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brittlenay

Tile whole wall? Talk me out of it!

9 years ago

We are almost done with our house remodel! I found a different countertop (had my heart set on London Sky by Zodiaq, turns out it's back ordered until near July), so going with Cararra Grigio from MSI. Cabinets came in the other day- still some finish work to be done. Had a small mix up in communication and hood cabinet is 48" instead of 36" so it's a little crowded. NOW- backsplash. Thoughts: I am in LOVE with both pictures listed below. Love that Walker Zanger tile - but will I regret it?? I have room for shelves just like in the picture... And then what do I do for wall with sink and window? I love the look of carrying the counters up to Windows. Can I do both? Should I skip tile and carry countertops up to the cabinets and under the hood? Pictures of my unfinished kitchen are below as well. HELP please

Comments (37)

  • 9 years ago

    I prefer the second, with the counters going up to the windows and/or to the upper cabs. The first photo is lovely, if that's the look you want. It's not for me; it's just too much.

    brittlenay thanked Bunny
  • 9 years ago

    I love the full wall of tile!

    brittlenay thanked brdrl
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Do both, each in its place. The range/sink wall can get beautiful tile, and the window wall can get slab Quartz. It's going to be lovely. You're not limited to Walker Zanger by the way. Here is Nejarine from Mosaic House. They have so many beautiful options.

    They have have encaustic tile as well. This is Rosa.

    brittlenay thanked eam44
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks!! Yes- I've been searching for different tile, thank you!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What does your kitchen open into? Just a breakfast nook or is it a great room?

    I really like the tile wall, but I think if you do both, it will be rather busy. And limit what is going on in other spaces, if the kitchen is open to the main living area.

    If it is open, then the countertop up to the windows and behind the range would be very nice and a little less busy.

    Also...have you thought about wallpaper? You could have a bright bit of color and pattern behind your shelves, but without the difficulty in replacing it as you would with the tile. Just be sure to prime well, before applying the wallpaper : )

  • 9 years ago

    What a lovely gray. What color is it?

    brittlenay thanked beachem
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks! Lavender_lass - it opens to a dining room which is open to the living room - L shaped with a master bedroom and bath in the other corner (small, 1800 sq foot lake cottage - our year round home). The fridge is the end cabinet that is floor to ceiling, so I would not take the tile any farther to the left of the fridge. Do you think just tiling the wall to the right (around window, under cabinets and hood) will still look too busy? And then what do you think to do with the sink wall? My original thought was to just carry the countertops up- but now I'm thinking it's looking a bit drab and the tile would really give it some character!??

  • 9 years ago

    Beachem - it's Ashwood by Benjamin Moore, I love it! Not too warm, not too cool!

  • 9 years ago

    I think a LOT of tile is a good way to add a designer touch to your kitchen. As long as it doesn't conflict with the counter tops.....which are going to be???

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you. I didn't remember seeing that color.

  • 9 years ago

    Nicole___ counters are Quartz, Carrara Grigio

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If it's just the dining room....then why not? Have some fun with the space! How bold do you want to go?

    I like this kitchen from HGTV's Fixer Upper....but it's pretty bold : )

    Or you could play it a little more safe...but still very pretty.



  • 9 years ago

    Ooh that top one is fun!! Really liking big patterned tiles!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think the full wall is pretty I vote for doing it on one wall. As an aside our countertop fabricator suggested we look at Cararra Grigio for our countertops as he wasn't sure he could get our initial choice in a large enough slab for our island. We ended up going with Cosmos Ventian Extra White, but it was almost identical to Cararra Grigio!

    brittlenay thanked maven19
  • 9 years ago

    We did a whole wall in our new kitchen. Just for another example.




    brittlenay thanked Rachel Dutton
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Lavender Lass, do you remember what season/episode of Fixer Upper this kitchen was from?

    I love the island. It reminds me of one that I saw at Williams-Sonoma.

    p.s. Love the patterned tiles, but I think you have to really be sure when you do a whole wall like that.

    brittlenay thanked ediblekitchen
  • 9 years ago

    It looks to me like you don't have much wall space to really get the impact of full patterned tiles. I think they would be too chopped up; your inpiration picture has a lot more wall than you seem to have.

    brittlenay thanked sheloveslayouts
  • 9 years ago

    Benjesbride- thanks for your input! Let me get a better picture up tomorrow from a different view and let me know if you still think the same please. I cannot make a decision!!

  • 9 years ago

    I think the mariakillam.com article, "Encaustic Tiles: Should You Embrace The Trend?" is worth reading. Link: HERE

    brittlenay thanked sheloveslayouts
  • 9 years ago

    l love both looks as well. What kind of look/feel are you going for? Back splash up the the windows feels vintage to me, like a 1940's kitchen. Which I love FWIW. A full wall of tile has an European or exotic flavor for me. Think old world or Moroccan kitchens. Either will look great, but I would choose something that flows with the rest of my house.

    brittlenay thanked sasandfat
  • 9 years ago

    Benjesbride- thanks! Deep down I know it's not a good idea...but until I find something I like more - I don't know what to do hah! I was set on calacatta marble for countertops- knowing its an extremely poor choice, as we are not clean cooks and love red wine- and am happy I found a Quartz alternative that I like just as much! Any ideas for an alternative backsplash? I'm bored of subway tile- I mean I love them- but with the encaustic tiles (thank you for teaching me a new word today) it gives some energy to the kitchen and makes it feel homey to me- Dresses up the white/gray/blah. I love accenting with color which is why I stick with neutral, so maybe when I get some art/dishes/food out etc it will start to give me a better vibe?

    sasandfat- I have a very eclectic taste According to Hudson Valleys lighting style quiz - "vintage chic & industrial". I don't go by the rules- I'm guessing if I post end pictures of my house some will be saying "wth was she thinking?!".

    any other ideas??

  • 9 years ago

    Brittle- Eclectic can be challenging, but always a lot of fun! Our kitchen is definitely unique : )

  • 9 years ago

    Edible- Here's a link...and a few more pictures. It was the kitchen in the 'barn' home.




    http://www.hgtv.com/vertical/shows/fixer-upper/fixer-upper-a-very-special-house-in-the-country-pictures

  • 9 years ago

    Oh that kitchen and house look amazing!!

    Lavender_lass - any pictures of your kitchen I can see??

    I should have added our house was built by the previous owner and it's just a tiny house built of stone on 2 sides- built in '77...no real architectural style.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I need to take new pictures...hoping to finish painting next week, as soon as we get the new garden finished.

    Here's a few older pictures from last fall...


    Oh...I REALLY need to take new pictures! LOL I finished the wood floor and moved the butcher block to another area. Slacking : )

    brittlenay thanked Lavender Lass
  • 9 years ago

    Lavender Lass, thank you!!!!

    Brittlenay, that barn was built in 1980 and was pretty devoid of style, so it's amazing what can be done.

    Love the idea that cawaps mentions about putting up photocopied tile to see if you like it. Now, I have to go check out that reveal.

  • 9 years ago

    Cawaps- thank you!! So smart!!! I'm going to do that!

    Lavander_lass - so cute!! Love the patterned drawers! And the green- so much character!

    Wendy- thanks! We gutted the entire house and are done with everything but kitchen and main floor bath. Shaker 3 panel doors, shaker cabinets, wide shaker style trim. We used tongue and groove knotty pine boards and reversed them on the ceiling and painted white - so there is some cracking and wearing, turned out great! I did black octagon floor tile with white subway tile for wall in downstairs bath and got sconces from RH. I don't know, Ha- I think it's going to be vintage chic farmhouse meets rustic / industrial?! :)

  • 9 years ago

    Ah, okay. Then you do have a style going. I can delete then.

  • 9 years ago

    Sound great, btw. Would live to see pics!

    brittlenay thanked Wendy
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks Wendy! I will definitely upload when a bit more finalized! Any votes for tile vs carrying counter top up for backsplash OR???

  • 9 years ago

    I vote for tile. Love it!!

  • 9 years ago

    Love the exterior of the barn house. Thanks Lass for sharing the link.

    Plus that green is super sweet.


  • 9 years ago

    If you love the tile, then you should do it. Are there pictures of your downstairs bath posted anywhere? Sounds really nice.

  • 9 years ago

    Saw this pretty tile and thought about you.


    Cherry Hills · More Info

  • 9 years ago

    I hated tile for the backsplash, give me a painted wall any day no issues with putting something on the wall....that being said you should note that the great tile pictures all have lovely large wood trim around the windows etc....

  • 9 years ago

    293summer, that was the inspiration photo I showed the architects! I love that kitchen. In the end, we went more modern than those tiles and my husband wasn't too bummed, because those Ann Sacks tiles are PRICEY.

    Brittlenay, I love the wall of tile, but I agree that it should be done only if there is enough wall space. With the right tile, it could be stunning. And I love the Xerox mock up idea.