Also, I realized that many of my inspiration photos have virtually no backsplash.

You definitely need a backsplash behind the sink and stove. Maybe consider a darker gray subway tile to contrast with brick and to compliment the gray lower cabinets.

Zellige tiles by Cle, are beautiful and would and would be a knock out with that gorgeous brick!

following

Playing on Olivia’s idea with a 4x4 ceramic tile. Tried a creamy white with edges that tie to the brick color, but it looks a little stark to me. Tried a light gray, but it blended into the cabs and counters too much. Then tried black, which I think looks great with the brick and the darker island. Pics aren’t perfect, but can maybe spark some ideas.

I actually like the one on the left in your photo of the kitchen. It's not a subway (i.e. brick) shape, it's not too busy and it blends the colors. Can we see a bigger photo of that choice?

I think I would just add a higher counter trim piece, maybe 6” rather than the standard 4” and paint above it.

Hi @Brooklyn. Choosing a backsplash can be difficult in the easiest of kitchens. Yours has a few challenges, and you are getting some disparate advice. Your best move right now is to look at inspiration images that combine tile and brick, and try to learn from those images what gives you a look you like.

It’s not the dimension of the tile you need to worry about. want to know how I know? There are great images of brick with 4” square tiles, and there are awful images of brick with 4” square tiles. There are gorgeous images of brick and subways, and not pretty images of brick with subways.

Collect some inspiration images and think about what you want. My choice would be a glazed thin brick tile in a gray that harmonizes with your cabinets and the gray in your counters. This is from Fireclay Tile. Whatever you choose I would say no natural stone, no to introducing another color, and try to keep it simple.

You can actually tile over the brick with glazed thin brick, or with any other tile you love if you are having mortar issues.

I would use a white leaf-shaped tile with white or very pale gray grout. The white will brighten the space while the shape adds subtle interest that doesn’t compete with the brick. Photo is to show the shape.

@Brooklyn, I really like the double-hexagon tiles in your last photo. Nice looking kitchen design , btw.

Have you gone and shopped at an actual tile store (not a big box) and see what they come up with? A good tile store should have experience people to help you, a wider range of selection and will allow you to bring samples home.

@ted I did many months ago when we were still in concept stage! But not since cabinets and counters and floors and brick wall were done. These days it’s a bit more challenging, though probably the right move.

Why does the one cabinet next to brick not have an upper cabinet over it? Looks like it’s missing a piece.

Just wanted to say that your renovation looks wonderful so far!

@Delora Hunter Lol, you can thank IKEA for that. It's been out of stock, but is on order! I have the door for it, just not the box.

Yeah, much more challenging but probably worth at least one trip.

@Gcubed thank you! I am looking forward to being done with every agonizing decision ;)

@Sofia Good idea to mock it up! I just tried it to scale with a few different tile shapes/colors (square and rectangular zellige ones are from Cle, and hex ones are from Nemo). With a 4" square tile, I'd be able to fit 5 high (space to upper cabinets is 20").

Nice job on the mock-ups, Brooklyn! Do you love any of them?

@eam44 Thank you - you are so right about there being good and bad examples of the same thing. I can usually tell which one I like, and have been trying to analyze why because there doesn't seem to be one defining characteristic that makes the good 'GOOD' (like grout color, tile color, countertop color, etc.)! And it's so hard to imagine a whole wall from just a few sample tiles.

I agree, I am definitely leaning towards white or grey with a matching grout to to minimize the look of a pattern, though with a textured tile. Love the hand cut and irregular look of zellige or brick, but not sure about how easy it is to clean behind the range?

@Brooklyn, the brick is glazed so it will be as easy to clean as tile and it will work just fine behind the range. The challenge with zellige is the irregularity of the surface and shape. The more regular the fit of the tiles the easier the maintenance will be, so compare manufacturers. Here is what the glazed thin brick looks like installed. A lot depends on the installation, and the same can be said for zellige.

I'm going to throw out this out of the box idea and see if it leads us to something. What about a tin back splash? This is a darker gray cabinet so the actual tin color may clash with your cabinet but you could always paint it your wall color to blend but still have a subtle pattern.

tin backsplash in gray kitchen - Google Search · More Info

This was a kitchen remodel in a 1910 house. Note the tin back splash which the Interior Designer said "The embossed tin backsplash acknowledges the historic bones of the home."

The Small Kitchen Challenge · More Info

I think whatever you choose should absolutely have matching grout. Some of the examples above stand out too much due to the grout choice. I also think the super shiny tiles are distracting. Your kitchen has a few “wow” factors already, so I would keep the backsplash simple. Yes, shopping in person is getting on the “gotta do this “ list at this point. The kitchen is great so far. Don’t get discouraged. The backsplash dilemmas probably outnumber most every other type. It’s hard.

White subway tile with white grout (matching the countertop color essentially) should look excellent with the brick.

I love this look w/your kitchen

If you whitewash the brick just a bit, I think a marble chevron or herringbone would look great alongside. (this is a calacatta marble chevron)

or something like this, but you could choose to do one solid color.

glazed brick subway. plenty of diff layouts you could do

Cloe tile comes in white or gray, and subway or a 5x5.

@Beth H. :I love the irregular look of that Cloe Tile. do you have any advice on scale? The backsplash is 20” high, and I feel like a 5”x5” tile might be too oversized, especially for a relatively short wall (76”). I was trying to stick to 4”x4” square tile with a matte finish, but this limits my options quite a bit because things like the Cloe or the Casablanca and Cascade tiles from Nemo don’t come in that size (only 5x5).

Is there a rule of thumb about size/scale of tile in a smaller space?

Alternatively, I do also like the 2.5x8 in a stacked or herringbone pattern like you shared!

@Beth H. :also what is this tile that you posted?

Off white subway Leo same
Size mostly it would be too busy. I personally Don’t like the black. I wouldn’t want to compete woth the brick

let me show you some of the Cloe alternatives (which have become very popular)

here's the 5x5 layout in a standard backsplash. You at 20" are actually 2" higher than the standard. You could just about squeeze in 4 full tiles. (tiler would prob have to skim a 1/4" or so off the top tile under the cab.

also comes in a beautiful blue, or a green.

and I love the black. especially w/wood and brick

they also have a cream

this is 2.5X8 tile in the gray. (comes in all of the other colors too)

above is gray, this one is the white w/standard height cabs

you can do a vertical stack off set layout

or a herringbone. for size, this herringbone is a 3x12 tile

I love the marble too. I'm actually considering these for my own backsplash. I have a matte gray quartz and a marble island.

I came across this honed/brushed marble mosaic in a chevron. I really like this one too. could also be a contender for your kitchen. I'd grab some samples of everything you like

if you like a 4x4, Tilebar has a bunch of these and similar.

I noticed you already saw the Cle'Tiles . I used the black Zelliege as an inlay in my floor

Fireclay tiles also has a Star and Cross pattern that may look nice on that wall. tons of colors too

After some of these very helpful comments, I would love to get advice on how to match the two different color bricks together. I wasn’t sure if I should continue with a different question here or start a new thread, so I started a new one. If anyone has advice on fixing the brick wall , please share it!

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5980177/help-me-match-this-brick-wall

@Brooklyn, One option would be to use a grout that picks up the rust color. They did something similar in this image.

So, if you were going for the thin brick in Klamath, for example, you might choose a Mapei grout in Hickory or even Brick Red. But you really need to sample all of this in your space.

Have you considered painting the brick white? That would solve the color variation issue and would also allow more backsplash options.

Just came across this and would love to see what you decided for the backsplash! We're in a similar position with the brick and I'd love to see how it turned out :)

I would love to see what you’ve done, too.

I think you said that the brick would be treated somehow....paint or schmear maybe?....I would wait until that process is done before choosing backsplash.

I also think the tile should be the same size and shape as the brick....the other square or other shape tiles, to me, are just another different element that adds to the busyness. I think keeping the backsplash quieter will be better.

hELLO - i am in a similair situation. We have white brick (painted chantilly lace Was thinking a simple white subway tile would look best. The kitchen cabinets are also going to be white with brass/gold hardware) Classic/Coastal california modern yet out floors are mediterranean so it has that flair too.

I'm currently wondering what to do in the corner here? I haven't done the grout yet. We are using charcoal grout.

Aaron, what corner? you're commenting on a post that's almost a year old.

normally in corners you use a silicone caulk that matches your grout color

Beth,there should have been a photo.inwas searching solutions to my odd looking corner where my subway tile meets my

aaron, use a silicone caulk. no grout should go in joints w/change of planes. it will crack. Use the color that you used w/the white tile, but don't grout that tile w/Charcoal.

whatever grout you used on the brick, use a similar or the same on the white.

using a dark color grout w/the white, next to that brick tile is not going to look good

do this

Try Oyster Gray

here it is w/this white subway tile

i'm not sure how much brick is too much. A designer told me to to brick all walls and with the right brick it will be beautiful. I thought to use a different material to break it up, but she said not with the right brick. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

2 walls?

3 photos, I would definetly choose a lighter brick or whit wash. Any thoughts?

cmarchick, this post is over a year old, and the title belongs to another question. No one is going to see yours.

If you want help, start your own post w/the photos and title at the top.

not true ... while possibly too late for the original writer - I found them helpful.