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Backsplash Advice

10 months ago

Hello! I am looking for help choosing a backsplash for our kitchen. Our cabinets are maple with a cocoa glaze and the counters are creamy white quartz with a warm grey/brown swirl. I am thinking taupe tiles with a similar grout, maybe slightly darker? Maybe tumbled edges for a less formal look.
I would prefer timeless and my husband isn’t sold on a simple subway. He likes 3d tiles or something with movement.
Any ideas for us?
Thank you!
The last photo is a tile that has some depth without being too modern.

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Comments (6)

barncatz
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
Your husband will come around. Ignore his 3D request, and those undulating tiles. Your cabinets and counters can pull off the grout intensive backsplash look shown in these photo. There's his drama.

First, please consider a white tile. To avoid muddying and darkening your kitchen, with all its wood, the backsplash needs to be as light as your quartz, not darker. I also think a narrower tile would look better, as in the photo, than the squarer shape of those you're thinking about. Then, think about using a dark gray contrasting grout for the tile and darker cabinet hardware.

Lastly, it could be the photo, but your walls look beigish. I'd paint them white. Your kitchen has lots of potential: counters, cabinets and floor are terrific and your cute turquoise cart is adorable. Is that Ikea? I wanted that cart.

Rustic Reclaimed Chestnut · More Info

Here's a photo of the other end of that kitchen, and a few more examples:
ffpalms
10 months ago
Your instinct for a timeless look is a good idea. Simple white subway tiles are classic. I think I would choose white instead of taupe because white would tie into the pantry door.
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I have a very similar color scheme: wood floors, white cabinets (SW Pearly White), dark perimeter counters (leathered antique brown, (looks black)), light island counter (polished white macaubus quartzite) and grayish paint (SW Monorail Silver). I chose a matte marble subway (not tumbled or beveled, just flat) tile for the backsplash. Since I have a recessed niche with shelf above my cook top, I put in a skinny linear mosaic there which is the same coloration as the backsplash, but brings in a change in texture in the spot . It looks nice, but I would not have done it if that area was not a niche. My sister had a piece of her granite counter top fashioned into a square and had it installed there as an accent. It looks nice too, but it's just for decoration, she can't put things there bc there's no shelf. I cook cook cook everyday, so I need my salt and pepper, oils, etc right there which is why we put the niche/shelf which is why we varied the tile in that spot. If I didn't need or want the niche/shelf, I don't think I'd vary the tile in that spot. My other sister placed a large, beautiful, very old wooden cutting board with a long handle on it there, and that looks very pretty. It's practical because she uses it, and it brings in a nice soft and warm element in the midst of all the gray, white and hard surfaces. Since you have wood floors, that might be a nice way to bring an element up to tie into the floor visually.
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I think we are moving in the direction to do the island, perimeter counters and backs splash (all the way up the wall) in the same White Santorini Quartzite. Any feedback on this? Im sensitive to adding too many different materials into the mix. Is this too much of one thing?
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Jakowskib, room is darkish. Will try to add photo with daylight tomorrow. flopsycat1 no under cabinet lighting. This is an open concept condo with this kitchen at one end with bay window, then at the other end the living room with a slider to a deck. Not a lot of natural light, wooded area at deck end. Sholt576, the adjacent wall you see is actually blue and I can paint it if I don’t like the look when cabinet doors and backsplash installed. Lots of options there. Suggestions welcome. Thank you for the tips about the straight edge and grout, had no idea about that. If I stay with one of these tiles, will choose grout more carefully.
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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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beth09
10 months ago
Love your cab and counter colors, but wouldn't do taupe personally. Not because I don't like taupe, I have a taupe BS myself. But I just don't think it would work well. I would go light, either pure white or very light creamy white. Whatever works best with your counter. I like what ffpalms posted. :)
kt_stock
Original Author
10 months ago
Thank you all for your input! I guess I will look at some white tiles and see what I can find. I am worried to match the whites but I’ll bring home a lot of samples:)
@barncatz- the cart is from ikea! It houses a lot of dishes I use for serving and all shades of blue/turquoise are the accent colors in the house so it fits perfectly!
beth09
10 months ago
Just keep in mind, everything doesn't have to (or really need to) match perfectly. As long as everything works, you're good. And yes, bring things home and try them out! In daylight, and at night. ;)
RedRyder
10 months ago
White tile comes in a lot of shapes, so bring home a variety. Squares or arabesque can be wonderful.

Remember, subway tiles come in different sizes and can be installed in a variety of ways - stacked, herringbone, etc.

If you go to Tilebar.com you can get 5 samples for $5.

Warm white square shape : https://www.tilebar.com/montauk-gin-4x4-ceramic-wall-tile.html

Picket shaped - https://www.tilebar.com/kent-white-2-6-x-13-polished-ceramic-tile.html

Hexagon shape - https://www.tilebar.com/manchester-hexagon-bianco-4x8-ceramic-tile.html

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