Has anyone ever painted a marble backsplash?

3 years ago

My second recent design snafu - I'm going to skip all the details of why I had to pick new countertops and new backsplash under duress - thanks MSI :-(
Anyhow, lessons learned - open boxes of marble tiles and examine every one - there wound up being MUCH more grey in my marble backsplash than expected.
I was thinking of painting some of the grey tiles a more creamy color and tone down all the grey.
Anyone ever painted marble? I understand you can do it with chalk paint...

Featured Answer

darbuka

3 years ago

That’s the wrong backsplash for Fantasy Brown. Period. Painting any part of it, is not a solution. Take it down, and install a simple, one color subway tile.

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Comments (24)

Indecisiveness
3 years ago
Sorry about your project difficulties but painting a tile backsplash will look cheap.
jupidupi
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
If you really, really hate it, you can always paint it later. Try living with it first. Once you have a few objects on the counter, it's going to change the way the backsplash reads to the eye. Black will make the grey look lighter. A dark green may bring a richness to the grey. And pretty much anything in front of the backsplash will make the grey look less stark than it does now.
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Leslie Laws
Original Author
3 years ago
SashaDog - even if I am just picking and choosing some tiles here and there and transitioning them from grey to cream/tan?
Leslie Laws
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you jupidupi!
Leslie Laws
Original Author
3 years ago
I do not plan to do anything immediately, just searching out options
Indecisiveness
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
It will look even worse if you only do some. If your backsplash is grey, painting some cream/tan will make them stick out and they won’t go with anything. Live with it until it makes sense financially to replace it. It’s not that bad :)
tartanmeup
3 years ago
Agree with jupidupi. Don't do anything now. On my screen, the grey is not standing out in any unpleasant way. Obviously, you may feel different in the actual space but still, live with it a while. Backsplashes take up a lot of space in our heads when designing a kitchen. Way less once we actually start using the kitchen and have "stuff" on the counter. Painting a few tiles might be a lot of trouble for a risky outcome.
Maureen
3 years ago
Chalk paint does not wear well, can scratch off and there will also be an obvious difference in the finish.

Here is an article to help if you decide to paint, but I still think there will be an obvious texture difference.

https://www.hunker.com/13413124/how-to-paint-marble-tile
mvcanada
3 years ago
I'm sorry, but I don't think that backsplash goes with your counters at all, none of it. If you are unhappy with it now, I don't think it is going to grow on you. I'd start over with a simpler tile choice that doesn't have variation. It looks like your counter has lots of variation already, no need to add to that.

What is your counter? Is it Quartz? If you share pictures of just the counter or advise what brand/name it is, then someone will be able to offer good tile choices. Beth H is the best at that IMO.
Shannon_WI
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Once you have everything set up, and you have your appliances installed, and the counters have your toaster, your coffee maker, etc., and the kitchen looks lived-in, you will see that the backsplash is fine. Do not paint, that will indeed be a worse choice.
Leslie Laws
Original Author
3 years ago
The counter top is now Fantasy Brown. The example backsplash tiles o bought had little variation mad were primarily a creamy white with hints of color. Hence my upset for not going through the boxes I bought. I would have seen then a LOT of grey
roarah
3 years ago
Try leaning some wood cutting boards and placing a large wooden bowl in front of the marble it might help bring the brown from the counters vertically up so your eye sees it with the marble. Marble and rich wood( browns) are a classic combo.
mvcanada
3 years ago
Oh dear....that's a shame. I think you can do a grey, it just has to be a warm grey.....the grey in what you've got is more blue grey. Best to get some samples and see what works best.

This might work with the lightest colour in the veining. There is some colour variation in these.

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

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These read a bit on the pink side.....maybe not in person...
Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Gray Tiles & Silver Tiles - Backsplash & Floor Tiles | TileBar.com · More Info

Personally, I like the picket to run horizontally, but it can go either way.
New Tile Products & Designs | TileBar.com · More Info

Ivy Hill Tile | Wayfair.ca · More Info

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Leslie Laws thanked mvcanada
Leslie Laws
Original Author
3 years ago
Hello everyone - I really appreciate the help! I had an interior designer out to the house on Friday and I have decided to rip out my backsplash and replace it. I don't love it, I don't like it and I don't think it will grow on me. It is easier to bite the bullet now than to re-do it after all of my appliances are in. After much discussion, I am looking at these simple, sage green subway tiles w/ a pewter grout. I can also get a sage green grout blended. Should I go that route instead?
mvcanada
3 years ago
Can you show the sample with your counters? Are you able to get more than one piece of that tile? While a sage green tile sounds lovely in isolation, I'm not sure if it is something I'd choose with your counters. I assume the interior designer helped you choose the replacement tile?

What shape and size is the sage tile?
Boxerpal
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@Leslie Laws I love your fantasy brown slabs BEAUTIFUL!!!

Which tile do you feel goes best with the stone? Each one of us looking from our monitors are going to see something different. Since you first started this post wanting more creamy tiles are you sure you want to lean on the gray green sage side? I am sure it will look nice in creamy or sage. I love what you have done so far.

here are some gray and green backsplashs with fantasy brown

Kitchen Countertops · More Info

Menlo Park New Construction · More Info

Brown Fantasy marble home bar · More Info

Fantasy Brown Marble White Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Fantasy Brown Marble Countertops Leather Finish · More Info
Leslie Laws
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@mvcanada - I have Fantasy Brown countertops with beautiful sage green quartzite accents going through it. There are some pics of my slabs above in this thread. And yes, I hired a professional interior designer who brought the sage green tiles (along with some others) to choose from. They are 3" x 12" subway type tiles
barncatz
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Hi Leslie, given the time you're investing to love your BS you could try photocopying an actual sage tile (another important question: are they uniform color or is there variation?). You could then tape the rectangles up to cover a large area.

Before grouting, order extra tiles and make a sample board with the tiles grouted.

It would be a shame to not get the result you love.
RedRyder
3 years ago
Fantasy Brown has so many colors in it, and varies from slab to slab. If the designer thinks sage green works, then it could be very striking AND complement the countertop. It’s hard for us to “see” what you see in person even with great close up shots. And yes, get extra tiles to try out different grouts.
Jill Aljamal
3 years ago
The two materials are competing and that fantasy brown wins hands down. Beautiful stone you picked. Sorry about BS, but you counters are gorgeous.
Leslie Laws
Original Author
2 years ago
I redid my backsplash in a soft sage green handmade tile and I love it!
Leslie Laws
Original Author
2 years ago
I regret that I did not do something different with electrical outlets - but the backsplash really looks great and I am happy! Perhaps there is a place I can get custom colored outlets - but the Palladium looks good with the sage (but can't tell so much in the photo)
tartanmeup
2 years ago
Glad to read you're happy with your result. On my screen, the colour is lovely and looks harmonious with both cabinets and counter. As for outlets, I believe some can be painted? Might be an option.