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Kitchen backsplash tiling - Grey or white grout

13 years ago
Hello! I'm in the process of a new backsplash for the kitchen. Cabinets off- white, walls behr silver screen birch woodblock counter top. Got nice white subway tiles and some accent mosaic to break it up. Dilemma. What color grout? Wife suggests a light grey. I like white. Wife thinks grey is a little industrial and interesting ( read easier to keep clean). I like the whiteness. I already overruled;) on the accent tiles ( she wanted slate in a wide variety of colors and I liked glass) .....
People with design taste - please help with the decision and also other suggestions. Thanks for your input!

Comments (28)

  • 13 years ago
    sorry, a little confused. What is the multi-colored tile shown on butcher block?? As for the subway backsplash, I would do white or a VERY pale gray. Grout isn't a design element, let it fade into the background.
  • 13 years ago
    The top slate tiles are the ones my wife chose. We would have only used a band of them too. Just showing them for reference!
  • 13 years ago
    There are tons of grout colours. Go discreet. Possibly the lightest colour for the backsplash on the top photo and light grey for white subway tiles.
    Some things are made to not STAND OUT like garages in weird colours. Am I right?
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Use white for the grout, imo.
  • 13 years ago
    Gray grout.
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Oh you have to go w/ a light gray. White will be too much; it will just pop out at you from across the room and it will NOT be the beauty of the tile you spend so much money on that gets noticed. And yeah, on keeping it clean. Dirt is going to really show. And b/c of that, no matter how much she makes you clean it ;) they aren't going to stay that nice bright white over the years.
  • 13 years ago
    oh wait, I'm sorry but I'm still confused I think. I don't even know if I'm confused. Which do you mean by the top tiles. The tiles around the top of the counter are white. Ok, if you have the white tiles, in my opinion you should go with the white. b/c the gray would then do what I explained the white would do in the last one. You want to go with the flow in grouting. It should usually just compliment and fall into the background.
  • 13 years ago
    Off-white---not bright white, not gray.
    I like the tiles your wife chose too-as they seem a bit warmer than the glass mosaics. I think it all looks well-but if she likes warmth then I suggest painting the walls a little warmer hue such as Stonington Gray by Ben Moore. Pic for inspiration. Good Luck!
    [houzz=
    Kitchen · More Info
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  • 13 years ago
    The first picture of the colourful tiles are the ones we are not going to use. We have gone with the glass tiles and white subway tiles you see on the walls. Sorry for the confusion .
    Thank you for your comments.
  • 13 years ago
    I'd go with a pale grey grout, not white...too stark. Gray would focus on the grout. Beautiful tile choice!
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I would just go a shade off from the white of the tile. So that the grout does not blend in with the tile. Definitely NOT Grey. You want your tiles to show not grid of the grout! I will also recommend you to seal the grout. There are very good sealers available in the market now, like dry treat that a reputed store will have. They are said to seal the protected surface for 10-15 years!
    Also, you may want to add an area of accent. I will recommend you to visit www.artpalette.net for beautiful ideas.
  • 13 years ago
    You are getting a lot of confused advice because of your picture of a slate tile which you are not even using. I'm not sure why you would want to introduce grey or off white as a grout for white tiles. Bright white is the way to go. Even using bright white it is not going to be an exact match to you tile so you are still going to have a slight contrast of color and texture.
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    I agree with those suggesting a color of grout just a shade or two darker off-white than the white of the tiles. We have ivory subway tiles with "alabaster" grout, which is just a hint darker than the ivory for contrast. So the tiles have a very subtle outline, but are not nearly as accented as they would be with gray.
  • 13 years ago
    Unless you use the kitchen more than she does (which you don't), but out. It should not be about what is right but about what she wants.

    Another problem is that what one person calls a light grey, another person will call white.
  • 13 years ago
    white
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Off white
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I think I would go with a very, very light gray. Not bright white.
  • 13 years ago
    I would use white. Use a grout sealer to keep it looking bright.
    If you use grey, I am afraid it will look too busy. You already have all the contrast you need in the multi color glass mosaic.
  • 11 years ago

    search pictures online of both gray and white grout with the white tiles you have and see which way looks better

  • 11 years ago

    White epoxy grout so no cleaning or staining.


  • PRO
    11 years ago
    I am with you on this one, White grout. I do not specify accent tile because there is so much interest in the kitchen with appliances, floor, cabinets, counter, etc. If my client really had to have it, go with glass. Can you create a focal point with tile behind cook top? It looks best same color different shapes, if you are both not agreeing. Good luck
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    I am with you on this one, White grout. I do not specify accent tile because there is so much interest in the kitchen with appliances, floor, cabinets, counter, etc. If my client really had to have it, go with glass. Can you create a focal point with tile behind cook top? It looks best same color different shapes, if you are both not agreeing. Good luck
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    This post is from 2012.

  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Lol, how did it post again? Maybe they never decided
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Once entered, they are always out there for research and can be referred back to by subject matter. Houzz maintains huge databases that can be searched.

  • 10 years ago

    With white subway tile use a light gray

  • 9 years ago

    Grout color for multi colored and random stripped glass and stone tiles