Tile behind open shelves

8 years ago

I need suggestions on if I should tile the wall with open shelving. My kitchen is set up almost identical to the attached picture. It is part of one huge room that has the dining area and then living room. The cabinets end 4 feet from french doors that designate the next space. My walls are modern gray (VERY light tan) and I have white tiles.

I had intended to do tile on the wall containing the uppers and vent but now I am wondering if I should do the other wall. I'm not sure I want there to be a solid end of tile on the wall next to dining. Also, I can't decide if I like the look of the tile behind the shelves.

Featured Answer

Bev

8 years ago

I have seen kitchens that have open shelving without any tile behind the shelves and they look great! It just depends on what look you want!

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Comments (9)

AK
Original Author
8 years ago
I definitely want tile on the wall with the uppers. I am worried it will look odd not to have anything on the other wall. Sorry I should have said that too!
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tatts
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I dislike white subway tile; to me it looks industrial/hospital/mental asylum. It's depressing. But that's just me.

The problem I see with doing that is that you're stuck with those shelves exactly where they are because of the holes in the tile. Five years from now, how will you feel? Certainly keep a box or two of spares if you do it.
Bev
8 years ago
I should have said I have seen kitchens where one wall with the cabinets has the tile or back splash but the next wall does not, rather or not they have open shelves. There are so many ways to do kitchens these days! I just looked through some kitchens with open shelving here on houzz and you can look at them too and get a better idea of how it would look.
AK
Original Author
8 years ago
That is such a good point, Tatts! I do agree I feel the same way about the subway however my cabinets are a rich smoky blue so I needed something to simplify.

Sidenote, we were royally screwed over by contractor so I had to cut the cabinet budget. Since I did cheaper cabinets, that I am certain I will redo in 5 years, I chose a more trendy kitchen over my usual classic choices.
PRO
User
8 years ago
Tile behind the shelves can be a very good look. It presents a smooth cleanable surface, and unifies the room.

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abbycat9990
8 years ago
If you have a sink on the shelf wall, I would certainly suggest you tile behind it. Tiling the wall above the cabs and behind the shelves can help delineate the kitchen area within your open plan space. You can end the tile with bullnose or Schluter edge. Here's our Schluter edge:

We removed cabinets and a beadboard panel backsplash, so the wall was a bit damaged. It was fixable for painting, but we decided to take the tiles up all the way behind the shelves - resale be damned! We also tiled between the cabs and countertop on the range wall. We love our 4" x 10" white subway tiles.
Barrie T
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
@abbycat9990 - where did you get your 4 x 10" subway tile. Also what grout did you use. LOVE IT! We're considering matte as well - thoughts?
abbycat9990
5 years ago
Barrie T we got the tile at Floor & Decor. The grout is TEC in Delorean Grey from Lowes