Yawn, subway tile, huh? Don't you think the backsplash could still stay classic but get a little boost of texture???

Even if you use the subway tiles, what about installing them in a pattern?

Love the herringbone. Always classic.

The marble is gorgeous. Too pricy though, and I’ve looked around a lot. I like the herringbone subway. Would love to find a mini version, already in sheets.

The mini quartz I found adds some texture and doesn’t break the bank... at the same time though, I very much agree with designer Maria Killiam’s take on subway tile, that it’s okay for some elements of a room to be white and boring so other things can shine. But my kitchen is already pretty white and boring, ha!

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Flooring-Tile/Backsplash/Herringbone/N-5yc1vZar0yZ1z0p5qmZ1z17741

These are pretty reasonable, especially considering the small area needing to be tiled.

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/pdp/msi-domino-1083-x-122-porcelain-mosaic-tile-in-white-mvp10271.html

Yes, it's a grey and white kitchen, something to make your eyes grab onto would be nice:

https://www.wayfair.com/home-improvement/sb1/herringbone-chevron-tile-c1824087-a78886~449845.html

Check Floor & Decor for good prices on unique tile

Saw these glazed tiles the last time I was there. Here shown installed in a herringbone pattern. But even if you just install the plain white, it's a better look than plain subway tile. It was $1.44 per tile.

Another beautiful IKEA kitchen...very well executed! What’s your backsplash budget/square foot? I assume you’re going up to the ceiling with it.

Ah, that Festival Herringbone for $2.49 is right up my alley!

I have 40 sq ft of backsplash if I stop at the bottom of the cabinets. I’d rather go up to the ceiling but it’s an open concept space and there isn’t a good stopping point due to the proximity to a sliding door with drapes and curtain hardware.

And thank you, @Sammy! Don’t ask my family how long I obsessed over this design...

@keeneileen

Really nice.

I have no insight concerning the tiles, but if I can, I'd like to ask a question. What is the depth of your hood. I know the cabinet itself is 15 ", but where you able to get a deeper hood ? (I just noticed your sink cabinet. I have been wondering for a while if it could be installed that way. Happy to see that).

Good luck, it is great for now.

BTW very nice job on the kitchen. I hope you're happy. I used IKEA for my place years ago too.

I like the first one of your examples, in both size and texture -- not more activity than your inspiration, but in the same ballpark. Without a close-up, I can't judge what you're calling the "mirror elements," but it seems like a nice bridge between the gray and the white. You can make yourself crazy looking for the "perfect" solution, especially since half the backsplash will disappear behind toasters and all the rest. It's already great, and that small tile (with a light grout) will finish it off very nicely.

Here’s the quartz but it is dang near impossible to photograph the bits of mirror in it. You can see one reflecting light near the right in this pic. Every tile has one or two mirror chunks.

@lg222 The hood is flush mount from Imperial:

https://www.imperialhoods.com/m8/G3000SD2--imperial-g3000sd2-under-cabinet-flush-mount-range-hood.html

It pulls out to turn on. My husband was hitting his head all the time on the more normal type of exhaust hood that we had before.

Well done a good on you for hacking to make the sink cabinet work for you. I use Ikea so much in my kitchen design biz. IMO the best deal for cabinets . I have had them in my last 2 homes never look anywhere else.

thanks. it is very helpful.

This looks wonderful! I'm a bit further behind on my Axstad kitchen - still waiting for appliances and counters. I'm also planning on the same under-sink scenario, but haven't figured out how to do it yet - thanks for the instructions. So far I'm loving it!! I'm planning on getting Caesarstone Frosty Carrina counters through IKEA - lots of white, but I want a darker backsplash (TBD).

Nice job! I'm a fellow DIYer and there is nothing I love more than a great DIY kitchen. IKEA makes it so much easier.

Can’t wait to see it, @AMS!

Hi what white did you use for the trim? I am trying to match the white in the Axstad matte white cabinets but dont have them to refer too. Any body know what Ben Moore or Sherwin Williams color would match? THanks

@KellyDesigns we are also doing an Ikea Axstad kitchen ...we took a piece, a Forbattra panel to be exact, to Home Depot and they color matched for us to paint the baseboards for the island, it came out exactly the same color, we used the eggshell finish. Hope this helps.

First, I love the kitchen!! It's awesome! What is the depth of the pantry cupboard to the right of the fridge?? I love this, but I can't find a deep one like that on the IKEA website.

Your kitchen looks great! what did you end up choosing for a backsplash? Would love to see pictures of the finished kitchen.

The pantry cupboard is the standard IKEA one that’s 24” deep. Maybe it looks deeper because it’s a counter depth fridge? We ended up doing the 2”x4” subway backsplash after I agonized over marble options for way too long. Made sense for us since it’s a starter home. I’ll take some pics soon!

Funny that someone asked about our trim color - the trim wasn’t installed yet for those pics. We did put up trim but used the matching IKEA trim found for almost no money in the clearance section, love that they offer that!

Finally got pics of it all finished! I have a piece of art to go to the left of the window. Some Roman shades with a bit of color/pattern would be nice too... 😂 So it’s never really finished!

Lovely! Do you know what the floor is?

It looks great!

Thanks! The floor is red oak with provincial stain from Minwax.

Beautiful design! What is your paint color for walls?

The walls are Twinkling Lights by Behr.

wondering if you did any open shelves?

I think it would add a lot of interest.

I would pretty much copy any of these example.

match your wood floor w/the shelves,

or go more neutral,

and find a nice runner or square rug. love this one too. almost identical to your space.

love this. the little green plants and items really take things up a notch (you can barely see the woven wood blind)

also a woven wood shade or neutral blind, maybe a pendant

see? cute.

sconce would be cute too. either over the window or the shelves

also really like this one. they did the sconce over the shelves since their window is so tall. you could do either.

this is 'farmhouse look'. but you could do it w/more refined looking shelves and light fixture

I think these things help break up all the white and give you some interest on the blank side

white shelves also work

this one would be pretty if you like more of the white look. do a nice pendant or sconce,,,maybe some type of neutral blind.

That’s exactly the kind of look I was going for! Just didn’t finish before we sold the house. I love how white kitchens can be styled to match anyone’s taste.