I had a copper backsplash once. I hated the maintenance. And I too like things with a natural patina. I thought it would be cool instead it was a pain in the

@oreolucca1

oh no!

ok good to know. I ordered some samples from tile bar- some are metal, some are faux...maybe I can get the look without the maintenance.

High-maintenance is not my thing at all. Maybe I should just trim the white subway tile in bronze or copper- toned Schluter. I’m trying to tie this chandelier I have into the kitchen design (my kitchen is open to the dining area).

I like the idea of a copper accent but there are copper-look tiles out there too, so that would be a lot less maintenance. There’s also copper/metallic grout if you wanted to trim that way.

out @hemina thank you. I didn’t know about metallic grout! Neat!

This is my kitchen.

I’m working around the busy granite, so I have to be careful about making the tile backsplash too busy with grout lines. That’s why I liked the photo in my initial post- it reads solid even though it’s planks. Next to the island is our dining area...we have a carpenter who was set to start 3/23 (sigh) doing a reclaimed wood ceiling feature with that amber glass chandelier. In the kitchen we will be keeping the espresso cabinets, removing the granite riser, moving the micro/adding a stainless hood, and doing a tile backsplash- a white handmade subway tile for sure, and now I’m figuring out the copper. I like these

This bottom one is not real metal.

Am I starting to have too much going on?

Like I said, I could just do a metal-tone schluter trim ...

I feel like I’m on the fragile edge of it going from cool to out of control.

I think putting in the copper backsplash tile will be too much. Were you thinking to mix that in with the white subway? Or all copper? If all copper, the darker finish on cabinetry will be too much. Are you mixing stainless and copper?

@hemina yeah the copper up to the top of the hood in a vertical pattern and then a classic subway configuration for the rest.

appliances are stainless, knobs are brushed nickel

@tedbixby1981

thanks, and I agree. This is a staging photo from years ago, but I do have copper in S&P shakers, colander with fruit, etc.

yes, a vanilla on the tile.

@tedbixby1981

since you mentioned it. This is the tile Against my Swiss coffee door/trim. It’ll be 3x6. Would you do the off-white or vanilla?

Can you get a picture in the daytime with the white/vanilla subway tile and the granite? It’s really hard to tell until you get all the pieces together. I agree with @tedbixby that I think it’ll be too much to add the copper in the backsplash.

@hemina

yes! I can do that.

I wouldn’t do copper behind the range.. It will get messy and I don’t think you’d like the maintenance. Use the same tile as the backsplash. I think those contrasting tile walls behind ranges are going out of style anyway.

And post the sample tile leaning up against the wall where it will be with the counter. Post a photo with it closer with the countertop involved and one further away so we can see how it works with the rest of the kitchen.

I love copper. I have a small collect of old copper in my kitchen.

This is 11 ft across the room from my gas stove with 5 pilot lights. It was constantly tarnished and I finally had it lacquered so it would stay bright. A backsplash out of copper would be tarnished very quickly, would get too hot to lacquer and would be a nightmare t keep clean. Fake copper? Well, it will look "fake"!

I am curious how much space do you have between the Cabinet And the counter?

@hemina @tedbixby1981 and anyone else who wants to give an opinion. Thank you a million times in advance.

here are tile colors. The top row go from white, biscuit, almond left to right for standard glazed subway. The bottom are blanco and vanilla for handmade subway. I’m getting these basically free through family, so I can only get 3x6 or 3x12 in whatever I choose. 3x12 seems too big to me, but maybe I’m wrong. I have a north-facing kitchen, and it’s rainy day...just FYI about lighting. And since we are on this topic, any advice on grout?

With all of the work we are doing in the main room/dining/kitchen, we'll likely need to paint. I’m also open to painting the island too, but I want to see how everything comes together first. Also just an FYI.

Copper Schluter trim? I really like that idea. Just for a little something different in an otherwise pretty basic kitchen .

Thanks so much!

Doesn’t look like this one posted

katie b. I'm looking at the same chandelier in gold

Small samples! This might help us all if you try this- take 2 of the samples and determine of the 2 what you like the best. Keep that one and put the other one aside. Taking that favorite, take another tile and do the same. Continue doing this until you are down to one or two. See if this works for you and then come back here and we can discuss further. (I do this with paint selection, too). Hint..don't try to match it to your doors & trim. What you want it to work with is the counters, cabinets and flooring.

@Rachel it was the first thing we bought when we bought our first house together, so I’m showcasing it again, now. .

varaluz...really beautiful in person. It’s recycled glass and steel, I’m sure you know that. 👌

@Katie B. I'm waiting to get a better feel for my entry to see what type of fixture I want for the space. The dimensions look good on this.

@tedbixby1981 sorry, I popped them off a sample board. I like the 2 bottom ones, the off white on the left more, even though I think most would say I should go with the vanilla. But I don’t want it to be too bright white. To further complicate things we are doing some white built-ins in the bigger room as well. Once the carpentry is done I’ll come back so you can see the bigger project. Thanks so much for your insight!

but for now, no copper backsplash!

Don't worry about the white built-ins in regards to the backsplash. Don't need to be matchy-matchy. Just focus on the kitchen cabinets, the countertop and flooring and what goes best with those. Do you have some paint close to the tile color? If so, you could paint some poster board and put that up under your cabinets to see how you like it.

@tedbixby1981 I misunderstood what you wanted me to do. This is my favorite. Whites headed toward almond and greys look good too, but if you think this one works, it’s what I want. I was planning to do a greige grout.

@oreolucca1

I just saw your question. 18 inches wall space between cabinets and counter. I’ll be removing the microwave/cabinet and adding a hood, so the tiled area behind the range will go up probably to the top of the cabinets or at least to the bottom of the hood.

This is my sink. I like the sink and my trim against my kitchen. That’s probably why I like the off-white subway one comment up compared to others. Not that I’m trying to match tile to my sink..🥴

I'd say go with the lighter one, but make sure it's a creamier white, and not a stark white. If possible, order some of the backsplash tile and mount it to foam core board and look at more than just one. It's so hard to see on a computer, even when I zoom in! I think you should not use copper schluter either - it will be permanent and may not work with the stainless/brushed nickel finishes, and will not be easy to change. Do like Anglophilia and have copper accessories to tie the light fixture together. Does the tile you've selected have trim pieces like bullnose etc.? Use that instead to trim - otherwise it might be best to find another tile that has the matching trim pieces. I think having the simpler backsplash will make the kitchen nice and bright, and will make any accessories pop. Good luck!

@hemina

perfect thanks. It’s very close to Swiss coffee paint that I have, so I’m going to do what @tedbixby1981 recommended and paint a large piece to sit up there for awhile.

I might do something a little bit longer. And maybe more of dove grey grout. Doves not the right color but more of something med light grey/taupe grout. I will add a photo it’s not perfect and I would stick to having the in a simple subway pattern.

This one is probably to stark but the longer ones are a little less fussy and a little

more modern. In my opinion lol

@oreolucca1

funny you say that. I have a 2x8 that was my first choice, but I’m trying to take advantage of tile for cost from a family member. I’ll ask if they have a different size. I haven’t followed up since getting samples for “standard” subway in a 3x6. Do you think 3x12 is too big? This is a 3x12...I can get this size as well For cost.

I wouldn’t pull gray into this at all...grout should just match the tile as closely as possible.

No I do not think it would be too big. I Think it would modernize the kitchen and make it brighter. I would play with three or four different grout colors. 😀

Perfect. Thank you talking me away from copper and helping with the tile.

@hemina that photo I posted is vanilla 3x12 and oyster grey grout. I think that looks nice, except this person did a quartz with grey lines for her island, so I suspect she was trying to tie it all together. Could I go with a lighter beige grout? I really don’t want white grout.

It looks like you have a little

silver in countertop. I would get Three or four samples. Maybe just the plastic ones and put them up with two or three tiles so you can make sure you like. I would not do white grout to stark with your kitchen. So get three or four. And post pics. i Think once you have choices you will know which one is right 😀

Thanks @oreolucca1 I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this whole living/dining/kitchen space for months now. I’m resourceful by nature so as strong as the pull is to fully renovate the kitchen, I just can’t. I’m happy with where things are at. White subway would be my first choice no matter the scale of a Reno, so I’m happy that works here. I’ll need paint help once the carpentry, lighting and tile are done. I’m thinking we‘ll want to paint the island white. 👌

It really depends on how good of a tile expert you hire to do the backsplash. Whenever you accent grout, you run the risk of highlighting mistakes and uneven spacing. I’d wait and make the decision once you’ve seen the tile done, and have them make you a sample board with different grout options. It’s much easier to make the right decision once you see it all together.

Good advice @oreolucca1 I have grout samples already...I’ll order some more of the tile. The granite does have a lot of grey.

You’re right @hemina

thanks again!

Well i think you will love the changes. It’s amazing what paint and new tile will do. Post pics after!!!

Do you think copper works so close to the stainless pieces?

I see copper next to stainless all the time. That was never an issue to me. Overall I agree that it wouldn’t be the best fit for my kitchen. It’s all good.

Here’s my copper backsplash look book. All are stainless appliances

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/134283724/list/metal-backsplashes

Katie- did you notice in your copper backsplash book that none of the kitchens have dark cabinetry?

@tedbixby

You’re right- that’s a good observation. Those are the ones I found on Houzz, and I’m attracted to light kitchens. This one is from my phone album. I thought I could maybe get away with it in connection with white subway (copper for entire backsplash is too much)

edited to add- that’s what I thought before this thread! 😉

don’t get mad at me!!

would a copper hood have the same maintenance as a backsplash??

I love this funky kitchen.

Hi Katie, I hear you: copper ... somewhere ;)

How about copper pendants over the island area? Like shown here: https://www.houzz.com/photos/bristol-house-refurbishment-contemporary-kitchen-phvw-vp~108088238

Bristol House Refurbishment · More Info

@lobo_93

Those are great. I have thought of doing pendants. And accessories are good too. I guess I just want to do something unexpected. In that photo above your comment with the copper hood, the hood makes that room.