Need backsplash help to finish endless kitchen renovation
We’re finally at the end of our kitchen renovation and really need to get moving on backsplash. We’re hosting a graduation party in a couple of months and would love for it to be in by then. So far all of our design choices were influenced in one way or another by folks here, so we’re hoping to continue to streak.
Details: house is a 1920s Tudor, counters are Glacier White Corian, floors are oak, range and dishwasher are GE Cafe. We have a breakfast nook that we obviously haven’t finished yet (searching for the perfect table and light fixture) that gets far more natural light than the kitchen, which is why we went so light on the counters. I collect antique tea cups and we made choices that we hoped lent an air of British tea house to the room. Because our counters are so plain, I really love the idea of some sort of patterned backsplash.
I started by falling in love with these Winchester tiles, but we’re now a bit worried that there is too much white in the kitchen. I still love them, for what it’s worth.
Then we found this handmade Revival tile, which we could have customized in the pink, green, and white colors shown below. This is a super pricy option and is unlikely to be ready by the graduation party. We considered just putting it on the whole wall behind the range, but doing a coordinating subway everywhere else.
Kitchen as it stands right now.
This is a pretty accurate representation of the natural light disparity between the breakfast nook and the kitchen.
Thoughts? Any suggestions for other tiles that might work would be so appreciated. (Note that all window coverings are temp measures until we settle on backsplash.)
Thank you!
Comments (16)
jemimabean
3 years agoRelated Discussions
finished kitchen pics -and i need a backsplash
Comments (68)I can vouch that Kate's kitchen (along with the entire house!) is even more gorgeous in person than it is in the pictures! Her kitchen is my favorite by far (including my own, which I love dearly). And that bathroom....there are no words for how stunning it is. The tile she chose is absolutely perfect for her countertops and the feel of the room and it's going to be a design home run. It is, as bee said, an excellent backup singer. I had never seen that sparkly grout before and it is fascinating. I shouldn't say sparkly because it sounds too My Little Pony and it's not like that at all; it's a hint of sparkle, just enough to intrigue the eye. Anyway, we had a great time; Kate's just as much fun IRL as she is here online. I am looking forward to a return trip to see it all finished!...See MoreAlmost finished white kitchen...backsplash help!
Comments (11)Thanks all for the compliments...camarogranny--interesting ideas about the glass mosaics, and positano, I love the crackle tile too, so I'll keep that in mind. I may post a follow up of some finalists and see what people think. Does anyone have an opinion about the 4" backsplash? Keep it? The lighting, which I feared would be way too big when it arrived, but which everyone seems to think are great (whew!), are from Troy Lighting, "Maidstone" is the style pendant. Found them on line. And Positano, I was so close to getting Costa Esmeralda too--it's a beautiful stone. I made the roman shades in the dining room--if you sew, it's not an advanced project (I really only do remedial sewing) but I now need more shades for the kitchen and I may do what you were thinking too--just add the ribbon. Doesn't sound like there are too many strong opinions about whether to keep the mirrors or the backsplash--my pictures may have been a little far off too. Here are a few tiles I've been staring at! Thanks again people...such fun to get all these opinions! Here is a link that might be useful: pics of tile ideas......See More90% finished kitchen reveal and Backsplash HELP!
Comments (33)WOW.. Thank you all so much for your input! It means a lot! I may be even more confused now as to what to do, but this is helpful! bahacca: Gorgeous pic! And i see what you're saying by some dark accents to compliment the cabinets.. that looks good.. Burnsie2: I really loved the sunflower one, but it isnt calacatta, its carara and apparently too grey for my space? Thanks for asking! dianalo: thanks for the compliment! I feel like the sideways bowling pins are a bit too traditional? But then again what do I know. The basket weave is really nice, I'm sure it looks awesome in your bathroom! controlfreakecs: do you have any suggestions? mcmjilly: it seems like lots of people like that one! Maybe I need to see it used in a kitchen so I can get the feel of it? mpgamom: LOL do you live in toronto? if so, it is called Saltillo tile! And that Sarah richardson pic with the ming green sunflowers is where I got the idea for the sunflowers and why I went to that store in particular since both her and candice richardson shop there... but they weren't very helpful!! thank you so much for those inspiration pics! I LOVE the sunflower but it comes in carara not calacatta :( Thank you for the compliment and I do like the calacatta subways... and the hex as well, because they have some warm tones to go with the cabinets? badgergal: thank you so much for the compliment! This kitchen came inspired from all of you guys!! colorfast: I like the one with the different shaped squares as well.. do you think all of them are too grey even though they have some warm tones? The warm tones arent translating too much in the photograph. I'll post a pic tonight with the samples agains my wall! Steph2000: haha I do remember! it is 5x3. I was going to have a breakfast bar, but I really wanted an island.. and it really works, functionally! good luck with your home! I'm sure it will be beautiful! francoise47: thank you! and yeah I like those too! Elba1: are the harelquin tiles the ones with the diamonds with the little box on the end? as dianalo called it, the sideways bowling pin? amyktexas: do you have any pics? I'd love to see both kitchens!! ellendi: even with the bit of warmth from that particular marble? I just feel like cream subway tiles will just be... boring? I wanted something elegant and pretty.. I am still as confused as ever... I do love the calacatta, and could see myself doing a subway calacatta with a focus over the range in something like the squares, or the bowling pin... or entirely subways? But am open to having accents of brown to highlight the cabs as you guys suggested! Keep it coming!! I heart you all!...See MoreHi. I’m trying to finish my remodeled kitchen with a back splash. Help
Comments (13)OK, I don't like the tile I posted and wish I'd been more precise. You're not going to go wrong with white subway, but if you wanted permission to walk a little bit on the wilder side, I think your kitchen could pull it off. What I was trying to suggest was a shape idea, like this perhaps. I disagree about using a traditionally laid herringbone accent, especially with a thick border. I would think it was too stodgy if this were my little kitchen, (except maybe the sideways pattern in eam's first two examples.) If you want an accent and use subway, you could also consider a stack or a chevron pattern. Here they use that pattern for the whole backsplash. Or do the BS in matte tile and the accent tile in a gloss finish. Or lean a large, funky handmade ceramic plate behind your range and support a starving artist. Your kitchen is darling. You didn't ask but I'd paint the stools. I'm just full of good ideas for your time and money, aren't I?...See More
jhmarie
3 years agojemimabean
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThanks, everyone!
We already have samples of the Winchester tiles in five different colors, but all were a bit too strong/dark except the Helmingway color. Here they are (all four designs in one color) in the kitchen.
Today we went back to our local tile store and came across Encore Ceramics crackle tiles. They’re a totally different direction, but I liked them quite a bit. What do you think of them in the Bali (light blue) or Cashmere (green) colors?
I like that they have enough pattern to give a bit of oomph to the kitchen and are also really reflective.
Do you have a preference between the patterned Winchester or the crackled Encore?jemimabean
3 years agoOr (I promise that this is the last hat I’ll throw into the ring), Winchester just came out with a new line and we really like this pattern, which comes in a soft French blue. My husband pointed out that the Winchester tiles all have something vaguely in common with the various prints on my tea cups. I’m obsessed with these stupid tea cups.
Mrs. S
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI love your choices so far. I love your plates,/cups too.
Have you thought about the Cloe pink tile (a bold choice)?
I like color.
jemimabean thanked Mrs. Sjhmarie
3 years agoI admit to having a soft spot for tea cups and pretty china - and English cottages. I love blue and used to have light blue countertops:)
I understand your dilemma because while I love blue, I am hesitant to add it in permanent surfaces. However, if I had a white kitchen - I would consider a light blue backsplash or with some blue - probably, maybe:) I have always liked this kitchen so I think a blue in your style could be very pretty. I am not recommending a blue this dark (it almost looks a blue gray) - just that blue works well with wood and white. The tone of this wood is not quite the same as yours:
If you do consider a blue, consider also the color of your hutch and any other colorful pieces in the kitchen. Crackle tile has some special installation requirement I believe - thought I read that on the forum. If you go that direction, make sure your tile guy knows his stuff.
This pic comes from this thread:
I thought it gave a sense of what a smallish, subdued pattern tile might look like, though the pattern is larger. I actually like this a little better than the blue in the first picture I posted. The backsplash is Saltillo Sunflower Ming Green. I think I like the Winchester tiles a bit more - but I haven't seen them in a done backsplash:
jemimabean thanked jhmariejemimabean
3 years agoProgress! We decided on using Winchester, but not doing the quilted look using all four of their patterns and just sticking to using the Rosemoore on Helmingham instead. We both love it and feel good about it, so I’ve emailed the distributor (which is an hour and a half away from us) to get moving. I am so excited to tackle the last major thing in the kitchen. Now we just need a table and chairs, oh, and light fixture for the breakfast nook.
Mrs. S, I looooove pink tiles and did consider the exact ones that you posted. If I am ever brave/crazy enough to renovate our bathrooms, they’ll be one of the first things that I look to.Jhmarie, I love the pattern of that last kitchen you posted. In all of my looking, I never stumbled across that.
Thank you all for the hand-holding necessary to get us through this last decision. It’s exciting to see this house finally coming together.
daisychain Zn3b
3 years agopetula67
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
jhmarie