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Not happy with Kitchen Backsplash

6 years ago

We moved into our new construction home which has white cabinets and almost white (has tiny greyish specks in it) quartz countertop. Cabinets have wrought iron pulls. Most of this is standard through the builder. I wanted a pop of color in the kitchen and decided to go with the beige-blue arabesque marble glass tile. However after installing it, it is not appealing to me. I feel like it is dominating and taking over the kitchen which is not what we wanted and it is not going together with the upper cabinets and the countertop. To me it sticks out like a sore thumb, I love the pattern but it's not working here. Any suggestions? Should we take it out and install something subtle like a linear glass subway tile in light grey? Not leaning towards that option due to wastage, time and money.
Should we paint the walls above the upper cabinet and if so what color?


Comments (47)

  • 6 years ago

    I don’t love it, but agree with the previous poster that when you have more things in the kitchen, it might seem less pronounced.

    G Y thanked Sue 430
  • 6 years ago

    Awesome job. It's just empty and stands out too much to your eye, because normally you see a kitchen with some more stuff in it. Plus you chose something different from the same old same old, so it's a bit disconcerting. Have no fear. You done great!

    G Y thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Give it some time please.

    G Y thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 6 years ago

    Everyone as a room is coming together gets to a point where they hate either the whole room or something in the room before the room is completed. It feels like too much right now because there's nothing else in the room to play off it.

    As Cooks Kitchen said, it's fabulous. Do as she suggested and then live with it. My guess is once the whole room is pulled together, you'll love it.

    G Y thanked cpartist
  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    What is bothering you? The pattern looks great! Is it the "less than white" back ground? I'd leave it alone for six months. and painting changes above the cabinets will not change a single thing. If the background wite still bugs you in six months? Then rip it: )

    As the saying goes: Only you know what you want, and ONLY you shall be unhappy if you don't get it.

    Trust me........if this is your only mistake in this life, or even the new house? Both GOOD . Note that design fatigue can lead to major second guessing. Pause, move in.......live and eat and chill for awhile. Get yourself a BIG stoneware bowl, pile it with oranges.......Bridge the warn and cooler whites at counter/eye level.



    G Y thanked JAN MOYER
  • 6 years ago

    I’m not a pro—not even an amateur really—but I think it looks fabulous!

    G Y thanked Allison Rogers
  • 6 years ago

    I think it's fabulous...bold without being overbearing! It's a choice for sure and being that you have white cabs and white counters this becomes the star! Navy is still a neutral in any event and can be paired with many other colors.

    G Y thanked myshabbycottage
  • 6 years ago

    Agreed... it’s awesome! Throw some pops of blue in there on the counters. Live with it a bit, I think you’ll love it! You picked it for a reason.

    G Y thanked K R
  • 6 years ago

    Another vote for fabulous. Can you tell us the name of the tile? I've been looking for a blue and whitish tile for our backsplash at the lake. Thanks!

    G Y thanked daisychain Zn3b
  • 6 years ago

    I think this backsplash does a great job tying in your wood floors and other selections. As others have stated, you are just looking at so many hard surfaces right now...once you add the soft touches you will likely remember why you chose it in the beginning. It's a beautiful space!

    G Y thanked TwoBelles
  • 6 years ago

    Yet another vote for fabulous! And your dark cabinet pulls look great with the dark element in your backsplash. Really, all your choices look terrific together. I think the walls should be similar in color to the beige in the backsplash tile and not too dark.

    It’s so easy to second guess one’s choices. Give yourself a chance to love it when your kitchen is finished and you have lived in it for a while.

    G Y thanked Carolae
  • 6 years ago

    Bring the backsplash into agreement with the kitchen by adding a few things in the same colors: towels, potholders, a decorative dishwashing detergent dispenser. You spent good money on beautiful tile and it would be silly to throw that tile and the money spent on it into the trash. Once you have a couple of countertop appliances and canisters in place, the different colors will be less jarring. If you still hate it after a year, then you could change it if you have saved up the money by not buying any new clothes or shoes until you can pay for the new tile. I’m only slightly kidding.

    G Y thanked felizlady
  • 6 years ago

    See how adding even the smallest elements helps pull it together better?

    G Y thanked cpartist
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    You'll get used to it. Break it up with lots of white items like a canister set, coffee maker, etc.or hang white plates on top of it.




    G Y thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 6 years ago

    I think it looks good too.

    You probably picked the backsplash from small sample pieces or, if lucky, from a larger 12" x 12" sample board, but your mind never pictures that small sample as a whole pattern over a large surface area. The first view of the pattern in a large scale is usually a visual shock, but it is just an over reaction to something you did not picture in your mind. The shock passes pretty quickly and most go back to loving the pattern they picked out.

    In a years time, if you don't love the backsplash, then you can think about looking for a replacement.

    G Y thanked chispa
  • 6 years ago

    It’s glorious! But right now, with everything else being empty, it might look scary. Ignore the fear and uncertainty about your design decision, you fell in love with the tile for a reason, move in, unpack, live in the space and within weeks you’ll be loving it! #beentheredonethat

    G Y thanked mrspreece
  • 6 years ago

    @cpartist nailed it!

    G Y thanked flopsycat1
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    i love it. much more interesting than white subway.

    bring in some black and white pottery, a walnut cutting board, (wood especially will be a beautiful contrast) bowl of bright lemons or oranges, maybe a small green plant, and set it on the countertop.







    like these








    G Y thanked Beth H. :
  • 6 years ago

    You went from plain white to "Wow" so it will take time to adjust to it.

    G Y thanked Angel 18432
  • 6 years ago

    I love it don’t change it. Add some wood and white accessories and you will love it.


    G Y thanked kodiac23
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    I don't love it! But then I like a very calm, serene kitchen. Do live with it for a while and see if it grows on you.

    G Y thanked Anglophilia
  • 6 years ago

    I see what you're saying about being dominating, but I do like it! I think once you are living in the house and you put your personal kitchen wares on your counters to fill the void, you will like it. Do not rip it out yet. Try living with it for a while and see what you think.

    G Y thanked megs1030
  • 6 years ago

    Looks great, super fun and different.

    G Y thanked Dawn Martinez
  • 6 years ago

    I think it’s beautiful! Show us another picture when you’ve accessorized.

    G Y thanked lllsmith
  • 6 years ago

    It's just gorgeous

    G Y thanked aiallega
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    That would be a re-do for me, so I totally understand why it’s a re-do for you. If nothing else, none of the colors in the tiles really goes with your white cabinets. You seem to want something eye catching, bold, graphic, so choose something bold that has a white that matches the white in the cabinets. Instead of glass, I’d go for encaustic tile if it appeals to you, or else a beautiful shape in ceramic tile.







    G Y thanked eam44
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Can you take a picture further back w/all of the appliances installed, the lighting done, maybe the island stools in place, etc? Zeroing in on one portion really isn't a fair representation of how it looks.

    BTW, here are similar backsplashes that all look great.















    G Y thanked Beth H. :
  • 6 years ago

    Give it some time. If it's too much, hang a large mirror over the stove to cover up the largest tiled section.

    G Y thanked Maria M.
  • 6 years ago

    i would move in and accessorize. You may find that you love it after that

    G Y thanked Gcubed
  • 6 years ago

    I would leave the back splash but switch the hardware from black to stainless...they will stand out less and you won't have so many dark lines everywhere.

    G Y thanked lucky998877
  • 6 years ago

    Lucky said exactly what I was going to... softer color on cabinet hardware will make a difference. I think it looks lovely!

    G Y thanked makmartell
  • 6 years ago

    at first I didn't like it. now I'm jealous.

    G Y thanked Shanna
  • 6 years ago

    So beautiful. Great desigm.

    G Y thanked Linda Hankins Ransom
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you all for your comments and great suggestions! It did help us in making a decision. We're going to keep the backsplash and accessorize as suggested by most. Someone had asked me the backsplash design, it's "mystic valentino arabesque". If you google it, it should show you the retailer. Thank you, again for your time and tips.

  • 6 years ago

    Also it's a tedious process and probably won't make a big difference but dear husband is okay with changing the grout to white.

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Changing the grout is not worth the tedious process. Honestly, If it is making you miserable ? Rip it. I know that's not a popular answer. It matters not what anyone here says. Rather like someone telling you to just keep trying LIVER when you know you hate liver , lol

    It's not going to be your worst mistake in this life. Hate it? Get it gone with no apologies. Shoot me for saying the subway word, but a white subway, palest gray gout, updated size? It works. : ) Simple is like that.

    G Y thanked JAN MOYER
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Hey G Y,


    i personally really like the back splash! It may seem extremely buys now but once you begin placing things on the counters i believe it wont seem as overwhelming. If you are wanting to add more color to the room i would suggest colorful art or maybe even changing the cabinet hardware as that is also another way of adding color. Best wishes and congratulations on the new home!

    Belvedere 4" c.c. Pull - Matte Satin Nickel · More Info


    Kitchen · More Info


  • 6 years ago

    If over time you are still not keen, a stainless steel backsplash panel could be added behind the range to break it up a bit.

  • 6 years ago

    Your back splash is beautiful. You can even use 3m hooks to hang pictures or anything that is personal to you, adding a bit of color and breaking up the space somewhat. It really is lovely.

  • 6 years ago

    Ditto what everybody said, it's beautiful.

  • 2 years ago

    I just happened to see this - if you’d like to have some real help, you need to post this as a separate post - not attached as a comment to the end of a four year old thread.


    FYI - I would have stopped the backsplash on the back wall (not continued it around the corner on the side wall - doesn’t look right). It would look better to just have paint on the side wall. You don’t need tile to protect the wall from water splashes re: your sink. Many people wait to install backsplashes until awhile after their kitchen has been completed - some people never install a backsplash. Your side wall will be fine - and it will look better than having tile there with no cabinets above it.


    The backsplash you’ve installed isn’t the style I would select + it looks modern, and you have shaker style cabinets.


    However, if I had to choose between the current backsplsh and the second proposed one, I’d stick with the first. Your cabinets look too warm against the cool white/gray colors in the second backsplash.


    Also, the size of tiles of the second backsplash are wrong - they look like a floor tile or possibly tiles for a shower/tub surround.


    Post your photos and your issue in a new post + add details about the style you’d like (modern/traditional/transitional/etc. - what does the rest of your home look like? You’ll receive a lot more advice/suggestions. People will be happy to help you figure this out!

  • 2 years ago

    HU 259 I would take down the "sidesplash" on the right, that will help and not as expensive as taking down the whole thing. Then get some plain white cannisters to place on the counter to break up all the black. Hope this helps.

  • PRO
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Rip it all off, repair both walls. Find a cool wallpaper , even a peel and stick "subway"and be done. There's no heat, no cook, no grease.

    Don't reinvent a wheel: ) It's not the best focal point wall, no matter what you put on it.

  • 2 years ago

    Thats a great idea thanks so much. Backsplash on the side is going to come down for sure. White cannisters great idea

  • 2 years ago

    Jan I would have to find somebody to do it and thanks for the suggestion. Im going to try taking off the right backsplash first and adding white canisters to break it up