. Hubby and I were both born and raised here and have no desire ever to leave. We love to travel but love to come back to this beautiful hidden gem!

You really should visit if you ever get the chance.

This is a photo from an annual event we do each year. This beach is about 5 minutes from our house. And it's a 20 minute drive to the ocean and work.

{{!gwi}}

Any funny you should mention it....we are about 1 hour from the Maine border and just went there today to pick up our new pot lights for the kitchen. We regularly have parcels delivered to a drop off centre (we only shop at sites that give free shipping within US, prices are a lot cheaper) lots of people here do this. We have saved around $3,500 during our reno by buying on-line in the US and picking the packages up in Maine. Prices really are so much higher in Canada.

We were trying hard to find tiles locally for color matching but we may have to order on-line.

And I'm feeling much better after a few days rest, which doesn't agree with me normally but was much needed.
boxerpups
13 years ago
Crafterbeth,
I am so glad you are getting some rest. I have only been
to Novia Scotia. We plan to make a trip with our kids to
PEI this summer. I would love to visit your little piece
of Heaven. It looks just like Memphremagog but far
more beautiful and less crowded. We love Memphremagog
in the summer and ski at Owl's head in the winter.

Canada is full of beautiful treasures that are pleasing to
the soul, eyes and mind. Now get well soon so you can return
to your healthy marathons.

And it is wise to have saved some pennies buying in the
US. I am sure there are some tiles stores that could ship
to one of the tile suppliers in Maine and you could get
backsplash tiles in a reasonable price.

One idea might be to go with the subway that you like.
It will be easier to find thus cheaper. Then order a little
flashy piece of tile in a color to match the ubatuba
granite. Create your own piece of art with the subways.
It will be cheaper than trying to find tile similar to
your favorite and in a way might be more beautiful.
The decorative piece can be ordered by a tile shop in
Maine. This is where you would splurge just a tiny bit
for a bit of excitement. Have everything shipped to Maine.

Here are some visuals to think about.
~boxerpups

Accent tile

Trinity distinctive designs

Subway

Backsplash in one color with a row of accent tile

Mosaics BS

Here is a tile pattern you could follow,

Visit Modwalls.com
Glasstileoasis.com
Lowes.com
mbw1
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Boxerpups!!

I'm leaning to a subway and I think I have hubby convinced!!

And really you MUST visit PEI....we missed going last year and the entire family was so disappointed..there really is no way to tell you in mere words how gorgeous it is and how wonderful the people are...

This is the beach at our favorite campground, we have been going since our boys were small...really how could you not want to go there??

And this was July, busy season!LOL

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}
warmfridge
13 years ago
Beth,
The same thing happened to me. I found Catamarca marble that I LOVED, and it was discontinued because it was no longer quarried. My local store called all around the country to different distributors and finally found enough for my backsplash. Don't give up! If you really love your choice, try to see if a local store won't go to bat for you to get your business. It may cost a little more, but it may make your heart happier too.