Quick Help with Backsplash Needed

6 months ago

We are in the middle of our kitchen renovation and we need to choose the backsplash. This is a traditional 1940s cottage. Cabinets are white with unlacquered brass pulls, floors are wood and will be stained a medium brown. The countertop will be installed on Friday and our contractor is pushing us to order the tile now. It’s very hard for me to visualize what this all could look like.

Please see attached for pics of our honed quartzite slabs and a rendering of the long wall behind the range/spanning that wall that will need a tile backsplash. One small bar area that is not on that wall will have a stained butchers block countertop.

Backsplashes in other areas of the kitchen will be a white beadboard. Behind the sink will be a lip of countertop material up to the windows. There will be open shelving that is a stained wood.

Originally we were going to have a white tile backsplash but as the lower cabinets went in, it feels like a lot of white and now we are wanting to inject some color.

At first we liked a pale crackle blue, but are now worried it won’t stand up to the gray in the countertops. I am now leaning towards a stronger blue (see pics).

I am looking for ideas of what this backsplash color should be. I am drawn to traditional 3x6 subway tile. Please kindly do not comment if you want to point out supposed problems with white cabinets, the layout, etc. We need to focus on the backsplash.

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Comments (5)

bb_capecod
Original Author
6 months ago
Editing to add pictures. Also please note that the door profiles installed are not correct and a slightly more traditional profile will be installed.
herbflavor
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
insert something else under hood and okay to use classic subway on the longer areas left and right .....OR find a traditional patterned tile for the whole stretch. You have VERY LG dose of white w LOTS of white cabinets and nearly white counter....cottage can lean a bit eclectic...seek pattern or something of interest......theres logical spot under the hood asking for that. Get back to the tile store. Better not to feel rushed but lots of things will work.

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Kendrah
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
Take your time and forget your contractor's request. It is 100% typical to wait until after counters are installed to select your tile in order to look at samples in your home, with your lighting bouncing off the horizontal surface of your stone, rather in a stone yard lighting with tile leaning against a vertical slab as in your picture. Indeed start gathering samples and ideas now, but live with them for a while after the Friday install to make a decision.

There are a lot of correct choices here. To narrow them down, a few questions:

- How much tolerance you have for maximalism vs minimalism and a mix of colors and surfaces?

- How much you want your lines of the cabinets and pattern of the counters to be the feature versus your eye going to the splash instead?

- Do you have inspo pics to post here from kitchens you originally liked when you started your project?

- Will your bead board splash be color matched to your cabinet paint color?

My opinion is: Your counters are beautiful and the details of your cabinetry are really lovely. You have a lot going on with bead board, shelving, a bank of small drawers, hood details, farmhouse sink. That's enough for me. I'd keep it simple by running a lip of your counter up the wall as a splash say 4"-6" tall, and then just behind the range, run it 12"-14" tall. (Hopefully you have enough stone for this.) Paint the rest of the splash area the same color as your cabinets.

I have done this in three kitchens now. We are active cooks and my husband splatters grease and sauce on the painted splash. It wipes up just as easily as with tile. Paint IS a protective surface. Tile is not needed.

I love the combo of intricate and minimal. It feels clean yet historic-ish. But, that might not be your taste.

I noticed you saved this pic. If this is still a look you are drawn to, then a white match to your cabinets is an easy answer.

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eam44
6 months ago
Quick help? This isn’t that. Everything about this tile is custom, but have you considered using reproduction Delft tiles? Regts offers hand painted completely custom tiles that would allow you to mix whatever white you want with their iconic delft blue. So in a backdrop of white squares with corner detailing you could intersperse some of these reproduced vignettes. In a traditional space like yours this could be stunning.
eld6161
6 months ago
I agree with Kendrah. Do not be rushed. All elements need to be installed in your space and lighting inorder to pick the BS.