Backsplash opinions, please.

6 years ago

We're updating a 20 year old kitchen. Think honey-toned maple cabinets, coffee brown quartz counters, French Quarter/ Mardi Gras (😱, I know!) backsplash (4x4s) and floor (12x12s on a diagonal, no less).

The cabinets are in good condition. Plan remove ornaments, plate rack, trim from hood and re-stain to tone down the honey to more neutral shade (maybe pecan-ish?). The counters aren't terrible, so they will stay, too.

Plan to update backsplash with 2 goals in mind:

Something that I love that will go with the floors for now.
Something that I love that will also go with a mid-tone hardwood later!

We plan to decide to stay or sell in 2-3 more years...Perfect lot, perfect neighborhood, but cannot put forth the $$$$$ for an entirely updated kitchen. Especially if we decide to sell.

I've looked at 'cream/beige' tiles and 'sage green' tiles...but I really love the look of marble.

I've selected a Calacatta gold 3x9 tile (I only have pics of 3x6, but I think I prefer the longer). I like it with the quartz. And it isn't that too awful with the floor, if temporary. (I may even change the floor grout to something more neutral and lighter to help.)

But I wanted to ask for additional opinions/suggestions. The floor photographs about 25x brighter than it actually is, but still it's awful😞. No way around it.

I've included pics...

Please no suggestions of painting cabinets white. My practical hubby says no way. And I do love the wood stain over white, I think.

Trying to avoid anything uber trendy because...FQ/Mardi Gras, duh! LOL!

Featured Answer

PRO

Design Girl

6 years ago

I would not put a marble backsplash near a granite counter. They are two different stones with two different looks that just don't play well together. I'd select a warm white tile BUT imo, the counter needs to be replaced. Stripping and re staining cabinets, replacing flooring (down the road) and keeping those counters I feel would be a mistake. I'd replace the counters AND the backsplash now, then work on the rest as time and money allow.

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Comments (13)

keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
It's quartz, but thank you for your suggestions. Not planning to strip the cabinets either, just touch up and tone down the stain.
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mdln
6 years ago
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
Didn't mean for this to be a poll, was only adding pics, but who doesn't like a good poll. :)
Trem Wills
6 years ago
Is the colour of your cabinets off in the pictures? Because they look really similar to your inspiration to me. I like the colour of your cabinets. What about just backsplash and counter. Have you looked at prices for new countertop?
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
No it's not really too off. The pics of the other cabs aren't really inspiration photos, just more to show what similar cabs have used for tile. Both are similar to ours, but maybe a tad more neutral? Toning the honey down wouldn't be a drastic change though, I'm thinking. Here is a more neutral pecan stained door. Have looked generally at prices, but not specifically, yet. Because we were only planning to do the BS for now, I haven't even looked to see what I would like to go with the CG subway tile. I would like to at least select BS, counter, floors all together - even if we have to do the remodel in several stages. The BS is about 32 sq. ft. I haven't measured counters. We've eliminated all the red/brown/gold colors throughout the house to cooler blue/green/tan/browns. The kitchen is really the last room.
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
It's about 46 sq. ft of countertop & 32 sq ft of BS.
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
The flooring is less than 200 sq ft for kitchen/bkfst area. Small space.
Tara
6 years ago
Are those pics of your kitchen now? I would not do ANYTHING. AT. ALL. That is gorgeous! I would be the one to buy your house as is....not so much if you changed the kitchen to the white/gray cookie cutter ones these days.
Trem Wills
6 years ago
Honestly I think backsplash should be last. I think if you’re doing it in stages, I would change floors or counters first and then re-evaluate.
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
Tara, I think you may be looking at one of the Houzz photos, mine is above in the main post. Thanks, msteezzy. I would definitely consider that, but when we do the floor it will be the same throughout the main hallway, open concept areas - basically 6 rooms ~2500 sq. ft. of hardwood. Around $60K is my husbands guess, so didn't really want to commit to that unless we plan to stay. The 5 bedrooms & gameroom are the only rooms with carpeting and will stay with carpet. Empty nesters in 2 years...it will be a lot of house, but it may make more sense to keep it.
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
Had an idea...if I replaced the kitchen floor tile with the same laminate in the family room, we could put off flooring for now and focus on counter & backsplash. But - the tone of the floor and cabinets is pretty close - would it be better to take the pecan a little darker for more contrast? Or? ...then what for counter & BS?
keep_faith
Original Author
6 years ago
Bump