4 New Kitchens With Fun Backsplash Ideas
Pros share details on the backsplash colors, materials and styles they used to add pop and personality
A backsplash typically occupies a generous amount of visual space in a kitchen. Depending on your choice of colors and materials, you can play down the visual plane so it recedes from view, or you can punch it up with some attention-grabbing personality. Here, pros show examples of the latter. See how vibrant colors, a stylish slab and a marvelous marble mosaic help add energy and interest to four kitchens.
Other special features. Rift-sawn white oak cabinets in a custom golden pecan stain. Terrazzo tile flooring. Matte white faucet, pendant and wall paint (Moonlight White by Benjamin Moore). Satin brass bar pulls.
Designer tip. “Pair neutral walls and consistent cabinetry to ground the use of bold colors so the design elements don’t compete with each other,” Jones says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We were challenged to figure out where best to store display ceramics,” Jones says. “The room did not have enough height to display above the closed storage, and we needed a way to visually delineate the kitchen from the dine-in area, so the creation of the ceiling-mounted shelving unit solved two problems.”
Tile: Color Code, 3 by 9 inches, Trinity Tile; faucet: Odin, Brizo; pendant lights: Blaine (sink) and matte Moss and aged brass (banquette), Rejuvenation; floor tile: Terra, 12 by 12 inches, Riad Tile
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Designer tip. “Pair neutral walls and consistent cabinetry to ground the use of bold colors so the design elements don’t compete with each other,” Jones says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We were challenged to figure out where best to store display ceramics,” Jones says. “The room did not have enough height to display above the closed storage, and we needed a way to visually delineate the kitchen from the dine-in area, so the creation of the ceiling-mounted shelving unit solved two problems.”
Tile: Color Code, 3 by 9 inches, Trinity Tile; faucet: Odin, Brizo; pendant lights: Blaine (sink) and matte Moss and aged brass (banquette), Rejuvenation; floor tile: Terra, 12 by 12 inches, Riad Tile
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2. Slab Style
Designer: Angela Barnhart of White Birch Design
Location: New Prague, Minnesota
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “They live in a Craftsman-style home, but the kitchen had been remodeled prior to them purchasing the home,” designer Angela Barnhart says. “The kitchen was very traditional, with raised-panel cabinets, molded doors and a thick brown glaze over white paint. The layout was very tight and didn’t allow much room for more than one person to cook. Overall, it did not fit at all with the style of the home, and they wanted to bring it back to its roots.”
Backsplash. Creamy zellige-style main tile. Soapstone slab behind the range. “The tiles are handmade, so no two tiles are exactly the same shape, size or color,” Barnhart says. “It creates a very textural backsplash without being too busy. We chose these tiles to bring in that Craftsman-midcentury modern feel to the kitchen. Behind the cooktop, we extended the soapstone countertop up to the hood and added a little shelf for oils and spices.”
Designer: Angela Barnhart of White Birch Design
Location: New Prague, Minnesota
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “They live in a Craftsman-style home, but the kitchen had been remodeled prior to them purchasing the home,” designer Angela Barnhart says. “The kitchen was very traditional, with raised-panel cabinets, molded doors and a thick brown glaze over white paint. The layout was very tight and didn’t allow much room for more than one person to cook. Overall, it did not fit at all with the style of the home, and they wanted to bring it back to its roots.”
Backsplash. Creamy zellige-style main tile. Soapstone slab behind the range. “The tiles are handmade, so no two tiles are exactly the same shape, size or color,” Barnhart says. “It creates a very textural backsplash without being too busy. We chose these tiles to bring in that Craftsman-midcentury modern feel to the kitchen. Behind the cooktop, we extended the soapstone countertop up to the hood and added a little shelf for oils and spices.”
Other special features. Cool white upper cabinets with a gray undertone (Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams). Warm greige lower cabinets (Pashmina by Benjamin Moore). Lightly stained quarter-sawn white oak island base. Marble-look white quartz island countertop. Soapstone perimeter countertops.
Designer tip. “I always try to make my projects feel timeless yet have an element that is special to the homeowner,” Barnhart says. “That element could be something that is more trendy but easy to change out when styles change. For instance, I like to add personality in lighting, cabinet hardware and plumbing. These are all elements of the design that are fairly easy and cost-effective to change out over time, as well as give the space new life.”
Barnhart used Houzz ideabooks to collaborate on design ideas with the homeowners. “I like to use Houzz with my clients when we are looking for inspiration,” she says. “Each of my clients gets a Houzz ideabook where we can both drop in ideas for space planning, color and style schemes, lighting, hardware, etc. The ability to find these items and then chat back and forth together on them really makes Houzz a great tool for clients.”
Shop from a curated collection of items for your kitchen
Designer tip. “I always try to make my projects feel timeless yet have an element that is special to the homeowner,” Barnhart says. “That element could be something that is more trendy but easy to change out when styles change. For instance, I like to add personality in lighting, cabinet hardware and plumbing. These are all elements of the design that are fairly easy and cost-effective to change out over time, as well as give the space new life.”
Barnhart used Houzz ideabooks to collaborate on design ideas with the homeowners. “I like to use Houzz with my clients when we are looking for inspiration,” she says. “Each of my clients gets a Houzz ideabook where we can both drop in ideas for space planning, color and style schemes, lighting, hardware, etc. The ability to find these items and then chat back and forth together on them really makes Houzz a great tool for clients.”
Shop from a curated collection of items for your kitchen
3. Green Goddess
Designer: Michael Charles of Michael Interieurs
Location: Paris
Size: 152 square feet (14 square meters); 12 feet, 10 inches by 11 feet, 10 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The whole kitchen was not properly designed, and much space was lost,” designer Michael Charles says. “The first goal was to design a functional kitchen that would answer all needs and usages of a family of five. They wanted to bring in more natural light, have lots of countertop space — allowing for multiple cooks at the same time — ample storage with drawers for lower cabinets, an open concept with a peninsula used for quick meals that turned into a bar when entertaining guests, and cooking appliances used for everyday and large-meal prep. Overall, a joyful, colorful mood with midcentury vibes was definitely a reflection of their style and lifestyle.”
Backsplash. “The backsplash is made of beautiful authentic zellige Bejmat tiles from Morocco in a shade of green,” Charles says. “Those handmade glazed clay tiles are very strong and made of natural material. We chose the 2-by-6-inch Bejmat design installed vertically in order to increase the perception of ceiling height. The backsplash is three tiles high in order to keep an open feeling, and is contrasted with a neutral and sleek Dekton countertop. The beauty of zellige tiles comes from their textured and perfect imperfect look.”
Designer: Michael Charles of Michael Interieurs
Location: Paris
Size: 152 square feet (14 square meters); 12 feet, 10 inches by 11 feet, 10 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The whole kitchen was not properly designed, and much space was lost,” designer Michael Charles says. “The first goal was to design a functional kitchen that would answer all needs and usages of a family of five. They wanted to bring in more natural light, have lots of countertop space — allowing for multiple cooks at the same time — ample storage with drawers for lower cabinets, an open concept with a peninsula used for quick meals that turned into a bar when entertaining guests, and cooking appliances used for everyday and large-meal prep. Overall, a joyful, colorful mood with midcentury vibes was definitely a reflection of their style and lifestyle.”
Backsplash. “The backsplash is made of beautiful authentic zellige Bejmat tiles from Morocco in a shade of green,” Charles says. “Those handmade glazed clay tiles are very strong and made of natural material. We chose the 2-by-6-inch Bejmat design installed vertically in order to increase the perception of ceiling height. The backsplash is three tiles high in order to keep an open feeling, and is contrasted with a neutral and sleek Dekton countertop. The beauty of zellige tiles comes from their textured and perfect imperfect look.”
Other special features. “The U-shape layout with a peninsula return allows for maximum countertop space, and the north wall with tall white cabinets for appliances provides ample functional storage,” Charles says. “A wine fridge and a pullout cabinet for barware are hidden inside the peninsula. Oak drawer fronts, the green zellige Bejmat backsplash and large terrazzo tiles on the floor bring together the overall midcentury look. The glass wall has a natural oak frame, and a couple of shelves made of reclaimed wood from scaffolding finish up the design.”
Designer tip. “It is important to choose the right size and design for backsplash tiles,” Charles says. “Here, the vertical rectangles add some dimension to the room. And don’t be afraid to add colors if that’s who you are.”
Backsplash tiles: zellige, Bahya; countertop: Moone Dekton, Cosentino
10 Stylish and Functional Kitchen Peninsulas
Designer tip. “It is important to choose the right size and design for backsplash tiles,” Charles says. “Here, the vertical rectangles add some dimension to the room. And don’t be afraid to add colors if that’s who you are.”
Backsplash tiles: zellige, Bahya; countertop: Moone Dekton, Cosentino
10 Stylish and Functional Kitchen Peninsulas
4. Marble Movement
Designer: Alicia Saso of Drury Design
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters); 15 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The client wanted this space to be overall neutral and calming,” designer Alicia Saso says. “Adjacent spaces in the clients’ home were already transitioning to an overall neutral aesthetic, so they wanted this space to feel the same and flow with the rest of their home. They very much wanted a fresh, new look.”
Backsplash. Cream-colored 24-by-48-inch porcelain main tiles. Water-jet-cut marble mosaic tile behind the range acts as a focal point. “The mosaic tile is really the showstopper without being too dominant,” Saso says.
Designer: Alicia Saso of Drury Design
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters); 15 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The client wanted this space to be overall neutral and calming,” designer Alicia Saso says. “Adjacent spaces in the clients’ home were already transitioning to an overall neutral aesthetic, so they wanted this space to feel the same and flow with the rest of their home. They very much wanted a fresh, new look.”
Backsplash. Cream-colored 24-by-48-inch porcelain main tiles. Water-jet-cut marble mosaic tile behind the range acts as a focal point. “The mosaic tile is really the showstopper without being too dominant,” Saso says.
Other special features. “We brightened up the space by incorporating light, eggshell-painted cabinetry along the perimeter, with a soft-stained hickory island and built-in refrigerator area to bring in some warmth,” Saso says. “We kept the existing tile floor and cleaned all of the grout, which made it look fresh. A new, larger window was a key design element to really brighten up the space with natural light and give life to the neutral palette.”
Designer tip. “Sometimes keeping the materials subtle goes a long way,” Saso says. “The accents in this space go a long way, such as the backsplash, lighting and island chairs. These pieces really bring life to this space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “For the built-in refrigerator, we realized that we’d need about 11 inches of clearance on the left side for the door to open all of the way,” Saso says. “The kitchen cabinets were already ordered, and the floor plan was final at this point. The solution was to angle the wall to the left, which is part of the walk-in pantry, so the door could fully open. This proved to be a great solution that the client loved, because it opened up the hallway.”
Range backsplash tile: Hidden Circles water-jet-cut marble mosaic in vanilla, Artistic Tile; cabinets: maple with eggshell paint (perimeter) and hickory with Nimbus stain (island and built-in fridge), Mouser Cabinetry
15 Stylish Kitchen Range Hood Ideas
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Designer tip. “Sometimes keeping the materials subtle goes a long way,” Saso says. “The accents in this space go a long way, such as the backsplash, lighting and island chairs. These pieces really bring life to this space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “For the built-in refrigerator, we realized that we’d need about 11 inches of clearance on the left side for the door to open all of the way,” Saso says. “The kitchen cabinets were already ordered, and the floor plan was final at this point. The solution was to angle the wall to the left, which is part of the walk-in pantry, so the door could fully open. This proved to be a great solution that the client loved, because it opened up the hallway.”
Range backsplash tile: Hidden Circles water-jet-cut marble mosaic in vanilla, Artistic Tile; cabinets: maple with eggshell paint (perimeter) and hickory with Nimbus stain (island and built-in fridge), Mouser Cabinetry
15 Stylish Kitchen Range Hood Ideas
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen design stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Designer: Whitney Jones of Copper Sky Design + Remodel
Location: Decatur, Georgia
Size: 310 square feet (29 square meters), including banquette area
Homeowners’ request. “Every so often, we have a client who really does not have an aesthetic in mind and leans heavily on us for design guidance,” designer Whitney Jones says. “This was one of those projects. While they did not provide much input, we were able to pull inspiration from assorted decor they had throughout the home. Early on in the process, we encouraged our clients to utilize a Houzz ideabook to collect and curate inspirational photos that we could then use to better understand their vision and design aesthetic. This proved especially helpful in this case, as the clients found it much easier to show us what they liked rather than try to articulate their vision.”
Backsplash. Ceramic tile in multiple colors. “This collection boasts 38 matte color choices, which have a handcrafted surface aesthetic,” Jones says. “Our design planned for the use of full-course tiles to limit cuts and distracting grout lines. Assorted colorways allowed for precise selection preferences. We counteracted the high-energy colored splash with the neutrality of the uniform cabinetry.”