wow. who is doing the tiling? what size are they? what kind of material?

herringbone pattern, done one tile at a time, is the most time consuming. you need to know your math and have a square starting point while you do this pattern. spacers and a flat wall are needed. (they do have smaller size tiles in a herringbone on a mesh, so you get the best of both)

mesh tiles also require a certain skill because you don't want to see the grid marks between each sheets. you will have to do a staggered layout and possible hand-set tiles on the edges and some seams.

They both look equally fine when done correctly. grout lines depend on the tile you're using. they both hold up the same (why wouldn't they?)

these are both mesh.

1x3

1x2

sometimes w/mesh you get sliding. always best to do a bottom row and let it set, and then do the ones above it. otherwise the weight of the top will push everything down and out of place (hence you see some spacers used to keep everything equal).

if you're doing this yourselves, watch tons of videos, and know your products. do not use a mastic since it takes longer to dry. if using natural stone, know you will have to seal and use white thinset meant for stone tiles.

Looking at:

option 1: mesh-mounted 2 x 4 ceramic basketweave

OR

option 2: 3x 8 ceramic field tiles laid in herringbone pattern

Both in a bright glossy white.

Which option would look better?

Thanks!

Thoughts on which would look better?

Thanks

i have no idea since I have no idea what your kitchen looks like. or the tile for that matter. personally I like larger tiles, but that's me.

this is a 2x8.

typically w/the herringbone layout, the width and length of the tile should be divisible by each other. so 3x9, yes, 3x8, no.

this may be a 3x9, or 3x12. this looks better than the 2x4 ceramic

who is doing the tile work? herringbone layout takes 4X as long than a regular layout, and will require more cutting, so a 15% overage should be ordered.

if doing the mesh, your lines need to be exact, with exact spacing, or the entire pattern will be screwed up. I have done a lot of herringbone layouts. there is an exact way to start so you end up w/symmetrical cuts. you do not want tiny triangles anywhere on the backsplash. if you hate math, hire someone who knows how to do it.

Thanks very much. Do you have a photo of 3 x 9 herrringbone tile backsplash? 2 inch herringbone seems a bit narrow.

I am not doing the tile work. A professional will be doing it. Tips I can pass along to him for laying field tile in a herringbone pattern? Thanks so much!

lmao. what Jan said! Although, I had to help out my guys who did my herringbone wood floor. it's the starting point where everyone gets messed up. after that, it's simple.

Look up how to properly start a herringbone layout and read it. you need to use a speed square at the end of your tile in order to get the proper middle starting point. much easier to illustrate than trying to write it out here. This is how I showed my guys how to start it. see the blue tape w/the two lines? you have to start on the middle after you mark your corner.

that's the only way you will get perfect even cuts on both ends.

this is how most do it, and it's not correct IF you want perfectly symmetrical left/right borders. All he's done is set the corner of the tile on the line.

doing it like this will leave you w/one side smaller than the other:

see how the sides of the window don't match? this is what you don't want. your tile guy should be doing a dry layout in order to determine where he starts so he doesn't get this look or these tiny triangles.

Again,,,see how the ends don't match below? the right has longer tiles than the left edge. that's because of the way he started his first tile. And don't do these vertical tiles for your edging. get proper bullnose tiles, pencil liner or a Schluter edge.

This is a layout board of my herringbone for my shower. took a few hours in order to get this almost perfect. since this was an odd size, and the tiles were even at 3x12, it couldn't be perfect. the right bottom corner triangle is the only portion that doesn't match.

luckily, it's not readily visible! Even the subway tiles are perfectly matched. this layout took hours to get exact, even around the niche.

2x6

your 3x9 will be 1/3 larger. 3x9 is a good size for a backsplash.

this is a regular 3x6. again, a 3x9 will give you 1/3 longer.

Thank you so much, Beth! So incredibly helpful!!! So I picked out the 3x8 in a bright glossy white in Prett and Larson.

http://prattandlarson.com/product-category/field-tile/squares-rectangles/

I love the bright white color and unfortunately, it doesn't look like it comes in 3x9. 2 inch width seems too narrow and 4 inch width seems too chunky. For 3 inch width, would just be 3 x6 which just seems ok, but not as interesting.

Alternatively could do chevron.

http://prattandlarson.com/tile/field-tile/chevron-field/

Or other shapes.

http://prattandlarson.com/product-category/field-tile/shapes/

The 2x4 basketweave mosaic I mentioned earlier is in Group C on the following webpage.

http://prattandlarson.com/product-category/mosaics/

I agree larger scale is generally better. Just not sure what to do here....

Thanks!

I actually love the chevron, or the other P&L. it's a hard decision. since you're doing plain old white, at least get something in a pattern.This is their Ogee

it all depends on the rest of your kitchen and what everything else looks like.

Encore ceramics has a lot of different glaze colors. this one is Bali, but it's a 3x8.

they have a color called Milk and Quail gloss, that are your whites.

if you have to do a white, at least make it interesting

you can mix/match any of their glazes
and they do all diff size chevron/herringbone as well

oh, and here is a 3x12 tile herringbone

Thanks so much! I agree about doing an interesting pattern with the white.

Do you have a photo of 3 x 9 herringbone backsplash?

You forwarded the 3 x 8 herringbone by Encore but I thought it didn’t work because numbers are not divisible. Do you think it looks ok?

Our kitchen cabinets will be bright white (Cabico Essence in Latte color) and planning to do Silestone Iconic white for counter - also a bright white. Planning on mix of brass hardware and stainless/nickel in appliances and lighting to add visual interest.

Pratt and Larsen has a really pretty bright white. Encore’s bright white is ok but not as pretty. It is called pure white. But could do it in an arched 2 x 4 herringbone which would be interesting but I also generally prefer larger scale.

Not sure what to do here!

Actually it is Sonoma not Encore with the arched herringbone. Here it is:

https://sonomatilemakers.com/product/stellar-2x4-arch/