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Please help! Sm Kitchen Subway Tile Advice

last year

We got new countertops and are planning for a tiled subway backsplash.

The kitchen backsplash area is only 30 sq ft, SMALL.

We picked up 3" x 6" glossy white subway tiles with a medium gray grout. The floor is gray.

I had wanted a parquet (some people call this basket weave) tile layout but I am not sure if this will work in such a small kitchen. When I laid the parquet pattern on the wall, it will repeat 2.75 times.

So the question is; Will the parquet pattern work in such a small space or should I stick with the running bond pattern?

PS The range will get replaced in SS without the upper control panel. So more of the wall will show. Also, the tile will sit right on the quartz countertops. In the photos you can see white where the old backsplash was up the wall.

Thank you all for your suggestions, it is greatly appreciated.

Featured Answer

enduring

last year

Thank you very much for sharing your project. it is lovely and you can see the nice layout. I love the tile layout. Please post more pictures as you can when you have the finishing touches and your new range. Congratulations.

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Comments (10)

shelleyjr
Original Author
last year
Has anyone use this parquet pattern in a small kitchen?
enduring
last year
last modified: last year
I installed a herringbone pattern in my small kitchen 12 years ago. I still love it. Be very careful with the color on your countertop and the patterns. It might be too much or not. And the gray IMHO should be toned down so not as much contrast as your example. Your counters are so soft and lovely, I think a grout too dark might be harsh looking. be sure to do a mockup board of several grout options before you decide. grout can be tricky in color. I’ll look for my kitchen pictures and post a few for your comparison needs.

right after the install in 2011. It still looks the same today. Its a marble that I hand set into herringbone. There were no available herringbone mosaics back then and I really wanted this pattern. I cut up a running bone mosaic sheet to get individual tiles to lay this. The grout was a mix of a white and a gray if iirc. I made sample boards, see pic. The wet cementious grout is very dark and lightened to what you see in this pic.

Sample board:

Before the grout:

Wet grout:

Dry:
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shelleyjr
Original Author
last year
Enduring,

We decided on a medium gray gout to hide dirt! LOL It is called Delorean Gray.

Light grout is harder to keep clean.
enduring
last year
last modified: last year
I just updated my post with pics. for what its worth my kitchen is 7x12 and with 4 doorways!!! Its like grand central station when there are more than 2 people in the room.
shelleyjr
Original Author
last year
Your marble herringbone backsplash is beautiful.

I do understand that gout will dry to a lighter color. I don't mind the lines showing for the parquet pattern, but I didn't want dark gray or black. We held up the tiles next to the grout sample in the store. The tiles have built in spacers of 1/16".

Our kitchen is in a condo and it is very small so I am hoping this pattern isn't too busy.
enduring
last year
last modified: last year
I used a grout from ”The Tile Shop”. But when I did other tile projects after the kitchen, I used a higher quality. The grays in the Laticrete line were numerous. Some with a lavender tint and some with a warm brownish tint. Depending on your tones in your floor and counter the tint of gray would be important for your grout. The grout I used in the kitchen may have gotten mixed with white to tone the grout down, as you can see in my sample board. I felt the straight gray was too dark. That’s how I remember it. But it was my first tile job, and I became a lot more adventerous with the bathrooms I remodeled, and got to mixing my grout, and even my caulking to more my likeing. BTW I find the grout on the backsplash doesnt get very dirty, not like a floor would. I liked the gray grout to add interest to the tile set, but not too stark.

ETA, very cute kitchen. You will love it. I like the tile pattern you posted too. Sweet pattern.
shelleyjr
Original Author
last year
Hello enduring

We finally got the tile installed yesterday, 9 Mar 2023.

We used Warm Gray gout #93 from Floor and Decor. It is lighter than the one from HD which we returned. We really like the final look.

Next month we hope to order a new stainless-steel range. Then other than some wall detail work the remodel will be done.
shelleyjr
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Here is the finished kitchen. We couldn't be happier with the end result.

I also posted Before and After pictures in a new post dated 6 April 2023.
enduring
last year
So nice and fresh! May you have many hours of happiness in your beautiful kitchen!
shelleyjr thanked enduring

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