The kitchen keeps begging me for a backsplash.
It happens every time I wipe spaghetti sauce off the wall. Or water. Or coffee. Or any of the other things that I’m constantly wiping off the wall.
So, really, I’m begging for a backsplash. For my own sanity. It’s just simply more practical for cleanup – especially by the sink and the stove.
I also think adding a backsplash will make the room look a little more “finished” and “put-together.” Give it a little polish. And I have been hanging onto a Home Depot gift card for this exact purpose.
But, now the questions are …. Which tile? And how to install?
I was originally thinking it would be best to tile up to the ceiling. Without any uppers, there’s not a natural place to end the tile. And there’s really not much wall once you account for the windows.
The inspiration never leads me astray, am I right?
The only downsides – more work, more tile, and the possibility that the ceilings/windows aren’t perfectly level, causing a headache for installation.
None of these issues concern me, clearly. (Poor Ryan.)
(top left, clockwise) The Lilypad Cottage | HGTV | Apartment Therapy | Jenna Sue Design |
Other possibilities … Stop the tile at the bottom of the range hood, similar to this look from Fixer Upper.
Or add a large piece of trim as a stopping point, like this look from Simply Fabulous Chic.
As for what tile to choose, the simplest option is probably the top contender – white subway tile with grey grout, just like what we chose in the last house.
It’s a classic look for a budget price. And it’s something I think I can happy with forever. And it’s something I almost always love when I’m looking for inspiration.
When all of my Pinterest boards are full of white subway tile, it must be a good sign. (Check out the original kitchen plans here – we are pretty close.)
I’m still deciding on a pattern – maybe something different than the basic brick pattern?
However, I’m also pretty smitten with something a little more statement-making. Like this barn quilt-inspired cement tile from Cement Tile Shop.
It is incredible, but I think it may be just a bit too much for our kitchen.
So, that’s a bit of what’s going on in my mind right now.
I’d love your thoughts – which backsplash would you choose?
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Colleen says
For my money (or yours) I’d go with the white subway tile with grey grout, stopping at the bottom of the vent hood and level all the way around. There is a rope look rounded tile that you could use as the stopping point if you didn’t want to put up crown molding or picture rail. Tiling all the way to the ceiling makes me think of a sterile operating room. IMHO
Fiona van Buuren says
I know it isn’t one of your choices, but have you considered a papered wall with a layer of glass to protect it from stains.
Kim Woodward says
I haven’t – do you have an example? I can’t visualize it. And an idea of that much glass seems daunting.
Kristin says
I don’t have input on where to stop the tile. I have same issue in our kitchen. If I went all the way to the ceiling on the sink/window wall then I would have to go to the ceiling on the perpendicular window wall… And then where do I stop??? I would have two full walls of tile. Craziness.
I like the idea of the subway tile with a dark gray grout. It is simple and classic, with a slight edge, just like your decorating style. I think it would mesh well with the rest of the kitchen. I also really love the beveled edge subway tile. They have a display at the St. Louis Ikea and I fell in love with it. It’s got that great classic feel with just a little something special.
I googled around and wondered whether you had thought about bead board? Seems like that would also be a perfect fit for your style and MUCH easier to install.
I also found this:
http://www.tianyunjixie.com/awesome-farmhouse-kitchen-design-inspiration/beautiful-farmhouse-inspired-kitchen-stove-details-tile-backsplash/
It’s weird and funky, yet… There’s something really cool about it.
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
I love something simple all the way to the top in your kitchen. The inspirational photos are all awesome though.
daisy says
Whatever you choose will be fantastic, I’m sure. Your design sense is so spot on. Could you do some small feature using the quilt tiles and the rest the subway?
Kim Woodward says
That’s an idea! Thinking on that.
scrappinlk says
I’d go all the way up to the ceiling with white subway tiles.
Debbie says
I love the Simply Fabulous Chic look….I’ve never seen it before…it really caught my eye!
Kim Woodward says
Isn’t that pretty?
Susan says
HMMM – personally I favor the Fixer Upper one with the tile running up behind the range then dropping to behind the sink/window sill level trimmed out with tile . . . and I’d go with while tile/gray grout. Tile sure is easy to sponge off, and knowing myself, I’d get tired of a pattern in a couple of years. Paint sure is easier to change out to get a new look if/when you tire of what you have (which looks really nice).
Kim Woodward says
You are totally right – I was told in no certain terms that I need to find something I’ll like for a long time. While we COULD change it, we don’t want to.
Megan says
Before I even got to what you were thinking of doing my first thought was white subway with gray grout to the ceiling! I love encaustic tile, and I’m actually thinking about doing a gray and white pattern on the floors and shower niche of master bath remodel, but we’re doing the white subway on the shower walls. I think that much encaustic would look too busy with your style, you tend to like a lot of accessories and open storage, which I think works better with a cleaner backdrop. Can’t wait to see the result!
Kim Woodward says
I Think you are totally right, Megan. I almost always have a lot going on. A simple base is probably a good idea.
Jena says
I love the house, but can’t every kitchen use a little tile? I would tire of a pattern eventually and I think it’s easier to decorate with and around the white. I do love tile up to the ceiling for lots of reasons including the fact that sometimes messes created by children, adults and spaghetti sauce or craft things don’t always stop before the tile ends. We have a notorious family mess wise. If you want subway tile, but want to do it slightly different you could lay it vertical vs horizontal, like an elaborate brick pattern or even at an angle to make it a bit jazzier and unexpected. Whatever you do I look forward to seeing the results because I am sure it will be just perfect.
Kim Woodward says
That’s a great idea, Jena – installing it vertically would be fun!
Kristen Windle says
love your inspiration. i think you should stick with the white subway tile. the other tile is so amazing, but i think it’ll go out of style pretty quickly. maybe do so kind of pattern above the stove and keep the rest classic? just ideas. whatever you decide, it will turn out great!
Kim Woodward says
Yeah, I’m with you. I love the pattern now. But I think it may get old or dated. And Ryan has made it clear to pick something I can live with forever. 😉
I’ve been looking for inspiration with two types of tile, but nothing is really “sticking.”
Courtney says
This is so exciting! I’ve been debating a similar question, where to stop the tile. I think the entire wall with the window would look awesome if it was tiled! 🙂
Courtney
Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst says
I agree that white is classic, but if I were you I would look for something white but not subway. I don’t feel like it’s as suited for your adorable farm house as it is in other houses. Maybe an arabesque tile, or a penny tile or something like that. And I like the photo with trim for a natural stopping point, I feel like that fits in really nicely with the rest of your house.
Kim Woodward says
Interesting! I was looking at the medallion tile, but it seemed too ornate for a simple farmhouse. May need to do some looking.
Christine says
I like tile to the ceiling (sorry to Ryan) and I’d do the wall opposite the sink where your built ins are too. and while I like white subway, I’d either do the mini subway tile just for something familiar but with a bit of edge, might be easier to work with too if doing narrower areas around the windows. the question and answer section on this page has a customer answer about grout color and they included a pic of the tile around their sink and it looks awesome with the light grey grout.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Merola-Tile-Metro-Subway-Glossy-White-11-3-4-in-x-11-3-4-in-x-5-mm-Porcelain-Mosaic-Tile-9-6-sq-ft-case-FXLMSSW/100649499?MERCH=REC-_-SearchPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-100649499-_-N
or if doing the regular full size subway tile, I’ve seen some with beveled edges that look cool too. Altho a beveled edge might be harder to work with if you have to make cuts in the middle of a tile.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Daltile-Rittenhouse-Square-White-3-in-x-6-in-Glazed-Ceramic-Bevel-Wall-Tile-9-6-sq-ft-case-010036MODBHD1P4/206527708
Will look great no matter what you do and can’t wait to see what you end up doing.
Kim Woodward says
Thanks so much for the links and ideas. I kind of thought that the smaller tile would be too small, but it really is pretty and the real-life picture is lovely with the grey grout. It’s a really nice touch.
Kate Anger-Seep says
Would it look strange to stop halfway up your windows? it looks to be about the same height as the bottom of your range hood (if you look at the side shot of the kitchen you posted). I am DEFINITELY in love with the white subway tile. I keep going back and forth about a gray or something more detailed… but will I love that in 5 years? And that is a lot of work and money to tear it out, repair the wall behind and replace… but maybe I’m just lazy 🙂
Kim Woodward says
I’m not sure – I’m sort of thinking maybe we could try it half-way and then decide whether to go the full way?
And yeah, we are never replacing this. (Famous last words.)
Cassie Bustamante says
i just saw an incredible metallic gray subway tile i thought would look awesome somewhere… like your kitchen! 😉
Kim Woodward says
Interesting – was it stainless?
Daniela says
We haven’t installed any tiles at all. Instead, we have stainless steel plates as backsplash. You can buy them cut ready. They aren’t too expensive, easy to install (with construction adhesive) and easy to clean. They would also fit well with your sink and appliances with stainless steel fronts.