2x6 vs 2x4 subway tile backsplash - how to choose??

8 years ago

Right now we are indifferent, kitchen is best called transitional (shaker cabinets in white, quartz counter). What things might sway us one size or the other? How did you decide?

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Comments (5)

Jancy
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
When we finally made a decision with the tile we wanted, it came in 2 different sizes. 3x12 and 3x6. I ordered about 12 tiles each and made sample boards. Seeing both sizes up against the backsplash wall made it easier. We decided 3x12. Now we're using the sample boards to decide on grout size and color.
pippiep
8 years ago
I borrowed some boards with different tile sizes (fully tiled/grouted) from tile shops to see how they would look to me day after day. I also mocked up some tiles in Word, printed them out, and taped them to posterboard.

If you wanted to buy tiles to make your own board, you could find cheap tiles in those sizes, if you are not able or don't want to use the actual tile you're considering.
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I think you are asking me? If not....sorry... I will take the tile up cabinet height around my window as there are cabinets on both sides.....I am leaving the rest of the window without trim as I have 2 & 7/8" from cabinet to edge of window...and thought I would put a small trim around it...but then when they put the light rail up there is only 1 & 7/8"..so think it's too small for trim.....What is everyone's opinion? Just found out today...that the guys that was going to do the tile (looks like they work as a team) won't be able to do it until the one that is having knee surgery is able to work ...which could be weeks!! He came today to get paid for all the other work he did...and I asked him if his partner would go ahead and put the tile up.....He is suppose to let me know... Oh well I've waited this long....and really not long at all...so a few more weeks is OK....just anxious to see the kitchen completely finished...now that I finally have the Subway tile sitting in boxes waiting to be installed.
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The red diamonds in my backsplash are glass and I really like the effect. The other tiles are a bit off-white, and I think they match the cabs, I've never noticed. lol I have orb for some of the hardwared, and ruby colored pulls and knobs on the hutch which is in the kitchen. I also have an orb faucet whith white sink. White appliances. The appliances are whiter than the cabs, but its not noticeable. As far as the granite. That's a hard one to answer. Take every single thing off the countertop and I love my granite. But that color of granite is so hard to accesorize with it's driving me crazy! However, I recently discovered pale yellow, white, and light vintage green looks wonderful on the granite. My walls are a very pale yellow. Black accessories are good too, but I want more pastels in my kitchen. It only took me three years to figure out that pastels really look best with the granite and white cabs!
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Did you ever find anything that fit? I'm looking for the same thing! Can only find one fancy brand thats $22sq/ft.
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We're going to be making our backsplash grout decision shortly. What kind of tile are you using? We have ivory subway tile and we may choose a slightly contrasting grout colour, possible gray, to emphasize, rather than minimize, the pattern a little. We like the way the tile looks ungrouted and don't want the shadow lines to disappear altogether. I'm going to post a new thread about our backsplash tile (which we're installing ourselves). Artemis, we'd like to hear more about your grout matched caulking. Where did you get it? What brand did you use? And anything else you could tell us would be great.
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User
8 years ago
The tile we settled on only came in one subway size. 2x6. Transitional look. We saw a few other photos on here with same size and we liked them. Super happy. I printed out a few sheets and taped them to one small wall to double check. Others have done that too.

Good luck . I will add it isn't just the shape. Grout color is a tough decision too for some.
LE
8 years ago
I drew 2 of the kitchen walls to scale on graph paper with the blue lines that don't copy. Then I drew about a zillion patterns and layouts on separate paper. Different sizes, stacked and running bond, etc. I could see how many grout lines I'd end up with using the different sizes. I was considering everything from 3 x 6 inches to 12 x 24. Some of the layouts I thought I would like just seemed like they could never work out gracefully, but that was more critical with the larger sizes.
bagofchips
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all. The main thing I had to decide on was size (not color) so made a 2x6 & 2x4 basic wireframe pattern in Microsoft Excel, printed lifesize and taped together a few to get a sample poster to put on wall. This let me get to 2x6 as choice - it didn't seem too skinny-- if anything 2x4 seemed too small for a kitchen (personal choice). 2x6 might also make things less busy if you have multi-color and that's a concern. (Noted that layout detail such as near kitchen window and grout color are very important.)

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2x6 vs 2x4 subway tile backsplash - how to choose??

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Jancy

pippiep

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2x6 vs 2x4 subway tile backsplash - how to choose??

Comments (5)

Jancy

pippiep

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bagofchipsOriginal Author

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bagofchips
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