Tile backsplash question - would this look weird?

14 years ago

Hello,

I'm about to install a backsplash using 3x6 white subway tile in the kitchen and ran into a snag that I'm hoping to get help with.

Until a week ago, the sides of the kitchen counter, base cabinet, and upper cabinet were aligned, ending about 1.25" shy of an outside corner where the kitchen opens up. However, when my contractor put in a new butcher block counter, he gave the new counter a little overhang, so it now goes all the way to the end of the wall (to the corner). It looks nicer, but unlike before, the edge of the counter no longer aligns with the upper cabinets.

My plan WAS to just have the subway tile end at the imaginary line between the counter edge and the upper cabinet. But now that the counter and upper end in different places, I'm not sure what to do. I've read enough "where do I end the backsplash" threads here to know there are two schools of thought on this, but I guess I'd rather have the backsplash go all the way to the counter (i.e. all the way to where the corner turns).

Here's my concern: If I do it that way, the backsplash will extend ~1.25" past the upper cabinets. Will that look weird, like it's a mistake? Does it matter that the unfinished edge of the tile will show on the top?

I did have this idea: install a few pieces of 2x8" bullnose tile vertically at this end of the backsplash (like trim), so it lines up with the counter. Extend this trim an inch or so up past the bottom of the upper cabinet, cutting out a portion of the tile so it'll fit up that little 1.25" strip of wall. Then put a 2x2 bullnose corner tile (the type with two adjacent rounded edges), also cut to fit in on strip of wall, so that the tile is finished on the exposed vertical and horizontal edges. The hoped-for effect would be that the upper cabinets would look like they sort of nest into the backplash.

If you can imagine this, what do you think? I'm new to tiling so I just don't know. If you can't imagine it, let me know and maybe I can post a picture or something.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read and respond!

Sam

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Comments (5)

palimpsest
14 years ago
You can get corner bullnose for that top edge. You may want to mock up the appearance of each with some white paper and see which one you like best.
Lake_Girl
14 years ago
I think I like it to end where the cabinet ends, even though it's short of the countertop end. That way you don't get into that trim stuff (which sort of feels like the edges of a shower or bathtub to me). Do a mock up and see which seems best to your eye.
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maryl1
14 years ago
My backsplash lines up with the edge of the upper cabinet and is short of the edge of the countertop. A friend extended her backsplash to line up with the end of the counter. She finished the edges with a thin piece of wood trim that matches her cabinets.
sam_ny
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the replies.

Palimpsest, I didn't write this in my original post, the space below the upper cabinets fits *exactly* 6 rows of tile. So if I put corner bullnose on that corner, the finished edge on the top would extend under the cabinets. Then there would be a bunch of normal field tile next to it without the bullnose edge, which might look weird.

Anyway, I think I've just decided to line it up with the cabinets and be done with it (thanks for the encouragement Lake_Girl and Mary11). It'll still line up with the top and bottom cabinets (just not the counter), which I think would look fine. Plus, that outside corner takes some abuse because of where it is, and keeping the backsplash an inch in from it will help prevent the tiles from knocking loose.

Thanks again for the responses.
Lake_Girl
14 years ago
Sam - OT

What size grout (and what color) are you going with? This is what I'm trying to decide at this point. Also whether to add more outlets, and purchasing new UCL.

Thanks
Lake