cougarider Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I recently bought a mid century ranch that has had the kitchen remodeled. I know it's not a mid century kitchen for you purists out there. However, I paid for the remodeled kitchen in the purchase price of the home so I will not be remodeling it since it's all new. I do need to put up a back splash because I'm getting oil slashes behind the oven. Can I get some suggestions on tile types that will add some color and not be out dated in 5-10 years. I've been considering glass mosaics 1x1, glass mosaic subway tiles or basic white 3x6 subway tiles from home depot. About the kitchen:The countertop is a sandy colored granite with some black speckling. In the dinning room directly across I have the color theme of light green via my saarinen executive chairs (wood leg). The colors in the kitchen are very neutral and will accept just about any color. Please help! Thanks Jorge kitchen.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbarz Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Beveled, rectangular, brushed stainless steel mosiac tiles. Get the grain in opposing directions and alternate the tiles. best part is you can install it over your existing backsplash with construction adhesive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 (edited) Stainless steel as a backsplash is very interesting, but I just love the new glass tiles, and think they will have some staying power as far as design goes. I wouldn't set them in a standard running bond, though, but either all squared up or in a vertical running bond. You might check out some of flipper's posts as his backsplashes look like they would go with your kitchen. Edited January 7, 2009 by travelguy_73 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Native Son Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Stainless steel as a backsplash is very interesting, but I just love the new glass tiles, and think they will have some staying power as far as design goes. I wouldn't set them in a standard running bond, though, but either all squared up or in a vertical running bond. You might check out some of flipper's posts as his backsplashes look like they would go with your kitchen. when we remodeled our kitchen we used a stainless backsplash behind the stove, and the same tile we used on the floor everywhere else...it came out nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Interceramic on Richmond has some really big glass tiles that I think would look awesome. They are 12x24 I believe. Another thing I saw in magazine... Someone picked out a cool wall paper with a retro graphic and put it up, then clear glass over it as a backsplash. flipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 If you want something less traditional looking you could go for just a big sheet of stainless cut to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarider Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Stainless steel as a backsplash is very interesting, but I just love the new glass tiles, and think they will have some staying power as far as design goes. I wouldn't set them in a standard running bond, though, but either all squared up or in a vertical running bond. You might check out some of flipper's posts as his backsplashes look like they would go with your kitchen. Are these examples from your home? Where did you get the kitchen green tiles? Thanks, Jorge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Are these examples from your home? Where did you get the kitchen green tiles?Thanks,JorgeI just googled "glass subway tile" and this is one of the better pictures that came back. Any decent tile store can get glass subway tiles in these smaller sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missjanel Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 (edited) The kitchen backsplash is from Jennifer Hibbard's house and her Flickr comments state that the tile is 1x3 subway in Green Apple from http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/glass-ti...ubway-tile.htmlI just googled "glass subway tile" and this is one of the better pictures that came back. Any decent tile store can get glass subway tiles in these smaller sizes. Edited January 12, 2009 by missjanel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Might be similar to this:http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/tile-products-id/subb1211 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAZ Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 If you want something less traditional looking you could go for just a big sheet of stainless cut to fit.Which is exactly what I did here. Lowes (and I presume Home Depot) sells stainless steel sheets meant to be installed behind stoves. Buy a couple of those. Cut to size. Install with construction adhesive. You do have to be careful about warping, and making sure you cut it straight and even is key. But it gives you a nice look for way cheaper than you can get any kind of glass mosaic tile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanS Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Which is exactly what I did here.Lowes (and I presume Home Depot) sells stainless steel sheets meant to be installed behind stoves. Buy a couple of those. Cut to size. Install with construction adhesive.You do have to be careful about warping, and making sure you cut it straight and even is key. But it gives you a nice look for way cheaper than you can get any kind of glass mosaic tile....and probably looks like trailer house living. I want to see pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) ...and probably looks like trailer house living. I want to see pictures.stainless backsplash can be nice...not sure about the cut it yourself thing though. the stainless tiles are great as well! Edited January 13, 2009 by musicman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 one of my coworkers just put some tiles in her master bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 one of my coworkers just put some tiles in her master bath. That tile is nice, but there are way too many clashing styles in there for me. flipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 That tile is nice, but there are way too many clashing styles in there for me.flipperyou should've seen it before. lol they had specific issues they wanted to resolve vs a remodel where use isn't always a priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 ...and probably looks like trailer house living. I want to see pictures. How rude! I think stainless would be the perfect fit here. It probably comes precut in the same width as the range. It would blend with the overhead vent, as well as with the range. Also, I think cleanup would be easier on a flat, uninterrupted surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 ...and probably looks like trailer house living. I want to see pictures. You are no longer welcome in my kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Since stainless has come up, what do you guys think of copper for backsplash? White subway tile would be the traditional choice, but I'm liking the copper idea for my kitchen. (white glass front cabinets and oak floors). FWIW I have very little backsplash area to cover.But then I'm also seriously considering wood counters. They would be period correct, that's for sure. I am so so tired of granite. Is it just me? Any other sufferers of granite ennui? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Since stainless has come up, what do you guys think of copper for backsplash? White subway tile would be the traditional choice, but I'm liking the copper idea for my kitchen. (white glass front cabinets and oak floors). FWIW I have very little backsplash area to cover.But then I'm also seriously considering wood counters. They would be period correct, that's for sure. I am so so tired of granite. Is it just me? Any other sufferers of granite ennui?I think a block wood countertop would be cool, kind of like a butcher block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahiki Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Since stainless has come up, what do you guys think of copper for backsplash? White subway tile would be the traditional choice, but I'm liking the copper idea for my kitchen. (white glass front cabinets and oak floors). FWIW I have very little backsplash area to cover.But then I'm also seriously considering wood counters. They would be period correct, that's for sure. I am so so tired of granite. Is it just me? Any other sufferers of granite ennui?Might there be problems keeping a wood counter clean/germ free? I'm thinking of our wooden cutting boards... how if you cut avocados or strawberries, a stain stays on it, for example. I guess you can seal them? A friend who is a metal-worker made hammered copper counters for his kitchen. I have no idea whether that is functional or not. But if you're thinking of copper and want something different.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I spent a few years in a house with a kitchen that had copper accents - it is okay sometimes, but looking back I don't like it at all...I really like the idea of wood counter tops - they can be sealed/oiled (and sanded with fine grit paper and resealed).It's good to use a tight-grained wood to reduce porousness (use maple, not oak), and keep vinegar away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Since stainless has come up, what do you guys think of copper for backsplash? White subway tile would be the traditional choice, but I'm liking the copper idea for my kitchen. (white glass front cabinets and oak floors). FWIW I have very little backsplash area to cover.But then I'm also seriously considering wood counters. They would be period correct, that's for sure. I am so so tired of granite. Is it just me? Any other sufferers of granite ennui?Copper might work well for your application, but I don't think it'd work for the specific application of this topic.If you go with copper, keep the drapes drawn and lookout for copper thieves!I think a block wood countertop would be cool, kind of like a butcher block.Germs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I don't know that I'm sold on the copper, but am definitely exploring the wood counters. Maple is one of the preferred woods. They're regaining popularity, judging by some of the design mags I've seen lately. The This Old House website is full of wood counter how-to. Done properly, stains and hygiene isn't an issue. Plus they can always be sanded and re-finished. I was in one of the oldest houses in the neighborhood not long ago, and the kitchen still had one run of the original wood counters. The patina of the old wood was just wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Germs! Whatever!!!! Actually, if you think about it, eating off of your countertop...of any material...is probably akin to eating off of your floor. You are deluding yourself if you think that granite, concrete, wilsonart or formica is any cleaner. As for me, the 5 second rule applies to my countertop, stove and floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Whatever!!!!Actually, if you think about it, eating off of your countertop...of any material...is probably akin to eating off of your floor. You are deluding yourself if you think that granite, concrete, wilsonart or formica is any cleaner. As for me, the 5 second rule applies to my countertop, stove and floor. My comment was based on cutting boards - wood vs. plastic used for cutting up meat. Then again, I'm sure she's not considering getting out the cleaver and cutting up a chicken right there on the counter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Then again, I'm sure she's not considering getting out the cleaver and cutting up a chicken right there on the counter. Whoa! I just had a Sarah Palin turkey pardon flashback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Wood was the standard for kitchens and food preparation for hundreds of years. I wonder if they followed the 5 second rule in the 18th century? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Wood was the standard for kitchens and food preparation for hundreds of years. I wonder if they followed the 5 second rule in the 18th century?Can you measure 5 seconds on a sundial? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Wood was the standard for kitchens and food preparation for hundreds of years. I wonder if they followed the 5 second rule in the 18th century?Yeah, and diarrhea was a leading cause of death back then.Joking aside, I think they'd look lovely. I just don't understand why you'd want to replace the granite. I like wood flooring in kitchens too. Speaking of copper, I like punched copper or tin on ceilings in the right application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanS Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 You are no longer welcome in my kitchen. Whoa! What a minute! ... I just asked to see pictures! So far, nothing. Until then... the text description sounded kinda trailer park, to me. ...and then rsb says that it is easier cleaning... since when was it a requirement to hose down backsplashes to clean them? It gets a little wet around the sink area... but what kind of cooking are you doing in your kitchen where you have to clean all the backsplashes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAZ Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Whoa! What a minute! ... I just asked to see pictures! So far, nothing. Until then... the text description sounded kinda trailer park, to me....and then rsb says that it is easier cleaning... since when was it a requirement to hose down backsplashes to clean them? It gets a little wet around the sink area... but what kind of cooking are you doing in your kitchen where you have to clean all the backsplashes? Judge my kitchen for yourself. I did this whole kitchen for $8k. That includes the appliances, flooring, paint, all new cabinetry, and fixtures. I'll bet you could drop $8k on a glass tile mosaic backsplash alone if you did it wrong. The stainless on the walls cost me around $150 and an afternoon of light labor. That's all I was saying before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Whoa! What a minute! ... I just asked to see pictures! So far, nothing. Until then... the text description sounded kinda trailer park, to me....and then rsb says that it is easier cleaning... since when was it a requirement to hose down backsplashes to clean them? It gets a little wet around the sink area... but what kind of cooking are you doing in your kitchen where you have to clean all the backsplashes?BS - This is from the original post "I do need to put up a back splash because I'm getting oil slashes behind the oven."Splashes from the stove are most likely grease. Grease is easier to clean on a flat, stainless surface that it would be in the grouting of tiles. Neither requires a hosing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadfroggy Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I'm not sure I really buy the rationale for backsplashes; at least not as how they are all the rage. I mean, it makes sense to me to provide a transition between the countertop and the wall surface so that the place the two planes meet is wipeable and not a collection site for detritus, but beyond that, I think they're primarily cosmetic rather than functional. We talk a good game about the functional merits of various kinds of counters and backsplashes and combos of the two, but I really doubt there's much practical difference for the average homeowner. One of my pet peeves lately is the notion that kitchen surfaces should be indestructable. Whatever you use will be out-of-style long before it's worn out anyway. So, my opinion is that you should install or not install whatever you think looks pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I'm not sure I really buy the rationale for backsplashes; at least not as how they are all the rage. I mean, it makes sense to me to provide a transition between the countertop and the wall surface so that the place the two planes meet is wipeable and not a collection site for detritus, but beyond that, I think they're primarily cosmetic rather than functional. We talk a good game about the functional merits of various kinds of counters and backsplashes and combos of the two, but I really doubt there's much practical difference for the average homeowner. One of my pet peeves lately is the notion that kitchen surfaces should be indestructable. Whatever you use will be out-of-style long before it's worn out anyway. So, my opinion is that you should install or not install whatever you think looks pretty.Agreed. I like the idea of some semblance of period correct in my house (1911). The granite counters and soapstone backsplash were crudely done by DIYers with leftover pieces, so I mainly want to un-do the ugly. When it comes to kitchens we're all screwed anyway; today's granite is yesterday's formica. If I had a modern house I'd do sheet metal for damn near everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Agreed. I like the idea of some semblance of period correct in my house (1911). The granite counters and soapstone backsplash were crudely done by DIYers with leftover pieces, so I mainly want to un-do the ugly. When it comes to kitchens we're all screwed anyway; today's granite is yesterday's formica. If I had a modern house I'd do sheet metal for damn near everything.Ah, now I understand replacement of poorly installed granite. Check into the wood option and keep us informed. I'm interested to see what the wood options and costs are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREASER Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 stay simple and go on to the next project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jersey01 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 My vote is Heath Ceramics.Classic, never out of style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norhill Dennis Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Glass tiles are available in a couple of thicknesses - 1/4" and 1/8". I used 1/8" glass tile from Walker Zanger in my kitchen. They are about half the price of the thicker ones. The only caution though is that the wall behind them has to be PERFECTLY flat and level. They come on a sheet (12x12) with a plastic coating on the front. Adhere the tiles to the wall, let dry and peel off the plastic. Then grout and you're finished! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Judge my kitchen for yourself.I did this whole kitchen for $8k. That includes the appliances, flooring, paint, all new cabinetry, and fixtures. I'll bet you could drop $8k on a glass tile mosaic backsplash alone if you did it wrong. The stainless on the walls cost me around $150 and an afternoon of light labor. That's all I was saying before. WOW....that must be a double wide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glass14 Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Could anyone recommend retailers in Houston that sell glass tiles and other types for a backsplash? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Daltile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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