Hello AT,
Overdue for a new look, my parents are nearing the end of their six
month-long kitchen renovation. (My dad's done a lot of the work and he is an uber-perfectionist, hence the timeline ; ) In short, they stripped the 25 year-old solid oak cabinets and replaced the hardware, replaced old Formica countertops with Silestone, replaced a cast iron (chocolate brown!) sink with an under-mounted stainless one and added a built-in water purifier...
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
editor(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
Link To All Good Questions
They also replaced the old linoleum flooring and put down a 'brick look' laminate. The only thing outstanding is the backsplash--oh, the saga of the backsplash! The previous incarnation was simply a continuation of the Formica countertop, but this time out they want to fancy it up a bit with tile and go for a different look.
As their daughter and a graphic designer, I have inadvertently become their interior design consultant--only, I'm drawing a blank on this one!
Their aesthetic...can I call it 'rustic modern'? A cleaner, vintage country? It's certainly not a perfect fit with the (generally) more modern 'AT look' but it still has a thing or two in common with historic brownstone detailing and the California Craftsman style with which many of us are familiar. So I'm putting it out there and hoping you fine, resourceful folks might be able to share your suggestions.
FWIW, I originally thought subway tile; I thought it would provide a nice clean contrast to the lightly mottled look of the Silestone. (And who doesn't love subway tile?) But now, with the 'brick' floor think the whole thing might get too linear...? I should probably also mention that they're retired, and as such working within a pretty modest budget, $25-30/sq. Ft. Up to the challenge, AT-land? Help a girl help her parents out!
Thanks! Sandra
Dear Sandra,
This is a great question and we're sure a lot of folks will jump in. This is what we'd recommend looking at:
1. Terra Cotta squares - this would be a bit more rustic and bring out the warm browns of the cabinets and the floors. With the right tiles, this would be beautiful and add a more handmade, organic quality to the room.
2. Off white subway tile - this would be the plainest, but classy and still keep the kitchen light and bright.
For ideas, go to AnnSacks.com and look at Classic Terra Cotta and Capriccio Subway tile.
Anyone else??
Beadboard? I actually have it in my kitchen, not my choice, but it looks pretty good.
My parents have similar cabinets in their kitchen with a beadboard backsplash. There is a small nose and cove moulding at the top and they used a small vinyl basemould at the bottom. Once it's painted, you can't tell it's not wood, plus you don't have to worry about it rotting if water puddles up against it. The beadboard also allows you to change the color with paint if your tastes change (as mine often do!).
I was going to recommend clay tile - terra cotta is the same thing - but you can get it in octagons, diagonals, etc. so you don't have to match the brick too much - I was thinking a small octagon like that retro look they do on bathroom floors with marble sometimes...
what about something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Glass-mosaic-tile-kitchen-bath-wall-counter-sink-tile_W0QQitemZ130089659717QQcategoryZ115703QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or this:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/12x12-Subway-and-ZigZag-Mosaic-Tile-Free-Shipping_W0QQitemZ280095070676QQcategoryZ42129QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I think I would do small square slate ties in muted colors, with a few terracotta tiles to tie to the brick color.
With the majority being a cooler gray or green the cabinetry would have more contrast.
AT never let's me down! Thanks so much for the suggestions. You've provided a lot of great alternatives, especially the beadboard!
The quest has gotten so convoluted of late that I actually started doing Photoshop roughs for them! (Click my name for the link--comments welcome.)
I like the idea of beadboard, but painted a bright, intense color to break up the neutral and earthy tone a little. Backsplashes are just the right size to make a splash in a way that would be garish as a larger element in a kitchen.
Hello - just a thought, and maybe I even have it up somewhere (should make a picasa) - about 10 years ago someone commissioned me to do a tile backsplash rendition of his ancestral homeland on the Amalfi coast of Italy - for his renovation - i did it at a paint your own pottery shop - just a thought, to make your own...using colors you like - or maybe getting kids to do a design...
Large white subway tile is my vote based on your photoshopping. Good luck!
I have two suggestions:
tile, and painting.
I have both. I find the paint was clearly easier and quicker and updated some older gross tiles. The mosaic tile in the second photo I can't take credit for, but they're very easy to clean and brighten everything up! Hope these photos help.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeegeebeckenheim/396092389/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeegeebeckenheim/391765508/
As someone in the middle of a kitchen redesign, I second the glass mosaic suggestion. There are so many colors available, you can create just about any look. The glass itself is a rather current look, but you can fit into just about any style with your color choices.
I've had a good experience with susanjablonmosaics.com, which has some really nice designs and a tool that will let you create your own.
And I'll show you a "pretty modest budget". The most expensive options I've considered in glass are $13/ft -- I've seen some great ones for less than $10.
My husband and I (65 and 63) just finished our kitchen remodel in a 1915 farmhouse in Minnesota. We did the backsplash in 6 x 6 terracota tile and we love it. Used grout the same color. We did not want to draw attention away from the walnut trim on the counter edges.... Other beautiful tile confused the viewer (look at the woodwork, look at the tile?) when we tried it. Yep, terracota would be great.
For my kitchen renovation I'd thought solid (a continuation of the countertop), tile (but I hate grout from my cr*ddy apartment living), resin (way out of my budget), and I'm finally down to my most budget friendly choices:
beadboard (because I like the linear effect)
and
lincrusta or anaglypta (both of which come in more modern designs these days, and in scrubbable versions, they can typically be painted up to 3x so I know I can paint a bright cheerful color on it next time I feel like re-decorating). COMN for some samples...
Rucy
i can absolutely see a glass tile mosaic of rustic colors (rust, copper, tera cotta, beiges, etc...pull the colors from the floor and cabinets)
i suggest bisazza
we used a super easy to mount and very appealing to look at back splash by WilsonArt. It's a faux-brushed steel laminate from the company that brought us laminates. The back splash is incredibly easy to clean, really makes the place look sleek but warm at the same time. We also installed lights under the hanging cabinets and the laminate reflects nicely so it seems like there is 2x as much light on the countertops as there actually is.
Go WilsonArt!!
Check out the fabulous glass tile I used in my newly renovated kitchen. Custom made by Marin Designworks ( www.marindesignworks.com ) I found
them on the internet and Cyndi was absolutely fabulous to work
with!!!!! The most unusual tile I have ever seen!
Just run the Silestone up the wall.
Clean, simple, coherent.
I like the green beadboard of your photoshop slide show. Let us know which you and your parents choose!
patrick the other one is right.
everything else looks a little busy
you don't need a fourth material
with all that wood grain
Patrick and jj, I hear your logic and agree that the Silestone would provide a great, clean look. Unfortunately, at $110/sq. ft. ("!") it blows the budget right out of the water!
I vote for the white subway tiles based on your photoshop pics, but I think the floor and not the backsplash is off-key note in this room. Is there a reason they went for this brick-look? It doesn't seem to blend well with the lovely stripped cabinets, and I think makes the new kitchen look very dated...
I like Patrick's idea best, but I can understand the cost issue. I'd go with something that would give you a similar look: white or slightly cream colored tile that matches the counter. I wouldn't usually think this, but since the kitchen is a little country, what about a standard white field tile with hand-painted tiles thrown in every so often for interest? Hand painted tiles aren't cheap, but you could use them sparingly. I'm thinking of white tiles that match the field, with kitchen approprite images painted on (veggies etc, please no roosters). I wouldn't go with subway tile, unless you were going to paint the cabinets, which you are not. Subway tile fits a 20s look or a modern one, and this kitchen is neither.
I like the green-colored beadboard. I like a little color in the kitchen since everything else is pretty toned-down. Your parents' kitchen is definitely not reminiscent of a historic brownstone though - it just looks contemporary. Signed, brownstone owner.
I saw wallpaper under glass in an issue of Domino a few months ago and it looked great. It's the perfect way to add some color and warmth to the kitchen and won't put more vertical lines in the mix. If it can be done in such a way where the glass can be removed without damaging it, it could even be easily updated if you get tired of it.
Just another ideapressed tin panels. A few companies are making them specifically to fit in the backsplash space, so it's very DIY. They come in metallics like brushed pewter and aged copper, which would work with your updated country style. It would match well with the rustic oak and brick style floors. I've seen them at Lowe's and Home Depot.