Tile Options To Consider For Your Kitchen Splashback
The splashback typically covers a broad horizontal band across the kitchen, close to eye level, and thus it's a prominent feature. With plenty of opportunities in texture and colour—tiles provide an excellent material choice. Here are several alternatives to consider for your custom kitchen.
Subway Tiles
Subway tiles are themselves simple, but they can be combined in a myriad of ways to create interesting patterns and effects. One possibility is to install white rectangular tiles in a simple brickwork pattern. This versatile surface suits a range of decors including traditional, vintage and modern. Other more intricate patterns include a diagonal herringbone design, which adds a sense of movement, or basketweave configurations.
While subway tiles are rectangular, some are longer and narrower than others, and their particular dimensions affect which patterns look best. Coloured subway tiles can be offset with contrasting grout to emphasise the way they fit together; you could pair black tiles with white grout, for example. Otherwise, you can match the grout and tile colour for a more seamless effect.
Natural Stone Tiles
Travertine, slate or marble are just a few of the beautiful natural stone tiles which can grace a splashback. Travertine commonly displays earthy fawns and pinks for a classic feel, perfect against contrasting dark charcoal cupboards. Dark, moody slate provides a rustic elegance, and luminescent marble is available in a variety of colours from blacks to whites. Conversely, to subway tiles, with stone, you want the grout lines to be fine and invisible to showcase the organic textures and hues within the stone itself.
Brick Splashback
Bricks may not technically be tiles, but they do provide another possibility for a kitchen splashback, imbuing a decor with an industrial character. If your home doesn't have a wall of bricks to reveal, you could cover the splashback area in brick veneer. Or else, if you like the rustic look but want a smoother result, why not install a glass splashback with a printed image of bricks across the back? You'll have no trouble wiping the glass clean, plus you'll have the rugged, exposed look.
Mosaic Tiles
Particularly in otherwise neutral custom kitchens, a stunning mosaic tiled splashback becomes the star of the show. These designs are made up of different small tiles, arranged together to form intricate patterns. Often glued to a mesh back, they're easy to install as the meshing needs to be cut to size to fit your splashback area and go around electrical switches and other obstructions.
For more tips on splashbacks to put in your custom kitchen, reach out to a general contractor near you.