Those are stunning cabinets. I don't even want to put backsplash on this to take away from them! A sage would work well, but I wouldn't do arabesque, too much for here.

I could see a black ceramic subway motif with thin but light colored grout lines...go ahead and try a shiny one too. Just bring home samples. With such a high ceiling you have the scope here to put something somewhat dramatic but not fussy Is my take on your space.

Yum! Cinnamon and vanilla! Your wood is the cinnamon and the wall color is the vanilla. :-)

Your kitchen is gorgeous. I would suggest finding a simple tile the same color creamy vanilla as the wall. I agree not to distract from the gorgeous wood. The black iron accents and stools with the subtle green in the shelf and pottery is simply perfect. Well done!

YOUR CABINETS ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING...STUNNING!!! Sorry no suggestions about the backsplash except I think it should be simple and neutral as to not take away from those cabinets.

Lovely! Agree that simple ceramic tile is the way to go. Since you don't love subway, maybe a 4x4, you can stack it or do it running bond (subway style) like I did. Is your *Winfield* the Philadelphia Winfield?

Here's my 4x4 (crackle, Sonoma) tile in a Philly rowhome:

Thanks all. rebunky, I was thinking about a simple tile the same color as the walls because I do like the wall color. Carrie B, great idea. We are in the Midwest.

I would only install a backsplash behind the sink under the full length of the windows. I think what you have is beautiful and the backsplash, particularly subway type tiles, is a really choppy distraction...

Beautiful kitchen. It can be hard to balance things with high ceilings & you have done it perfectly.

My kitchen has natural cherry cabinets, a beige quartz counter, and some modern elements. It's 3 1/2 years old and still without a backsplash. I've decided that a cream color ceramic is the best choice but I'm toying around with sizes and might use a larger tile, 3 or 4 x 8. Something like this Fireclay in Feather Grass could work in my kitchen.

What is your paint color? Pretty!

Mayflowers, I do like that tile. That is something to consider. Our paint color is Benjamin Moore Standish White.

Thanks for all the encouragement and great ideas!

Square, maybe larger or beveled edge.

Glass?

Counter material?

nosoccermom, I thought about using the counter material as a backsplash (the perimeter counters are Daltile OneQuartz in Summer Dawn) but it seemed, well, permanent. And expensive.

Oh I just love your cabinets! Absolutely beautiful! I would not miss a back splash in there at all. My vote is to skip the back splash and with the saved money have a party in your gorgeous space or go on a warm vacation during our next Midwestern polar vortex.

Why not just put up glass sheets? You really don't need tile. Or if you go with tile make it as inconspicuous as possible.

don't think I'm nuts but what about a dark charcoal or black?? Or i suggest staying closer to your counter color; not the wall. what if you want to paint? it doesn't really work if you change the wall color. just a thought. your cabinets are really really pretty. I love a wood kitchen.

Your cabinets are beautiful. I agree with the others, skip the arabesque (I have a relief arabesque). But I really appreciate having some sort of splash behind the range and behind the sink -- especially since you have no type of guard at counter level. You might do with a band at window and half wall height all the way around. The neutral tile selections sound best --- since you don't like traditional subway, have you considered either a small format brick (not really subway), perhaps in a herringbone. Sonoma Tilemakers has some nice neutral colors with/without gloss/color: e.g. Sonoma Stellar or a simple square

They have many other textures and shapes, but its the color palette that I think you might enjoy.

Gooster, the area behind the range and sink is the area where I really need some wall protection. Thanks for the input.

BEAUTIFUL CABINETS! Here are three ideas that, but I doubt stone is going to be "timeless".

By the way, I have seen the wavy tile in more of a cream color which would probably work better for you, but only could find a picture with white.

Your kitchen is beautiful! Love your glass cabinet doors! I would tile behind your stove & sink areas & run the tile up to the first shelf & to the microwave shelf it they are the same height. Hmmmm….wonder how honed or leather Cambrian Black granite would look? You have enough natural light & might bring out the depth of color in your cabinets. What color are the handles on the cabinets?

I'd go with glass panels.

Thoughts on something like this?

Traditional kitchen · More Info

Fldirt,

Our cabinet handles are kind of an oil-rubbed bronze. We do have an abundance of natural light (the kitchen faces north, so we get a soft, even light all day -- and we have two skylights), and that did drive some of my choices (such as not selecting white cabinets). But I don't really gravitate to black granite. I have a friend who did a honed black granite counter and has found that it does not clean up well and shows every stain and fingerprint, so I don't think I would do that as a backsplash.

aktillery9: I love that marble-y tile with those white cabinets! will have to study that closer, maybe get some real-life samples.

Thanks! Such talented people on this board!

this is simple glass subway which would look nice in your space.

Houzz Tour: Tennesse Farmhouse · More Info

I am bumping my earlier thread just to see if there are any more ideas here. I have finally gotten some samples from my kitchen contractor. I am thinking about either:

(1) tiling just the rectangular portion behind the sink and under the garden window with a creamy tile that would just blend into the painted walls

or

(2) doing a row of one tile (6 inches high in total, I guess) all the way across that back corner wall (from where the cabinets start left of the stove to under the microwave shelf).

Here is a link to a photo illustrating my second idea.

I truly appreciate all the great advice you have given me!

Take a look at Winchester Tiles WINCHESTER They have a lot of US stockists (I just like saying that more then dealers.) Their glazes are yummy and just remind me of your warm kitchen. Here's an example; just one of many creams and browns.

Your link didn't work for me but I did a two row running bond behind my range counter. It runs under an opening to our living area, so somewhat similar to your window wall.

Another Winchester

barncatz, do you have any idea of Winchester pricing?

If I recall correctly, another Houzz poster had said she found it from an online dealer at about $18 sq/ft. I was working with a Mpls tile store and they told me around $20. They have different lines so I don't know if that affects pricing.

Gorgeous cabinets! What type of wood are they and what is your countertop?

Thank you Loretta,

Our cabinets are alder with a cinnamon stain. The island countertop is Silestone in Bamboo. The perimeter countertops are Daltile OneQuartz in Summer Dawn.

Thanks barncatz. That's a good price and there's a store that sells it near me in FL.

Oh, you're back with that beautiful kitchen!

I don't like the idea of 6" tile, but the 3" tiles are darn cute and a little different than the standard 4" squares. They could be stacked or offset. Sonoma and Fireclay both make a 3".

Thanks mayflowers. I am sure people are tired of looking at my kitchen at this point, but this is such a hard decision, because it is so permanent!

The two ideas I am now considering are: (1) your idea of cream tile matching the wall color (though I cannot really find one that truly comes close to the wall color)

and (2) still considering a sage green tile, but I feel like that may take away from my green shelves.

I am considering square, rectangular sizes/ different layouts of tiles at this point at this point.

as for area, I am just considering doing the area under the wall from the cabinet to the left of the stove to under the microwave. May or may not run it up in the corner to the first green shelf.

I am also going to leave the area in the third picture without a backsplash (the pic with the glass cabinets).

Quick mock up. I know you said you want to leave this area alone but it was the easiest for me to Photoshop :)

a little darker

greens

Mrs Shayne, Thank you so much! This is exactly what I need to see, but I don't know how to do it myself! I really appreciate your help.

I think a white washed brick would look lovely! https://bit.ly/44fgppw