Need Help with Backsplash Grout

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

we bought a house with pine cabinets and stained them dark espresso so we could tolerate the kitchen. now i'd like to brighten it up with white subway tiles. but wondering what color grout? want to do 1/16th lines with a dark grout but not too dark. looking at maipei silver. added it in to this photo of out kitchen. would that look good? or should i do that warm gray? i feel like silver would be a better complement to the gold in the counter. i dont want so many warm colors happening. the lighting in this pic sucks btw bc its a mix of the natural light and the warm bulbs in kitchen so counter looks really warm. trying to brighten and cool the kitchen down from all that beige/tan color.

Featured Answer

brinnie

9 years ago

Don't want to be the one to say it, but I think the pure white would be too jarring. I know you want to get away from the warmer tones, but your (presumably expensive to replace) countertop is calling the shots. Is there a light speck in them you can draw inspiration from? There are subway tiles that would appear 'whitish', similar to the lightest tile in your present backsplash, but would have the warmer tones, such as a bone colour. That, used with a grey/ brown taupe would lighten up the area, but not fight the counter top.
BTW the espresso looks stunning with the counter....great choice!

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Comments (15)

Heather Petrone
Original Author
9 years ago
Anyone? Bueller?
smit2380
9 years ago
The backsplash and grout color both look like they may be a little too cool for that counter unless (i) the lights are really having a dramatic effect and (ii) you are changing the lights. If the counter is really as warm as it looks, I might go with a slightly creamier tile and maybe a taupe grout. Also, I would take off the 4 inch granite backsplash when you re-tile.
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sunnydrew
9 years ago
The white does not do anything to the counters. I would not change one unless you change both.
PRO
Skippack Tile & Stone
9 years ago
I know you want lighter, but white is the wrong color, it will not look good with the counter. Pick another subway in a pale cream/gold color, and a matching grout.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
9 years ago
White will not look right with that counter look for a cream glass subway tile.
Heather Petrone
Original Author
9 years ago
So this biscuit one? And what color grout ? Taupe?
Heather Petrone
Original Author
9 years ago
Btw this is the color of my granite. I think the lights are making it look way warmer in this pic. I was going for this color combo. See how they did white sinks?
brinnie
9 years ago
You will need to see if you can get samples to have in your lighting against your counter in your kitchen....all of our advice and online choices won't let you do that. Let the lightest colour in the counter dictate your choice with a coordinating mid tone grout. Think of it as you would if you were to select paint colours from a card with 5 varying shades on it....You get it home and put it in the room and check it at different times of the day in different lighting. Does that make sense?
acm
9 years ago
I usually take a tile sample to the grout place and look for the closest match. You have a busy counter, and you don't need to make the backsplash busy by featuring the grout lines...

(and yes, you need a taupe or cream.)
PRO
Debbi Washburn
9 years ago
I would agree with the rest - White is too hard again the counter you have now... the biscuit would be much better but make the grout close in color to neutralize the backdrop - you already have the lines from the beadboard in the cabinets and the pattern in the top - something needs to be simple... As for the bathroom vanity - the white sinks are ok in that top - partly because they are horizontal and then tied in with a hand towel, moldings and other fixtures in the space - the vertical color is much warmer while still being white...

Good luck!
Heather Petrone
Original Author
9 years ago
So something like this with matching grout would be better?
PRO
Debbi Washburn
9 years ago
Thats beautiful and it is a crackle tile! I love the crackle tile... it's like a little surprise that sneaks up on you...
Heather Petrone
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for your help guys!!!
Heather Petrone
Original Author
8 years ago
Guys I ended up changing mind about biscuit and bought a bone colored cracked subway. Thoughts? Here is another photo with more natural light. You can see left side shows counter under warm lights will change light temp to cool.