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jamie_norusis

Help! Need to decide back-splash ASAP

5 years ago

Hi all! I am doing some updates to my 1 bedroom loft in Chicago, the updates are for resale - so keep that in mind. It is in an old warehouse and some really cool features like exposed brick, 14 foot ceilings, and cement pillars.


The counters are a dark granite, with some brown in them. We are not changing the countertops. We are currently getting the cabinets white and painting the walls Benjamin Moore Balboa mist. Originally I wanted to do a 3x6 white subway tile with a dark taupe grout - my thought it that that would come out more industrial looking that way. I then happened upon a brick tile (from actual salvaged Chicago brick) that seems to match our current brick and I am now slightly obsessing over the idea of a brick backsplash and carrying the brick above the cabinets up to the ceiling. I am starting to think that the white cabs + white subway tile will be too cold, and the brick will warm everything up and really play up the industrial loft-ness, as well as be something to make us stick out once we hit the market ("the kitchen with the brick!").


I've attached some images of the kitchen now, before the cabinets were taken away and before the new wall paint color is up. Also, these pictures were taken at night, so sorry if that is not helpful.


My dilemma:

1. Stick with the original plan of white cabs + white subway tile with darker grout and "warm" it up by adding brushed bronze door hardware to match the granite, as well as add some warm runners.

  • Subway tile is $1.29/sq ft + $450 for labor/install
  • Backsplash is 22 sq ft.

2. Bite the bullet and install the brick as backsplash to go with the white cabs, and carry the brick up.

  • Brick tiles are $9/sq foot + $700 for labor/install
  • Would be around 70 sq. foot for backsplash + carrying up above cabinets

Any opinions you have on this would be GREATLY appreciated. I am truly going back and forth. The brick option would be more expensive but could help with resale. Or am I overthinking the white cabs+white subway tile?


Thanks for reading my dilemma!










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