need help with backsplash ideas

5 years ago

hi all, I'm looking for some help with picking a backsplash. Appliances are stainless, perimeter cabinets are high gloss white, island is BM Champion Cobalt, countertop is Vicostone Misterio, surrounding walls are BM Balboa Mist. I'm not crazy about the light fixtures, but will need to deal with that later on, at this point we just need to get things ready to move in already.

The tile will go up to the ceiling at the window and above the stove (and there will be a chimney range hood, just a simple pyramid stainless hood).

Originally we thought just white subway tile with white grout, but I think that's just too much white (the countertop is very white with some veining) I've also thought we should have done a gray-ish countertop but that boat had sailed now.

So now I'm thinking matte white subway tile with a darker grout, maybe a blueish grout to tie back to the island? Or maybe just gray grout similar to the countertop veining.

Another idea is a matte light gray subway tile.

I've also thought of a metallic tile, but I worry that won't look very good with the range hood (metal on metal...)

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

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Beth H. :

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

no regular white subway tile. good heavens. Look at the beautiful modern, glossy kitchen, and you want to use white subways?

I'd choose a more modern shape that your kitchen dictates.

try an elongated Hex or another type geometric. you can still use your white w/gray grout. Or, go w/an actual color

these tiles come in dozens of shapes/sizes. FireClayTile. (call and talk to Lindsey)

(this gray one is Pratt and Larson Ogee)

i'm trying to find this one in all white. it's very pretty w/a light gray grout.

fireclay also has a glazed brick that you could do in this pattern. much more in line w/your style.

other options

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Comments (19)

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Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
5 years ago
Subway tile with darker grout creates a busy pattern, which would be okay in your kitchen but you need to be okay with that. IMO a blue or light grey tile would look nice and tie in with the other elements (like the navy island and grey veining in the countertop) in the kitchen.
Elena Nuta
Original Author
5 years ago
yea I agree about it being busy. Is gray tile not too cold though?
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So what you're saying is that you don't want a plain boring white rectangle offset tile, which is wise since everything else in your room is white. There are SO many choices in many different shapes, textures and colors. You can be creative with pattern--stacked, offset, herringbone. You can do square offset, arabesque, fishtail, in a dizzying array of colors and textures. Texture is a great way to add interest, I like glossy glazed brick, zelig or crackle tile. Try to find hand-made tiles which are much more interesting than the mass-produced ones in the big box stores. Go to a good tile showroom and bring home samples--these stores usually have talented designers on staff who can help you select something you love! And definitely do not rush. You can cook in a kitchen with no backsplash for as long as it takes for you to find your preferred tile. Here are some of my favorites: Zelig tile: Gray-green mottled color: Close up of zelig tile dark navy or black fishtail: Green glossy with accent on top: Another green with varying color: Square and rectangular white tile in an interesting pattern: Bright green glossy: Gray rectangle with smaller rectangles in niche: Gray rectangles with black liner: Large turquoise arabesque: gray crackle with black and beaded liner:
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abbycat9990
5 years ago
"Busy" worked for us. Here's a 4x10 tile with medium gray grout. The countertop is LG Viatera-Numbus. Orignally, we wanted a white, marble look countertop. With white cabs, I felt we would need to do a gray backsplash. I didn't like any of the marble look countertops with our white cabs (should have chosen countertop before paint), so we chose the gray countertop..and we love the white tile.

I think a blue grout might be too matchy, and not neutral enough... I would look at gray tiles, or perhaps a blue print/cement tile?
Elena Nuta
Original Author
5 years ago
abbycat, your tile look so crisp, I love it. The grout isn't very dark though, is it?

Beth, thanks, you're right the different geometric shapes are quite nice, I think I like the first one the most, and then that bright blue diamond shaped one (though that particular blue might clash with my island). I'll be going by some stores the next few days so I'll see what I find along those lines.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Elena, the geometric cube i think you can find on Modwalls. and they have this navy

you can have this Minnow made in any color (s)

Clayhaus Diamond. (this is no cheap date. be forewarned)

https://www.modwalls.com

and if you like that first one in my other comment, fireclay tile has the most amazing cobalt colors. They have an Azure that is gorgeous.
Elena Nuta
Original Author
5 years ago
Beth, would an azure blue clash with the Champion Cobalt of the island? Are there any non-blue colours that will complement the cobalt?
K R
5 years ago
I would do a white glazed brick backsplash similar to some of the ones posted or a very light gray with white grout. I would not try a blue - first off I’d let the island be your star and secondly it’s such a unique blue you’ll never find a good match imo. I love the blue island by the way!!! Gorgeous kitchen.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
any of the cobalt blues will work for the splash. It's far enough away that it will coordinate. you don't have to perfectly match. the goal is to have all the elements work together. I like to use the analogy of a great black dress. by itself, it can be beautiful and the star, but add a great necklace or some drop earrings, bold color heels, a little clutch, and now you have amazing. the dress is still the star, but all the other elements are surrounding it, giving it life. The key is, not to overdo it w/too much. That's how I think of backsplash, countertop, island, cabinets. what you have is very pretty. but not one item in there is commanding all the attention. the blue island is gorgeous, but I still think it needs supporting roles.

as for non blue, gray, white, yellow, green, coral, all of these look beautiful w/navy.

grab some samples and bring them home.

if you call Lindsey at Fireclay, show her your picture, she can send you some sample colors. (tell her I sent you to her). Their tiles are beautiful. I have 4 of the blue colors and they really are stunning. It all depends on you and the look you want to achieve.
Elena Nuta
Original Author
5 years ago
thanks for all the help so far! fireclay and actually and online suppliers are not an option due to the lead time. as far as the bright colors, I looked at some and although I love the idea, I feel it will be too much in my kitchen.

I went to a few tile supply places and it seems the main thing I'm drawn to is printed tiles and handmsde ceramics.

The first photo is an 8" hex print tile that is has lots of light gray (the one tile looks more beige in the third photo, but it's not beige at all). The second photo, bottom right, is a light gray and pale blue mix and white mix. The last photo shows a bunch of samples: 3 light grays, one dark gray, and the long one is called ash blue. They are all the uneven shiny glazed, some of them are handmade. Any opinion on these?

If I go with print mixed tile, is there any concern about how it will look around the window? I have about 10" on either side of the window, but some of that will be covered up by trim. What about the stove, will it look too busy there? Or should I switch to a plain tile there?

Most of the light grays read quite close to my paint color (Balboa mist). If I go with one of those, will the texture of the tile add enough dimension and interest to not be as boring as it currently is with just the paint color there?
Bri Bosh
5 years ago
Some of your choices are screaming “farmhouse!” but your cabinets are saying “modern!” WhIch are you going for?
niccidhg
5 years ago
Elena, here are some tile inspiration pics. from Tile Bar. You can order samples and in the notes it says if you order , the tile ships out in 1 - 2 days .
niccidhg
5 years ago
Some more -
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I wouldn't do the patchwork, but the others could work.

Did you happen to look at CleTile under their second shelf and in stock/ basicstile?https://www.cletile.com/collections/second-shelf

https://www.cletile.com/collections/cement-tiles-in-stock

I love these gray encaustic scallops
https://www.cletile.com/collections/cement-tiles-in-stock/products/metal-solid-scallops-8-stock?variant=

They're ready to ship.
hemina
5 years ago
I have no clue if this would work but I think this tile has a nice gray that might look great with that gorgeous cobalt island. The kitchen looks amazing!
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
hemina,,I just posted that same pattern tile in my comment. Wayfair is overpriced on encaustic tiles (plus shipping is high too). when ordering these tiles, it's best to go to the source. wayfair is the middleman and you're paying extra for that.
Elena Nuta
Original Author
5 years ago
Bri, which tile is farmhouse? The print
hex one? That is not at all what I am going for! lol

Nicci, thanks for the suggestions, I am actually also considering a darker gray marble hex tile like the one you showed.

Beth, and hemina, the colouring in the one you both posted is similar to the second photo I posted previously, and yea I think that would look very nice, but I'm a not a fan of repetitive patterns though so I'm not sure I would go for just that tile.

Beth, when you say patchwork, you mean just that hex one? Does my second photo qualify as patchwork?

thanks again for the feedback!!
Bri Bosh
5 years ago
Yes, the patchwork one. Your lighting is also saying farmhouse;it doesn’t particularly harmonize with that cabinet style.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
the tiles at the bottom of this pic you posted, would be considered patchwork type of design