Backsplash border and Electrical outlets/plugs

15 years ago

I've posted before about choosing tile for backsplash. Below is the link to it.

I choose the Tortola tantrun tile and flat subway crackle tile for the main kitchen. And then just the beveled tile for the butlers pantry (there is no blue in that room).

I got the tile (special order) and now that i'm looking at it i see that the electrical plugs run along where i thought i would do the border! I originally thought i would run 3 1" high tantrum tile border 2 subway tiles up. That runs smack into the 3 outlets / switches boxes i have along the wall. So i could go below with one subway tile high and 2 1" tantrum tile and then subway tiles all the rest up. OR go with 3 1" tantrum tiles and the cover of the outlet would partially cover it.

Here are some pictures.

here is overall view:

#1 option

#2 option

or i can go up 4 tiles and go above the outlets which wouldn't be very visible (its 18" from countertop to bottom of cabinets.

or skip the border and do a big square box of the blue tile over the cooktop.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Here is a link that might be useful: prior link

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Comments (10)

Fori
15 years ago
Hmmm...if you're really attached to your first plan, you COULD move the outlets.

Yeah I'm a troublemaker.
sophie123
Original Author
15 years ago
Well do you think i should move them up or down? My GC would charge me for it. How hard is that to do?

Another thought is to do a box outline of the blue over cooktop and then herringbone pattern inside? I looked at it again and all blue over the cooktop is too much blue at one space so that's out of consideration.
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Fori
15 years ago
It's easy to move the outlets but the drywall will need patching and GCs hate to do it.

As to whether or not doing the stripe above the outlet, it depends. I'd see it just fine because I'm short. Looks like there's seating at the island so it would be seen from there.

On the other hand I suppose tall people deserve some consideration. Can you grab some of that conveniently blue painter's tape and put some pretend blue tiles up?

Bump for some ideas!
blubird
15 years ago
I ran into the same issue when deciding on a backsplash. I decided to place the strip above the outlet. It also helps that I can enjoy it even though I have 'stuff' on my counter.

Helene
sophie123
Original Author
15 years ago
Blubird - your backsplash looks really nice and good point about the stuff issue. I hadn't consider that i'm going to have stuff on the counter anyway. But then i'm not going to block the switches because of access.

I'm going to try the blue painter tape idea and try it above and below. I have issues with the UCL so the accent tiles may not look as nice high up.
Cloud Swift
15 years ago
I like the look of the stripe with two tiles. Since the tiles are 2", the stripe would be about 1/9 of the backsplash height which seems a reasonable size for an accent.

You could check the look of the two widths with your blue painter tape too.
sophie123
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for all the good feedback and ideas!!!

I haven't done the blue painter tape thing (can't find the tape and contractor isn't here) as i was thinking some more about the layout. What do you think about this layout of the tile:
NewSouthernBelle
15 years ago
Sophie - first, I love Sonoma Tilemaker's tantrum glass tiles. LOVE IT and it will look great with your blue island - what fun.
Second - I like the last sketch you did but before I even saw it I thought if the blue tiles as a solid block is "too" much behind the backsplash, why don't you use the subways to make a grid and put the small tiles inside the grid squares. It might be too difficult to figure out the math/layout/dimensions but just something that came to mind. Or maybe something like this but obviously with your blues and whites.

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Venegas and Company

Or this:

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by atlanta kitchen and bath The Furniture Guild
I don't love these colors but perhaps as a design layout, it is okay:

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Mike Cavallaro
Looking at the pictures I posted, you'd have to add another tile shape to your desgin but honestly, another shape, like square might be a nice addition to your small mosaics and subways. Maybe get 4x4's in the tantrum blue color.
sophie123
Original Author
15 years ago
I love your suggestions southernbelle! I'm going to see about getting a different size tantrum tile to insert in center of square over the cooktop. also play around with the layout a bit more.
NewSouthernBelle
15 years ago
Oh yhea - I am so glad to hear you like my suggestions! I found these too and thought of you:

[contemporary kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by dc metro kitchen and bath Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.

[contemporary kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Venegas and Company

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by boston kitchen and bath Rob Kane - Kitchen Interiors Inc.