Opinions on backsplash please: Arabesque

Season Contreras

10 years ago

We have an open concept living room/kitchen area. When you look to the left, you see this:

Living room is empty- furniture delivery day

Here is a closeup of our new herringbone fireplace surround

When you look to the right, you see the kitchen. This pic is from the day we moved in:

And mid-way through our semi-remodel

Now for my question. I've been agonizing over the backsplash choice. Our new countertops are Snowy Ibiza quartz

Although I really like subway tile, my heart feels a bit let down when I think of them in my kitchen. I've had some friends suggest to do the herringbone to match the fireplace, but it feels too matchy-matchy to me. I'm visualizing using the same material as the fireplace, but cut into a different shape. That's where the arabesque comes in. It makes my heart leap, but I would like to get the opinion of the GW experts. :) Am I on the right track here? Will it work with my other elements that I have going on? TIA for your opinions. Here is the picture of the same marble as the fireplace, but in the arabesque.

Featured Answer

Melissa Johnson

10 years ago

It would complement the pattern in your pretty blue rug too. I love arabesque- I put it over my range with beveled subway everywhere else. I love the colors in your tile :)

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Comments (14)

PRO
Deck The Halls
10 years ago
I think it would look great! When I was deciding to use arabesque tiles as my backsplash, I found several kitchens that had both herringbone and the arabesque together; usually one was used just behind the range. If I can find them again, I will post them for you.
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User
10 years ago
The beadboard inside the cabinets and the door style reads cottage to me. I think a simpler shape than arabesque would be better with those elements.
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Season Contreras
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Mayflower, would your opinion change at all if we removed the beadboard? (Can't do anything about the cabinets quite yet.)
kelleg69
10 years ago
I say yes since you said it makes your heart sing! That is enough for me. Go for it. I keep hoping to find a pattern/tile that makes my heart sing. Also, I have a neighbor who did a similar arabesque tile with a similar quartz. It looks great.
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isabel98
10 years ago
I also think it looks great.
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somersetlass
10 years ago
Do you love it? Will it look great? YES! I say absolutely go for it. The curvature on your cabinet door fronts will be echoed in the curves of the arabesque to my mind.

I love it!
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oldbat2be
10 years ago
I'd suggest wait until the countertop is in, then post another picture with sample boards in place. A simpler tile may work better with your cabinets. You've really transformed this kitchen by opening up those cabinets, nicely done!
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silken1
10 years ago
What oldbat2be said: I don't think you should make a final decision till the counter top is in. It could change the lighting at the backsplash with a different colour counter reflecting light. It's lovely but I would not finalize it.
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PRO
Deck The Halls
10 years ago
Here is a photo of one of the inspiration ideas using bead board and arabesque tiles together that I used when building our house. Maybe this will help you decide.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-ideas-transitional-kitchen-phoenix-phvw-vp~5622388
User
10 years ago
What are you doing with the peninsula?
maven19
10 years ago
I love the herringbone on your fireplace (that's what we're using in our kitchen), but think the arabesque tiles would be lovely in your kitchen!
Gooster
10 years ago
I say, go with your heart. However, I would caution that you take a look at your quartz against a marble arabesque. A lot of real marbles don't mesh well with the simulated patterns in quartz, even with the shape to break up the pattern. You could also go with a solid or beveled ceramic arabesque. (Disclaimer: we combined marble subway with quartz, but in contrasting colors. we used a dimensional arabesque on our fireplace).
Karen Eagle
10 years ago
I also say wait for the quartz to be installed and if the arabesque looks good with the quartz, Go for it!