Lots of different butterfiles and bugs lady birds bees etc - with cream handmade field tiles

I'm afraid I agree with Emma. Obviously, if you really love these tiles and want them then you should go ahead and use them. They are light and kitschy, and certainly won't clash with your color scheme. But I do worry they won't be as timeless as subway tile or some other, less personalized backsplash material. My priority when renovating our kitchen was to make choices that were classic enough that I wouldn't tire of them and thus wouldn't have to survive another kitchen renovation.

Maybe you could get one or two and install them in somewhat hidden places in the kitchen. They'll be your fun little indulgence and little secret - - set among a backsplash made of complementary solid tiles. I think they're adorable, but i don't know if I'd want a whole kitchen full of them. Congrats on your new kitchen!

I think they add a delightful bit whimsy, too. But agree that they might get "old" after a while, or if you decide to sell down the road. Perhaps a few can be scattered/tucked in to a single area where you can enjoy them - maybe behind the sink backsplash area. If you get tired of them, it would be fairly easy to update a single area.

I suggest you buy half a dozen cute tiles, add cork backing and use them as coasters. They are cute but cute does not age well on the walls and counters.

.Hi Thanks so much - I was only going to use a few anyway one or two behind the sink and one in the hob splash back and the rest in the ivory plain tile to match. Thinking of as you say, ALLDECOR of buying a few plain to be able to change out the patterned ones if I get bored. Not selling for 5/10 years - I love subway tiles but unfortunately have a funny shaped window sill that means they would look wrong and plug sockets means glass splash back would also look wrong

That will do the trick keeping these butterflies few in numbers will not make it look too busy and Garden like .

lol - I dont do busy !!! The cabinets are very uncluttered and mostly everything is away - I'm having a stainless kettle and toaster - the appliance and handles are all brushed steel - lovely oak surfaces and one wall in a soft olive with this huge mirror clock on it

A good way to try tile patterns is to put a few tiles on a color copy machine, run off some copies, then tape the paper up where you want to put tile. You can make as many paper copies as you like, even "tile" a whole backsplash with paper.

I love the clock; it is striking (no pun intended) and will be a dominant accent for the room. You might want to hold up the butterfly tile next to it and see how you like the two together. Often a sleek room design needs some warmth and humor, usually with accessories that are fun for the owner to pick out. For example, the Alessi tea kettle with the bird-shaped whistle is both sleek and cute. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Y6FT/

I'm not against kitsch by any means. I do think that it should be portable and changeable. Kitsch that costs you hundreds of dollars in professional tile installer time to remove if you have to sell sooner than you expect may not be an investment you want to make.

I am starting to think that and I love the clock and tis very dominate and huge and keeps the room light and bright and I do wonder if the tiles are too 'soft' for the rest of the kitchen and I really love the clock had no doubts about it at all.

Ooooh I love that kettle and its 'pratical' whimsey which I really like -

HI -- If you love the tiles , then do what makes you smile when you enter YOUR kitchen. Do they have some plain ones the same , then maybe mostly plain with several of the other tiles mixed in. You could also put some on trivits or a tray, or just display some in picture frames . They are so suttle ,I don't think they will ever be dated or look out of place .

Clock is excellent. I agree with you the butterflies: too soft!!!!!!

Hello Caroline,

John Nguyen and efty47 are absolutely right !!! It is YOUR house and you should definitively go ahead with what YOU like and not what maybe other people would like in 10 or 15 Years. - It is your personal style and if it appeals to YOU. - Your house should really be made mainly of what YOU like, that's when it becomes YOUR own space. And who knows, maybe just because of those tiles, the next buyer will fall in love with your kitchen backsplash.

And if the next house buyer doesn't like your style, just remember what you are doing right now. It seems to me you don't like the existing tiles which the owner before loved (or even hated but thought, the next owner (YOU) will like it.

And by the way: To replace those tiles by "spare" plain tiles, is a piece of cake for an experienced tile setter and needs about 20 minutes for one tile.

STOPP THINKING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD LIKE IN 5, 10 OR EVEN 15 YEARS, YOU'LL NEVER BE RIGHT !!!

Please read also these two discussions, they may help you to make your decision easier:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/can-my-new-mb-ensuite-just-have-a-toilet-sink-dsvw-vd~130530

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/gut-this-bathroom-or-can-anything-be-saved-dsvw-vd~164965

Regards,

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch
Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)
http://www.3D-Tile-Design.ca