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Design Dilemma Kitchens DIY

Quick Backsplash help needed! Have to decide today! Cambria Sandgate

last year

last modified: last year

So our counters were just installed and I have to match up a backsplash today so install on that can begin tomorrow.

I have some basic choices as not much really matches the counter. The counter always looks more tan than it actually is. This photo I'm trying to show the true colors.

Which goes the best??

Beveled edges in white

Bowling Pins in white with gray matching rectangles

I call this one Ripples - white with dimension waves

White with Gray soft swirlies - Carrara Gris 3x6

And a full line of the bowling pins

Featured Answer

K W
Original Author

last year

last modified: last year

@Shelly Anderson

So I’m hesitant to post a picture because I went against the grain and just chose something that I liked. I didn’t care for the all white look and I didn’t like any of the gray options. Here’s a picture. I love my kitchen even with all the imperfections. My husband built/installed the whole thing from bottom to top.

Comments (37)

Annette Holbrook(z7a)
last year
I'm leaning towards 2 or 3.
K W thanked Annette Holbrook(z7a)
madmsw
last year
Carter’s grid goes bedt
K W thanked madmsw
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Hi Gang-- I'm back to working on this after taking a vacation (while floors were being done) and then a work trip. At this point pretty much all is done in the kitchen except for the backsplash and window treatments. I guess that puts me in that dreaded ABB club. After letting this stew in my brain for a month, and enjoying the pretty Cambria, I'm thinking I'd like something on the simple side for the backsplash- a creamy almondy 2x4 subway tile would be fine. I like it when the tiles look hand-made, but so far have not found any in the smaller size. (I've found a bone color, but that's too light.) What I haven't told you guys yet is that we have a custom-made marine life stone/ceramic mural to go above the range-top. So I'm keeping this in mind as I hunt for backsplash. For those of you who asked, yes- the Berkeley has coppery sparkles in it, which had me worried when I received my sample, but the sparkles look fine in the installed counters. They add character, not glitz. I live in the Midwest, but my heart is on one coast or the other. I am hoping to get to Daltile soon and check out the one shown by jxbrown- that looks intriguing. Stay tuned...
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Does a marble backsplash work w/ Cambria Torquay
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Question--will you really be able to get those Ann Sacks tiles delivered in three weeks? If not (my experience is that some of this stuff takes 4-6 weeks), maybe you could slow down--and wait until all the materials are in. I know what you mean, though b/c we are building and we want to get it all done at the same time so that once we are in, we are done! But, it might be worth just giving it some time. All of that being said, I think either of your choices will be wonderful. I would probably keep it neutral with either marble or cream/white subways.
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Backsplash or no Backsplash.
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yep that's my kitchen. Sorry it's not in your budget, but gpraceman does have a good idea about granite tiles. I have seen these used in place of granite slabs for the counter, when a budget dictated it. "To Me", they did not look that bad. I had to redo the area of the granite where the cook top is, due to a bad choice I made about cooktops, a 36" semi-circle Caldera. It died in about a year and the company went broke, so I had to replace it with a rectangular induction cooktop, Hence the granite rework. Well I could find Granite remnants (Arandis Gold) for next to nothing, (I paid about $75 for a little less than a half slab. So you may be able to do that too, and then have it cut to sizes you want for the tile, myself, the bigger the better, and the less grout lines. Thanks for your kind words about my kitchen, it is pretty unique, and as we tell folks here, Do what makes you happy, after all, it's your kitchen. For those of you that do like tiles and grout, that's great, as long as it's what you want, and you're not following others or doing what you "Think", might help sell the house later. Gary
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kandrewspa
last year
The bowling pins are my favorite. I think all of them except the first one can work.
K W thanked kandrewspa
Shelley Miell
last year
2 and 4. 😊
K W thanked Shelley Miell
cpartist
last year
Beveled edges in white.
K W thanked cpartist
herbflavor
last year
# 2 .. the pins is my fave.
K W thanked herbflavor
kj s
last year
Bowling pins
K W thanked kj s
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Really I do not like any of those choices and IMO the bowling pins for sure not . Try to find a nice simple subway tile in a color from the counter. I would probably look for a gray that works. BTW I do not like beveled tile they reflect light weirdly and make cleaning a PITA
K W
Original Author
last year
@Patricia Colwell Consulting - we did have a gray in the running but thought it would kind of look like one big stripe around the kitchen?
flopsycat1
last year
All those selections seem to compete with the countertop material. Simplest is best with the amount of pattern in your quartz.
Timi M
last year
2 or 3.
RTHawk
last year
While I like 2 and 4, I feel they will be too busy given the patterned countertop. Between 1 and 3, on my monitor, color for 1 seems to go better with countertop.
anna_682
last year
bowling pins, set horizontally.
acm
last year
I like the bowling pins from a distance, but I think they'll compete with your counter up close. I imagine you spend some money on that pretty stone, so I'd go with a white or very pale gray with matching grout. Ripples is my favorite of your selections.
RedRyder
last year
If I have to pick, Beveled edges or Ripples. While I like the bowling pins, I do think they will be too busy in the end. Honestly, a soft gray would have been perfect. The contrast would highlight your beautiful countertop. I don’t agree that it would look like a “grey ribbon” around the room. You could use some more grey to offset the white cabinets and stone, both of which look gorgeous.

Rushing this is a bad idea. Can you wait till you have some grey tiles to show us? Unhappy owners with sad backsplashes are pretty common on this site.
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
None of the above. I agree with Patricia that a plain white rectangle would go best, either white or gray. 2 x 6 is a nice choice. The rest of them are just too much with the counter top material.
coray
last year
#3…the soft ripples….the others are too busy with the countertops.
T Jarmuth
last year
I've read a lot of comments from other posts to WAIT if you are undecided. The backsplash can go in anytime, even months later.
RedRyder
last year
I painted the backsplash wall in my previous house after a ton of work, including an all new kitchen. I did the backsplash a year later. At that time I had the energy to go shopping for the right tiles.
Susan Emig
last year
Light grey glass subway tile woukd look stunning!!
Shelly Anderson
last year
Post pics of what you ended up doing, please! I’m trying to pick backsplash now for same counter!
RedRyder
last year
Your kitchen is really nice! Bravo to your husband!
Timi M
last year
Looks great!
Kay p
last year
Love it
la_la Girl
last year
Looks wonderful! love those vintage roosters 🤩
kculbers
last year
Your kitchen is lovely!! Well done.
anna_682
last year
Great kitchen. Love it!
plf12652
last year
You have to love it, not “us”…..so good job!
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
If you love it, that's all that counts--it looks very nice! Thanks for coming back and showing us the finished product!
cestor
last year
Beautiful! What is the flooring?
Gloria H.
last year
Super nice. Well done and so nice to hear you are happy.
K W
Original Author
last year
@cestor - It is Cortec Galathea Oak

https://coretecfloors.com/en-us/products/coretec-enhanced/galathea-oak-vv012-00759
Estee Notsay
last year
We’re doing Sandgate too. What brand and color are your cabinets?
K W
Original Author
last year
@Estee Notsay - Kraftmaid, Grandview Maple Square, Dove White
ginnieskitchen
last year
Just today ran across your post. Of the choices you displayed, I would have selected the same one you did. Yay us!! :)
K W thanked ginnieskitchen
Estee Notsay
last year
last modified: last year
We think we‘re doing Kraftmaid Moonshine, had to give up Warm White for the Sandgate counter. Dove is our second choice! Yours looks great!

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