Tile, Formica or ?? backsplash for MCM remodel
tbilsi
4 years ago
It's the question of what goes between these dark (warm) wood cabinets and new formica that will be a lighter(cool) beige instead of the original gold. the contractor wants us to put in tile where the formica backsplash is currently. I don't see a tile that bridges the warm wood and the new cool formica but I'm not crazy about doing a backsplash in formica again. The house is in a beautiful natural setting so the aim is to maintain the serenity and balance.
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Back splash: tile or tile over granite?
Comments (7)I'm a little concerned that your countertop sub (is he a fabricator?) is talking about making a tight seal between vertical and horizontal. With modern fabrication, say over the last 20 years, there has not been a problem with that, the way there used to be years ago when counters were formica and fabrication methods were less refined and precise. And the "sanitary" comment is out of left field--did your contractor say that? In any case, I will list the reasons why I do not like a small strip of granite (usually 4") on the backsplash: - you will spend a lot of effort designing a beautiful tile backsplash; why cut it short by 4". - the additional horizontal line of the 4" strip will visually make the space between your counter and upper cabinets look smaller and more cramped - some people think the 4" backsplash looks dated, though opinions vary on this - the 4" backsplash creates a small "ledge" which collects dust. Yet one more thing to clean. - you will be charged for the material and installation for the 4" backsplash; money that you may have preferred to spend elsewhere. I think that a 4" backpslash would be good if you were NOT installing tile and just had drywall on the rest of the wall. Or, if you simply like the look, as a lot of people do. Get what YOU want, not what makes life easier for your contractor. BTW, who is installing your tile backsplash? You may want to find someone outside of your contractor's subs. I was recommended someone by the tile store where I bought my tile. He specialized in tile--all he did is tile, and had been doing that for many years, so he really knew what he was doing. I am only mentioning this because of my concern that your contractor is saying he needs the granite strip to "make a tight seal". How elaborate will be your tile backsplash? If it's just, e.g., plain subway tile, that's pretty easy. But with a more complex pattern, tile backsplashes can be exacting work, and if your contractor isn't so painstaking, you will have to live with a backsplash that may not look so great (we've seen that happen on this forum several times)....See MoreMCM kitchen island with short 'backsplash' - lose or keep?
Comments (11)Thanks, all. Yes, the island really is 17' long! And the beauty of it is the aisle is more than 42" wide, so there is plenty of room for 2 or 3 or 4 people to work. The ends of the island are pony walls about 4" thick and as high as the backsplash w/o planter boxes (which just lift off, BTW) -- sided with a distressed hardwood tongue-and-groove that is used elsewhere in the house on walls. We don't have to keep the pony walls, and if we went with a no-backsplash option, they would go, anyway. To be replced with ? ? ? The idea of splitting the island with a walkway is interesting. But the sink is centered in the island and would have to be moved, and we would have to deal with the flooring then. There are some spare pavers in a pile in the yard near the spare brick(!), but it would involve chiseling away at the slab to try to recess the new pavers to the proper level. I never thought about rebuilding the planter boxes of a different material. That is an interesting idea. I've thought about putting the WOW granite on the range backsplash only, with a simpler quartz on the counters (there is also a groovin' wet bar across the atrium from the island, so it needs to be updated at the same time with new cabinets/countertop). But I'll probably need to do some photoshop mock-ups of various granite patterns. I wouldn't want it all to get too busy. Pavers, bricks, slab wood, pebbles, distressed wood, trees, loud granite, stainless range hood -- yowza! We may have to be tranquilized. I'll try to take some better pictures tonight so it all makes more sense. But here is a shot that gives you a peek at the pony wall on the end of the island. The wood on it matches the wood on the living room wall at the far end of the shot and on the "front" wall on the right side of the shot. The brass doorknob in the lower right corner of the shot is the front door....See MoreAnyone with a 2 inch backsplash or no backsplash?
Comments (21)Hi. We installed out kitchen in 2012. We still haven't chosen or decided on a backslpash - it's the painted wall. I have a creamy Egyptian marble, - don't remember the name. I like unstructured European vintage-y kitchens. Many of them don't have backsplashes either. My stainless range has a stainless backsplash directly behind it. I had picked out some mini-clear glass subway tile for the backsplash that coincidentally matches my Prescott Green paint color perfectly but what if I decide to change wall color one day? Just this week I started thinking maybe I made my backsplash tile decision three years ago which was to have none. Our marble installers tried very hard to discourage us from marble in the kitchen but I have not regretted it. All those kitchens in southern Europe can't be wrong. FYI - If you are considering glass backsplash look at a product call 3-Form it comes in an amazing variety of colors,textures and imbedded items, two good friends used it in their kitchens. http://www.3-form.com/ Do what speaks to you in your home. Best....See MoreSoapstone w/Formica?!? Calling for backsplash help!
Comments (5)How about laminated sheet glass? It is a modern look but I think could look great with soapstone. Large 18 inch rectified tile (cut so accurate and straight so that grout lines are minimal) You would only have 1 tile per 18 inches of countertop. This would be minimal grout. Slab marble Semi gloss paint (easier cleaning) Stainless steel sheeting (not sure with copper accents?) I only have a backsplash behind my range (marble mosaic). The rest of my kitchen is painted sheetrock (highly scrubbable BM Aura paint) with soapstone countertops. It has been 3 years and looks as good as new. Also, keep in mind that you don't have to rush the backspash. It is one of the few things that can easily be done at a later date. You can have your outlets set for sheetrock depth and just paint the walls while you figure it out. When you decide on a backsplash material, it is easy to add the outlet extenders to bring them to the proper depth. The outlet extenders come in different depths for different tile dpeths and take only a few minutes per outlet to install (You may need longer screws). I am going on 3 years and still can't decide on the rest of the backsplash. By the time I decide, it will be time to redo the rest of the kitchen again. Good luck!...See More
tbilsi
4 years agoHelen
4 years agotbilsi
4 years agoMore project photos for detail - with the Formica sample and original materials we're keeping.
kkcaskey
last year
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