Another.....


http://houzz.com/photos/203110

Thank beachlily for your suggestions. If I put tile, I would have to spend extra for the backsplash. And I would have to let go of the granite backsplash that the builder is including, for which I have to pay nothing.

Does granite counter with granite backsplash look okay?

HI -- If you can , it would be nice to continue the same granite for the whole backsplash . Other option is to have an accent pencil tile on the top of the granite backsplash that's there and then fill in the above space with a plain tile that is a close color to the granite . This way then you won't need to remove the short granite strip that is there .You could have the pencil strip tile in a chrome or a black or an accent color . It could be a feature .

Thanks lefty47. I have the option to go full granite but that would require an extra $1500.

We can spend that money but I just wanted to be clear on what we would gain beyond the standard 6" backsplash and full back splash behind the stove that is already included by the builder.

Is it more aesthetic to cover the entire wall up to the cabinets? Does it increase the functionality of the kitchen if I cover the entire back wall? I know most dirty area will be behind the stove and that is already covered with granite backsplash.

So, I am getting the feeling that functionality wise, it is pretty much covered, but I may be wrong. If so, the extra money will be for aesthetic reasons, which is also an important to consider especially if we decide to sell the house later on.

Can you please share your thoughts. This is my first house, and I am quite clueless.

this backsplash pattern/arrangement would complement your granite and add a unique touch besides the everyday we usually get to see. IMHO

HI -- It's only been the last 20 years or so that having a full backsplash has become fashion . All backsplashes use to be just a 4 or 6 inch piece . Your kitchen now would be just fine with just the painted wall space above the backsplash .It all purely comes down to the look you want . Maybe a bit of the function is the easy to clean factor .Sometimes it turns out to be --- better do it all now because you won't get to do it later . And also prices go up not down .

For functionality, six inches is enough, at least it would be for me. As for aesthetic, that's entirely up to you and your preference. The space between the backsplash and cabinet is a great place to add personality with paint, art, photographs, whatever your creative mind can imagine. For me, that's more fun but then I'm not a minimalist.

I suspect that what the builder provides will be plenty -- granite as a backsplash is a bit of a luxury. You can always fill in later with tile if you get the bug... :)

Hi---yes, continuing the backsplash to the upper cabinets is more favorable than a 4-6" return. It seems as though you favor a monochromatic look so I recommend a subway tile for the splash---white, off white, or bone in a glossy, matte, beveled, crackle, or rippled finish would look nice with your materials. I hope this is helpful. Good Luck!
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A 4 or 5 " backsplash is not aesthetically pleasing.
It looks like a bumper.
tile reaching the lower cabinets appears to give a more complete fininsh

Thanks everyone for your ideas!

If I choose to do full backsplash, I am thinking that may be it makes more sense to do all granite backsplash instead of a mix of granite backsplash and tile backsplash.

Another chioce will be to go all tile backsplash but in that case, I will have to let go of the granite backsplash offered by the builder (which seems not so wise to me financially).

Does it make more sense to do one over the other? Thanks.

I would not do a combination of 6" granite and any other material. A lot of people are trying to get rid of those small splashes now in favor of more stylish and functional options. You are not giving up much by letting that go. If you like the full granite look that your builder is offering for $1500, that would be a better choice. But I think the best choice would be a simple tile in one of the granite colors. Costs less, looks better!

Honestly, I think you need to trust your instincts and go with what will make you feel happy. Opinions are going to be wide and varied. At the end of the day, it's you that will be cooking and working and living there. Do what makes sense to you.

barrowp, I thought the builder was giving a very good deal by including a full granite backsplash behind the stove and a 6" backsplash everywhere else. Is that not such a good deal, you think?

I did see a majority of newly built homes with granite countertops and tile in the backsplash. I was surprised myself to see that and can't understand why people were letting go of the free granite backsplash offer and then spending extra and replacing it with tiles. Is there something I am missing?

Not every builder may offer that option. But again, if you like what he's offering, go for it.

Yes, you just have to figure out what kind of look you want-granite, ceramic, natural stone, glass, etc. One thing is for sure---if you decide to forgo the granite, the splash should start at the bottom of the counter. Keep us posted---Good Luck!

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In regards to the builder including the small granite splash---usually that small counter return is Always included with the countertop.

Natalie, thanks for the pictures.

Natalie and whynottryit, the homes I saw has the same builder as the one for my home. But I saw majority going for tiles as backsplash and not using the 6" backsplash and the FULL backsplash behind the stove.

Maybe tile backsplash with granite countertop is the current trend?

Aran04, how long do you expect to live in this home?

atleast 10 years, I think. May be forever ...

If you choose to do full backsplash, I think it makes more sense , you can also add a spice shelf between the cabinets , from the granite material 5 " wide , for a more aesthetic look .With that said , You are the artist believe in your self keep creating

ok...10 years... so trends will come and go in that length of time. If you know what you really want to have, then that's what you should do. As long as it's not cost prohibitive for your budget, get the look you want. That look is what you will be living with for the next 10 years so the decision should be based on what is most important to you. No one else can really make that decision. Of the choices you've presented, all are acceptable and appropriate so it is a matter of aesthetics and it's your aesthetics that matter.

Personally, I wouldn't even go with granite anything. I'm so clumsy I'd break every glass I own...lol. My sister remodeled my parents' kitchen after they passed and she used a laminate that she had finished off to actually look like granite. Unless you touch it, you can't tell the difference. She used a rough hewn stone for the backsplash that had a scattering of metallic tiles interspersed in it and she took the backsplash up to the base of the cabinets. It was a beautiful combination but a little boring for my tastes. My point is that you have a gazillion options for your kitchen. You just have to figure out which option is most comfortable for you.

Nowadays, people are installing the full splashes as opposed to the 4" or 6" return. I thought I'd share two of my favorite kitchens where the entire splash is granite. Note, both granites have movement-veins,-organic-like a piece of art-if you will. Your granite, is speckled, more consistent in pattern and color. If your heart is set on the Giallo Ornamental-then I recommend not carrying it onto the splash and possibly not for the range either. Of course, that is your choice---but, that is my opinion. I've also included several kitchens with GO granite paired with beautiful tiles---to show other options. Hope this makes your decision easier... :) CheerS!

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whynottryit, I do quite a bit of spills and breaks myself. :)

Another option was to do quartz counters, but at an extra cost. From what I understand, quartz is more functional than granite and would be a good fit for me. The main reason for going with granite is that it is all included by the builder.

Natalie, I am leaning towards Giallo Ornamental, but still do have a choice of two other granites - Santa Cecelia and New Venetian Gold. I generally like things to be a bit understated, so thought Giallo Ornamental would be a good fit. But am open to other granites as well.

The small backsplash chops up the already short distance between the counter and cabinets. Can make it look like an afterthought. See the difference?

I think you have enough backsplash. But paint walls a lightest color from granite. Looks good

Of your 3 granite options---I agree with you 100%.

Another thing, I have to actually go and choose the actual slabs.

Are there any guidelines on how to pick a granite slab - what should I avoid, what should I include etc?

Hey aran04,

Congrats on your first house! I love the plans you have for the granite and cabinets (white cabinets are both stylish and timeless). What do you think of this backsplash? It's hard to tell in this app design, but there are stainless steel squares scattered throughout the mosaic which would really pull the beauty of your appliances and cabinets together.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Christiana

christianagianzanti@arleywholesale.com

Ok, so I know that the current trend I is clearly for installation of a full height backsplash. Just to inject some balance, here's a pic of a gorgeous kitchen with a full height slab behind the stove an a very short border behind the countertops. Not voting for one or the other, just pointing out that either way can be beautiful.

Agreed. There are many different backsplash configurations that can look great. There is no need to fixate on one layout just because it is popular. Do what works best for your kitchen.

Frankly, I think that carrying the Giallo all the way up to the cabinets would look very busy. I agree that a painted wall above the backsplash would provide a nice offset to the backsplash over the stove and to the countertop itself. It would also add another element of color since your cabinets will be white.

I need to pick a slab for the kitchen counter and island. Here are the two slabs that I have narrowed down to. They are both Giallo Ornamental but with slightly different shades - one is slightly darker than the other. The darker one has slightly more veins, the lighter one is more consistent except for one brown line going through.

The attached pictures compare the two slabs. The one on the right is the dark one and the one on the left is the light one Giallo Ornamental..

The stuff you see in front of the slab are the 'design elements'. The white paper is in taking the place of white cabinet door, the little beige paper is the wall color and the wood plank shows the wood color.

Which one looks better to you? Please share.

Thanks.

@feeny Great pics! Thanks for agreeing that not everyone has to follow a popular trend in order to create a beautiful and functional design.

I remodeled my kitchen last year and spent a lot of time thinking about countertops and backsplashes. Below are some of my favorite articles by designers on the subject. Maria Killiam's blog has lots of other good articles you might also find helpful.

http://www.mariakillam.com/graniteishard/

http://www.mariakillam.com/which-backsplash-tile-goes-with-granite/

http://carlaaston.com/designed/backsplash-design-guide

For your home, it is mostly a matter of what you find most pleasing, not what anyone else recommends. If you plan to spent a long time, potentially forever, in this house, spend what you can afford to make it perfect for you. You won't regret spending that money when what you look at every day makes you smile instead of making you wish you had made a different choice.

If you are not sure what you like the best (this was true for me), find kitchen pictures that attract you on Houzz and collect them in an Ideabook. After you have a good number of pictures, review the idea book and look for common elements. This method can also help you narrow down what you do not like, which can be just as helpful.

Hi---nice choices-hard decision. I'm sure you were informed that whichever granite you select, will look lighter once it's installed because more light will hit it when face up horizontal. The one on the left is lighter and has more cooler undertones, where the one on the right is warmer---really depends on what hues you favor more. :)

The warmer one picks up the floor a bit more, but honestly, either will look great with the white cabinets, which are much more central in the design. Don't get worked up about choosing wrong -- seems like you have plenty of other things on your plate! :)

My granite rep gave me very good advice. She told me that the granite was going to be a "permanent" part of the kitchen, so pick the granite you like the best, and then adjust your other elements. You can always change the paint, and the floor looks like it will go with either one. and of course the white cabinets are a neutral. So, forget everything else and pick the piece you LOVE.

Remember when wallpaper borders were "in"? Well, that's what a 4" or 6" backsplash looks like. A small stripe of counter material or some tile that doesn't serve much purpose. All it can possibly do is make a moisture seal between the counter and the wall. That can also be accomplished by leaving off the 6" counter material and using a full tile backsplash that goes from counter to cabinet.

If you agree with this then ask your builder for a credit since you won't be needing the 6" granite all around the kitchen. Use the money you save on tile and do a full BS.

Thanks everyone!

leelee, the builder won't give credit if I don't use the offer. So the choice for me is either full Giallo Ornamental backsplash everywhere in the kitchen or only full Giallo Ornamental backsplash behind the burner and 6" everywhere else.

I think a combination of backsplash and tile would be just fine. You can't compare it to wallpaper borders. The two can blend quite nicely. We had a bar cabinet in between the kitchen and living room and chose to leave the area above the backsplash painted. In the rest of the kitchen we added tile with a glass border, and used a piece of etched marble over the cooktop with the same glass tile border.

Do not opt for the 6" granite backsplash. It's a builder standard because it's inexpensive for them and easy. It is never something that people do when they want to design their own kitchen. Leave the splash area alone to do your own tile later, or do a full tile backsplash.

Choice for me is either full Giallo Ornamental backsplash everywhere in the kitchen or only full Giallo Ornamental backsplash behind the burner and 6" everywhere else. If I do tile I will have to let go of the builder backsplash offer.

Aran04, I think you're going to need to do a copy/paste of that last comment every third post. It seems people are either not reading or not understanding. Your patience is amazing!

Free professional advice gives Houzz users appreciation, not a test of patience. From a design perspective we would recommend forgoing the builder backsplash offer. It's not the ideal look or material for a backsplash.
If you can't budget for tile in the near future, opt for the granite only behind the burner so you don't damage it durning cooking. You can incorporate that into a future design or tear it out and redo at additional expense (compared to just doing tile from scratch)
Our recommendation is still to leave the splash area alone to do your own tile later if you can.

I understand your point of view, however, Aran has made it very clear that she is restrained by the builder's options, thus, my comment about patience.

Get the date of the install and meet the installers at your new house. Have them install the full granite behind the stove & leave the strips unattached. You then get what you want.

I like that idea, take the backsplash and just store it for later.

I don't have the choice of installing only the granite behind the stove and leaving the strips unattached. I have just decided to go with standard back splash for now. May be put tile around the granite backs plash if needed later, or just leave it as is.

Thanks for everybody's help!