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sarah_e_orfanedes

SuperWhite Quartzite Backsplash Help!

7 years ago
Hi all,

We have decided on SuperWhite Quartzite but are having trouble picking a backsplash. We are pretty strongly against doing traditional subway tile (just aren’t crazy about the look). I really like arabesque tile but think it might be too busy.
Options are:
1) Do superwhite quartzite on island and perimeter with arabesque.
2) Do perimeter a light grey quartz that compliments the superwhite quartzite to tone it down and do arabesque backsplash
3) Carry superwhite quartzite up to make it the backsplash itself
4) Do a different backsplash that is more neutral— if so which one? Leaning towards a white glass longer tile in a herringbone pattern.
5) White ceramic in herringbone pattern.
6) Longer tiles that are in a straight traditional pattern.

Other suggestions? I also attached first the picture of the kitchen that we are modeling our design after— going to have the windows flanking the hood, white cabinets, with a bluish island color. We are also going to have a large window above the sink. In this first kitchen they used Carrera marble throughout but as much as I love the look i want something sturdier and quartzite appears to be closer to granite in durability.

Thank you!
Featured Answer
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Super White has been discussed extensively here, in terms of what type of stone is it and help me with a backsplash. Search on Super White and you'll find lots to read. A good place to start is with the resident geologist, karin_mt's thread, The low down on Super White. You'll find that most SW is not a quartzite, but rather a domomitic marble. Testing is necessary to determine what your slab is. Don't rely on what the stone yards and fabricators tell you. Just be sure you're going into this knowing the facts.

    That being said, I installed SW in our new build kitchen 5 years ago. I had read everything here, was told over and over by the fabricator that it was quartzite, but was so in love with the stone that I was willing to live with the baggage it came with. I didn't do testing, and for 3 years after install, I thought I was lucky to have slabs that were quartzite. We now have one etch to the left of the sink. I look at it everyday, but have accepted it for what it is. Not going to change it and still love my SW.

    As for a backsplash, we went with a handmade 2x8 white subway with random 2x2 relief tiles in blue to pick up the color of our island. My thought is the SW should be the star of the kitchen. Everything else is there to support it.

    Comments (20)

    • 7 years ago

      Love, love, love the superwhite quartz. That's what I am looking for. I think I may even have it in one bathroom I did. I would do the backsplash in the same. Not loving the arabesque tile with it. It seems very flat and doesn't complement it. Of your written choices, I like #3. I would do the superwhite on island and perimeter and either flat slab of it on the backsplash or tile made from it.

      Sounds like your kitchen is going to be gorgeous and I can't wait to see it.

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    • 7 years ago

      personal preference here but I hate backsplashes as I think they compete with the room. I prefer a washable paint - for an open concept kitchen it makes the kitchen look like a room vs a kitchen (hope that makes sense) Place some tile (even a decorative painting) over the stove as that is really the only area that get wall splatter. Switching out that painting time to time allows you to redecorate without renovation

    • 7 years ago
      Nhbasket, could you show a picture of your kitchen! Thank you so much!
    • 7 years ago
      Oh wait! Now they show up. Sorry!
      And I LOVE your kitchen. Could you share the color of that island?
    • 7 years ago
      last modified: 7 years ago

      Sarah-island is similar to BM Mineral Alloy.

    • 7 years ago
      Waverly16, thank you! I do like the idea of brining the slab up— do you think doing it everywhere or just above the range and then glass white tile elsewhere?
      Also, for some reason the pictures in the poll don’t match up in the same order as the written option— I swear they did when I wrote it all out! :)
    • 7 years ago
      last modified: 7 years ago

      Can you post a layout so I can see how much backsplash you will have? I have minimal backsplash in my kitchens due to the amount of tall cabinets and windows. so I went with only the slab. Another possibility is to have slab everywhere and perhaps and inset above the cooktop/range of a different tile?

      Also I believe I heard they can make the slab thinner than a counter top slab.

    • 7 years ago
      Waverly16, here it is! I attached the draft, along with a photo of our inspiration kitchen that is modeled similarly. Basically it is a U shaped kitchen but the side with the fridge won’t really have backsplash. So there are two walls in need of backsplash—the one with the kitchen sink and the one with the stove. The wall with the sink will be mostly a large window feature (8 feet long) with only 2-3 feet on each side with backsplash. Then there is the wall with the range. This is quite long (about 20 feet) with a 48 inch range breaking it up. So 8 feet on each side in need of backsplash. Given this, do you think continuing the slab upwards would look great or be too much? Thanks so much!
    • 7 years ago

      Where is the fridge?

    • PRO
      7 years ago

      Of the options you have listed, we think 1, 5, or 6 will look good for a backsplash. Here is a design we did for a client though with a backsplash you might enjoy.

      Upscale Family Home: Kitchen · More Info


    • 7 years ago
      It’s in the bottom of the picture (if you click to open it). And there is also a 24 inch prep sink on the island to reduce the size of the kitchen work triangle. :)
    • 7 years ago

      Still not clear, but I'm guessing where the green is in the bottom right corner. I was going to suggest a prep sink in the island, because it would be a long haul to your main sink.

    • 7 years ago
      Nhbaskets, sorry! You are right, it definitely wasn’t clear. The fridge is now marked in red. The green was where we were going to have wall ovens but have now opted for a range instead since the placement was awkward due to pantry. :)
    • 7 years ago
      Courtney, that’s very pretty! Thank you for sharing! Is the more subtle backsplash carrera marble? Do you think that would pair well with the super white quartzite? Also, I realized that for some reason my written options and photo options are not in the same order (I swear I tried to order them correctly when I posted!). Could you confirm whether you are referring to the written options or pictures options? Thanks!
    • 7 years ago

      Sarah, since you keep referring to your stone as ‘ quartzite, I’m hoping you do take a look at the link I provided in my first comment as well as search on Super White. Please go into this with eyes wide open.

    • 7 years ago

      I honestly think you won't go wrong. Once you make a choice the others fall away and it will just all be lovely. that being said, I would go with the super white as a backsplash. thing about it, you fell in love with it by seeing it as vertical slab. You will love seeing it everyday on the vertical.

    • 7 years ago
      I looked at my bathroom. ( which I love ) The countertop area which I think is in super white or something similar is actually quite small as there are sinks and cabinets which set on the countertop. I have Carrara on the floors , around the huge bathtub are and up the walls of the Bay window area around the tub and windows. The shows are and another long wall has another marble. I love them all together. These are close ups so you can see it. I’m sure some will comment it’s too busy and so on. But I love it.
    • 7 years ago
      Very pretty! And thank you all! Going to get it priced out for both options and see where we are with that :). Thank you!
    • 4 years ago

      Could you provide an update and a photo of what you ended up choosing? I'm still debating my BS for my superwhite quartzite. Thanks!

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