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Design Dilemma Kitchens

Kitchen backsplash and stool ideas

last year

we have selected Blue Fantasy marble for our kitchen and island counter. our cabinets will be an alabaster white shaker. i love a warm and inviting kitchen and I want the beauty of the counter to shine without being overly ornate elsewhere.

what are my backplash options besides a white, blue or gray subway tile? subway tile is feeling overdone to me over the past few years. we also have a white painted brick wall in the adjacent room so I think it would turn into a lot of white squares on the wall if we did white subway tile.

i also need design help on the 4 island counter stools. i want something low profile but with a back and helps tone down the grays.

theres a photo below of the pendant lights that will be above the island, it has a wood shade.

lastly, im loving brass hardware/pulls for the warm tones it brings in but not sure it works with Blue Fantasy. thoughts?

Featured Answer

coray

last year

I think the brass hardware can work, or try something like Top Knobs Aspen or Aspen Flat in Light Bronze. It’s a matte finish that’s warm and bronzey, but it also has flecks of gray in it….it might sound weird, but it’s really a beautiful finish. I do like the arabesque/lantern tile you’re showing for backsplash, or you could do pickets, if you want more modern and don’t like subway. I’d stay away from HU-1875’s first 2 suggestions……too busy and you’re saying you want the counters to shine so the backsplash should not compete. I don’t hate the pendants if that’s what you like (you can use a different light bulb), and if you choose counter stools in the same kind of wood, you have something that will tie these elements together. You could add another wood element in that tone, such as shelves, art with wood frames etc, for,more warmth. Good luck!

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Comments (17)

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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
IMO thelight is not attractive at all. Why the wood with no connecttion to anything you described and you have abeautiful stone and now you are going to light it with horrible yellow Edison bulb. I rearely like black hardware but IMO this might be the time to do it . As for backsplash why not a simple gray glass subway tile wth matching grout. Just find the tile that works with that counter
HU-187528210
last year
I agree. The pendants do not work.
Here are some backsplash ideas.

The first two are busy. I’m suggesting these because that’s the direction you sound to be interested in.
The next one you don’t have to stack in a brick pattern. You can stack ‘em …
https://www.tileclub.com/products/roman-flower-blue-celeste-marble-mosaic-tile
https://www.tilebar.com/sample-layla-azul-polished-marble-mosaic-tile.html
https://www.tilebar.com/montauk-gin-2x8-ceramic-wall-tile-satin.html
https://www.tilebar.com/parry-white-3x8-matte-ceramic-tile.html
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Since you clearly like pink -- and your color choices thus far seem to have turned out very well, fully living up to your own high expectations -- rather than detract from your original color choices with something trying to steal attention, consider using only a single row of 4" black tiles as your backsplash and leave the rest of your backsplash walls painted pink. If you choose a patterned backsplash, you may end up with a totally different look ... one that is too "busy" for the white and pink and black color contrast to be fully appreciated. Also, and, I think, importantly: It's much easier to decorate and redecorate a painted wall as your tastes or needs change over time if you have a painted wall than it is to decorate and redecorate a tiled one. You could add a spice rack and/or a magnetic knife rack and/or your favorite colorful trivet(s) and/or a floating S&P& sugar bowl shelf and, with a bit of sheet rock patch and paint, remove them without leaving any telltale trace (holes in tiles) that they were ever there. DO save some of your pink paint for any touchups so you can be sure to match it should you want or need to do so.
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HU-187528210
last year
Stools.
I have these 👇 (in nickel) LOVE THEM
https://www.cb2.com/chiaro-clear-bar-stool-30-gold/s353077
herbflavor
last year
last modified: last year
have to admit this is a bit confusing... this pictured kitchen 's counter is described as blue fantasy quartzite and it actually has some blue....therefore they used a light shade of a blue on the splash.......pretty,
Fantasy Blue Quartzite · More Info

and it works...... the fantasy series has a brown also.....maybe others. Your choice does not have any blue.....are you certain you know what you are getting. Your pick is really gray. Is that the actual slab? I would get a backspplash that is light and goes with the cabinets...probably would pick subway . I dont think a wall in another room makes that much difference. If you want a shape as in the one you have near the slab I'd just keep a solid shade without tonal variation...too much with that slab. the look I'd seek is clean and simple ...I think the arabesque with its bit of complexity might backfire. Is there some detail on the cabinet doors or hardware you can create? mixing metals can be interesting and fabulous.....you want a copper toned pendant with brass hardware ??? ...not sure...maybe champagne bronze they are showing for hardware with black and smoky glass pendant....or rattan pendant..... You gotta work w that bossy slab but details dont have to be dismissed...just stick them in for accents.....not conflict. In the pic the pop of red on stools and the smoky glass pendant are nice in that way and the cabinetry has a bit of detail which stands up to the counter for a complement. Three pendants across your window could be considered ..stools with detail and skip the pendants for the island ...the window is oversized so pendants have a nice alignment there.
mriebreeze
Original Author
last year
yes that is the slab of blue fantasy. i think it all depends on the cut.

we will probably stick with a white or gray tile like recommended without pattern. i was considering bringing the marble up 4” on the wall
mriebreeze
Original Author
last year
Coray - thank you for the cabinet hardward recommendationtoon. could you link to it?
mriebreeze
Original Author
last year
I love the wood pendant with edison bulb. we live in a coastal area and i think it matches well. the wood is not orange/yellow at all in person. its subtle.

Heres some stools i have been considering/
RedRyder
last year
Lots of colors in your countertop can be found in solid, interesting shape tiles. I do love the blue tile posted by @hebflavor. But you have to buy samples to know what goes with YOUR slabs. And you must do the backsplash AFTER THE KITCHEN IS FINISHED. With the right lighting. There are more “bad backsplash” dilemmas here because you really can’t choose the right tile until your slab is cut, laid horizontally in your kitchen with your new lighting. Starting to shop for tiles now is a good idea.

If you may lean more “gray” than “blue” for the backsplash, get some grey tiles and grey-ish-blue-ish tiles. There are tons of interesting shapes out there but I agree that a patterned tile will absolutely compete with your star of the show - your stunning countertops. Amazing stone.

Doing that stone as your backsplash would work. Make sure to save enough slabs now (have the stone guys put your name on them) so you have enough. Personally, I would go with a soft, pale, pale gray tile with your slab. But to have the option, you better claim your slabs now.
Maureen
last year
last modified: last year
Don’t suggest adding 4” marble plus backsplash. Either use on entire wall, or halfway. If tiling, be sure to bring home lots of tile samples, once counters are in.

I’m not a fan of your light choice either, especially in relation to the marble (not relating/complementary). A nice style below and use antique brass hardware.

I think you can do better with the chairs as well. Sorry!

https://www.ballarddesigns.com/bailey-woven-bar-26-counter-stool/furniture/dining-kitchen/barstools/670130?uniqueId=670130&isNewProduct=false&newItemBadge=false&;

Try to envision the complete package and below is a nice combination of classic yet coastal.
coray
last year
No link, sorry, but I have some pics (our own kitchen): Top Knobs Aspen Flat in Light Bronze (It’s a solid cast bronze product, so not exactly cheap!)
mriebreeze
Original Author
last year
Those are nice! What faucet finish did you go with?
coray
last year
We went with a Satin Bronze faucet by California Faucets, incl. matching sink drains, soap dispenser and air switch for DW….they have lots of options. (Not great lighting….we’re in the NC High Country @4500 feet elevation and are completely fogged in.)
User
last year
Your chosen stone is very cool, your cabinet sample looks yellow next to it. I would rethink Alabaster. And that pendant does not go at all. Using Edison bulbs will make your cabinets look even yellower against the blue/gray of your stone
User
last year
I like the arabesque backsplash as long as you use a matching grout
mriebreeze
Original Author
last year
Yes i need to be careful i dont make the cabinets look yellow. 16 weeks lead time too late to changw now!

i think the pendants will tie in nice ! there will just be two.

heres the latest ive pulled together
Petra S.
last year
last modified: last year
My kitchen is not completed yet but I opted for this kind of tile . It comes different colours and surface shapes.

https://imolaceramica.com/en/collections/stile

Stools

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