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diyher

kitchen backsplash

7 years ago

I'm looking around for tile for my backsplash. Trying to stay classic and not use any bright colors that won't allow me to change color schemes within my kitchen

Below is one section of the new cabinets and part of the 30" range. I saw glass tile that looks like Calacatta Gold mat marble, tile sizes I was thinking were their 4x8 subway and above the range, the 8" hexagon tiles. The height under the cabinets I think is 19" and above the range is probably about 20" high. Will have to check again once back home :)

My question is, should I use a longer tile to place on either side of the 8" hexagon area to visually separate the range tile from the rest of the cabinets within the L-shape cabinet space.

The long sizes they have are 4"x16" I might have to create tile sizes from foamcore to test the size options before I come close to purchasing.

Viatera Soprano quartz counters Cherry wood base, stained part American Walnut · More Info


2 Calacatta Gold 8 inch hexagon glass tiles · More Info


Comments (40)

  • 7 years ago

    NO! Don’t use fake marble and two different sizes of fake on top of fake marble. And don’t use real marble either.


    Pick one tile, in one color, and use an interesting shape. Something that matches your wall paint would work.


    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ivy-Hill-Tile-Vintage-Florid-Lantern-Light-Blue-6-1-4-in-x-7-1-4-in-x-10-mm-Ceramic-Wall-Mosaic-Tile-30-pieces-4-8-sq-ft-Box-VINTAGEFLORIDLANLTBLU/206496938



  • 7 years ago

    Oh my, that would end up looking like a game of Jenga! I would go with a cool pattern as well.

  • 7 years ago

    thanks, trying to stay away from a fad shaped tile that will look out of style by the time we decide to move 15 or so years from now.

  • 7 years ago

    Here is one I saw, I can't find the others that caught my attention.


    Georgetown Townhouse · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    I just noticed you said get tile the color of my wall? my wall is green. I'd never be able to paint my wall a different color if I chose green tile. My upper cabinets are antique white

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Definitely stick with one shape for the backsplash. Subway tiles are classic. You can always do an accent or focal point behind the range.



    diyher thanked designmj
  • 7 years ago

    I'm doing everything Classic so I don't get some realtor trying to force me to do a new kitchen. this one already cost me more than I expected $40,000 with all new cabinets, appliances, floor, counters, a new window, lights, laundry room, powder room with all new sinks and plumbing hardware. I built the Conestoga wood cabinets myself, bought all unfinished, stained and spray painted myself. Home was built last quarter 1994 we moved in Jan 1995.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I thought of something textured too, but don't want too textured that makes it hard to clean

  • 7 years ago

    this is the sage, cream and tan like gold color that goes with the color scheme on 3 surrounding rooms

    colors and pattern · More Info

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    thanks ecm, think I saw that and considered it. but only thought they had the small squares but now see they have brick like sizes. don't remember seeing it in our local store. I'll look again

  • PRO
    7 years ago


    Backsplashes · More Info


    Backsplashes · More Info


    Backsplashes · More Info


    Backsplashes · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    agree^^, don't mix fake with fake or fake with real... it will look very unappealing !!

    the most 'classic' tile you can do it subway. find a color that you love and use that. trying to match or semi-match whites is almost impossible and you have to coordinate your top cabs and counter. .. ugh - nightmare!!

    bring home samples and see them in your lighting - natural, artificial, day and night..

  • 7 years ago

    My rule for backsplashes is that the backsplash should match at least one color in the counter material for the two materials to work together.
    I avoid the backsplash dilemma for myself by using the same granite for both the counter and the backsplash.
    I have done it twice and love it. A good, talented fabricator will match the graining pretty well from the counter up onto wall. I have two 30” ranges side-by-side so there is a showpiece 60” wide slab from the top of the ranges to the wide hood above.

  • 7 years ago

    felizlady, i did the same!! just the best option, IMO, no grout and no anguish!!

  • 7 years ago

    I like your lower wood cabinets. You did a good job.

    diyher thanked CindyR
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    thanks CindyR I've been refinishing and staining unfinished furniture since I was at least age 20, so over 40 years lol. I just enjoy choosing something different than anyone else to be unique :)

  • 7 years ago

    Felizlady, I thought the same but it was just too darn expensive considering how much backsplash area I have. And the fact that I used the same counter material for a backsplash behind my kitchen sink and the windowsill behind the sink.


    Blanco silgranit sink, · More Info

    I also used it for my family room triple windowsill and my dining room double windowsill, powder room and laundry room, a top for another cabinet off by itself in the room by the window. and the half wall that I took off the painted wood small top, I bought the legs, skirt and the top is now I think 18" deep x 100" long

    100" snack bar on half wall · More Info

    and 2 cabinets left and right of our refrigerator, the below picture was last Spring 2018 the day the counters were installed.


  • 7 years ago

    sprtphntc7a :) not doing a color tile, limits me to wall color, curtains, and anything in my adjoining family room and laundry room and foyer that opens up from the kitchen.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    You’re not doing a color because you might move in 15 years??? Thats too long to live your life in fear of resale! Pick a color that you love, and you won’t get tired of it. Look at your wardrobe? What’s your favorite color? I hope you use that all through your house!

    Removing a backsplash and redoing it at selling time isnt going to be a huge deal. You can always do white subway then, if you get feedback that your choice is too personal. But that is EXACTLY what your kitchen should be! Personal. Aa long as its cohesive with the idea of the whole, do blue, or green, or the color of your cherry cabinets, or multi colored talavera.

    Bring in joy. Joy is never out of date, and you won’t grow tired of it.

  • 7 years ago

    Lets just look back at kitchens on the whole from 15 years ago.... they are all dated, its not time to think about 15yrs in the future yet lol

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Regarding my comment on "visual texture"--it is not the same as actual "tactile" texture. Visual texture is an optical illusion that makes something LOOK like it is bumpy/sharp/undulating, but it is in reality smooth. So a crackle tile is no harder to clean than any other because it is smooth, even though it has visual texture.

  • 7 years ago

    that's what I meant :) visual texture more than actual texture. I've seen some tile that has somewhat of a ripple to it, very slight, but it has one that gives visual texture. I'll keep looking


    (cook's kitchen) as far as not doing color, I don't want to be tied down to a color that nothing else will go with if I ever want to paint the wall again. I like to interchange things by decorating and in effect can change the color scheme of the whole room with a neutral tile. My lowers are Walnut stained, my uppers are Antique White. If I pick a splashy or bold color tile, I'm stuck for the duration of us living in this house. I don't have tons of money that I can pay someone every 5 years to change my tile.

  • 7 years ago

    " Removing a backsplash and redoing it at selling time isnt going to be a huge deal. " IS a BIG deal. I'm not changing a backsplash for anyone, even myself lol. The amount of backsplash around this whole kitchen and adjoining laundry room will be costly enough.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I also thought of doing off white subway 3x6, 3x9 or 3x12, then do a 20"W x 18" H square design tile above the range. This one is kind of cute, lots of others I'm looking at as well


    Erin Adams - Ceramic Matrix · More Info



    Erin Adams - Ceramic Matrix · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    Because your stove has no raised panel against the wall, any tile you use should be heat-resistant and washable, or at least easily wipeable, because it will be near the crack burners and subject to heat and an occasional splash of sauce. You could put a stainless steel panel over the stove (I would use brushed stainless) and a tile backsplash everywhere else.

  • 7 years ago

    The person that helped us install the cabinets mentioned they didn't think we should put the quartz counter material behind the range, but I've seen others do it. The only thing we have stainless is the fridge and range. The dishwasher has a wood panel matching the base cabinets, and I went with an off white microwave the color of my antique white upper wall cabinets.


    I'm also considering this option to use 3x6 tiles on the 2 long walls in a pattern like this

    2 vertical, 2 horizontal then alternate it like below.


    Carrara White Marble Subway Tile 3x6 Tumbled · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    here is one by Sonoma Tilemakers, comes in white either gloss or matte or natural

    https://sonomatilemakers.com/product/pure-4-14x8-12/

    3 x 6 · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    I went to our local tile store that carried Sonoma Tilemakers. Looks like you can get different sizes and special order of crackle, matt or gloss. They allowed me to bring some 2x4 tiles home to see it in my lighting. I brought a piece counter with me so I knew which would be a possibility.


    Here are 3 sitting on the counter sample.

    the one on the far left is more tan than it looks here.


    I was thinking to go with 3x9 and maybe 2x4's for behind the range in the alternate design I posted above.


    What do you think if I went with either the area behind the range or the rest of the 3x9's alternating a matte tile with a crackle tile in whichever tile color I choose?


    left to right Dulce de Leche (crackle) Shore (gloss) Cloud Dancer (gloss) · More Info

  • 7 years ago

    What do you think of the far left small tile in Dulce de Leche with my counters? Does it seem to pick up the light tan color in the counters? I've heard crackle tile is harder to cut smooth lines, maybe go with 2x4" in the crackle because the area above the range I won't actually have to cut those tiles, but go with the matte for all the 3x9's?

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    if your tile guy is using a good saw and the right blade, cutting the crackle is fine. (just be sure to apply a sealer on them BEFORE grouting. (just the tops, not the sides) sometimes during grouting it can get in the tiny fissures and cloud them.

    I'd do 3x9 size. 2x4 can look small and busy. any of the colors work

    Stellar, 2x8, bossy gray: (they are also using very warm under cabinet lighting. )


    Stellar line, 2x8 Creamy


  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Get something you really love and put it on range section wall only. Just paint the other areas and or use a matching 2” backsplash on the rest. I don’t find tiling all kitchen walls necessary. Backsplash tile is expensive and “dates” easily.

    However, if your family likes to gather once a week with buckets of tomato sauce to throw at the walls for sport ...you might need tile. Or, if you never have cleaning supplies near for a little speck of dough on the wall you might need tile. Or, if you don’t want to spiff up the kitchen paint every five or six years...you might need tile.

  • 7 years ago

    we need a laughing icon on Houzz Justerrilynn :) this made me giggle " However, if your family likes to gather once a week with buckets of tomato sauce to throw at the walls for sport ...you might need tile " I'm only going to do tile behind the cabinet to the left of the range30", the range 30", and the 12" and the 36" corner base, then another 36" of cabinets up to the window over the sink where we already used the countertop material behind the sink leading up to the windowsil that I posted July 30th :)

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I found an off white tile that is crackle and they have a size of 2x8 and of course the standard 3x6 and some longer. 2x8 is the closest to the 3x9 size. We found a grout at the tile store think the name is Gentle Blush and it picks up the very light tan veins in the counter. The fact that I'm doing a small grout line, it should work well. I'm waiting for the order of a few tiles so I can bring it home to look at in my lighting. I brought a piece of wood painted antique white and the larger piece of my countertop with me so we could see what it looked like in the store lighting. It looked good there, just have to see what it would look like once in my room.countertop. I'm being patient and try not to rush into something I will have for a long enough time. This looks like a website that sells the grout https://www.artistictile.com/ardex-fl-grout-gentle-blush-iarflgb10lb

  • 6 years ago

    still researching backsplash tile :-/


    I'm thinking to use a crackle tile on my kitchen backsplash. The first brand Sonoma tile I saw the crackle seemed nice and the glaze was nice and smooth. https://sonomatilemakers.com/product/stellar-3x9/

    Then I saw a different brand at the same tile store that cost a bit less per less per square foot and the off white was closer to what I was looking for.

    The difference between the 2 tiles was Sonoma Tile the 1st, the crackle design was smaller and smooth and the tile itself seemed thicker unless that was just the sample tile they give out.

    The 2nd brand I received the other day, the crackle is larger and not so close together. It wasn't until last night that I ran my fingers across the tile and noticed I can feel the crackle in the glaze. I then did the same in the 1st brand that I still had and the glaze was smooth and I couldn't feel the crackles.

    Should I be worried about the 2nd brand that I can feel the crackles?
    I do know that with any crackle tile you need to seal it after it is installed but before you grout it and then later after it's grouted. Some websites say seal it annually?

    Anyone else use crackle tile before?
    I figured it would give a nice look rather than standard tile.

  • 6 years ago

    Crazing in the glaze results in patination. You can seal the tile, of course (actually, you usually have to seal before installation) but you can get oil and other stains that will result in the bs behind your cooktop looking darker over time. It’s like choosing a marble counter, either live in service to it, or be one of those people that is OK with change.

  • 6 years ago

    thanks, I may have to reconsider the crackle. :-/ darn. I don't want to have to seal it before and after install and annually seal. It's also why I had quartz installed instead of granite for the counters.