You use schluter trim which needs to be installed before tile and it gives a nice almost invisible edge thet is clean looking and is quite affordable A painted edge will never look properly finished IMO

What tile did you select? Is it bought and paid for, final sale?

Schluter strips aren’t my favorite either. If I use the tile with the finished edge, that should take care of the left side, which would leave just a few inches by the window trim. Would the paint peel, or would it more resemble the look of cut marble or travertine, which I happen to love, but may not be everyone’s preference?

Can you explain what you do not like about schluter.IMO a much nicer look than painting the edge of a tile. If you can find tile with edge pieces and you don’t mind the traditional look then fine but other than that this to me is the anser you can get it in white but IMO the whites are never a perfect match

You have a very traditional space, I wouldn’t recommend Schluter either, but you’re not going to get a good look painting your tile edges either. What brand and color of tile are you using?

You should try to buy a tile that offers bullnose on the long and short end, and possibly trim pieces as well. If you need help finding the right white in the right brand, this is the place to ask for help.

i don’t like that I will likely not find a matching color and so there will be a little metal strip. Again, I prefer the look of cut marble or travertine, but I’m not sure if painted tile will achieve this look.

“i don’t like that I will likely not find a matching color and so there will be a little metal strip.”

You will find the right white. We will help. You said you had found the right white. Which tile is it?

Eam44, the tile with the painted edge, shown below, is written up as: Cape Cod series 3x12 Matte Eastham Matte White. It is stamped “Tonalite Italy” on the back. I don’t know if this comes in a bullnose.on either side. The ”finished” edge shown here looks fine to me.

The box the second tile (no painted edge) came in is shown below (I ordered a box to test it out). I don’t have anymore information. This one comes in a bullnose on the long edge but not the short edge. But the salesman at the tile store wasn’t sure the bullnose would be a great solution because so little of it would be exposed (just the few inches by the window trim).

“But the salesman at the tile store wasn’t sure the bullnose would be a great solution because so little of it would be exposed”

Oh he’s completely wrong about that. The quality of the look often comes through in millimeters of properly finished detail. But that’s my opinion. Someone will weigh in with the opposite opinion!

The Italian tile does not have a bullnose, but it does have trim pieces. Have you hired your installer yet, because this is a discussion you should be having with him/her.

The good news about the Spanish tile is that if they have a long edge bullnose, that may be enough. I’m going to go back to your previous post and have a look at the space. Be right back.

Eam44, my responses are not quite in sync with your questions here. I’m not sure if the answer provided above answers your question about the tile color.

Looking at the first picture above, would this edge be objectionable if it were just left as is? The color appears slightly whiter in the picture but it is really the same color all around. I’m trying to figure out if this will look like a tumbled marble edge or something entirely different and somehow objectionable.

Yes. Our new build kitchen backsplash has painted exposed edges around the pass-through, kitchen windows, and on either side of the dry bar. I didn't like how the Schluter trim looked with our beveled subway herringbone pattern or any thin border pieces. Our spec house we lived in while building had a travertine subway backsplash with painted edges. We were there a year with no peeling. We've been in the new build for 3 months now and edges remain the same.

New Build · More Info

Sink window:

Sink window:

Pass-through on drybar:

Side of drybar:

Well, I wouldn’t leave the cut ends, I would use trim or a bullnose for that left side. The Spanish tile with a long edged bullnose can work if you mount it vertically - you may not want to do that. It depends on whether you like the look. It’s a little bathroom-y to my eye, and not just because the image I found is in a bathroom...

Trim can vary, and your Italian tile offers lots of trim options. I would keep it low profile. It would look more like this.

Eam44, first, thank you for all your help; I really appreciate it. I do have an installer- my contractor selected him and we have been very pleased with all his work in the rest of the house. But I haven’t discussed this with him; I wanted to get things figured out first. I looked at all the pieces above- can’t believe you were able and willing to do this, thanks so much- and I have no idea which ones might be appropriate here. I am aware of the quarter round and it’s not my favorite. Not sure of any of the others. The profilo jolly seems the smallest and therefore possibly the most appealing. (I just showed my husband the painted edge of the tile and he didn’t find it at all objectionable).

Eam44, my comments above were in response to your previous post, with the edging tiles. Still need to look at the pictures in your latest post!

I would go for the jolly as well. I think it’s worth it. Order the very little amount you need. When your installer has mounted that tile, he can give you the option of mounting it or not. I think when you see it in place you will know what to do. I can’t wait to see your finished space!

The Profilo Jolly is the bullnose edge piece in the line. I wish more lines lines would have them. It's literally the thickness of the tile, it's the best look by far in edging, providing a clean finished edge.

Considering the look of your kitchen, I think the schluter trim would be tacky. The color likely won't match your tile and IMO the stuff looks better mostly in bathrooms and the occasional very retro or very sleek kitchen. Painting would be not good too and you probably won't be happy with the results.

I think eam44 hit it right on with suggesting using trim that goes with the tile. Your colors will match, the tile will match, and it will look more finished and suitable to your kitchen.

Wow! Two consecutive posts, and I now have the perfect solution to both of my problems!! Many thanks to everyone for all the help. I will get the tile with the finished edge, and enough of the profilo jolly strip for the left edge and on the sides of the window trim. Will definitely use it by the window and I’ll make a game time decision on the left side.

@Barbara C, I think we are talking about the Italian “Cape Cod” tile with the jolly edge trim piece. Your installer will let you know if you need it around the window. It’s going to be lovely.

Yes, that’s the one. My builder is on his way over and I will also ask him about the edge. You are so helpful and supportive; I really appreciate both qualities!!