Kitchen Design
How to Rock a Rough Stone Kitchen Backsplash or Accent Wall
Pros share how to design and maintain a rough-faced stone backsplash or wall that adds an earthy vibe to your kitchen
Lately, kitchens clad in stone that looks straight out of a field or quarry keep popping up on the Houzz photo feed — and in our design daydreams. But while these backsplashes’ aesthetic upsides abound, they do have us wondering how one keeps them clean (among other questions).
In case you’re thinking of installing a stone backsplash in your own kitchen, we rounded up beautiful examples for inspiration and asked the pros behind some of the projects to share what goes into the stone’s design and maintenance. Here’s what they had to say.
In case you’re thinking of installing a stone backsplash in your own kitchen, we rounded up beautiful examples for inspiration and asked the pros behind some of the projects to share what goes into the stone’s design and maintenance. Here’s what they had to say.
House of L
Stone Materials
Several types of stone are available, each with pros and cons.
A decorative rough-faced (versus polished) stone material often used in newly built high-end homes is natural stone veneer, which can be full-depth stone or, more commonly and less expensively, thinly cut real stones that are attached to a structural wall.
Libby Palmieri of House of L worked with Steve Schill of Schill Architecture to design this 810-square-foot (75-square-meter) Ohio kitchen. It has a natural Ohio lime bluff stone veneer and robin’s egg blue cabinetry.
Palmieri’s client wanted the home to feel timeless and part of the landscape — as though it had been “discovered” from times past and updated. “The stone seemed to tie this concept together,” she says. The mason working on the project sealed the stone and installed it with white cement grout.
Read more about using stone in and around your home
Stone Materials
Several types of stone are available, each with pros and cons.
A decorative rough-faced (versus polished) stone material often used in newly built high-end homes is natural stone veneer, which can be full-depth stone or, more commonly and less expensively, thinly cut real stones that are attached to a structural wall.
Libby Palmieri of House of L worked with Steve Schill of Schill Architecture to design this 810-square-foot (75-square-meter) Ohio kitchen. It has a natural Ohio lime bluff stone veneer and robin’s egg blue cabinetry.
Palmieri’s client wanted the home to feel timeless and part of the landscape — as though it had been “discovered” from times past and updated. “The stone seemed to tie this concept together,” she says. The mason working on the project sealed the stone and installed it with white cement grout.
Read more about using stone in and around your home
Lawless Design
Another commonly used material is engineered stone veneer, which usually comprises cement, aggregates and pigments and is molded to resemble real stone. This veneer is lighter, less expensive and easier to install, but it has less natural variation than real stone.
Another option that’s usually even more budget- and installer-friendly is a ceramic tile with raised imprints that resemble stone’s texture, such as the tile used by designer Hannah Oravec of Lawless Design in this 400-square-foot (37-square-meter) Boston-area kitchen.
Oravec says the tile was easier for the contractor to work with than actual stone or stone veneer. In the photo at least, it’s a dead ringer for fieldstone.
Shop for a similar tile on Houzz
Another commonly used material is engineered stone veneer, which usually comprises cement, aggregates and pigments and is molded to resemble real stone. This veneer is lighter, less expensive and easier to install, but it has less natural variation than real stone.
Another option that’s usually even more budget- and installer-friendly is a ceramic tile with raised imprints that resemble stone’s texture, such as the tile used by designer Hannah Oravec of Lawless Design in this 400-square-foot (37-square-meter) Boston-area kitchen.
Oravec says the tile was easier for the contractor to work with than actual stone or stone veneer. In the photo at least, it’s a dead ringer for fieldstone.
Shop for a similar tile on Houzz
Timber Trails Development
Installation
Installing tile is relatively straightforward for a contractor (as long as the pattern’s relief isn’t extreme). But stone is a whole different animal.
Real stone — especially full-depth stone or extra-thick veneer — is very heavy and often requires substantial structural support.
“Make sure you hire someone skilled in installing stone,” Furey says. “It may not be the tile setter.”
Installation
Installing tile is relatively straightforward for a contractor (as long as the pattern’s relief isn’t extreme). But stone is a whole different animal.
Real stone — especially full-depth stone or extra-thick veneer — is very heavy and often requires substantial structural support.
“Make sure you hire someone skilled in installing stone,” Furey says. “It may not be the tile setter.”
Cosan Studio
Architect Scott Carson of Cosan Studio created this 285-square-foot (26-square-meter) Fredericksburg, Texas, kitchen with interior designers Barb Foley and Kim Bouton of Bouton and Foley. The kitchen backsplash is 6-inch-thick natural Texas limestone with an overgrout, sealed with a matte clear sealer. The same material repeats throughout the home’s interior and exterior, “as homes long ago were actually built,” Carson says.
His advice concerning installation encompasses other kitchen elements as well.
“It is very important to consider the thickness of the stone being installed and make sure you account for it in the design process. It is very difficult to add stone to an existing space because of this,” he says. “If you are doing a full-depth real stone, then it needs to run to the floor behind the cabinets because of the weight. If you are using a natural stone that has been cut as a veneer, [which is] usually 2 inches thick, then you need to account for that extra 2 inches. Otherwise, as it comes down to the countertop, you are going to lose 2 inches of countertop depth, which can create issues with sinks and cooktops not fitting.”
Architect Scott Carson of Cosan Studio created this 285-square-foot (26-square-meter) Fredericksburg, Texas, kitchen with interior designers Barb Foley and Kim Bouton of Bouton and Foley. The kitchen backsplash is 6-inch-thick natural Texas limestone with an overgrout, sealed with a matte clear sealer. The same material repeats throughout the home’s interior and exterior, “as homes long ago were actually built,” Carson says.
His advice concerning installation encompasses other kitchen elements as well.
“It is very important to consider the thickness of the stone being installed and make sure you account for it in the design process. It is very difficult to add stone to an existing space because of this,” he says. “If you are doing a full-depth real stone, then it needs to run to the floor behind the cabinets because of the weight. If you are using a natural stone that has been cut as a veneer, [which is] usually 2 inches thick, then you need to account for that extra 2 inches. Otherwise, as it comes down to the countertop, you are going to lose 2 inches of countertop depth, which can create issues with sinks and cooktops not fitting.”
Best Builders; photo by Provoke Studios
The irregularity of the stone surface impacts other kitchen elements too.
Make sure all of the tradespeople know you’re installing stone, Palmieri says. “[Stone] adds depth to cabinets, [which] needs to be considered by the cabinet fabricator and electrician, as the electrical boxes and their depths can also be an issue,” she says.
Furey adds: “Consider how the stone impacts window trim, appliance placement [and] countertop templating.” Wall-mounted lighting too.
And Katie Geresy of KTG Design warns that the extra depth can even affect the walkway space in a kitchen.
The irregularity of the stone surface impacts other kitchen elements too.
Make sure all of the tradespeople know you’re installing stone, Palmieri says. “[Stone] adds depth to cabinets, [which] needs to be considered by the cabinet fabricator and electrician, as the electrical boxes and their depths can also be an issue,” she says.
Furey adds: “Consider how the stone impacts window trim, appliance placement [and] countertop templating.” Wall-mounted lighting too.
And Katie Geresy of KTG Design warns that the extra depth can even affect the walkway space in a kitchen.
Nicole Mizrahi Interiors
Choosing Your Stone
Whichever type you go with, “choose a stone that is natural in feel and avoid textures that feel contrived and artificial,” Palmieri says.
And if you’re going with natural stone, “go to the stone yard to see the actual samples — do not select from photos,” Furey says. You can also match or pull from the stone on the exterior of your home. In most, if not all, of the projects pictured here, the stone used in the kitchen was used elsewhere in the interior or on the exterior of the house — or both.
Shop a curated selection of kitchen items
Choosing Your Stone
Whichever type you go with, “choose a stone that is natural in feel and avoid textures that feel contrived and artificial,” Palmieri says.
And if you’re going with natural stone, “go to the stone yard to see the actual samples — do not select from photos,” Furey says. You can also match or pull from the stone on the exterior of your home. In most, if not all, of the projects pictured here, the stone used in the kitchen was used elsewhere in the interior or on the exterior of the house — or both.
Shop a curated selection of kitchen items
The Ranch Mine; photo by Roehner + Ryan
Pairing Cabinets and Countertops
Once you’ve picked your stone, Cavin Costello, principal architect of The Ranch Mine, has some advice for letting your backsplash shine.
“Since stone backsplashes are variable in texture and size, I think a simple engineered quartz countertop or something without much movement is a good choice,” he says. “As for cabinets, we like the pairing of natural wood with the natural stone for an organic feel.”
This 170-square-foot (16-square-meter) Flagstaff, Arizona, kitchen designed by The Ranch Mine has a backsplash of Texas Crème limestone with a 2-to-1 blend of bone and snow white grout. They used the same stone for a fireplace in the home.
“The limestone brought a nice natural element to the interior and paired well with the white oak cabinetry and concrete floor,” Costello says.
Pairing Cabinets and Countertops
Once you’ve picked your stone, Cavin Costello, principal architect of The Ranch Mine, has some advice for letting your backsplash shine.
“Since stone backsplashes are variable in texture and size, I think a simple engineered quartz countertop or something without much movement is a good choice,” he says. “As for cabinets, we like the pairing of natural wood with the natural stone for an organic feel.”
This 170-square-foot (16-square-meter) Flagstaff, Arizona, kitchen designed by The Ranch Mine has a backsplash of Texas Crème limestone with a 2-to-1 blend of bone and snow white grout. They used the same stone for a fireplace in the home.
“The limestone brought a nice natural element to the interior and paired well with the white oak cabinetry and concrete floor,” Costello says.
Kieran Reeves Photography
A painted cabinet also can complement a stone wall. This kitchen’s combination of subtle celadon green cabinets, white countertops, light wood accents and beige stone wall is soft and modern.
Palmieri, who designed the second kitchen pictured (with the robin’s egg blue cabinets), views stone as a neutral player. “The earthiness of stone pairs wonderfully with really any palette,” she says.
Laura Yeager Smith of Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design concurs, adding, “A general rule would be to pair warm stone with warm colors and cool stone with cool colors.”
As for countertop finish, Furey says she would opt for honed rather than polished.
A painted cabinet also can complement a stone wall. This kitchen’s combination of subtle celadon green cabinets, white countertops, light wood accents and beige stone wall is soft and modern.
Palmieri, who designed the second kitchen pictured (with the robin’s egg blue cabinets), views stone as a neutral player. “The earthiness of stone pairs wonderfully with really any palette,” she says.
Laura Yeager Smith of Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design concurs, adding, “A general rule would be to pair warm stone with warm colors and cool stone with cool colors.”
As for countertop finish, Furey says she would opt for honed rather than polished.
Amy Storm & Co.
Cost
Building material, design and labor vary widely from region to region and project to project, so it’s virtually impossible to offer a reliable estimate. But to give you a ballpark for just the material, Arizona-based Carson says that “the cost of the actual stone would be similar to a high-end solid granite, marble or quartz.”
Palmieri, in Ohio, offers this insight: “Generally speaking, a stone veneer or brick would be a costlier item than a ceramic tile (dependent, of course, on style and manufacturer). Stone and porcelain materials, including installation, tend to be upward of $60 a square foot for midgrade materials and can go upward of $200 a square foot.”
Cost
Building material, design and labor vary widely from region to region and project to project, so it’s virtually impossible to offer a reliable estimate. But to give you a ballpark for just the material, Arizona-based Carson says that “the cost of the actual stone would be similar to a high-end solid granite, marble or quartz.”
Palmieri, in Ohio, offers this insight: “Generally speaking, a stone veneer or brick would be a costlier item than a ceramic tile (dependent, of course, on style and manufacturer). Stone and porcelain materials, including installation, tend to be upward of $60 a square foot for midgrade materials and can go upward of $200 a square foot.”
Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design
Protecting the Stone
Natural stone is porous, so sealing it can help avoid stains, haziness from grout and possible bacteria growth. It should then be resealed regularly, following manufacturer’s recommendations. (The pros we spoke to suggested annually up to every few years.)
Yeager Smith designed the 324-square-foot (30-square-meter) Ohio kitchen seen here, which has natural stone with gray mortar and no sealer. But as with several of the other projects featured in this article, the stove backsplash is made from an easier-to-clean solid material.
“I would not recommend specifying rough-face natural stone behind a cooktop where grease will splatter, since stone is porous,” Yeager Smith says. “It would be more difficult to clean than a smooth polished stone and could absorb grease, discoloring the stone over time.”
Protecting the Stone
Natural stone is porous, so sealing it can help avoid stains, haziness from grout and possible bacteria growth. It should then be resealed regularly, following manufacturer’s recommendations. (The pros we spoke to suggested annually up to every few years.)
Yeager Smith designed the 324-square-foot (30-square-meter) Ohio kitchen seen here, which has natural stone with gray mortar and no sealer. But as with several of the other projects featured in this article, the stove backsplash is made from an easier-to-clean solid material.
“I would not recommend specifying rough-face natural stone behind a cooktop where grease will splatter, since stone is porous,” Yeager Smith says. “It would be more difficult to clean than a smooth polished stone and could absorb grease, discoloring the stone over time.”
KTG Design
Another option is to seal the stone behind the range and leave the rest unsealed. That was Geresy’s approach for this 320-square-foot (30-square-meter) kitchen near Lake Tahoe in California. The walls are Sierra granite, which is natural to the region.
If you want more protection but want to keep the kitchen’s rustic feel, take inspiration from the Cosan Studio project seven photos back. The cooktop backsplash has an antique fireback integrated into the stone.
Another option is to seal the stone behind the range and leave the rest unsealed. That was Geresy’s approach for this 320-square-foot (30-square-meter) kitchen near Lake Tahoe in California. The walls are Sierra granite, which is natural to the region.
If you want more protection but want to keep the kitchen’s rustic feel, take inspiration from the Cosan Studio project seven photos back. The cooktop backsplash has an antique fireback integrated into the stone.
Vintage Elements
Cleaning Stone and Grout
Now for the question that all of us neatniks have been asking. How does one clean a rough-faced stone backsplash without damaging the sealer or the stone?
The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Stone in Your Shower
Cleaning Stone and Grout
Now for the question that all of us neatniks have been asking. How does one clean a rough-faced stone backsplash without damaging the sealer or the stone?
The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Stone in Your Shower
Cuthbertson Homes
It’s not as easy as cleaning tile, but it’s doable, Furey says. “Grout and stone can be cleaned with a soft-bristled little brush and gentle grease-cutting dish detergent and hot water,” she says. “Be sure to rinse thoroughly with a clean rag and plain water so that soapy residue does not remain.” Splashes should be wiped up right away.
And what if you’re on the messy side? “I do not recommend stone,” Furey says.
It’s not as easy as cleaning tile, but it’s doable, Furey says. “Grout and stone can be cleaned with a soft-bristled little brush and gentle grease-cutting dish detergent and hot water,” she says. “Be sure to rinse thoroughly with a clean rag and plain water so that soapy residue does not remain.” Splashes should be wiped up right away.
And what if you’re on the messy side? “I do not recommend stone,” Furey says.
Meridith Baer Home; photo by Engel Studios
If you’re serious about installing stone in your home, reach out to a masonry contractor, architect or building designer or interior designer for help choosing the best material and application for you. Then, don’t hold back.
“There are other materials that are less maintenance or cost,” Costello says. “So if you use it, make sure it has a big impact.”
More on Houzz
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Browse kitchen photos
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If you’re serious about installing stone in your home, reach out to a masonry contractor, architect or building designer or interior designer for help choosing the best material and application for you. Then, don’t hold back.
“There are other materials that are less maintenance or cost,” Costello says. “So if you use it, make sure it has a big impact.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Find a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Stone and Kitchen Styles
First, let’s consider stone backsplashes and accents from an aesthetic standpoint.
Their organic look and neutral tones complement a variety of cabinet styles and colors, and real stones’ natural variation means that no two installations will look alike. But is stone right for your kitchen or house style? Lisa Furey of Lisa Furey Interiors, who designed this 362-square-foot (34-square-meter) kitchen in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with a stone veneer backsplash, recommends looking at the home’s setting.
“Depending on the style of the home, I think stone works best in a mountain-style, rustic home [or] farmhouse-type home — anywhere that stone is naturally occurring, especially if it is used on the exterior of the home as well,” she says.
But if you lean more modern than mountain, don’t despair. “I also like it with a very contemporary home as a counterpoint to flat, clean-lined cabinetry,” Furey says.
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