Guest Picks: Beautiful Backsplash Tiles for Every Budget
Explore 20 tiles curated by a pro interior designer, ranging from everyday affordable to art for the kitchen
Stephanie Sabbe
February 16, 2013
I am a wife, mother, and interior designer living in Nashville, TN
I am working with a client this month who strongly dislikes subway tiles. That's a new one for me. Subway tiles tend to be my fallback, especially on budget-conscious projects. But this project has pushed me to think outside the box and see what else is out there that would work. I've included various styles, both traditional and modern, for both high- and low-end budgets. There's something for everyone. — Stephanie from SabbeSpot
Ann Sacks is basically the Louis Vuitton of tile (though some of it is actually not that expensive). This collection is amazing. It would be like a piece of art on your kitchen wall. Good lighting would be a must!
The variation in this stone is subtle and gorgeous. The aligned grout joints have a much more modern feel than an ashlar pattern.
I like this tumbled stone product. The stones have a very traditional look, but the herringbone pattern gives it a little more design value.
This product is great for adding texture, something that I think is often overlooked as a design element. The scale allows it to work in super-small spaces.
Carrara is classy and timeless. The hexagon shape gives this a much more modern/edgy look.
Modern tiles in white can go in more transitional spaces — at least I think so. This reminds me of a cable-knit throw.
Again, Ann Sacks, you amaze me. The products are true pieces of art. Can you imagine an all-white kitchen with good under-cabinet lighting illuminating this gorgeousness?
I really like the green and blue hues of this tumbled stone. The herringbone also adds a nice design element.
This Carrara herringbone could easily work in a traditional or modern space.
This pattern has a larger repeat, and it reminds me of a quilt. You can send in a layout of your project with dimensions, and the company tells you the best way to incorporate the pattern. One day ...
This is another wonderful pattern from Ann Sacks.
Penny rounds are adorable, and this mint green would be so sweet in an all-white kitchen with coral accents.
Note: This is super hard to install well. Make a contractor show you that he/she has worked with penny rounds, or you might see the outlines of every sheet once they're installed — not good.
Note: This is super hard to install well. Make a contractor show you that he/she has worked with penny rounds, or you might see the outlines of every sheet once they're installed — not good.
I recently had a penny round project go bad (hence the note above). I decided to not go for round two and switched to a hex tile of the same scale, which was easier to align. I used this polished black on a backsplash with gray grout. It looked gorgeous.
This matte white works fairly well in more traditional/transitional settings (as opposed to the polished black version). White grout gives a very seamless/monolithic look, while dark grout makes every little shape pop.
I like the color variation in this penny round tile.
Stone Source is one of my favorite retailers. This gray rectangular tile would look great under white lacquered cabinets.
This sweet little Moroccan pattern is quite a deal.
I recently came across an image where someone used a standard 1-inch mosaic like this on a backsplash and turned it 45 degrees. It looked amazing. I am dying to try it myself.
This looks like a less expensive version of the Stone Source mosaic I included above.
I like the bold graphic pattern of this tile. And the price is fantastic!
Next: Ecofriendly Kitchen: Recycled Tile for Backsplashes
Next: Ecofriendly Kitchen: Recycled Tile for Backsplashes
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These are all great choices. I am attracted to the little moroccan tile. But don't forget us handmade til
e makers!
Awesome beautiful tiles!
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