I love a simple white subway tile in an all white kitchen, but something more interesting with a bit of pattern would really be eye-catching, don't you think? Not everyone can live with all of that heavenly white. I love this full wall treatment of star and cross tiles from the Lascaux Tile Co. (featured in House Beautiful, Feb.09). It really is attractive against the painted woodwork and stone countertops. What type of backsplash is your favorite? Tile or stone? 3" or whole wall treatment?
Monday, April 20, 2009
a splashy idea
I was watching some home design shows this weekend and most were about kitchens (Divine Design, one of the few shows I like on HGTV). A focal point of most kitchens beside the appliances (big, metal and shiny -sort of boring if you ask me, I'm over all of that stainless steel) is the backsplash. I love a simple white subway tile in an all white kitchen, but something more interesting with a bit of pattern would really be eye-catching, don't you think? Not everyone can live with all of that heavenly white. I love this full wall treatment of star and cross tiles from the Lascaux Tile Co. (featured in House Beautiful, Feb.09). It really is attractive against the painted woodwork and stone countertops. What type of backsplash is your favorite? Tile or stone? 3" or whole wall treatment?
I love a simple white subway tile in an all white kitchen, but something more interesting with a bit of pattern would really be eye-catching, don't you think? Not everyone can live with all of that heavenly white. I love this full wall treatment of star and cross tiles from the Lascaux Tile Co. (featured in House Beautiful, Feb.09). It really is attractive against the painted woodwork and stone countertops. What type of backsplash is your favorite? Tile or stone? 3" or whole wall treatment?
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26 comments:
I really love wood or some sort of treatment that is flat. I think that tile pattern is nice, but I still love "flat" walls or some sort of stone that is easy to clean.
pve
I forwarded this to Lenore who owns Lascaux - she will be thrilled you wrote about her co.!!!! She's the nicest person too.
Joni
**I could meet you there in a heartbeat, so don't temp me ;-p **
My favourite backsplash?! Depends on the whole kitchen, but for our new apartment, I have chosen for a wall treatment. I love the windows on this photo (it looks a bit like the ones in our new home), thx for the ideas.
I love the show Divine Design, and I've seen Candice use a 'glass tile' that comes in sections to use as a backsplash, especially in all white or mostly white kitchens. It looks very nice, and it's different, which is also refreshing.
PVE, I agree, flat and easy to clean is requirement #1!
CT -lucky you! I love the painted woodwork and that pretty blind!
PF - That glass tile she uses is really beautiful, but it bothers me how small the pieces are, it's just not practical because then there is that much more grout and it's hard to keep clean. I love the big euro glass tiles that come in big sheets -like 9x12 inches. You get the shine and glimmer but without a ton of grout!
I'm loving this picture. After this I may now be in love with the whole wall treatment. I have simple cream subway tile that came with the house and love it.
Kwana, I love subway tile! I'm jealous!
I love these tiles from Lascaux! Michael Smith does too - he uses them in a lot of projects.
–Lana
They are the best, Lana! I have some images of a courtyard that MS did and I've wanted to post them for awhile now!
The tile is very handsome and I like it a lot. Actually, I love it. I think it would do best in self-contained rooms, where it would not compete with other patterns, etc. I'd love to use something like that in my kitchen, but it is open to the family room and there would be too much going on.
I'm looking at subway tiles. Just ordered a bunch of samples from Heath Ceramics and Anchor Bay to see how the whites look. There's a crackle glaze that might be cool, too.
I agree Kathleen, a strong pattern would work best in a contained room or at the very least on one 'feature' wall.
I love crackle finishes! They add some texture to the ceramics - I would love to see what you're doing with your space!
I love their tile-I especially like their Chinoiserie Blue and White Musicians.
SR -aren't they the best? I know you love the chinoiserie ( me too! ).
I've had white subway in the last two kitchens, and never tired of it. That patterned tile though, it's pretty alluring, especially taking it all the way up.
I'm envious of Kathleen, I think Heath Ceramics makes some wonderful things.
I think I'm going to have to look up Heath Ceramics!
I love that. It's different without being over the top. It's funny you mentioned being over stainless. I'm getting that way too.
YSL, it's been awhile now. I have a stainless steel backsplash at home as well as appliances -it's just so much...boringness! I've blogged a few times I think about replacing the backsplash with mirror. It's on the list of things to do, just waiting for the $!
Glad you mentioned mirrors! I have two more projects to complete before I gut the kitchen. I am going to have the room 12 x 19 with only one eastern exposure window and rather small at that paneled in sheet mirror! I am using chrome metros on one long wall to hold my 40 year collection of kitchen "essentials." I'm using gladiator (garage) movable tool boxes for an island and for some base cabinets and I am going induction. Quite a turn around on my plans. My friends ask "Who will buy this?" I don't care. The next owner can do her own thing.I like stainless when it makes sense: on counters. Although my great aunt had zinc...and raised chickens. I find myself wistful for both.
Mirror-so wonderfully Miles Redd!
We can do this configuration in a white crackle. So you can have your Subway Tile and Eat it too!
-Lenore Eisner
I love this idea too! Especially worked all the way up to the crown. I love the shape of the tile, however, I would like it in a more subtle tone on tone color in the cream or beige family. I'm boring that way. I have mirror as a back splash right now. Great for reflecting light in a small space and easy to see and clean when you've made a mess cooking.
love this patterned tile. gorgeous!
I think these tiles are perfect here.. bold but subtle somehow. This is an honest kitchen! Thanks for this.
I don't have stainless so I am very ready for stainless to be over.
I'm also the kitchen cleaner in chief at our place. Over the course of my children, it's hard to imagine the stuff that's been on my backsplash. Well, you probably would. So dealing with grout in the kitchen is beyond my comprehension. And I just can't believe tile counter tops.
Candice rocks (and has a sense of humor). But I wouldn't have even her tile back splashes - as pretty as they are - not where I make big messes with food and children.
Rose, perfect description -'honest'!
Terry, I agree with you that practicality has to come first. I don't like all the little grout lines! I want BIG tile, easy to clean. It has to be beautiful AND functional! Those little glass tiles LOOK great at first, but imagine the stains they would have after a week! UGH. I can only imagine with children, it would be bad enough with just me! lol
Tiles work best on the backsplash and wainscot. It's better to have a stone or stainless countertop- I don't recommend tile counters ever! Grout joints should be the narrowest possible and guys, you can seal the grout too! A Natural gray grout color works very well with most all glazed tile colors, even white. It recedes so it is not an element of the design. Here, in the photo, Designer Chad Eisner chose CBP's "natural gray" grout color.
Terry, I don't know how you can get the grout so messed up on the backsplash, unless your kids are having ketchup fights in the kitchen. Which could be fun, but messy.
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