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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Backsplash advice

last year

last modified: last year

Greetings folks, recently had new quartz countertops installed but are having a hard time deciding on a backsplash. Plan to wrap around the window area as well. We typically stick to simple design that isn't too busy. We've narrowed it down to:
1. Hex 3" honed marble
2. Rectangle 3x12 honed marble
3. Chevron honed marble
Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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PRO

Beth H. :

last year

last modified: last year

no to that glass tile! please no.

if you must use a linear mosaic tile, make it something like this (backsplash.com)

has real marble

https://backsplash.com/product/white-marble-glass-kitchen-backsplash/

or check out this 1x4 mosaic glass tile from Lunada Bay. (tons of colors and sizes)

i love this chevron they have (backsplash.com) it's 3 diff finishes of carrara done in a chevron

https://backsplash.com/product/ba631613-white-modern-marble-chevron-mosaic-backsplash-tile/

shown here w/wood. it's really pretty.

Or, this one may be pretty w/your wood cabs

https://backsplash.com/product/white-beige-marble-elegant-mosaic-backsplash-tile-ba6310/

https://backsplash.com/product/white-gray-gold-chevron-marble-mosaic-backsplash-tile-ba6311/

Or, check out Bedrosians. Zenith tile, makoto tile, Sahara tile. all basically this size. this one laid in a herringbone

Bedrosians tile, herringbone mosaic

BTW, are you planning on changing out your flooring? just wondering what color if you do

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Comments (16)

Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
Emma Gee
last year
I like the chevron best!
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If you like blue, you might try using a blue gray finish on your island cabinets only? It seems like so many try to attain a finished kitchen that reminds one of the old sienna color photographs. No one really wants to live in shades of brown and gray all over the world. That can be monotonous. I really like the backsplash slocoja shared in her photo. I bit of shiney is really pretty with the silver chrome appliances, but maybe limit it to one or 2 lines thru the center of your backsplash, and than use the choice for your countertops in the backsplash. I think you might enjoy that more long term. Especially since you have so many different heights of window frames, cabinet trim, lines of molded cabinet doors and vertical lines in your windows... Do a couple of lines of your silver, or even a dusty blue or blue gray even if you can find it(goes with any other color you can think of for the next 3 decades, like blue jeans do? LOL) if you like that amongst the backsplash which matches your counter top, and let your island be the color you have planned in your picture if so... That way your eyes won't tire of all the movement in the kitchen, so many angles on your backsplash, the reflection etc.. I would do it at the height that splits your outlets in half, one to 3 lines of horizontal mini tiles. Very pretty!!
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Not sure what it was supposed to look like, but it looks lovely to me. Agreed that I might have chosen a different grout color, but I assume (?) that decision was yours or a designer's and not the contractor's. It is hard to cut small tile pieces in general, glass or otherwise, but the only issues I see here have to do with spacing and alignment (and what looks like grout where the tile meets the counter, where it should be caulked), which probably are more about the tile than the cuts.
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I don’t know that I agree with no tile BS at all. Behind the cooktop I’d want something. I wonder if there’s a smaller size of the subway so that 2 full tiles would fit under each window? I think BS along that back wall for sure, up to window sills, behind stove up to hood. Can’t see how the right side ends but if open, no L counter as on left, then there’s a choice on whether to continue tile around on left side. Looking at how plug in plate is placed horizontally under window. I did that with all of my perimeter plug in plates because I have subway tiles. I wanted the plates to fit into a row of tiles & not stand out as they would placed in the usual vertical & higher spot. I had mine lowered to one tile above counter. Lovely as they don’t stand out & catch the eye. Maybe there’s still time to move your remaining wall plates along the wall down & into horizontal?
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Comments (16)
Since there is a a lot of variation in your counters, I'd recommend checking the color variation level for any tile you look at. (Levels go from the lowest V1 to the highest V4.) For V3 and V4, getting one sample tile won't show you a true representation of what an actual install will look like. For example, in the second picture posted by @herbflavor, the tile shown is a level V1. Personally, I think you'd be happier with a tile like that than with anything rated a V3 or V4. The example below is a V4, which I think would look very busy next to your counters. Your samples might all be V1 already, I would just encourage you to double check the specs when you look at tiles.
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lucky998877
last year
I like the chevron best for your kitchen. I usually like hex, but it doesn't seem to go in this case.
Jen g
last year
I like the chevron, very pretty kitchen!
Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
Thanks for the feedback everyone. :)

The chevron is elegant. Any concern with the white clashing or overtaking the countertops? It's a matte finish
PRO
Norwood Architects
last year
My advice on backsplashes is to keep it simple. A backsplash should serve it's purpose of protecting the wall but shouldn't try to command so much attention.
blubird
last year
Your counters and cabinets are warm in tone and your backsplash choices all appear to be a cool tone, more bluish white. i dont think you'll be happy with the finished product.
PRO
Gray Space Interior Design
last year
I think the hex-honed marble is very pretty! It would add some visual interest and subtle texture to your kitchen
Mrs. S
last year
last modified: last year
A lot of previous posters have asked this question and typically the reponses are that putting a natural stone adjacent to the quartz is not a great idea. If the match was really, really good, and that is what you want, then that would be your choice. I wouldn't necessarily dislike it, except that I agree with @blubird who points out that the tone of the marble doesn't seem to coordinate with the tone of the quartz. I think the two items are too close to match, but not far enough off to complement each other.

Additionally, why "honed" marble when what you have going on is a glossy quartz? The finishes don't coordinate either.

Perhaps, irl, the tones/finishes look fine next to one another. Based on the images I see on my computer screen, I wouldn't do this. I'd choose a warmer white tile and get a close match to the quartz.
herbflavor
last year
prefer the rectangle. maybe one day you can replace the floor. great space for a bit of a dramatic floor....so the simpler rectangle is my vote.
Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
Really appreciate the helpful feedback everyone. @Mrs. S, you raise some great questions. We started off by taking a look at ceramic and porcelain but weren't fans. So we pivoted to marble and loved the stone. It has been challenging to find a good complement against quartz but I hope we can find a good balance. My reasoning for "honed" was to reduce the pop / flash of the backsplash but, to your point, I see how that would throw things off.

I like the idea of targeting a warmer tile. Thanks again for all the great tips and will share some more pics shortly.
Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
Hi, so we grabbed a few new tiles. They look a bit different under our lighting but wanted to share some photos.

1. Polished tan/white marble - emits a yellowish dirty white.
Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
2. Matte marble - has both warm & cool affect depending on the angle.
Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
3. Ceramic Bulevar tile (polished) - wavy texture to it and comes in white or light gray
Mo Mo
Original Author
last year
We decided to move away from the natural stone and really like the glass . Hopefully this fits well

https://www.flooranddecor.com/glass-tile/sequoia-polished-linear-mosaic-100189075.html

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