Please help me pick tile and counters after flood

10 months ago

We had a major plumbing leak three days ago, resulting in loss of our kitchen ceiling and requiring replacement of back splash tile and one countertop. The trouble is I have no idea how to go about matching what is there. We’ve been very happy with the kitchen since buying 8 years ago. The only thing we would have like to change would be lighter countertops (the espresso shows every crumb!) and converting the dual height island to one counter level. The counter we lost is the one under the windows. So insurance is covering replacement of both espresso countertops and all backsplash tile. What would work well with the existing finishes? And, should we take this opportunity to lower the island too? Unlike most islands, it has an induction cooktop (not the sink). Thank you so much for any and all ideas! We were not planning to renovate and I am feeling overwhelmed, not to mention trying to function without a kitchen with two kids and two dogs :)

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Comments (7)

kazzh
10 months ago
I think you could do a simple subway tile, with a little surface pattern, with white grout so that the island counter becomes the centre point of a classic white kitchen. Counter wise, pulling from the island, you might be able to move towards dark shade in a solid colour, say a charcoal or dark grey, but probably not go into the solid blacks.
kazzh
10 months ago
Gives a little movement
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Thanks for the feedback and compliments on the granite everyone. It sounds like all of you are on the same page and think I should wait. I am having a hard time figuring out how to make that happen. Our kitchen project is a remodel and we hired a general contractor to do the work. His crew does most of the work. Our project is scheduled to take six weeks. With the lead time on the tile, I can't wait until the cabinets and granite are installed and still have the backsplash completed as part of the project. Would you all still just wait? The pictures were taken in my current kitchen and the amount of lighting won't be changing. We live in a heavily shaded area and we have very little natural light in our kitchen even with windows along the back of the house. The amount of light wont be a lot different in the new kitchen. I know the piece of granite is just a small part of the slab but with some of the grey and tan tones in the floor tile I thought the smoke would work better overall. I think I am going to drive myself crazy with all of the decisions that have to be made before this project is over...
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I disagree to an extent that availability, especially for a small project like this back splash, is an indication of inability or lack of skill to do the job. There are legit reasons why a subcontractor might be able to get to a job quickly, including last minute delays on other projects. There are also plenty of tile subcontractors who manage experienced crews of setters/helpers and are therefore able to take on multiple projects and fit in small jobs between larger ones. In the OP's case, the "busy" contractors were too busy to even return his calls. But he didn't even ask "Justin" if he had a tile contractor's license, but based his decision solely on Justin's availability to start the job immediately. I've nothing against contractors advertising on Craigslist because a LOT of people look there, but in my area, Craigslist is full of unlicensed and unskilled people looking for work. I've even seen them advertise with a license number, but if you take the time to look it up, you'll find that it is not unheard of for them to flat out lie because their license is actually suspended or revoked. Or, the number doesn't exist or doesn't belong to them! And checking the license should only be the first step in checking their qualifications to do a job! There are legit contractors on Craigslist, but you have to sift through the rubble. Spending the time picking out the perfect tile is pointless if you aren't going to spend at least equal time choosing someone knowledgeable to install it and being patient enough to be worked into their schedule if necessary. A decent tile setter can make even simple and inexpensive tile look nice.
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I strongly advice putting all the samples the way they'll be installed in the kitchen. Slab will be horizontal; the tiles and the cabinet doors will be vertical. The light hits surfaces differently depending on the angle; the color is perceived differently. try to put them together according to the order they will actually go. will be easier to judge the real colors (although not easy to hold them like that lol). I can tell you what I'd prefer from looking at my screen, but i feel it might be a very, very big miss. first, look at them in the right order. You can leave the paint decision for afterwards; you have the most possibilities with paint, so no need to pick it right away. choose your hard finishes first. As for mixing the metals-I'm wholeheartedly for the mixing:) As long as you repeat the finish somewhere else-I'd say you're good. But do repeat it, even if in tiny accessories. If you're having it somewhere in an adjusting room, open plan-also good. I love the second pendant more, but light fixtures are really very personal. Like watches..:)
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 months ago
How does a flood ruin a stone countertop please?
Laurie G
Original Author
10 months ago
Thank you! We have similar tile in our bathroom with some movement. I’m having a hard time picturing a counter that would work. Re the flood, the stone is not damaged directly from the water but is likely to be damaged when we demo that wall (which is soaked). Our priority is to save the cabinets.
stiley
10 months ago
I think simplifying your finishes would be an update. Since you have two cabinet colors, I'd go with one countertop everywhere. Can you replace the island counter? Even though leveling it out would be an updated look, if you aren't moving the cooktop, I'd leave it as two levels. Or if you keep the island stone, I think you should choose a plain off-white that is the color of the lightest part of your island stone. And is that tile where the counter stools are? Is there a way to make that section the same color as the rest of the island? Your kitchen is nice but I think some simple changes would give it a refresh. If you wanted to go a step further, you could swap out the hardware and pendants too. I'm sorry you're having to go through this unexpected remodel--it's so hard to not have a working kitchen!

Here are pictures with dark wood + white cabinets. A plain white or stone with subtle veining for the countertop would be pretty. The subway tiles recommended above would look nice.
Laurie G
Original Author
10 months ago
Thank you so much Stiley! Your picture is perfect and really inspiring. What a gorgeous kitchen. That’s not tile where the counter stools are, but some sort of wood paneling with a blue grey pattern. I would love to lower the island because it would be much more functional with small kids. I’m curious why you wouldn’t do that without relocating the cooktop? Safety concerns?
stiley
10 months ago
Yes, just for safety. I would worry about hot oil splattering or steam from boiling water etc. Or kids' papers getting onto the cooktop, although that's less of a concern with induction.

Please help me pick tile and counters after flood

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kazzh

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Please help me pick tile and counters after flood

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kazzh

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Joseph Corlett, LLC

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stiley

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