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Design Dilemma Kitchens

backsplash and bulkhead help

2 years ago

Any help oils be greatly appreciated.
We are refacing our kitchen and removed a wall and island to open up the main floor.
FIrst dilemma- we are finishing a gas fireplace to be with ledge stone and we found a backsplash that is the same ledgestone with marble. I’m worried about it looking to uneven and having the electrical outlets not sitting flush. Also worried about stains.

The kitchen is going to be super white which we like although we should have probably went with a darker floor tile.
We are going with the super white quartz countertop, white cabinets and island, new stainless appliances and the wall colour is light grey. I’m hoping because the bulkhead is staying that it won’t look too hospital like. The next room with have the dark wood in the picture.
Question two-
Now that we have a large beam separating the two room the island pendants and light over the table I had planned I’m thinking should be switched to only pot lights throughout the kitchen. I’m a little confused as to what to do with the post, paint it wall colour or decorate it somehow.

Thank you so much for any ideas!!!

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Comments (7)

Ali K
2 years ago
That tile looks like it would be a nightmare to keep clean. Lots of little grooves to collect grease and dust. I would go for a smooth tile backsplash to make cleaning possible.
HU-187528210
2 years ago
I personally would faster invest in having the column removed before painting the cabinets.
But regardless wrap the post in drywall and molding.
Backsplash - Agreed with the above. I’d find something else. Maybe something organic looking, handcrafted type.
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Thanks prill...I'm leaning towards only doing tile in area to the left of the casing...then in the window area just doing paint and the casing down to the counter. I guess I'll just have to be more dilligent with cleaning. The Reef was the first tile that spoke to me...I really thought I was going to go for a more solid blue, but reef is so much softer....it allows me to play up the color of the walls more...not that I have a lot of walls...And, I found out that my designer can get it for about 12.50/sf where I was quoted around $15/sf.
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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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I'm not sure how I came across this post, I think it was displayed on the right side and I clicked on it being intrigued by the tile making. I was at one time interested in working with papercrete and hypertufa. But after enlisting my brother, who wasn't as enthusiastic, and my niece, who poured cement down my laundry room sink, which original to the house had lasted 70 years, and ruining three blenders, my interest waned. True to form, if I come upon difficulty in a project, I think of it as a sign for me not to continue. And really, after all these years of trying various crafts that result in crap, I should know better. I also should have known better than to ask my brother, who always says it can't be done to any of my unique design ideas. And I should have known better than to ask my niece, who once stayed up all night before having to drive to LA for an art show, cutting mat after mat after measuring once, twice, sometimes ten times, but always coming out with the wrong size. I think we both have math dyslexia. I should video us trying anything crafty to see where we go wrong. I think both of us having ADHD might have something to do with it. Sorry for the backstory and run on sentences. So, I just wanted to see if you continued with your venture. And to say sorry for whatever tragedy occurred to cause you to have to move to Florida. Not that there is anything wrong with Florida, but it isn't Panama. Which is one of my favorite places in the western hemisphere. I hope no one is upset that I brought up a seven year old post.
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Have you thought about stainless steel backsplash tiles? https://www.houzz.com/products/4x11-honeycomb-matted-metal-peel-and-stick-backsplash-tile-set-of-3-brushed-st-prvw-vr~100903589. These tiles would look great with your stainless steel appliances.
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amandawood82
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you. Did you mean the vent stack that’s coming out or the bulkhead above the cabinets? Here is the look of what the fireplace will be so we are hoping to match the backsplash to the fireplace. I
Like the look of a marble shiny tile too.
heatheron40
2 years ago
That's a lot of white. Maybe consider a color in a special shape or a laser cut detail
tedbixby
2 years ago
There is no reason to try and "match" the fireplace. Not sure why you are thinking that you need to.

Is there a reason why you can't wait and decide on the backsplash after the rest of the kitchen is done? We see so often on Houzz where the OP selects the backsplash ahead of time and is so disappointed once it is installed and wished they waited. It is much easier to make that decision once everything is in place. That is a lot of white and you may find that it looks too "safe" and want to do something else. You aren't totally discarding this one, you just are going to give yourself options later.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
NO ledgerstone anywhere it is already a dated look and never for a backsplash.I agree wait to decide backsplash after all other elements are in the kitchen BTW forget the raised bar area .
Shannon_WI
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Another vote NO for that backsplash. And matching the fireplace surround is not a good reason. In fact, it might look bad for it to be matchy. A fireplace is a fireplace, and a backsplash is meant for cooking splatter to be wiped off it. No reason for them to match, it doesn't matter if the rooms are adjoining.

I would wait until everything else is installed before choosing the backsplash. Everything will look different once installed. I think you are already uneasy about the backsplash given your "hospital like" comment, which I think is an accurate concern. After everything is installed, choose your backsplash tile, and hire a tiler to install it; you don't need to have your GC do it, it can be done later.

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