Kitchen backsplash height, existing 4" backsplash, and ending dilemma

6 years ago

last modified: last year

I would like to put in a kitchen backsplash but am having issues with determining the height, what to do with existing 4" backsplash, and where to end the backsplash. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Height

I have come up with three options for the backsplash height. Which would be the best option?

1) Tile up to the hood and level the rest (around the windows) at the same height.

2) Tile up to the hood and level the rest (around the windows) at the same height as the bottom of the cabinets.

3) Tile the entire wall up to the ceiling to create a feature wall. The ceiling is 12 feet tall and my husband thinks it would be silly to have more backsplash above the cabinets than below.

Existing 4" Backsplash

I would love to remove the existing 4" backsplash but need some data points to convince my husband. Or would it look okay to leave the 4" backsplash?

Backsplash Ending

The cabinets wrap around the wall to the fridge. Should the backsplash wrap around as well?

Featured Answer

eld6161

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I am not a fan of adding tile when there is a four inch BS. You can google kitchens and show your husband that it is not on trend right now. There might be meaningless, but maybe he will understand that you want to update a bit.

I would remove the four inch and yes wrap the BS around to the fridge wall.

I would not do a feature wall. Just tile under the cabinets.

If your husband is not in agreement, I would then leave it as is. You have a lovely kitchen. Your husband "did good."

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Comments (9)

PRO
Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.
6 years ago
One thing that caught my attention is that the heights of the cabinets, is there a reason why they are so low? Am assuming there is a reason for it.

Since you did not mention anything, I am going to assume the cabinets would not be moved or replaced, in which case how much space do you have between countertop and bottom of cabinets?
G thanked Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.
G
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The ceiling is 12 feet tall, so the cabinets look lower than they actually are. That awkward gap between the cabinets and the ceiling bothers me too, but my husband had them put in before we met. We're not going to move or replace them now.

There's 18 inches between the countertop and bottom of the cabinets.
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I can see why it might be advisable to remove the left/rt portions of tile, but I would be inclined to wait until ithe kitchen is completed before deciding. If, as your gut tells you, it "needs" to come down, nothing is really lost except a little more time with it up. Perhaps knowing you are not "locked-in" or committed to it, will help give the perspective to view it more objectively while deciding for sure. This way you will not only have the chance to see it with everything else in place, but you will also have the opportunity to get used to it, before deciding if you truly dislike it, or just haven't gotten used to it being there. As subtle (in color) as our tile is, after months of looking at white painted Sheetrock, it still looked "different" and stood out when we looked at our kitchen. Once we became accustomed to it, we couldn't imagine our walls without it. That's how I am with many things--after living with a blank wall or empty space for any period of time, even a long awaited piece of furniture or decor item jumps out at me, and almost seems like too much, until I get used to the vacant space being filled. Thanks for the compliments on our backsplash Laura and andreak100! It's the Opera Glass tile from Artistic Tile (Stilatto pattern) in Wolfgang White. It does read greenish-blue(-grey) in certain lights or times of day. We had to think about that one while deciding if we wanted to use it, and obviously decided to go for it! Good luck Laura! Honestly, whatever you decide will look terrific!
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PRO
Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.
6 years ago
got it. Because of the way the hood is, I would not put it floor to ceiling, because that would mean you would have tile "backsplash" above the cabinet and that would look odd to me.

The existing 4" backsplash should certainly go. Besides aesthetics, am not sure if there is many other points to bring up for to convince your hubby.

Do you have any specific tile in mind?

Here is a picture of a job we did, and client decided not to have the 4" backsplash.
G thanked Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.
G
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for sharing the pic of the job you did. I definitely want to take our the 4" backsplash and will have to convince my husband.

We've picked out this tile. How far up the wall do you think is best to tile?
PRO
Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Love the tile!! I would do up to the bottom of cabinet and where the hood is, up to the hood.

Just one more question: the wall on the left, is it a long wall? Is there anything on that side at all? just wondering how you would end the backsplash on that side,
G thanked Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.
palimpsest
6 years ago
Up to the level of the bottom of the cabinets all around, up to the hood in that area.

Seal that well, I think the pieces with the cleft face especially will stain easily. You may want to test that out before committing to it.
G thanked palimpsest
G
Original Author
6 years ago
eld6161 - Thanks for your input about the BS height. I think he did a good job on the kitchen too!

Trinity Builders & Design, Inc - There's nothing else on the wall on the left. The cabinets end where the knife block is, so I will end the backsplash at that corner.

palimpsest - Thanks for the sealing tip and height input! I've warned my husband about the need to seal the split face backsplash every year or so, and he's committed to it.
Yvonne
last year
I have a similar question five years later: Is the 4" matching back splash now out of style? And how long will it stay out of style? Doubt that it would be possible to get a full matching back splash 14 years after the home was built. I am considering removing the 4" back splash and going with a complementary tile or, perhaps, a colorful wallpaper. Thoughts as to how long the short back spash will stay out of style? (I'm old enough to remember bell bottoms - the first time they were in style.)

Kitchen backsplash height, existing 4" backsplash, and ending dilemma

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Kitchen backsplash height, existing 4" backsplash, and ending dilemma

eld6161

Comments (9)

Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.

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Trinity Builders & Design, Inc.

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Yvonne

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