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Tips & Techniques Design Dilemma Kitchens

To backsplash, or not to backsplash - that is the question...

3 years ago

I am replacing my countertops, sink/faucet, and installing a new backsplash.

I never realized it, but i have a "floating" fridge - open on both sides. Do i continue the backsplash all the way behind it, or do i use the trim pieces to end it where the counter ends? We are doing away with the 3" backsplash you see in the photo, so it will just be the counter to the backsplash.

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Comments (4)

mxk3 z5b_MI
3 years ago
The first thing you need to do is get a counter depth fridge.
eam44
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Well, I would box in the fridge. Make the box counter depth so that if you do get a cd fridge one day, it will fit. No backsplash.
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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.
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Backsplash or no backsplash
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I don't think we'll ever fully redo this kitchen. We'll probably only be in this house for another 2-5 years, and we're really just looking to make the space more enjoyable for us and up the resale value a bit. Our kitchen is very small, especially for a 4 bedroom house. So without knocking down walls and changing the whole layout of the 1st floor, we're not going to have a gourmet kitchen. And we're just not prepared to put that kind of money in the house given the state of the market, and I don't think our neighboorhood can support the kind of increase in price that we'd want to see to make it worth it. Sorry for all that rambling! Long story short, I think we're going to try to keep it simple for now, and save all these beautiful kitchen ideas for our next house.
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To backsplash or not to backsplash...that is the question
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Comments (23)
cigi, in our last house the previous owner installed tumbled marble in a mauvish tone which IMO looked awful with the St Cecilia granite. Even though the tile was expensive, I tore them off and left the 4" granite backsplash, patched and painted the rest of the wall. The sink was the only working area as the cooktop was on the island. No problem with water as I used BM Aura, but Pittsburgh Paint's Manor Hall Timeless is just as good with a more flat look and lifetime warranty. I'm pondering the issue for my current redo. In various houses I've had paint, wallpaper, white tile with abalone inserts, plain white tile. Right now I'm weighing white tile with a beautiful insert, just paint with no granite backsplash since this area has only a counter but no cooking/wet functions, paint with granite backsplash, or a simple glass tile backsplash with listello over it a la Chinchette. I'm attaching a photo from Chinchette's beautiful kitchen (hope she doesn't mind seeing hers cited as a great example) which shows the last option. In any event, I echo others' advice to not worry about that decision immediately unless you absolutely love a certain look. Just use good paint. Here is a link that might be useful:
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To backsplash or not to backsplash....that is the question....
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Comments (26)
Have you considered wallpaper? You can bring in color, as well as a design, if that's your 'schtick'. Just throwing another consideration in the mix. I personally *hate* a backsplast covered in tile or granite from countertop to bottom of cabinets, or even further up. I've gone *about* 3/4 up the wall, with the remained just the neutral color thruout the rest of my home, but only on the interior cabs, so above the stove and sink areas. On the perimeter bank of cabinets, it's just a painted wall, where I had planned to use wallpaper, but haven't done so yet. I also picked up at an auction a painted canvass, which is long and narrow, and thought of using it here. It's a vintage French scene of a girl feeding chickens in a barn, done in dark colors, which is my preference. I just don't want to leave it should I sell. ;)
...See More
suezbell
3 years ago
From the glimpse you've given us, you have a really nice kitchen.

Your countertop is a "busy" pattern. Really like the painted wall (in lieu of high backsplash) you have with it -- that wall color is as perfect as it gets. Are you changing the countertop; if not, definitely would not add a backsplash.

If your fridge is running well, would NOT replace it for a smaller (counter dept) one, the full opening of which could be impeded by the countertops, making it difficult or impossible to remove the veggie drawers for a thorough cleaning as needed.

Would NOT b ox in the fridge -- you'd need to lose cabinet space to do that. Instead, invest in a few more magnets and fully embrace having the sides exposed.

Dollar Tree sells some wide magnetic clamps that would let you hold a tablet for an ongoing grocery list, etc. Similar to this but black ... and a lot less expensive. The work and last every bit as well. I've had to glue the magnet back in to both the more expensive one and a less expensive one after dropping them. Still work well.
Fori
3 years ago
You could do either--run the backsplash behind the fridge a bit so you don't have to finish the edges or finish the edges lined up with the counters. If you pick a tile with nice edge pieces (or do Schluter), the second might end up looking tidier.

Your current backsplash color is similar to your fridge. I kind of like how that works! If your new backsplash tile is exactly fridge color, nobody would complain about your fridge anymore :P

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