Diana -- Wah . I'm afraid of those responses.

LOL

mjammajam, I was really, really rooting for the arabesque, but Diana knows best. In the end all you really care about is a wow kitchen, not a wow backsplash.

PS I don't say Diana knows best because she is a pro necessarily. I just happen to love what her portfolio looks like and all the advice she gives is winning to me.

Oh my goodness, Rita, thank you, that is so nice to hear!

Hi Everyone!

Guess what I picked up today??!! I have to select the grout too. Any suggestions about grout - sanded or unsanded? Brand?

And I still need pendants, guys.....

I still like these: Here's a HOUZZ photo using them in a similar kitchen with the same 8' ceilings

Globe Pendant · More Info

Anchorage · More Info

Here's mine:

Thanks so much!!!!

xo

mjamm, how long did it take to get your Encore order?

I put an order in about 1-1/2 weeks ago and I'm hoping they come in early November so I can get them installed before Thanksgiving when I have family visiting. I am going with a matte and jewel combination, different design. Yours look great!

Hi Chispa,

I ordered the backsplash the day before my daughter's wedding (September 7th) when CPARTIST came to my house to help me. I would have continued writing on that post, but I can't find it. So, it took 5 weeks. Now I need to match grout and find someone to install it. Waiting on 2 estimates now -

What 2 colors did you choose? Any pics?

Any pendant suggestions? LOL

mjamm, thanks, 5 weeks would be great and I'm closer to their factory than you are! That would give my GC a week and a half before my parents show up! GC also needs to finish under cab lights and plugmold. I think my DH also offered our house for some event in early December, so having everything finished would be nice.

I went with Bianca matte and Glacier Jewel in the Tamara design. It was hard finding the right colors to go with Taj Mahal. The Glacier looks like it has a touch of gold in my space, which ties in with my rustic brass hood. For some strange reason many of the off-white colors I tested turned very yellow in my kitchen.

I like the pendants, but are you getting brass? Do you have any other brass in the kitchen?

I am also looking for a new pendant for over the main sink. Saw one at Hudson Valley lighting that might work, but I might wait till the backsplash is in to make a final decision, but then I probably won't have it when the GC is here. I know how to install one and it is at 9 ft so an easy enough height to work at. Decisions, decisions! ;-)

Mjammjam,
Any pics of your finished backsplash??? Looking at the same one and would love to see it finished!

Wow what a stunning kitchen and how nice to have it memorialized looking so neat! Just stellar! @mjammjam

Gorgeous!!!

We are looking at encore arabesque tile right now for our kitchen remodel as well! We installed Taj Mahal for the countertops. What color did you ultimately do in the arabesque? And did you do one color or two?

I did two colors --- Silver and shadow - So glad I didn't do the plain subway. I get a ton of compliments on this backsplash. However, I do regret not getting Taj Mahal countertops.

I just finished my remodel. I used silver and shadow arabesque under my hood and silver crackle glaze subway everywhere else. My countertops are Dekton taga which look like Taj Mahal. I love it so much.

Stunning!!!

It’s Gorgeous!!! I was also wondering what colors mjammjam used! I have Taj Mahal and I was leaning towards the smoke crackle arabesque but didn’t know what other color to mix it with! Picking up backsplash with Taj Mahal has been so difficult

What size did you use for the running brick pattern on the side?

I used 2x6. It is really beautiful in person and is perfect with Taj. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions.

Is shadow the darker tone?

catherine, if you want a closer shot, this one is Shadow (the darker) and silver crackle glaze(, the arabesque shape)

Shadow quartz by itself.

they also have the Shadow crackle with a marble. I love this one

This is my actual mosaic before installation. I did the arabesque in shadow (darker) and silver crackle (smaller).

stephanie, nice. those colors are really diff.

this is the online pic of those two. shows more taupe.

compared to yours in this photo

Beth, it’s definitely more taupe in person.

Mjammjam I love your barstools- would you mind sharing where you got them?

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/lenox-bar-counter-stools-h3149/?cm_cat=Google&sku=8746891&region_id=669950&catalogId=71&cm_ite=8746891&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0rSABhDlARIsAJtjfCfjf-5apMp2zSbBIsGAis3xOmpAK1ovNubHvTF_mSC1-Y2YLazEh-8aAhtREALw_wcB&cm_ven=PLA&cm_pla=Furniture > Bar + Counter Stools

This is my dilemma! We did a mini remodel (replaced our counters, hood, refinished cabinets a nut darker and painted our previously hand painted refrigerators (pic below) now I need a backsplash! My house is very traditional built 2000. Our old hood and refrigerators were very strong before. I’m definitely trying to make the house feel a little more up-to-date but I don’t want to dumb it down completely. I’ve been looking at Sonoma Tile crackle and Encore arabesque. Thoughts? Suggestions?

One more photo to show my range

Thoughts anyone?

I think the Encore arabesque would look great in your kitchen. I love the way the OP’s came out.

Catherine, no accent tile. you already have a lot going on w/the countertop, the wood cabs, that beautiful stove, the flooring, etc. not everything can take center stage.

I think the arabesque doesn't quite work w/your kitchen. too busy.

take a look at some of the Encore glazes. match it to your countertop. I see some slight blush tones (you'd want more of a red toned white as opposed to a yellow toned white) that would look great w/the counter, the wood and your flooring.

http://encoreceramics.com/crackle-glazes/

look at Rosemary crackle (this is just the glaze color, not the shape of the tile !) Or the Truffle. See how these both have very slight pink tones?

These come in an array of shapes. perhaps consider the 3x8ubway.

https://encoreceramics.com/product/3x8-field-tile/

this is the Truffle w/the Plummage accent.

or, this shape

https://encoreceramics.com/product/truffle-crackle-glaze/

The truffle crackle looks great with my counter. Warm enough to bring the floor in as well. I tried smoke but I think it goes green. I just can’t decide on what pattern/design!

This is truffle with my Taj Mahal

Gorgeous together!

Just got two samples. A little tough to see because of cardboard backing. Dimensional arabesque is in Truffle crackle

cath,,,looks like a good match. the first one

Love the first one ❤️

Second sample was recommended by tile designer. Too busy for me (and goes green in person). Question...should the dimensional piece be the other shape, opposite of what’s shown?! Color is very good. Compliments the taj perfectly.

I agree about the color. it's perfect.

this is the silver, but basically what yours would resemble.

encore ceramics has a ton of shapes and sizes that can made w/that exact glaze color. I'd look for something different.

here is a list of the Field tiles:

http://encoreceramics.com/standard-field/

and a list of the mosaic shapes:

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

maybe you'd like a chevron or a herringbone (this is shown in Rain, so imagine it done w/your Truffle and maybe a milky 2nd glaze color)

or, maybe the picket shape:

this one is nice.

plumage. Creme and Truffle

This is Truffle in the subway tile AND in the accent piece called Plumage

another truffle subway and accent

here's truffle in the subway (laid in a stacked pattern) and the accent is called the Pointed Oval. you can blend 2-4 colors, or just get them in one color

this is Storm, but it shows the 2x6 size. (I think the other is a 3x8)

you really need to look at all they offer

I like the picket shape Beth posted. It gives you some of that vertical shape from your arabesque you like, but it’s simpler, and has some straight lines to tie into your cabinet style and floors.

I have always been between herringbone 2x6 and arabesque. I wish I could figure out how to photoshop onto my backsplash! I’m confident about the color (truffle) finally but so mixed on the pattern!

I dismantled one of my sample boards and made this arabesque combo. I know a lot of opinions against arabesque but I keep going back to it!

that's actually very pretty. looks great w/the stone

Anyone have pics of celery encore tile?

Natalie, why don't you just order a sample? Or go to their website, Gallery, and see if they have a picture of it?

https://encoreceramics.com/product/celery-crackle-glaze/

I have a sample (1 tile) but I just can’t see the full affect. I have dove white cabinets on top and stained charcoal in the bottom (a mix of brown and gray) I really want to warm up the space using color. I need help.

Maybe green is not the way to go?

Natalie , Could you start your own dilemma post? this current one belongs to someone else and is almost a year old.

start your own post, w/these pictures (give me a close up of the color w/some better lighting) and I'll suggest some colors and tiles for you. take a back up shot showing the adjoinging rooms as well. thanks

(BTW, I think you should do some pendants over the peninsula. take a pic showing that entire area too)

I have similar colors in my kitchen. start your own post and I'll show you a pic of it

As Beth suggested, get a sample or just visit a tile store in person. It's a good idea to visit a tile store anyway to get a sense of all the possibilities and how they look in person.

I used an Encore Crackle Glaze by Encore but it is considered one of their Precocious Glazes. Mine is Precocious Blue and I used it in both my master and guest bathrooms.

I love these tiles as every tile is unique since they are hand made and they have an opalescent quality. I never get tired of looking at the tiles when I am sitting in my bathroom - my shower walls are also done in this tile. I used the 3" x 6" size with accents of rose gold penny tile on the walls.

I had considered other possibilities since they aren't cheap. As I recall mine were $45 per square foot and they were ordered in Summer of 2018 so not sure what current pricing was but they were absolutely worth it. I have some Pratt & Larsen 4" x 4" which are nice but not nearly as nice as the Precocious Glaze from Encore.