Hi Caroline, Another voice in your head.... I think you should consider a polished gray granite called Silvestre. It has very little pattern, but will feel right at home in your Restoration Kitchen. Some people think it absorbs water. If it starts to look dark, grab your hairdryer, and turn on the power to Hot. Hold it over the dark spots for @ 15 minutes, and the water mark will dry out. Keep it well polished to avoid as much of this as possible. I would use a long narrow tile for backsplash, in an off-white. Keep it simple!. Maybe not a typical subway tile, but something along those lines, the horizontal rectangular shape but a different dimension? Lay it in a brick pattern, and your nod to the past will look great! Add under-cabinet lighting to show off the countertops and splash! Your kitchen may not have had electricity originally, but you are going to love it to show off the amazing kitchen you are planning! I don't think you will use a pump for water rather than faucets, either. It looks like quartersawn oak in the cabinets, and that sets the tone for the whole reno. The floor being cut from a tree by your father is heritage in spades! Go for the countertop that your heart loves. Something light to medium color, no chocolates or licorice colors, please! You are going to be using the kitchen, so choose what you like best. IMHO, light color should really add the neutral that the kitchen is craving, and it will play against the deep tones of the cabinets. And, use a polished finish, so there is a reflective surface. The undercabinet lights will really set the countertop off as another element in the room. I suggest black cabinet pulls, to add to the gray/black introduced, or something the same color as your faucet. Best Wishes!

We did a 4 or 5" splash with, I think, 12" behind the range. Once the cabinets are in, you can play around with drawing lines for the splash height to see what looks best in your space. This was in our house from 1852. Because there was no kitchen in our original house, we didn't feel we had to stay true to the era of the home. Instead we used 1900s butler pantries as our inspiration and wanted the kitchen to look like cabinetry for the most part.

@Kendrah your kitchen is a showstopper! I don’t usually gravitate towards gray, but the coolness/blue tone of your cabinets is so unique and plays well with the countertops and appliances. It’s perfect for your space. What stone did you use? i love the idea of the 12” behind the range.

@Caroline Francoeur I happen to be a fan of the 4" backsplash for my own contemporary kitchen. It's not popular now, so I investigated it's origin on Google, which makes me an expert... NOT! 🤭 But what I found was an association with Formica. One of the real experts here, feel free to correct the record, because I am still interested. In the "mid-century modern" era there was an emphasis on horizontal line that persists today except for the current love of ever-higher ceilings to impress. So continuous cabinets and counters were emphasized with no breaks. Also, I'm thinking that if you had a delft blue tile or hammered copper backsplash anywhere, it would have been a valuable piece that wouldn't have taken up much of the kitchen but might have been just behind the stove. Your friend here could be corbels that your cabinet maker could make for you. They could frame the area behind your stove to allow a different material there. They also are a tidy solution to the problem of having too abrupt an end on your cabinet run on that wall as shown in this picture.

You asked for pictures of copper and delft tile for a backsplash. I'll find you some. I think it's interesting that copper has been used off and on for so long that it has different versions from different eras. The nice thing about copper in a kitchen is it's antimicrobial properties. In hospitals it has been the material of choice for handrails when affordable. We know there were coppersmiths in colonial America. If you want to introduce copper in another way to make it stand out less, consider electrical plates and even your kitchen faucet. Though you haven't said if you've chosen a faucet, you could choose a large vertical one popular now and reminiscent of a hand pump in my opinion 🤭 (remember I like contemporary for my kitchen). You could easily get away with it.

JENNINGS BAY KITCHEN · More Info

I found an appropriate source of delft tiles. These will be appropriate in New York. https://www.regtsdelfttiles.com/hand-painted-delft-tiles-by-poarte.html

Outside New York, copper might be better. Or you could have their plain white tile.

Here is something copper in a more contemporary kitchen, though it's effect is to make the kitchen span time, and I like the cup hooks and the shallow shelf. It's from HOUZZ so you can see more of this kitchen by clicking bottom left. You also could have a copper sink with your jet mist counter or any counter. Here is one source for a copper piece just behind the stove. https://natuross.com/collections/copper-backsplash-tiles Note you can have some blue or green in the copper. I was drawn to the idea of the tree because of your floor story. But if it doesn't speak to you, don't think I'm trying to push it. You could have a plain hammered piece there too. I do think the green (natural patina) copper would look great framed with minimal simple corbels, especially with another corbel on the left end of that cabinet run.

The Sebastian Cox Kitchen at St. John's Square · More Info

The Victoria Road NW6 Kitchen by deVOL · More Info

@Caroline Francoeur would you mind adding your recent pictures of your floorplan and kitchen and color scheme to your original post. You have to do it on computer, not phone. I find myself referring to them but that will be more difficult as more comments and pictures are added. They are really helpful.

Delft tile advice and a few pictures. https://www.bhg.com/delft-tiles-7558823

A site with a lot of pictures, some of which show how to use delft tile badly. https://shops9.mom/products.aspx?cname=delft+blue+tile+backsplash&cid=425&url=

After looking at some of these, I'm leaning towards a copper piece behind the stove. But what do you think?

What do you think of a stone look backsplash except for your stove area?https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/amber-gold-ledger/?itemNo=SLTAMBGLDLED

I could See it on both walls of cabinets and all the way to the ceiling if you liked it. And you could still have corbels framing the stove area (a must) and on both ends of the cabinet runs (an option if the stone extends beyond the cabinets to the wall edge). By the way, "yellow stone" is a terrible search term 🤭, "amber honey stone" works much better.

@kl23 Thank you for all of your posts! I am not in New York, but love these delft tiles: https://www.regtsdelfttiles.com/hand-painted-delft-tiles-with-small-scenes-in-blue-poarte-p8-series.html

Wow, what a great house, and I love that you are respecting the period when renovating the kitchen!

My 2 cents--love the oak cabinets and I think they would work with soapstone, honed Jet Mist granite, or honed white marble. Polished anything just doesn't work in a period kitchen--it's too shiny and contemporary looking. I have honed Danby marble and it's just fine unless you're obsessed with having it look like it did when it was new. Taj Mahal quartzite wouldn't be my choice, lovely as it is, it's just too formal looking. I think the Zeus or the Picasso would work better, but again, in a honed finish. And definitely NOT quartz--it's just too fake looking, especially the heavily veined varieties.

And the short backsplash is perfect for your house. Lots of high-end designers use it (Gil Schaefer, Rafe Churchill), as well as DeVol (as someone mentioned previously). You can use it all around but have it run from the counter to the bottom of the range hood over the range.

Farmhouse Maple Kitchen Island · More Info

Farmhouse Maple Kitchen Island · More Info

^ gah what a lovely kitchen 🤩

What are the counters around the sink in this pic you posted? It doesn't look that dark and of all that have been posted with similar cabinets, I think this is the best looking. It looks timeless, not too dark, not too light; it kind of complements the stainless in the stove.

As far as worrying about historical accuracy (tho I wouldn't put quartz here) unless you aren't going to use stainless appliances or even anything but a wood or coal stove, you're going to have some modern elements.

@Olychick They are a honed or leathered granite.

@kl23 we don’t have internet at the house until Friday, but I will update my original post with the floor plan when it’s all set up!

I like the idea of a solid white delft tile backsplash on the range wall, without a 4 inch granite piece, then having just the 4 inch granite backsplash on the sink wall.

I would love to use the blue delft painted tiles, but maybe in an area that isn’t as permanent - like coasters or a plant stand on the island.

@Diana M. Bier That kitchen is gorgeous!!!

@Caroline Francoeur says, " I like the idea of a solid white delft tile backsplash on the range wall, without a 4 inch granite piece, then having just the 4 inch granite backsplash on the sink wall. "

Can someone do a mock-up so she can see what it might look like? I'm no good with those. I just want to make sure the white against the black isn't too much contrast.

This doesn't look bad at all...

Right? Rafe Churchill does amazing work! Here's a link to his website, his firm is Hendricks Churchill, his partner is Heidi Hendricks:

https://hendrickschurchill.com/#

I'm impressed you can recognize his work from my blurry screenshot! Can you help Caroline bring it home?

Hi kl23, I was referring to the photo that I posted above (the aqua farmhouse maple kitchen), by Rafe Churchill. I think the one you posted is also beautiful but I couldn't tell you whose work it is.

Question: Doesn't soapstone show usage, such as staining, or watermarks? I wouldn't use something that looks like a science lab, but

that's my personal feeling.

Everything ages, shows evidence of use. Even quartz--I have Caesarstone Raven in my kitchen and it shows water spots in areas. It also chips. So getting something manmade doesn't guarantee that it is going to look pristine and perfect forever. It's a work surface, after all, unless you're creating a show kitchen.

I especially wouldn't use a marble-look quartz on the counter tops and real marble on the backsplash.

I dont think it is reasonable to start with the idea your kitchen will look brand new and be in style for the next 30 years. Do something that you like now. I would never select a black counter, especially if you are planning to cook in this kitchen.

@sofikbr Any reason you’re against black? A solid black granite could easily show dirt, just like a solid white surface, but a black with veining or speckles would mask.

@HALLETT & Co. If I went for a leathered or honed black granite (still thinking Jet Mist or similar), would you do the full slab backsplash on the range wall and the 4 inch backsplash on the sink wall? Or would you keep it bright with another option?

@Caroline Francoeur the experts say granite needs to be sealed regularly. My daughter has a brown speckled countertop and doesn't seal it and it looks fine. She has a black countertop in her powder room that shows every water spot and but of everything. It is not Jet Mist and it is polished which may be part of the problem and you won't have to deal with. I agree with your assessment regarding swirls and veins and speckles acting as camouflage.

Do you really want dirt and crumbs to be camouflaged? I'd rather see the dirt so I can clean it up. And speckled granite would not be a good choice for your home regardless of whether it can camouflage dirt.

@Caroline Francoeur I agree with Diana that you don't want speckled granite. That was too popular recently and will "date" your kitchen incorrectly. You want the soapstone look as you realized originally. Some soapstones have veining. I am planning on Santa Rita soapstone vanity tops in three bathrooms in a renovation I hope gets started soon (next summer if I am lucky), and it has veins. So your jet mist will be a great choice for your kitchen. I think my daughter's polished finish was her counter's downfall, and you aren't polishing, so, again, you should be very pleased.

Yeah, I will not be going with a speckled granite. I was referring to the subtle veins and salt/pepper like dots you can see on some Jet Mist slabs. It’s very subtle, but I imagine the little bit of texture and pattern would help mask dirt/dust etc.

@Connie Bundy I have read that soapstone does show usage but not staining or watermarks. Far from it; soapstone is considered impervious to staining, completely non-porous. Maybe you are thinking of scratches. Soapstone can get scratched, but the scratches can get sanded out then oiled to blend. It will show oil temporarily, but you can oil the whole thing with mineral oil, and it will all blend in. I've read people felt they should be careful not to drop a cast-iron pan or can of food on them or they may "dent". My biggest concern would be that my son would have experimented with "carving" the soapstone like he did the vinyl floor in a rental.

My lab benches at work may be cluttered but at 25 years old they still look beautiful. The lab I used to work in is almost 100 years old now, and they still look great too. Talk about timeless or ageless! I think Caroline is on-track going for the soapstone look, and I would not discourage her from changing her mind and using real soapstone either.

Not knowing what they were, I sometimes cleaned mine at work with lab-grade ethanol, and always thought they were beautiful. Had I known they were soapstone and antimicrobial, I wouldn't have bothered with the final ethanol step.

@Caroline Francoeur for delftware, you can consider pottery too, heck, you can get an entire dinner service on-line if you don't mind used. If you are concerned about the kids, I think knock-offs look great too. They don't even have to match to look like they go together.

I have vases, teapots, mugs, all sorts.

Jackson Hole Residence · More Info

I was searching for jet mist kitchens in Houzz and came across this one. A different style, but I LOVE the colors and that pale blue/green backsplash. It works so well with the jet mist and would offset the yellow of my floors.

https://www.heathceramics.com/products/m123-winter-sky-ceramic-tile?variant=39975787135063

These tiles are matte.

Heath ceramics has tiles that come in a variety of sizes too. Not sure if the classic subway size/placement is what I should be considering.

I like the idea if a grout color that matches the tile - not too light or dark.

I think you found a great inspiration picture! I like the color too!

Oh definitely not subway, agh!

Small square is age-appropriate. And I agree regarding grout; just make it blend in.

Anyone looking for a china, glassware, or flatware set really should check this out in addy to eBay. When my pour sister gave away our mom's flatware set that she had already given me most of, I was able to fill it out on eBay. It seems few kids want their own grandma's stuff but will pay for something from someone else's grandma.

https://www.replacements.com/shop-china/blue-white

@kl23 how small with the square would you go? 2x2, 3x3, 4x4?

Although I think rectangular tiles are classic and would work in your kitchen, Caroline, squares would be very appropriate as well. 4x4 or 6x6 would look and fit well.

This is one of my all-time favorite kitchens. The cabinets are antique chestnut, but they are similar to the oak that you are going to use. Love the dark hardware and white counter tops and backsplash. And that brick floor is the icing on the cake!

Rustic Reclaimed Chestnut · More Info

Rustic Reclaimed Chestnut · More Info

Rustic Reclaimed Chestnut · More Info

Rustic Reclaimed Chestnut · More Info

My grandma's kitchen had 4"x4". Your tile has that size. That's what I was thinking and that was one of Diana's options.

Diana, that is indeed a beautiful kitchen.

The tiles in that kitchen are a glazed brick, probably 2x8, which adds another element of texture to the space.

I love the brick floor Diana. Are you saying the floor is glazed brick and could be used as a backsplash? I mentioned brick or stone earlier as somewhat appropriate backsplash options, depending on what the foundation and fireplace were made of. I thought stone could go up the entire wall. Caroline seemed more interested in copper for a minute and maybe delft tile, and I think ultimately has decided on the look of the white version of the delft tile for a "look" that blends old and new and provides contrast with the dark granite countertop while reflecting light into her workspace...reading between the lines a bit. And now that has morphed into the pale blue-green tiles because we were talking about how yellow and orange all the wood in the room would be and how it might welcome a cooling color.

Sorry for the disconnect between the text and the picture in the last post. The rest of my text did not post. I was suggesting this as a possible tile pattern for the pale blue-green tile you love, Caroline. My grandma's 4"square tiles could be seen to date to her Victorian tile period, and the running bond pattern used as a mainstay in recent years definitely is "dated" to that period and the 1960s and periodically in the past. The pattern here blurs the timelines a bit. In addition, if in brick it would have provided stability to the wall. To me that speaks of the stability of this house. It must have been built very well to have survived since 1830. You could effect this pattern with the 4x8 and 4x4, or the 3x6 and 3x3 tiles in your blue-green.

I love love this alternating square and rectangle pattern! I think I prefer this to all square tiles. I have a sample of those pale blue/green tiles coming.

I went to the slab yard yesterday and put a hold on two slabs of honed jet mist. The honed felt like velvet!!! I was leaning towards leather before seeing in person, but surprised myself.

@Caroline I'm getting excited to see this come together! That Jet Mist looks beautiful! Glad you like that pattern. It's only possible because of the tile you chose coming in all those sizes and shapes. Good job!

I love your choices and enjoy seeing someone design around the history and period of a home is a true celebration.

I am a huge fan of JetMist or Virginia Jet mist granite. I had it honed and loved it in my last kitchen and I kept the 4 by 4 square white tiles that looked classic and simple. My good friend used Jet Mist in her outdoor kitchen and loves it too. It looks like soapstone without the denting or marks. I did seal mine once a year but my fabricator told me it would not stain or even show etching. It was a great stone for the kitchen.

Here is a great company in Maine. And I love love love their cabinets.

Here are a few ideas..

my virginia jet mist with 4 by 4 white tile..

Yes! Kennebec Co has been the inspiration for my cabinets! Your countertops were gorgeous.

I love honed Jet Mist and have it on my beverage bar. It’s low key and very practical.
Regarding my comment on glazed brick, I was referring to the white backsplash, not the floor. Waterworks has beautiful glazed bricks that are made for backsplashes. Maybe Ann Sacks too.
Crown Point cabinets in New Hampshire is another high quality cabinet manufacturer.

Install in progress! Plank is on the island to test out different overhang lengths.

Now that the cabinets are in, I’m leaning towards a white backsplash and bringing pale blue and coral/brick red accents in with decor.

The pale blue green Heath Ceramics tiles were beautiful but a touch darker than what I was looking for.