Tarek El Moussa’s Black Kitchen Backsplash Looks Straight Out of a Gothic Castle

Part of Tarek El Moussa’s job on HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” is designing kitchens that appeal to the masses. And while you’ll see a lot of subway tile, marble, and ceramic tile in the homes designed for potential buyers, El Moussa’s own kitchen backsplash is an entirely different (and surprising!) style.

Recently, the HGTV host gave fans a glimpse into his own kitchen, which he currently shares with fellow reality star and fiancée Heather Rae Young. The space is a walk on the dark side, specifically when it comes to his unique black backsplash, which looks like it could fit in a gothic castle.

The backsplash — which has a sculptural, geometric feel to it — is from Artistic Tile and made of polished stone, which looks like mirrored black tile that has a multi-dimensional vibe. The overall style is seriously goth-glam, which he complemented with black leather and brushed brass barstools, among other brass accents.

In a separate video on El Moussa’s Instagram, you can catch an even better glimpse of the space. The island is outfitted with dark, glossy black granite countertops, while white stone countertops grace the back. He also juxtaposes bright white cabinets by adding a dark, brushed dark metal-looking cabinet above his Wolf stove. Black fixtures, including handles, knobs, and a faucet, complete the look. 

Earlier this year, the couple’s backsplash made its debut in one of Young’s Instagram stories, highlighting the progress of the remodel of their Newport Beach home. “That’s the backsplash we chose. It’s gonna be bold,” she said, per People, pointing to the glossy geometric tile. “Yeah, it’s coming along. We’re really excited about it.”

While there are risks to doing something different in the kitchen, El Moussa and Young’s backsplash is proof that high risk often means high reward.