Thank you eam44. I called a few places today and they were no help but a few also did not answer so I will keep trying.

I will also look into solid surface Corian as I did not think of that.

I wish we could just go with the painted wall but would be afraid of grease stains and sauce splashes.

Well you need something to protect your cabinets, drywall and subfloor, but you can have almost nothing if you choose a 2” backsplash and a good latex paint. The image below may be of @breezygirl’s kitchen, but I’m not sure anymore!

Eam44- Just keeping my options open between the backpainted glass backsplash vs a granite backsplash. I wanted to ask your opinion on the images attached. I know this may be viewed as dated but I liked the idea of possibly raising the backsplash as pictured in this image to cover more of the wall if I ended up going this route. I kind of like the look. I would not extend up the entire wall.

Also...Is the 2" backsplash recommended for looks vs protection? I like the simplicity of the image you shared.

Hi @Tia M. I like the 6-8” counter material backsplash as well. The 2” is a nice, pared down option to the 4” backsplash none of us wants to see anymore.

Basically, you need something waterproof to seal that joint between the drywall and the counter because water is the kiss of death to: drywall, plywood (cabinets), floors and subfloors, etc... So you need something there. The reasoning behind the 2” is that water doesn‘t pool and puddle that high. And the wall above the bs is usually pretty perfect, even behind the sink.

Behind the cooktop you want something that is heat proof (i.e., not quartz). Your cooktop is not gas so your biggest concern would be with atomization of fats and food splatter. If you go with a 6-8” backsplash, that’s not an issue. If you were to choose a 2” I would say, choose a scrubbable paint for that area, or build up the backsplash there.

Either way, I think these are great options for you and for your space.

Hi Eam44 - I have good news. I was able to get a quote for the backpainted backsplash. He did make a few suggestions.

One being to move the outlets off of the wall for a cleaner look. My thoughts are to remove the outlets but leave the light switches as they are so they match the rest of the house (there are also light switches on other walls of the kitchen).

He also mentioned considering lightening the paint selection as may appear different on the glass. Do you have any thoughts or insight on how much I would lighten? The color of my walls are Sherwin Williams Balance Beige. He uses Benjamin Moore but said they can color match.

The estimate is around 5k. I think it would be worth the expense for a clean simple look and this is my preferred option. I still have work to do to remove corbels, update the vent hood area under the cabinets, relocate the outlets, tile removal, hardware update, etc. I am hoping to have this installed by fall.

@Tia M, ask your contractor for a sample of the painted glass if possible. It just so happens that SW 7037 Balanced Beige is the color chip next to one of the most beloved paint colors on the planet, SW 7036 Accessible Beige. It might be a good choice for you, but look at the sample in your own space and light before you commit.

If you are going to move outlets, consider installing plugmold under your upper cabinets. It might be a great solution for you.

It sounds like everything is coming together for you. The glass is going to be gorgeous!

Thank you so much for the paint recommendation and I will definitely get a sample before committing. I think that choice would be perfect.

I will also look into the plug mold. We rarely use the wall outlets so that option would be perfect.

-Tia

H Bi it if you want under cabinet lighting I don’t know if you can do outlets under there too? I love my under cabinet lighting for tasks

You can absolutely use plugmold with ucl.

I’m certainly not trying to tell you how to spend your money, BUT, $5,000 is a CRAZY amount of money to spend on a backsplash in an average, mid-level kitchen, especially when you have a fear of commitment (and you’ll be stuck with that wall color!) Have you considered a stainless steel backsplash? It can be a hell of a lot less expensive, especially if you go the DIY route. Here’s a link for that if you’re interested: Quick Ship Metals I think a quilted look like I linked to would look nice with your cabinets, but flat would work equally well.

Thank you for the link Sammy. I will take a look at the stainless options. I can see how the hefty price tag would be enough for pause. I've been researching the backpainted glass option for sometime now and although expensive it's still my top pick. I'm one of those people who would rather pay more for something I love vs less for something that's okay if that makes sense.

eam44- I'm hoping you wouldn't mind providing your opinion on if I should also put the glass backsplash on the smaller wall.

I'm waiting on the cabinet contractor to work me in for the updates/changes prior to installing the glass painted backsplash. This has given me more time to look at inspiration photos and read articles. I notice that not all kitchens have backsplashs on all walls. I have also read articles that say backsplashs are used to protect the walls from water and cooking splatter.

That being said do I need to do both walls? I kind of like the idea of the main wall with the cooktop being the feature backsplash and the other wall just being painted without any backsplash. Can I do this or would I still need a 2 inch backsplash installed?

Hi @Tia M. You are correct, you don’t need a backsplash if it’s in a water-free, cooking-free zone. But that run near the fridge looks like a great place for coffee, punch, general serving during parties. If you think it might be a service area and it’s possible something might spill, consider a 2” backsplash made of your counter material. It’s very unobtrusive, but it’s optional, and absolutely up to you.

Thanks eam44...That's a great idea. I like the idea of having the 2inch there (wasn't sure if it would look strange having the walls different).

Livewireoak- I'm one of those odd people who like darker cozy kitchens so I'm not looking to lighten the room at all. Just looking to pick something that's simple to me, easy maintenance, and something I won't grow tired of.

Just wanted to share my backsplash update. I went with the backpainted backsplash the same color as the walls. So far so good. This has been easy to clean and has the simple look I was hoping for. I only had a piece made for the cooktop area to save on cost since there was no need to move any outlets. Crossing fingers the rest of the wall area will be easy to maintain since not a wet area. I also had the fussy ornate corbels removed for a cleaner look. I appreciate everyones advice. Took longer than I anticipated due to Covid.