backsplash feedback wanted, please

16 years ago

I'm homing in on a backsplash for my remodeled arts and crafts kitchen and hope to get some good feedback about my plan. Basics of kitchen: soapstone counters, golden oak upper cabinets, bottoms painted green (not sure of shade yet). I have purchased some Motawi tiles to use as accents...specifically the three 4X8 Dard Hunter flower series tiles in varying shades of oak and green. Link at bottom

What I have in mind is to set those behind the 36' range in a field of creamy yellow 3X6 tiles, with a black or green border to frame them. Then I plan to do the other stretches of backsplash in the rest of the kitchen (about 16 linear feet between two walls) using the 3X6's in a whirlwind pattern and placing 3X3 squares of multiple colors...mostly greens, golds, with maybe a peach, a brown and a rose thrown in...randomly in the center of the whirlwind. I saw an arts and crafts tile floor done like this and loved it.

The first question is: Does it sound OK? I mocked it up with a tile salesperson at one store and we both liked it, but....

The second question is: I can't possibly afford to do all of this in the high quality hand-crafted or hand-crafted look tile that mimics the Motawi Dard Hunter pieces. But I could afford to do the colored 3X3's in them and found some by a company called EPRO that seem to have similar glaze and colors. Will it look really tacky if I used an inexpensive Florida Tile 3X6 in the creamy yellow for the field? It seemed OK to me, but definitely not as classy as when we used all the lovely $28 a square foot tiles.

And oh yes...one thing to note. The Motawi tiles are REALLY thick and will stand out from the field...but they are glazed on the sides so it works, just making them more prominent. The EPRO 3X3 squares fall somewhere in between the Motawi and the Florida tiles in thickness. The tile salesperson said that she felt they would work...as the glaze slops over the sides a bit and they are not too thick. But they would not be completely flush with the cheaper field tiles...they'd stand out a bit.

Opinions?

Here is a link that might be useful: Motawi Dard Hunter series

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Comments (9)

jrueter
16 years ago
melissastar,

I love your inspiration tiles and think your idea sounds amazing. I think using a less expensive field tile can be a great way to economize without compromising if you can find a suitable match. I am a little worried about the difference in thickness between the 3x6 and 3x3 tiles. With your three Dard Hunter pieces clearly a focal point it might not be a problem, but might seem less purposeful on the whirlwind pattern. I would probably keep looking for either 3x3s to match the florida tile 3x6s or (probably easier) a slightly thicker 3x6 to match the 3x3s from EPRO.

Can't wait to see the pictures. Any chance you took pics of your mock-up and the tile store? It sounds stunning.
melissastar
Original Author
16 years ago
Sorry, I didn't think to take a picture! next time....
Yes, I agree I should keep looking. The fact is I found these EPRO tiles and the Florida tiles at the FIRST tile store I went to. And only been to two so far.

The ease of finding something that seemed to work so quickly has made me nervous. So many others seem to put in so much more time finding just the right thing...I fear I'm taking the easy way out and will regret it!
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melissastar
Original Author
16 years ago
Hoping for more feedback, please? I'm nervous about my taste on this...
sabjimata
16 years ago
Melissa, it sounds like you are a creative person with a lot of good ideas. I think your plan pays close attention to detail and natural patterns and will be very evocative of Arts & Crafts style.

Have you sketched it out? That may be helpful if you haven't already done so.

Also, there is something to be said about being satisfied and not over-looking. I have spent many a sleepless nite looking over tile, fixtures, drapes, etc. just to find that yes, I don't like what is out there (taking into concerns budget). So, if you like something, no need to second guess!

This is just my advice. I hope others contribute to your thread. Sounds like it is going to be a great kitchen.
palimpsest
16 years ago
I would sketch out the entire backsplash on graph paper.

One of the things you are going to have to be careful of are switches and outlets, which will interrupt the pattern unless the two are planned together carefully.

How much thicker are the Motawi tiles, and other thicker tiles? I am not sure I would want varying thickness on a backsplash. Are any of them going to have to be cut? --I am thinking around outlets again...those areas might look awkward.
melissastar
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks palimpsest: Good point about outlets, switches, etc. If there are places where the thicker accent tiles would have to be cut, they would look very bad. I THINK there should be enough plain "field" around each of the colored tiles to provide flexibility in placing electrical plates however. Also...haven't talked to my contractor yet, but I'm thinking about plugmold (that's the flexible strip of outlets you can place just under the cabinets, right?)

The Motawi tiles are VERY thick...seems like nearly 1/2". theEPCO ones are more like 3/8"s. And the florida tiles...well like usual tiles, maybe 1/4"?
chicagoans
16 years ago
It might help to ask your contractor or post a message for one of the tile experts (bill_v and mongo hang out on the bathroom forum sometimes), but I believe that a professional tile setter can make up for a difference in tile thickness with the thinset mortar. Maybe not the difference with the really thick accent tiles (which is OK anyway because of the side glazing), but the difference between the EPRO and Florida tiles could probably be handled.

I'm pretty sure I've seen this question addressed on the bathrooms forum but couldn't find the post.
belle_phoebe
16 years ago
melissa--
check out this link to meredith tile, who was a handmade art tile company that went out of business but is still clearing out their stock at AMAZING prices. I was planning a yellow subway backsplash and ordered a sample of their lemon creme tile. It is very thick (probably similar to your Motawi tile) and was pale yellow, absolutely gorgeous, very high quality handmade art tile--just was not quite the match I was looking for with my cabinets. There is a lot of it available and just $6.30 sq/ft on clearance. There are lots of other colors on their site in varying (usually small) quantities. I really want someone to get that yellow because it was so very pretty! They will send you a sample at no cost if you call the number on the site. Maybe you will be the match!

Here is a link that might be useful: Meredith tile yellow subway
melissastar
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks belle phoebe....I'm on it!