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Busy backsplash reflecting on granite: Problem?

16 years ago

For several days we have had foot-square samples of our granite and our backsplash tile sitting on our countertop. The granite is polished Dakota Mahogany (black and grey with terracotta inclusions), and the backsplash tile is 2 x 4 terracotta porcelain mini-bricks.

DH has pointed out repeatedly how the busy tile pattern reflects in the granite, and he is worried how this will look repeated over the entirety of our kitchen (about 23 linear feet of counter and backsplash). I know also that the undersides of our cabinets and our undercounter lights will also be reflected in the granite.

We saw honed Dakota Mahagony granite today, and while it is nonreflective it also seems a pale alternative to the polished stone.

So, if you have a busy backsplash pattern, undercabinet lights, and polished granite counters--and there must be zillions of you who do--has the reflection issue become a problem or do you just get used to it? Thanks so much for your input.

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Comments (4)

wisrose
16 years ago
Good Question,
Also, would a solid color polished quartz have similar issues?
meg711
16 years ago
We have polished granite counters, a backsplash with 3x6 subways and random glass 2x2 accent tiles, and under-cabinet lighting. While I see the UC lights reflected in my counters, and sometimes the accent tiles, it doesn't bother me.

Yours maybe different because you'll have more grout lines but I think that once everything is installed, and you have accessories, etc., it's probably something you won't pay any attention to.
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debo_2006
16 years ago
Our granite is polished and our subways (3x6) are matte. I didn't want 2 shiny surfaces next to each other. I did, however, use a 1/2" glass liner one tile up from where the splash and granite meet just for a touch of shimmer on the splash. The reflection of the splash on the granite doesn't bother me nor does the under cab lights.

Our granite has alot of movement and I was going to get the mini subways, but I can say now, I'm happy I went with the larger ones.
maydl
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, everyone, for your responses.

Wisrose, I don't have any experience with solid-color quartz, but a visit to a fabricator with a sample of your backsplash would probably answer the question.

Meg711 and debi_2006: Both of you said it "doesn't bother me." That's what I figured. DH is still dubious, but I should remind him about when we had our sunroom painted Federal blue while we were out working. When we came home, all we could say was "it's so BLUE!!!!", and we kept revisiting the room like one would worry a sore tooth. Now the color just seems perfectly normal, and I suspect that reflections in our granite will just become "normal", too.

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