Appreciate some backsplash advice for difficult space

14 years ago

I have been torturing myself with backsplash decisions. Cabinets are french ash. Countertops are soapstone. The entire house is contemporary and has a lot of glass throughout. But it is a very small and narrow house. Since I seem to be the only person on GW that can't figure out how to post pictures directly (obviously I am an idiot), below is a link.

I have a wall where the range and hood will go (first pic). This wall will have no uppers and the backsplash will go behind the range to the ceiling. This wall on the left has a cut out to the dining room area and you can see green glass panels that flank the front door. I was thinking of using solistone folia in wisteria because I thought that would complement the glass panels alongside the door (which you can see from the kitchen) and the black streaks will go with the soapstone. Then I thought maybe back painted glass that followed the shade of the glass panels. Then I realized I had a problem.

In the second picture, the wall is where we are placing a TV (excuse the construction mess). Because I hated the idea of a TV taking up a wall we had previously used for art, we decided to place the TV in a remnant piece of green onyx I found for a steal. The mock-up of what this is roughly supposed to look like is the third picture but it doesn't do the idea justice. The 4th pic is a pic of the Onyx sitting in front of a slab of granite (not mine). Below the TV, we will have a narrow piece of furniture that we are having custom made to store dog food (another saga). And also in that area is the dog sofa which you can probably tell based on the dogs, is not small.

So the question is this: since you will see the Onyx/TV on the same plane as the backsplash when you enter that part of the house, I think the folia tile is too busy. Should I just go back to backpainted glass in the more watery blue shade of the glass panels or will that clash with the Onyx? Should I get another piece of Onyx and do the backsplash in Onyx (this seems too much, too heavy and will take away from the soapstone). Any other suggestions?

Appreciate any advice you can give.

Here is a link that might be useful: in progress pics

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Comments (10)

francoise47
14 years ago
Here are some of your pictures for all to see:
labpa
Original Author
14 years ago
francoise47, thanks for posting the pics. One of these days someone will have to explain to me what I am doing wrong.
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remodelfla
14 years ago
I would only tile behind the range and paint the rest...not sure if that's what you planned. I agree that the folia is too patterned. The onyx is spectacular! It kinda depends on what kind of soapstone you got. Some are very "quiet" while others have white/caramel/seaglass veins.
sixtyohno
14 years ago
I love what you are doing with the TV. The onyx is gorgeous. Why not wait on the BS until the counter and TV are installed and you can get a better picture. I do love the wisteria.
Laura
labpa
Original Author
14 years ago
remodelfla, the soapstone is quiet. I had planned to tile/glass the entire wall where the range and hood sits and I need to carry that under the cutout to the dining room and around the corner under the sink. I am concerned that if I paint, there are three surfaces/textures to take in at one glance and there isn't a unifying theme to carry around the corner under the sink.

sixtyohno, I am hoping the Onyx is installed by end of day Monday. Will post a pic when its in. My GC is saying he needs the backsplash installed before he can put the hood in so delayed decision means delayed finish and I have remodel fatigue.
taggie
14 years ago
Wow that onyx is GORGEOUS!!!!

I don't have any advice on the tiles, but I wanted to say I totally love your custom-made dog sofa. That is so great. :)
enduring
14 years ago
Someone else some months ago faced a similar rush with regards to the hood install. Well, they decided to go ahead and install the hood and deal with the backsplash down the road. They would be able to take down the hood temporarily and reinstall the hood over the tile at the end of the tile install. It sounded like it was an easy solution to a stressful time crunch. Maybe someone will remember who it was that posted the problem and how it all turned out for them.
labpa
Original Author
14 years ago
taggie, the dog sofa is from www.bigdogbeds.com. Its worth checking out just for the customer photos even if you're not shopping for furniture for your dogs.

Here is a link that might be useful: dog beds
hosenemesis
14 years ago
The tile is superb. I would use it in a heartbeat. I can't wait to see the TV.
Renee
boxerpups
14 years ago
I loooove your dogs. The dog on the right looks just like
my Sister in law's mixed breed dog Roc that passed away
5 years ago. Roc was a mix of Great Dane and labrador and
all american mutt. He had the most wonderful personality.
In looking at your dog I miss Roc so much. Luckily for my
sil, a rescue pet program found her another dog that
looks like yours above. And it's amazing but this new
dog has a similar sweet gentle giant loving disposition
as old Roc had. Sil's heart is no longer as sad now that
she has new Blue to hug.

I digress forgive me,
The tile, onxy and entire projext is fantastic. You have
large rooms, space and you love ART. Don't be afraid to
go with movement from the Onyx (yes ordering another pc)
because this would be like a peice of art in the space.
This will not take away from the soapstone. I love what
you are doing. Got distracted with the dogs.

~boxer
(who feels silly saying boxerpups when I only have one pup now)