You have several options - but explore each are to make sure the one you want will work or fit...

1) Remove some of the stones from the mesh and make a border that runs along the top, then turns 90 degrees and goes down the sides to the countertop. Will need to glue each stone in place and clean up any adhesive that squishes out.

2) Alternate piece of tile in the same pattern as #1 - like a pencil liner or small chair rail piece. Talk with your tile store where these tiles came from for good options. (See the pic below of something similar we did 5 or 6 years back.)

3) Colored caulk (from Lowes or HD tile isle). Make a line that looks like the edge of grout. Not the prettiest, but fairly easy .

If the stones were not up already, Schluter makes some edges that are designed just for that purpose - but they need to be laid under the tiles as they are being placed. (If the pic is just a mock up and they are not glued in yet, look at the "Profiles" on Schluter's website).

Hope that helps? Robert

Hi Jessica, you could consider adding narrow shelves that rest just atop the backsplash, someplace you can store little bottles of spices or small ornaments. Add lighting strips beneath the shelves,that when turned on, would accentuate the texture of your beautiful backsplash. To conceal the raw sides, Alex's idea of marble pencils sounds simple enough.

Does this area really need a backsplash? Can not tell from your picture.

Yes, schluter tile edge is what u need. U can get it in many colors, but usually try to match the taps, door hardware or other finishes in kitchen. Jolly is a square edge and rondec is a 1/4 round profile if u don't want to have sharp edges.

Where did you get this backsplash and what is it called. Thx

Our tile installation included a zero edge installation, meaning the contractor built up the edge with plaster so no edging was required. Custom bent metal caps of the corners. Both are easy to clean and we are very satisfied with end result.

Have seen this sort of stacked stone around fireplaces and other non kitchen (food) related areas, but as a backsplash, just wondering how do you clean it?

I can't see the your cabinets, however, you can try purchasing wood trim that matches your cabinets and top the backsplash with that. Then wrap around on the side and 'cap' the ends with the trim as well. I see you have the rounded wall edges, so you would have to cut back the tile at that edge to end evenly with the wall.

Hard to tell from the photo what would look best overall, but rather than buy more edging stuff, maybe all you'd need to do is trim the backing very carefully around the edges with a retractable utility knife and then add a little caulk (if needed.)

It needs a pencil trim to look finished and smooth. Use a color the same as the tiles so it blends in, and becomes part of the back splash. Using a different material or color would highlight the edges and look too busy.

Agree that you need pencil trim. But why wouldn't the installer have suggested this is my question? You have a lot of texture going on with the counters, the tiles and very textured walls. Maybe try a simple trim?

A tile trim solution is something I ALWAYS recommend
to my customers when there will be an exposed tile edge. You can see the light
bulb come on when they think about the raw tile edge being exposed and a
solution to that issue. Unfortunately many interior designers, tile showroom personnel and tile installation contractors do not think to recommend this solution.

Many of the more common trim solutions have already
been suggested but, just to review and add to the list you can use the
following:

1. Liner / pencil tile (Note: Available as matching wall tile trim piece or individual metal, travertine, glass, etc.)
2. SchluterSystems profile edging
3. Matching radius or bullnose trim tile (Note: Available as matching wall tile trim piece
4. Custom radius or bevel profile tile edge
5. Miter the tile edge and fill the void between the wall and tile with grout
6. Wood
   or other material trim (Note: Wood trim is not a good solution in a wet environment.)

The problem that you have is that with each of
these trim solutions they typically need to be planned in advance to provide
space between the tile and edge of the wall and/or counter edge).
Additionally some may need to be installed when the tile is installed they
go underneath the tile (e.g. Note: SchluterSystems has an integrated mounting flange
that goes underneath the tile. Note that in some cases SchluterSystems profile
edging can be installed after the tile installation however, it would require
loosening or scoring a channel between the tile and mounting surface.)

Although different from the tile shown in the original post the pictures below show a similar wall configuration where oil-rubbed bronze metal liner / pencil tile is used.

I created an Ideabook "Tile Edge Trim Solutions" with various tile edge trim solutions as described above.

Oil rubbed bronze metal liner / pencil tile

Oil rubbed bronze metal liner / pencil tile

Our stacked stone tile back splash with pencil tile.

Yes to the pencil tile or even try quarter round molding. Also, love this look.

If you wanted to go the expense you could have a small groove cut out of the trim pieces so they would overlap the rough edges of your stone. Otherwise, caulk or grout to transition from tile to wood.

Large pencil tile.

Several good ideas have been offered.

I just want to advise others that a backsplash in a kitchen should be of a material and texture that is EASY to clean.

I'm with you on that one, Pyramid. I look at all this photos from various kitchens on Houzz and in magazines and cringe at the thought of being the person trying to keep the kitchens clean.

Did a professional install your backsplash? If so, they should have cutback and removed the mesh around the edges that were going to be left exposed so the mesh didn't show. However, since they are already in place, that's kind of a mute point. Others have suggested a pencil tile to put around the exposed edges. I would suggest the same thing. With tiles this thick, they shouldn't be left with exposed edges like that because it looks unfinished.

I don't understand the concern over an easy to clean backsplash material. I rarely if ever have a customer concerned over cleaning the backsplash.

A backsplash is the "bling" or "jewelry" of the kitchen and therefore it should have whatever type, style or color of material that the customer desires and compliments the countertop, cabinets and design elements of the kitchen.

Other than the cooktop area, and that would be a rarity, what is going to make the backsplash so dirty that it needs to be cleaned or cannot be cleaned if it is a less than ideal surface? The majority of most kitchen counters are unused for food prep or other activities and are simply a storage space or just decorative as they are intended thus nothing to dirty up the backsplash. In the sink area it's simply water and very little as it is typically only overspray or splashed. I fyou concerned about keeping rougher, especially natural surfaces, clean make sure you have a good sealant applied at the time of installation and regularly thereafter (e.g. 1 Year).

If there is a concern near the cooktop area then tile it differently as an accent area to compliment the other backsplash walls with a more cleanable tile surface (e.g. glass, metal, porcelain, etc.) I personally have a 2" x 2" slate backsplash (see pic below) that looks as new now as it did 8 years ago when I installed it. We have a 36" 6-burner cooktop and I can't remember ever seeing anything that was cooked on the backsplash or ever having to clean it and we cook in-house extensively.

Custom, look at the specific backsplash in question with it's porous surfaces , imagine it behind a stove, then think of cleaning it. Smooth, flat & shiny is a different matter.

schluter is an easy and practical solution. they have any color or metal finish

capeanner,

To each their own. That's what makes the variety of tile and the variety of design styles and elements so great in home décor. Out of the 46+ backsplashes I have posted on Houzz (46 posted on Houzz, more installed) NONE of my customers made a decision on their tile based on the ease of cleaning. It was all about the design and look. And of those 46 17 are natural stone including 7 pock marked porous travertine.

If your OCD about cleaning get a smooth ceramic, porcelain or glass. If you]re not OCD about cleaning your options open up to natural stone, marble, dimensional texture porcelain, etc.

custom, it's the fact that I'm not OCD about cleaning that made me avoid a porous tile. I'm lazy and would rather not have a greasy wall because I haven't been scrupulously cleaning. People tend to go with look and forget about function. But, as you say, to each his own. I'm happy with my smooth, easy to keep clean backsplash and purposely avoided attractive but uneven and porous tiles. Being an artist I'm well aware of design, but I also have a strong practical side and both impact my renovating decisions. Form & function.

I think your choice of back splash should be relevant to what kind of cook you are. If you fry a lot, or are messy, than you may want something easier to clean. I am a "clean" cook with a high back range, so stone is not an issue for me. I also sealed my stone, so if I do get anything on it, I can wipe it off with a sponge.

I think the idea of a stacked stone wall is to give the impression that it was once an exterior wall. We did our stacked stone "splash" from the floor to the ceiling. Trimming the edge wasn't a problem, the stone just died into perpendicular walls

As someone who just removed a porous tumbled marble tile backsplash, in our new to us home, let me just say....YUCK! The tiles behind the stove were so greasy and grimy they were slippery, and there was mold stains in the tiles over the sink. We tried everything except sand blasting or pressure washing. There is a place for all these beautiful, textured finishes, but my kitchen is not it. @ custom, have you gone back after a few years and seen the condition of the textured backsplashes? This is another case of form over function, and it drives the remodeling industry.

I agree teamaltese, no matter how clean you are or how much you seal, these porous and uneven surfaces will attrach grease and grime in a kitchen and it will be ahrd if not impossible to thoroughly clean; if you cook at all it is unavoidable. I'm not a designer nor have I worked with one, but if I did, I would want the designer to understand the drawbacks in function and point them out to me, rather than letting me be captivated by the look. In fact when I've shopped at tile stores, which I have been doing extensively recently because we are in the middle of a bathroom remodel, I have been impressed that the tile store workers have made a point of telling me the plusses and minuses of different surfaces for my particular application as I look at the tiles. I agree that the look is very nice - when originally installed. Form and function can be combined successfully, but only by knowing that there are serious drawbacks to some materials, no matter how pretty.

Again, as I previously posted my personal kitchen with 6-burner stove and natural slate 2" x 2" stone (see previous pic posted) has been installed for 8+ years, never sealed and looks as new as the day I installed it. (see pics below).

Additionally, I rarely see a really dirty customer backsplash behind a cooktop and I've demoed well over 50 backsplashes. If I do see the rare dirty backsplash besides age of the backsplash I attribute it to the following three factors:

1. What you cook - Some foods are more prone to grease and splatter than others and thus backsplashes will reflect the cooking type and style.
2. Poor ventilation - If you don't have adequate over cooktop ventilation the greasy steam and/or smoke produced does not get pulled away and deposits on the backsplash and adjacent areas. Filtered non-vented hoods are especially bad in this regard. Note the 36" vent hood in my kitchen with remote fan motor installed on the roof. It has the size and power to pull the smoke and steam away which I believe contributes to the clean condition of my backsplash.
3. Lack of regular cleaning - If you don't spot clean the backsplash after you cook then it's bound to build up cooking residue over time. We cook at home at least 5 of 6 nights a week. We spot clean as necessary, which is rare, and have never had to do a major backsplash cleaning in 8 years, verified by wife who does the cooking.

So I still stand by my recommendation to select whatever tile meets your design requirements and follow the advice above. Some people are going to be pessimists and OCD about their tile and thus they need to chose what will meet their requirements. We all have our opinions and each person has to decide what is important to them in their tile selection, design or function.