"Marble" countertop and white backsplash clashing?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hi everyone - I'm finalizing the finishes of a kitchen design to be used in a number of units on a small development project. I’ve attached an image of the typical kitchen layout which uses a combination of white and dark grey cabinets. The quartz countertop was thought to be selected (I was planning on going with Hanstone's Whistler: https://www.hanstonequartz.com/products/whistler) and backsplash tile (white benzene) was selected last week but I'm now having second thoughts. I’ve always perceived the Hanstone Whistler quartz as a typical “marble looking” quartz with a white base and subtle grey veining and I always thought (based on all the images I’ve seen of similar quartz products) that a white tile would look great. However, the attached image showing the tile against the quartz makes the quartz look very creamy. Is this contrast “normal” or do these just not work together? Is it possible that once the kitchen is finalized that the contrast will be a nonissue? Here is an example of this exact quartz with what appears to be a white tile backsplash: https://www.houzz.com/photos/cherry-and-blue-traditional-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~140401887. It looks great from the perspective of the picture but it is difficult to see exactly how the tile and counter interact. I’d be grateful for any feedback that you’re able to provide. Thank you

Featured Answer

chicagoans

5 years ago

Sorry no feedback on finishes, but... is there any flexibility to adjust the design? I'm worried that the right side door of the refrigerator won't open fully because of the wall right there. If there are many units like this, then potentially there will be many refrigerators that aren't ever properly cleaned because the drawers can't be pulled out.

I'd try one of: make the pantry cabinets a few inches narrower and add a filler to the right of the ref; move the pantry cabinets to the right of the ref and shift everything left; make the wall a few inches shorter (if the place isn't built yet); split the pantry cabinets so you have a narrow pull out or broom closet or whatever at each end of the run.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

cawaps
5 years ago
There are a lot of different whites, and IMO those two do not work together. Look for either a whiter marble-look counter, or a creamier backsplash tile.
travis4440 thanked cawaps
chispa
5 years ago
Wait ... you can't ignore the white cabinets in this equation. The wrong white tile could make the white cabinets look dirty, or too yellow, or too blue.
Related Professionals
Vidalia Architects & Building Designers · Brunswick Design-Build Firms · Rocky Mount Design-Build Firms · West Plains Home Builders · Mankato Home Builders · Santa Fe Interior Designers & Decorators · Waycross Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · College Station Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Parkersburg Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Rome Kitchen Remodelers · Yuba City Kitchen Remodelers · Frederick Custom Countertops · St. Louis Custom Countertops · New Braunfels Custom Countertops · Virginia Beach Custom Countertops
chispa
5 years ago
FYI, most showroom lighting sucks, so look at them in daylight and if possible in one of the properties.
travis4440 thanked chispa
travis4440
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks @chicagoans. What you have proposed is already incorporated into the design of the kitchens but it is just not reflected in the rendering.
travis4440
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your feedback everyone. I will try to find a whiter quartz option. I found another example of where this quartz is used with a white tile backsplash: https://cameronhomes.ca/our-models/single-family-homes/winter/. Again, the quartz and tile combinations look great in the pictures but it's a bit of a different look when you walk up to the counter in the virtual tour.
K R
5 years ago
Another idea is to choose a more gray based countertop. White on white on white is gonna be tough. Or extend the countertop as backsplash.
travis4440
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks K R. A quartz backsplash has and always will be my preferred choice but it's not in the budget on this project. It never occurred to me that white on white on white could be an issue. I seem to find successful examples of this everywhere I look. Do you see an issue with these examples?