Analysis paralysis! Help choose a small galley kitchen backsplash.
sbgottlieb
2 years ago
We are remodeling our kitchen and trying to decide what type of backslash to use. We will be using Torhamn cabinets from Ikea and soapstone countertops. Please see the photos below.
The kitchen is a small galley. Given the wood grain of the cabinets and the veining in the soapstone, we are leaning towards solid colors. We also were thinking that something a bit glossy might reflect the light better and make the space feel more open. We also want to be sure to use a material that does not stain.
Below please find photos of some of the tile options we are considering, the soapstone, and the cabinets.
Our questions are:
- Do you recommend brighter or more muted colors?
- Do subway tiles work for this space or would a different shape and style be better?
- What size tiles do you recommend? 3X6, 3X12, 2X12?
- Other ideas or suggestions?
Thanks to all!
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Comments (6)
herbflavor
2 years agopick one of these blues. better. too much green in the tropical and aqua ones shown. they will make the cabinetry look orange. you just have to bring in quite a few samples. stick with very pale gray grout that blends into this kind of a blue shade. really nice with the soapstone and cabinets both.
Contemporary Coastal Coronado · More Info
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Two-toned Blue Kitchen Oasis from Orlando Soria · More Infosbgottlieb thanked herbflavorRelated Discussions
Hey, all of you in backsplash paralysis....
Comments (18)(I must first declare that I'm among the supposed rebels on the kitchen threads who is doing a modest kitchen. Frankly, there's not much money here right now and we don't foresee being visited by a high-end mag photographer and our neighborhood could care less about our backsplash.) My only reason for choosing a tile at all is to remove what I call the "penny catcher" 1-in. deep 4-inch tall Formica edging in my current kitchen. We've toyed with all kinds of ideas for a backsplash to butt against the new laminate. We finally found an affordable 4-inch tile that we like, very modest and of course, in the red palette and it comes in a bullnose as well. We have 30 feet of wall along our countertops because there are such long countertops. We're at the stage where the new walls are taped for drywall skim coatings. Have been dithering as to how tall to make a tile backslash and have done a wise thing...cost us about $30--for paint we were going to buy anyway. We literally drew with pencil onto the early coat of drywall white and faked in the tiles to the max of our discussed options, a penciled grid. Looked at it for a few hours. Then, having already decided our paint color, we painted out most of the grid during the most recent bout of the wall smoothing. We came to realize that the tile could be minimal--just 4 inches except behind the stove where we're putting a niche--because the tile so closely matches the paint, and so the paint helps remove the jarring transition and custom fitting that tall tiling would create between cabinets and windows. We still have not ordered the tile, but we're leaning toward the minimal backsplash. Meanwhile, that paint is smeared with white drywall mud because the pits in the finish still need some attention, but hey, we're falling in love with that color and the room seems more beckoning. If we follow our inclination, we cut our tile bill 'way down to nuthin' and give ourselves more places for stenciling if we want to stencil. Then I can dither over that! So it goes. Have fun solving YOUR paralysis....See MorePaint advice pls. Have a small galley kitchen and am stumped. Thanks!
Comments (55)You will have to get lots of paint samples and tape them to your walls in different lighting. Computer monitors are not accurate but at least give you an idea of what shades or colors might work. Our last house had lots of maple which I found color seemed to work well with it. I actually had a spice orange on wall in the kitchen, but my counters had some of that rust in it. Your counters don't appear to. I've always been fond of greens with maple, but nothing minty. I also had another wall in the kitchen painted brown, only because I did not want the spice orange/ rust color to get overpowering. I don't think I would have picked chocolate brown for the whole kitchen. Too many walls. Your kitchen area to be painted looks smaller to me and I think a slighter darker contrasting color would look good. I don't like really dark (depends on your lighting though). Tribix's recommendation of Mountain moss looks great. I like some contrast with maple and it has that touch of green I like. Others that caught my eye were 4 ( a little light, but I like the green.) 18, 19, 21- ( I like 18 and 21 but it may be too close to the shade of brown in your tile and too green? 19 seems to match the darker tile. Again the only way to tell for sure would be samples taped together on the wall. Tape about 4 together to get an idea. Also the samples will look very dark against your light colored walls, but not nearly as dark after you paint the whole wall. Be brave! I also like 22, 25 and 26....See MoreKitchen Layout Input Please - Small Galley Picture
Comments (39)rantontoo: I plan to die in this condo - or at the very least age in place absent unforeseen circumstances. I could give a rat's patootie about resale value or what prospective buyers might like - or really anyone else. I care about functionality for my own needs and aesthetics for my own tastes and comfort. Contrary to real estate "wisdom" I am eliminating the tub/shower in the master bath and installing a large shower with a seat. It won't be the largest shower in the world but it's leagues more comfortable and suited to my lifestyle than the tub which requires me to step over and in I am taking out one of the sinks in the master bath and installing a true vanity with a chair/seat. If anyone absolutely needs the use of a sink while I am washing my face, there is a sink in the guest steps away. I've never actually quite understood what kind of prolonged ablutions require one to be directly in front of flowing water :-) I am contemplating not having the paltry upper cabinets start at 18" since I am short. My current uppers are lower than 18" - something I hadn't appreciated until I started researching kitchen design - which makes the second shelf wholly accessible and even the third shelf only requires tip toes for a lot of stuff. I am even wondering whether raising the counter in the bathroom is functional since at its current normal height I have to bend low to splash water on my face which invariably means everything gets splashed. I have no small children to consider so I don't know why height would be an issue....See MoreANALYSIS PARALYSIS: LIGHT OR DARK TILE?
Comments (9)I think the dark tile looks more chic. Charcoal honed is my suggestion. Yes, dark floors show dirt, but so do light floors. We have dark hardwood floors and a white Lab, so I use my dry mop every day. We also have very light gray tile in the kitchen that disguises the dog hair but shows every speck of dirt or food. I think there's just no getting around the fact that floors must be cleaned every so often. :) From your images, the dark floor looks to ground the space, and since you have light walls and cabinets, it doesn't look cave-like. I also think the dark makes it easier to have whites on walls and furniture. With a light tile, you'll have to be careful about if things are too cool or too warm etc. But no matter which you choose, you'll want to add rugs to cozy up the tile....See More
chinacatpeekin
2 years agoI chose Torhamn uppers for my ADU kitchen, and soapstone countertops. The backsplash subway tiles are Adex USA Hampton Crackle tiles in bone. The mosaic tiles behind the stove are by Pratt and Larson. The lower cabinets are Lerhyttan, also by IKEA. I love this combination.
sbgottlieb thanked chinacatpeekin
Maureen
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoThe cabinets have a strong grain so I’d aim for a less prominent color and complementing the counter better (consider flooring as well). Suggest a more modern design to highlight the cabinet style and use shape vs a strong color for the interest. Be sure to bring home lots of styles to test and definitely wait for counter to be installed before finalizing.
Imagine with your counter. A sleeker look, but it depends if you want color. Adding under counter lighting is also a nice feature. Add color with a fun runner.
julieste
2 years ago
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