Easy - blue and white tile. Quartz can’t go behind a range because it scorches. The other two options aren't at all classic or timeless IMO, nor are they practical as both will be very difficult to clean.

Thanks for your comment! I see stone as classic, as it can be rather old world. And yes, the decorative tile panel feels very 90s to me. Thanks again.

Also, my range is electric, so less of chance of scorching - but key to consider. Haven't heard that happening until searching on Houzz. Thanks for that heads up.

What a nice kitchen. It's the oven venting out the back that might cause scorching. Or might not. Easy to test: bake something and see what it does to your wall. :) Try something greasy and smoky with a long, high temp cook. Like...season a cast iron skillet with too much fat.

Not fond of the painted (look) stone. Sparkly accent is too bathroomy. I like the blue/white tile but I'm not sure how the colors would work in your space.

I'd look for a 4x4 tile in mixed white/offwhites. Or just do the quartz.

Thank you, Fori. Ah, gotcha. I just read that someone suggested testing it during a "self-cleaning" run of the oven. I still have a sample of the quartz that I might just "install" above the cooktop and then bake and cook away. And I agree, mother-of-pearl feels bathroom. I hear you - variegated white + off-white range square tiles could be the ticket. Appreciate you!

Gorgeous space!
You have gorgeous taste!! Lovely!!!

I’d say to skip option 4.

Ask other options are great, i think I’d go with the bead board and blue tiles

The stone is also lovely

Thank you, HU187528210. I'm partial to the stone because it is easy for me to envision, so I know it could work - but of course, the practicality of stone behind the stove just isn't ideal. The blue will be about finding that right tile. I have a selection of blue/white accessories and blue in a nearby bathroom so it will flow. I appreciate your feedback and compliments!

Self clean! Yeah that'll do it. Maybe I would have thought of that if I ever cleaned my oven!

I think it is sample time for you!

HAHAHHAHAHA. Love this. Thank you again!

NEVER USE THE SELF CLEAN OPTION ON AN OVEN. There is nothing that screws up the electronics on an oven quicker than using the Self Clean feature.

Ask any appliance repairman.

Thanks, Beverly. I'll be sure to check in with a repairman about self-cleaning. Never heard that before, so I appreciate the heads up. I'm seeing some lovely neutral tiles, and think the first one and the first basket weave is closest to having yellow undertones that would work for my cabinetry. Appreciate you!

I like the blue and white the best. The stone looks hard to keep clean.

I must have been very lucky with my previous stove as I used the self-cleaning option often.

Thank you, RedRyder!

Ultimately, I think if you're going for a more traditional classic look then probably the blue and white tile with bead board for your space. I personally love the all-quartz look and actually thinking of using it in our kitchen reno...I think it looks so clean and chic. But I think that has a little bit more of a modern feel to it comparably.

Thank you, Laura. The full stone/quartz backsplash is ideal, but I now am scared about scorching. I'm in touch with the stone yard about the scorching and recommendations.

Rivers, yes I'm glad I stumbled on this thread because I had no idea about potential damage either! I'm hoping our situation won't be so bad since we'll only have a conduction range top without an oven underneath. But I'm definitely going to be asking as well!

Beautiful kitchen. Love the colors and timelessness. It is a smaller space (as is mine) and find that less is more when it comes to backsplash. You already have a great thing going and too much visual clutter will subtract instead of add to the balance and beauty. I'd run a 4-5" back splash of your counter material, and make it 12" behind your range. Lots of people think a short splash seems dated, but I see tons of it in new British kitchens, Plain English kitchens, and love the simplicity. We had a 12" marble splash behind our Blue Star gas range and never had a problem with scorching or cleaning.

That said, I do love a great subtle Dutch blue and white tile.

Blue and White Delft Style Dutch Kitchen Tiles · More Info

Here are some great ones on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/market/delft_blue_tiles

Not sure you can see it but we went with a light blue tile, had it 12 years and have loved it.

Kitchen · More Info

So i recommend a soft blue.

Stone #2

Hi Kendrah, thank you for your response! We are on the same page. Simple and uncluttered for the smaller space is key. With the small detailing of inset bead on the cabinets, this is even more important. To me, I need to tap into my New England bungalow/craftsman house, the timelessness of the English kitchen aesthetic, and modernize it a bit to keep things fresh. I'll look at more examples of a 5"-6" backsplash of stone. Thank you!

Also, I just returned from Amsterdam and spent a fair amount of time perusing blue/white delft tiles. As an artist, I'm considering glazing my own with a delft-meets-local-scenes. :)

Thank you, huruta! WOW - look at those views! What a lovely space. Are your tiles glass? Thank you for sharing!

Thank you, kodiac23! I feel stone would fit well with the age of the home and I simply dig natural, old world stone vibes. Granted, there are other walls/spaces nearby that could get stone influence (I have a wet bar and a coffee bar in the same room as it continues into the eat-in-dining space). Appreciate your input!

Go for a patterned tile with an off white background. Tabarka Studio has a ton of options. Here's one I like:

Note that these are terracotta tiles. So they are likely slightly thicker than regular ceramic tile. Something to keep in mind when installing.

RedRyder - I forgot to mention that, yes, the cleaning of the stone wall, even with sealing it four million times before install, is that something that kept us from ordering immediately. It might be an option for a different wall in the same space... but the balance of practical and aesthetics is important in a much used kitchen space. Thank you again for that input!

You need to return to Amsterdam and buy tiles! No one makes better blue-and-white tiles.

Baring the trip, I love what Sabrina posted. Very warm and interesting. Your kitchen’s simplicity is wonderful, but like a little black dress, it needs a piece of jewelry. A unique backsplash will do that. Her posted idea is not run of the mill, for sure.

And it stays within the realm of “New England bungalow/craftsman” very well. (Which I love.)

Thank you, Sabrina Alfin Interiors! I appreciate your take on this.

That's a gorgeous tile that could work well. I wonder if the off-white undertone will further enhance the contrast of the yellow-cream cabinets and the bluish-white counters. I think the best bet it to buy some to sample it. I appreciate the visual to use as a reference!

Also, thank you for the heads up on the terra cotta thickness. I love the idea of a full quartz backsplash but wasn't loving the shrinking counters in a small kitchen like mine.

So grateful for your thoughtfulness on my project!

Hi i just posted with basically the same question. Quartz whiter than i thought and how to tie together with a backsplash. Here is what i looked at, tilebar.com montauk in gin white the tile has a decent shade variation tile to it so it ties cream and white together. Also check out Bedrosian.com and look at marin, celine and cloe. Look at all of their white options, they all have shade variations. I ordered 4?each from Bedrosian for the samples so I could get an idea of what the shade variation look like. Tile bar will only let you order two each of the same tile for samples. Previously I just ordered one each of samples and it’s really hard to get an idea of what somethings going to look like on your whole backsplash when you just have a little piece of tile so I’m glad that I ordered multiples this time. It really helped me decide.

Most of those tile lines i mentioned also have cream and some of the “whites” look very cream in person. Lol i just order everything now.

Hi K A - grateful to have your input as you clearly know this intimately as well. Hilarious - I own tile bar sample of Montauk, Gin White. I thought it would be perfect, but the shininess wound up not being my husband's favorite (he doesn't weigh in on design much, but when he does, I listen - he's the chef, after all). WOW - thank you for sending on Bedrosians.com site!!! Those three options are all looking viable. I'll order samples asap! Totally laughed out loud at your comment on a one tile sample - very hard to get a good feel. Much appreciation for you sharing your insight and sample links with me!

Hi Kendrah - Oh my, this page of delft tiles is spot on. Thank you for sharing!

As an artist (and art historian), my instinct is to put a twist on our interior design decisions and yet timelessness for resale is always in the back of my head.

I look at it as: if I am going to create, it has to provide me/my family with joy, reflect elements of tradition that work with the architecture and locale, and could potentially be a sellable unique feature in the future.

With a smaller range and stovetop, I'm not sure if the delftesque tiles will take up too small of a space and add to a cluttered look. Or, if I should do the whole wall, or both walls ("L" kitchen in terms of wall space). Either way, making some of these tiles would be fun for me, so that part will probably happen. :)

Rivers, omg if my complete tile obsession can help another poor sufferer i am so happy. My family is so sick if me asking their opinion on paint and tile colors. I think design is harder for the artistically inclined because we SEE everything. Im good with fashion in general but home design is stretching me. 🥹

I really wish the multiple sample thing had occurred to me in the first go around of doing my bathrooms but what can you do.

Thats funny thats your husband nixed the montauk gin white. My husband who sounds like he has the same level of design interest liked that one out the sample mountain so i went with it. Gotta listen to them sometimes! I was surprised he liked the pearl finish. The bedrosian marin line also has that great handmade feel but no sparkle.

My daughter is a highschool student at a school of the arts and ap art history was her favorite. I bet thats an interesting job.

I’d do a 4” backsplash of your counter material with a 12“ piece beind your range. Then make a delft arrangement of tiles that you mount on a board and adhere to your wall under the cabinets that can be taken down when you wish.

I think an artistic touch and resale always depends on the area of the country you are in and what is expected. I live in NYC and purchased an apartment from an artist. Here are some pics of the unit:

Oh my !

That’s a wow….

Countryfloors.com has delta tiles like the ones in the English kitchen.

*DELFT

Kendrah - LOVE the idea of mounting the tiles on a panel so that I could change things out. We have a call in to our stone yard to talk about the backsplash. Thank you!

Kendrah - My goodness! The color! Love it. Intense, though. I'd say my style of an artist is quite a bit different... starting with more subtle. But I can appreciate it all.

The idea of the delft-inspired tiles would be that visitors might not know they aren't traditional delft tiles, just small, subtle nods to the local boating scenes. We have a local replica ship of the first European explorers, which is Dutch of course, so I would include that specific ship.

I think I might make tiles no matter what, and if I don't use them, I'll sell them or find another use. Would be fun no matter what.