New This Week: 6 Stylish Kitchen Backsplash Ideas
Marble slab, pink ceramic tile, blue-green glass tile and other materials make bold statements
In addition to protecting a wall from cooking splatters, a backsplash is one of the most visually important elements in a kitchen. It’s an opportunity to bring in color, texture, shimmer, pattern, style and personality. Your selection can complement or contrast your countertop material, cabinet color and other features. If you’re looking for a backsplash with expression, consider the following six kitchen backsplash ideas.
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Other special features. Stained oak island base.
Designer tip. “The KitchenAid induction cooktop and retractable downdraft vent allow for an uninterrupted sightline through to the kitchen windows,” Schmidt says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The clients are tall, and the ceilings were set due to the existing structure,” Schmidt says. “When placing the cooking surface on an island, there was concern about how it would vent. Downdrafts in general are known for being inefficient — but not all of them — and we knew of just the right one. We were able to offer a venting option that would not obstruct their view or let them hit their heads. All of this without sacrificing function.”
Downdraft vent: Cattura, Best
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Designer tip. “The KitchenAid induction cooktop and retractable downdraft vent allow for an uninterrupted sightline through to the kitchen windows,” Schmidt says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The clients are tall, and the ceilings were set due to the existing structure,” Schmidt says. “When placing the cooking surface on an island, there was concern about how it would vent. Downdrafts in general are known for being inefficient — but not all of them — and we knew of just the right one. We were able to offer a venting option that would not obstruct their view or let them hit their heads. All of this without sacrificing function.”
Downdraft vent: Cattura, Best
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2. Marble Slab
Designer: Denise Morrison Interiors
Location: Corona del Mar, California
Size: 340 square feet (32 square meters); 17 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This was a new-construction project, and the owner wanted high-end appliances, a highly functional layout and a strong focal point,” designer Denise Morrison says.
Backsplash. Calacatta marble slab. “The location of the kitchen allowed the backsplash to be a focal point, so we wanted to create a lot of drama,” Morrison says. “The selection of a Calacatta marble slab with its gorgeous veining was exactly what we needed.”
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Designer: Denise Morrison Interiors
Location: Corona del Mar, California
Size: 340 square feet (32 square meters); 17 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This was a new-construction project, and the owner wanted high-end appliances, a highly functional layout and a strong focal point,” designer Denise Morrison says.
Backsplash. Calacatta marble slab. “The location of the kitchen allowed the backsplash to be a focal point, so we wanted to create a lot of drama,” Morrison says. “The selection of a Calacatta marble slab with its gorgeous veining was exactly what we needed.”
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Other special features. Custom white oak cabinets. Steel-and-glass cabinet tower on countertop. Calacatta marble perimeter countertops. Black honed granite island countertop.
Designer tip. “Look at your hood as an opportunity to create something special in your kitchen,” Morrison says. “Because it reaches all the way to the ceiling, it can really be impactful to do something special.”
Why You Should Embrace a Solid Slab Backsplash
Designer tip. “Look at your hood as an opportunity to create something special in your kitchen,” Morrison says. “Because it reaches all the way to the ceiling, it can really be impactful to do something special.”
Why You Should Embrace a Solid Slab Backsplash
3. Pink Ceramic
Design-build pro: Stephen Heiman of Steven Allen Designs
Location: Houston
Size: 168 square feet (16 square meters); 12 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We wanted the home to have a sophisticated bohemian-chic feel inspired by New Mexico and travel,” says design-build pro Stephen Heiman, who used Houzz for inspiration for this project. “We wanted to bring a sense of calmness into the big city.”
Backsplash. Ceramic pink diamond-shape tile with concrete grout. “The tile has great softness and a handcrafted feel that reminds me of fresh pottery,” Heiman says. “We wrapped the tile under the top concrete shelf to give the feeling as if the tile was alive and growing on the space.”
Design-build pro: Stephen Heiman of Steven Allen Designs
Location: Houston
Size: 168 square feet (16 square meters); 12 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We wanted the home to have a sophisticated bohemian-chic feel inspired by New Mexico and travel,” says design-build pro Stephen Heiman, who used Houzz for inspiration for this project. “We wanted to bring a sense of calmness into the big city.”
Backsplash. Ceramic pink diamond-shape tile with concrete grout. “The tile has great softness and a handcrafted feel that reminds me of fresh pottery,” Heiman says. “We wrapped the tile under the top concrete shelf to give the feeling as if the tile was alive and growing on the space.”
Other special features. Solid white countertops. Concrete floating shelves. Stained white oak cabinet fronts. White lacquer cabinets. Hand-poured concrete countertop on the island with a waterfall edge. Transom window. Downdraft range vent.
Designer tip. “Always be yourself,” Heiman says. “I like to treat each design-and-build job as an art project and a reflection of what inspires me, my team and my clients.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “My team always jokes that I like to improvise,” Heiman says. “So I tend to start with unusual or different ideas that I have not seen before, and create from there. The moment I brought in the pink tile, I got a little pushback. Trying to incorporate the design and quantity into the space became a challenge, especially as we started the process of staggering the tiles and not going in a straight line as we traditionally do. Another curveball was expressing the fact that we wanted the tile to wrap under the top shelf to create a feel that the backsplash was growing into the kitchen. It presented some wide-eyed moments, but we pulled it off.”
Tile: Mud Diamond in Boheme color, Wow
Designer tip. “Always be yourself,” Heiman says. “I like to treat each design-and-build job as an art project and a reflection of what inspires me, my team and my clients.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “My team always jokes that I like to improvise,” Heiman says. “So I tend to start with unusual or different ideas that I have not seen before, and create from there. The moment I brought in the pink tile, I got a little pushback. Trying to incorporate the design and quantity into the space became a challenge, especially as we started the process of staggering the tiles and not going in a straight line as we traditionally do. Another curveball was expressing the fact that we wanted the tile to wrap under the top shelf to create a feel that the backsplash was growing into the kitchen. It presented some wide-eyed moments, but we pulled it off.”
Tile: Mud Diamond in Boheme color, Wow
4. Blue Motif
Designer: Iris Michaels of Karen Berkemeyer Home
Location: Westport, Connecticut
Size: 600 square feet (56 square meters); 20 by 30 feet
Homeowners’ request. Better flow for the kitchen, bar, TV and eating areas. “They wanted an open concept with a beachy feel,” designer Iris Michaels says.
Backsplash. Etched blue motif tile, 6 by 6 inches, behind the range; Carrara tile, 2 by 4 inches, in a brick pattern for the surrounding backsplash.
Designer: Iris Michaels of Karen Berkemeyer Home
Location: Westport, Connecticut
Size: 600 square feet (56 square meters); 20 by 30 feet
Homeowners’ request. Better flow for the kitchen, bar, TV and eating areas. “They wanted an open concept with a beachy feel,” designer Iris Michaels says.
Backsplash. Etched blue motif tile, 6 by 6 inches, behind the range; Carrara tile, 2 by 4 inches, in a brick pattern for the surrounding backsplash.
Other special features. Marble countertops. White cabinets with glazed gray island.
Designer tip. “Use large, deep drawers for storage of dishes, cups and glasses instead of wall cabinets,” Michaels says.
Project photographer: Tim Lenz
Designer tip. “Use large, deep drawers for storage of dishes, cups and glasses instead of wall cabinets,” Michaels says.
Project photographer: Tim Lenz
5. Blue-Green Glass
Designer: Nicole Whitehorn of Waterview Kitchens
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Size: 306 square feet (28 square meters); 17 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted to enlarge what used to be a tiny kitchen tucked into the corner of a large space,” designer Nicole Whitehorn says. “To achieve this, we removed a double French door that was to the right of the kitchen window and extended the cabinetry out toward the great room. This extra space allowed me to design two islands, one specifically with a wood top for making pizza, and one with a quartzite top and seating. The wall cabinetry is stacked with decorative glass door cabinets to a finished height of 10 feet. A prominent hood in rustic hickory, with specialty anchor onlays, makes a unique focal point.”
Backsplash. Blue-green glass subway tile, 3 by 9 inches.
Designer: Nicole Whitehorn of Waterview Kitchens
Location: Jupiter, Florida
Size: 306 square feet (28 square meters); 17 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted to enlarge what used to be a tiny kitchen tucked into the corner of a large space,” designer Nicole Whitehorn says. “To achieve this, we removed a double French door that was to the right of the kitchen window and extended the cabinetry out toward the great room. This extra space allowed me to design two islands, one specifically with a wood top for making pizza, and one with a quartzite top and seating. The wall cabinetry is stacked with decorative glass door cabinets to a finished height of 10 feet. A prominent hood in rustic hickory, with specialty anchor onlays, makes a unique focal point.”
Backsplash. Blue-green glass subway tile, 3 by 9 inches.
Other special features. Perla Venata quartzite countertops. White oak floors and ceiling detail. Base cabinet with storage baskets and drawer-front paper towel holder.
“Uh-oh” moment. “A challenging space was on the refrigerator wall, where it was necessary to keep the fridge tucked close to the corner of the room,” Whitehorn says. “This creates a niche in that corner with minimal space for a wall cabinet above. The unique solution was a narrow, open shelf cabinet that was installed in the corner, almost flush with the refrigerator. Since the wall left of the fridge bumped out and could not be modified, there is a 12-inch-deep pantry cabinet there, making that wall flow together nicely.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “A challenging space was on the refrigerator wall, where it was necessary to keep the fridge tucked close to the corner of the room,” Whitehorn says. “This creates a niche in that corner with minimal space for a wall cabinet above. The unique solution was a narrow, open shelf cabinet that was installed in the corner, almost flush with the refrigerator. Since the wall left of the fridge bumped out and could not be modified, there is a 12-inch-deep pantry cabinet there, making that wall flow together nicely.”
6. Marble Mix
Designer: Raena Strohmaier of Strohmaier Construction
Location: Spokane, Washington
Size: 320 square feet (30 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The client wanted the design to be inspired by her calico cat, Annie,” designer Raena Strohmaier says. “[The homeowners] loved the home but felt like the kitchen left a lot to be desired, and often called it a camper kitchen. One thing they loved was their giant floor-to-ceiling windows. So moving the kitchen next to the best real estate in the house was no-brainer.”
Backsplash. Marble-look porcelain tile with detailed veining. “We just let the tile do its thing, not making the lines in the tile match up, just letting it be very organic and natural,” Strohmaier says. “Design components to play off of the backsplash were the white, black and wood cabinets. Special considerations were the calico cat. The homeowners wanted to bring the colors of the calico cat into their space. They felt the brown, white and black of the cat were very fitting to their style and space.”
Designer: Raena Strohmaier of Strohmaier Construction
Location: Spokane, Washington
Size: 320 square feet (30 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The client wanted the design to be inspired by her calico cat, Annie,” designer Raena Strohmaier says. “[The homeowners] loved the home but felt like the kitchen left a lot to be desired, and often called it a camper kitchen. One thing they loved was their giant floor-to-ceiling windows. So moving the kitchen next to the best real estate in the house was no-brainer.”
Backsplash. Marble-look porcelain tile with detailed veining. “We just let the tile do its thing, not making the lines in the tile match up, just letting it be very organic and natural,” Strohmaier says. “Design components to play off of the backsplash were the white, black and wood cabinets. Special considerations were the calico cat. The homeowners wanted to bring the colors of the calico cat into their space. They felt the brown, white and black of the cat were very fitting to their style and space.”
Other special features. Black island base (Black Magic by Sherwin-Williams). White recessed upper cabinets (Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams). Pop-up outlets on the countertop keep the backsplash clear.
Designer tip. “One thing that we did in this kitchen was use alder for the cabinets in a walnut stain,” Strohmaier says. “Everyone loves the look of walnut, but it often comes with a [higher] price tag. So being able to achieve a similar look that is a bit more budget-friendly is awesome.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “I would say a challenging moment that came up during this project — and many projects — is when the client stops by right after cabinets are installed,” Strohmaier says. “This is the moment when everyone questions the design. We call it the paint scare. We try to prepare everyone, but they always seem to go through it anyway. I think it’s just because they are seeing everything in disarray; often windows are covered with paper and there is Ram Board on the floor changing the colors, and the lights are often not completely installed, which also impacts the colors. I think at this point we have learned to trust the decisions we made prior to it being an emotional decision. We’ve just learned to trust the design and the process.”
Tile: Marble Attaché Lavish, Daltile; wall paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams
More on Houzz
Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash
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Designer tip. “One thing that we did in this kitchen was use alder for the cabinets in a walnut stain,” Strohmaier says. “Everyone loves the look of walnut, but it often comes with a [higher] price tag. So being able to achieve a similar look that is a bit more budget-friendly is awesome.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “I would say a challenging moment that came up during this project — and many projects — is when the client stops by right after cabinets are installed,” Strohmaier says. “This is the moment when everyone questions the design. We call it the paint scare. We try to prepare everyone, but they always seem to go through it anyway. I think it’s just because they are seeing everything in disarray; often windows are covered with paper and there is Ram Board on the floor changing the colors, and the lights are often not completely installed, which also impacts the colors. I think at this point we have learned to trust the decisions we made prior to it being an emotional decision. We’ve just learned to trust the design and the process.”
Tile: Marble Attaché Lavish, Daltile; wall paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams
More on Houzz
Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash
Get kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen products
Designer: Cat Schmidt of Model Remodel
Location: Seattle
Size: 225 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Overall, the house needed to be modernized and brightened,” designer Cat Schmidt says. “The kitchen before remodeling was small and enclosed. The homeowners wanted an open-concept kitchen that would flow into the dining room and then out into the backyard.”
Backsplash. Near-black porcelain tile (Paradise Arrow in Negro by Porcelanosa) in a herringbone pattern with dark grout. “There are natural variances in the stones,” Schmidt says. “We choose black outlet and switch plate covers so as not to distract from the counter-to-ceiling backsplash. A dark countertop [Charcoal Soapstone in Eternal color with a suede finish by Silestone] and black sink [Grandis by Blanco] give the dark tile choice a stronger impact. By increasing the amount of natural light coming into the space from all directions, we could choose a dark backsplash and countertop without making the kitchen feel dim.”