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kimlife

Kitchen backsplash purgatory

3 years ago

I need backsplash tile. My cabinets are bright white (upper) and navy blue (lower). The floor is Mexican saltillo tile (I live in Baja). The countertop is granite, with a deep brown-to-black grain. My kitchen island (not shown) is huge with a stainless steel top.


I don't want a boring white subway tile. My kitchen is a joyful place to be, a centre for family and friends to meet and cook and converse in multiple--frequently blended!--languages. :)


I am stuck--absolutely stuck--because I think linearly, geometrically. I cannot make the organic look of the granite compute with a non-organic tile, but I know it can be done and beautifully so. I just need help getting there!


Help?






Comments (29)

  • 3 years ago

    How about a white tile backsplash, but break it up with hand painted Mexican tiles? You can do black and white tiles, or mix it up with all sorts of colors and patterns.

    https://www.hadeda-tiles.com/product/mexican-talavera-tile-had015/

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    If you normally keep most of your small appliances handy on the counter as well as various oils and spices for cooking, I would just paint the area the same as the wall.

    Do like the idea of hand-painted tiles,

  • 3 years ago

    Love the dramatic artwork!

    a dramatic dark rich tile would be my choice.

    a little shimmer and drama. sounds like you spend time in the kitchen.

    the dark will also help camoflage the countertop appliances too.



  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Where are you looking? There are tons of gorgeous and fun tiles out there.

    https://www.tilebar.com/collection/porcelain-tile/shop-by-look-porcelain/encaustic-tile.html




  • 3 years ago

    https://www.tilebar.com/hexart-deco-gris-8-porcelain-matte-tile.html

    This one might work with your countertop colors

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    The stone is beautiful. I would not want any tile trying to compete with it.

    What I would do is try to find the same stone for a 6-8" backsplash (whatever the height to the bottom of the window is) and paint the wall above.

    Or just paint the wall if you can't match the stone.

    kimlife thanked ci_lantro
  • 3 years ago

    How about a zellige tile? It would "talk nice" with the saltillo tile and be toned down enough to not compete with your amazing granite: https://www.riadtile.com/product/glazed-clay-zellige-4x4/

    kimlife thanked Jenny
  • 3 years ago

    I agree with ci_lantro‘s comments. Keep it simple due to the amount of pattern in the counters. Let the counters pull the focus and not compete with a busy backsplash.

    kimlife thanked chloebud
  • 3 years ago

    Also agree with lantros comments. I have the same granite on counter and back splash. It brings continuity to the room.

    kimlife thanked Karen Puleo
  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    There's really no solid relationships here, so you are struggling. You love the deep navy cobalt of the cabinets? Or you love the granite sharing none of that color?

    Deep cobalt zeillage or paint the wall as cabinets. : )




    Or...........repeat the floor tones, 4" zeillage






    No higher than bottom of that white cabinet...is necessary, and tone in the grout. No high contrasts, a deep charcoal with a blue cast....

    kimlife thanked JAN MOYER
  • 3 years ago

    I would look at some of these tile manufacturers. The websites don't do the tiles justice. Try to find local distributors.

    https://www.arto.com/

    https://tabarkastudio.com/

  • 3 years ago

    OP lives in Baja. Assuming Baja Mexico, lovely local/ semi local tile is not going to be hard to find. Although I would skip the tile because the counters are so gorgeous.

  • 3 years ago

    I agree that there are already enough stars in the kitchen and they need some supporting players. But, it sounds like the OP wants another star for her backsplash.

  • 3 years ago

    I am totally overwhelmed by all-y'all's input!! Thank you so much! I think I'm going to go with the consensus; the granite really is quite lovely and anything I try is going to compete. If I do anything, I'll wait out the peso (the value of the dollar has plummeted over the past few months), and get a matching granite.


    For some perspective, here's the lay of the land from my "office" chair.

    This is the "before" image when we first bought the place.

  • 3 years ago






  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Sorta boho in a visual that might make my no clutter sensibilities go insane ???

    Gotta be honest,,,,you may not notice WHAT the splash is: )

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    IMO anice simple stainless tile subway shape and be done . I cannot see boho in this space even with the 2 colors that counter drives the bus .

  • 3 years ago

    Wow. Big changes! It's a fun space.

  • 3 years ago

    Bright yellow or cobalt. I might paint the walls yellow and use cobalt tiles.

  • 3 years ago

    The disaster messiness of the island is due to the renovation! (I don't usually have necklaces hanging from my kitchen island! :)


    I actually found a mid-century-style tile at one of our Tijuana tile stores. It was a light greenish/yellow, sort of a barely there colour of a 1950s appliance. It was fun and entirely frivolous, an interesting juxtaposition to the Very Formal Granite. Both sides of me, really, but it's entirely possible I'm getting a wee bit too obsessed! :)

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    IMO there is no way to even begin to advise about backsplash in thta disaster you posted Backsplash can be chosen a long time after the rest is done so wait until we can actully see the kitchen please .

    kimlife thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Darned Houzz won't let me like Mrs. S's post 10x!

    What about doing a limewash or faux limewash with regular paint treatment for the backsplash and maybe the entire walls in the kitchen?


    kimlife thanked ci_lantro
  • 3 years ago

    I tend to agree, but if you play "one of these isn't like the others", what jumps out is the counters, which do not go with any of the photos posted above. I think the OP should go with a Spanish/Mexican style, but I think it needs to be a bit more subtle, bringing in the colors in the counters, which is why I recommended she look at Arto and Tabarka tile. She can probably find similar, and cheaper, versions in her area.


    Example of Tabarka tile. They offer lot of colors and patterns.

    Italian Farmhouse Custom Kitchen Remodel | Santaluz, San Diego, CA · More Info


    Callinan Spanish Remodel · More Info


    Hermitage · More Info


    Tabarka Installations · More Info


    Kitchen · More Info




    Example from Arto tile:

    Whitefish Bay Tudor Kitchen · More Info


    Pismo Beach · More Info


    kimlife thanked chispa
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    If your kitchen is a joyful place to be, the backsplash doesn’t really matter. You should absolutely take your time and choose something that really enhances the space and feels right to you. Just keep in mind that with a busy counter material you need the backsplash to harmonize with the other elements, not lead the show.

    You have handmade floor tiles, why not choose handmade backsplash tiles? Yes, they are a little wonky, but that does give a more organic look, breaking up harshly geometric grout lines. You could opt for a Morrocan Zellige tile, but you are in Baja, it makes more sense to go for a hand made Mexican tile, like the Talavera field tile below.



    Or, consider an even less rectilinear tile shape.



    If your counters were a little quieter, i would encourage you to consider making a mosaic of broken Talavera tiles (you can buy them by the pound) or even possibly the Mozaic brick tile below, but with your beautiful, complicated counters, subtlety is your friend.



    I love the Tierra y Fuego web site. Perhaps browse there for inspiration. Best of luck with your renovation.

    kimlife thanked eam44
  • 3 years ago

    Something eclectic that ties into the counters colors.

    Tabarka Tile: RDR Pattern #5 (Colors: charcoal and oxford on off white) size 6" x 6".

    The colors would have to be tested and Tabarka will customize colors. Needs to lean more brown and not so charcoal.

    Paradise Ranch Residence · More Info



    Another one from Arto tile:

    Coachelle Blue Kitchen · More Info


    kimlife thanked chispa
  • 3 years ago

    I would definitely pick a simple tile, in the dark brown tone of your granite. Some of the dark bronze metallic where fun. I would do something simple, but that play up the granit so it looks on purpose. Handmade tile potentially. Nothing with a print. That granite is gorgeous.

  • 3 years ago

    @Mrs S: Your response was gracious and helpful, thank you. The saltillo floors run throughout the house, and although maintenance can be challenging, we wouldn't change it for the world! The colours down here are wonderful, and playing with them has been fun. Our granite is reasonably priced and the choices overwhelming! In fact, this wasn't the countertop I'd ordered! But it was my second choice, and I'm glad the mason made a mistake!


    (@chispa: my neighbour's chihuahua is named Chispa! :) )


    @ci_lantro: Love your handle and your advice!


    EVERYONE: thank you so much! I have a lot of homework to do!