We Answer Wednesday - Kitchen Backsplash

I moved into my townhouse a year ago.  I love my kitchen!  it's white with light grey counter top and grey tile floor.  This summer I want to add a back splash but I'm not sure what to choose.  Any advice?

A white kitchen is classic and a great choice for a smaller space.  It's light and bright and in terms of resale, it has mass appeal. Adding a backsplash is a simple update that isn't disruptive to your life at home. A backsplash in a kitchen is like adding jewelry to an outfit - it really pulls it all together.  This year in tile it was all about shape, the colours were all neutral but the shapes were the focus.

For a back splash, you have lots of options.



Subway tile - this is a classic and you cannot go wrong with this option.  Seen here in a brick or staggered formation it mimics the look of brick.  A typical subway tile is 3" x 6" but there are variations in size.  In terms of colour - a soft grey is a good neutral option as is white but you could also go with a charcoal for a more dramatic look.  If you are thinking you might sell in about 3-5 years choose something with some longevity like a neutral tone.



Stainless Steel Tile - this has a bit more of an industrial edge.  This material works well in a kitchen as it's easy to clean and maintain.  You will also have a lot of shapes and sizes to choose from.  This also looks great in a kitchen that has stainless steel appliances. 



Glass mosaic tile - this option was super popular a few years ago.  This is still seen today but more tone on tone like the image here.  Various shades of grey and a mix of clear and frosted glass.  Again, a soft look with a bit of texture and shine - ideal for a smaller kitchen.

 

Marble tile - Marble is so classic and elegant but we have been seeing it in more modern and contemporary spaces, too.  It is a material that requires a lot of maintenance when installed as a counter top but as a back splash not to so much.  The natural variation and veins make it visually interesting and it look amazing when paired with grey and white.



Hexagon tile - a popular shape in 2015 for backsplashes and floors.  Try this in a neutral tone and it will give even the most 'tired' kitchen a fresh look.  The shape is interesting  but not over the top.  Hexagon tiles also look incredible in bathrooms too, in a shower as an accent or on the shower floor. 



Herringbone formation - still looking for something a bit different but not totally off the wall? Try a herringbone formation.  Using a subway tile, instead of staggering the tile you lay it in a 'zig zag' format.  Herringbone is a pattern we often see in menswear but we are seeing it in tiles.  Stick with a neutral colour palette and a grout that is a few shades lighter (or darker) than the tile so that the pattern shows.  This also looks great on a floor with a 12 x 24 tile.



Arabesque tile - this is a shape that's recently popular.  It adds an elegant touch to a kitchen.  Again, use a grout with some pigmentation so that the shape is evident.  It's lovely in white and soft grey.

IDS Toronto 2015 : what we saw and loved in tiles....

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to attend the trade day portion of IDS in Toronto, Canada.  We saw some amazing pieces and looks, here are some of the highlights that caught our eye.



Patterned tiles:  these were almost everywhere.  They look a little crazy but they look sensational as a back splash with a basic kitchen.  We also saw these as an accent in bathrooms.

Tile shape: Another trend in tiles is the hexagon shape. Ceragres had an excellent display for both floors and walls with this shape. The colours were very neutral (although there are many many choices) but the shape is so interesting!

 

 It just adds an interesting twist to any space (and we are looking at hexagon tiles for our next project, too)  The IKEA kitchen display even had hexagon floor tiles!



 Another shape we saw was the 'lozange' . Again, nothing too wild but just a twist to add to your space. what was great is that the colour waves were still very classic but the shape adds the next level of sophistication to the space.



 Arabesque tiles were also a new and interesting shape.  It adds something new to a classic kitchen or bathroom.  It's an elevated look in the room and adds visual interest.  You can still keep a neutral colour palette.



Herringbone tile formation: again another tile trend we saw a lot of at IDS and we loved!  Again it's visually interesting and makes an impact with going over the top. 

 


This was seen in flooring and on walls. although this image is a more traditional look depending on the actual tile you could create a more modern or contemporary look.


 
And finally the last tile trend we saw a lot of at IDS was the 'wood' tile.  Basically floor tiles that look like wood from a style standpoint they look great and comes in many sizes (we like the 8" x 36"). 

 

And there is a range of looks - reclaimed wood (even a look with old paint residue), light to dark stain, grey tones, white tones and brown tones and some have great texture too! For a busy house hold this is a great option as it doesn't scratch plus if you love the look of hardwood in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchen but you are nervous about water damage this is for you!  It look incredible installed and in the showroom and apparently is something we will be seeing a lot of in new condos....



Overall, shape was the biggest trend we saw.  For the most part colours were neutral (ranging from taupes, beiges, whites, greys and some shades of blue and green and some metallic, too) but herringbone, hexagon, lozange, and arabesque were hot!  And the 'wood' tile was also a big favourite!  If you are not convinced that these 'wood' tiles are for you, definitely check out a showroom near you - I'm sure you will be convinced (I was)

What's trending in tile?

Summer time is the most popular time for home renovations and improvements, we spent some time this summer to talk to the hands-on experts to see what's trending in tile this year


This spring summer, we saw lots of larger format tiles. We are not seeing much of the classic 12x12 tile anymore, instead 24x24 and 12x24 are most popular sellers. This is the case in both kitchen and bathroom design. The large scale tiles are very versatile. They can be used as flooring, back splashes, bath floors, as well as wall tiles and in the shower as well depending on which material you choose.



 

 *This image is a great example of the colour tones (greys) that we are seeing a lot of this year and the 12x24 rectangular tile laid in a brick or staggered format.

For the longest time it was all about shades of brown but now we are seeing more cool, neutral colours compared to in the past when warm beiges were popular. Lots of different varieties of grey tones, refreshing neutrals and whites are big right now. Many people are looking to turn their bathrooms into a relaxing sanctuary and muted colours help to achieve that.

 

*This image shows of the look of hardwood in the bathroom but it is actually a porcelain tile that looks like wood.  for a while we were only seeing this in commercial spaces but now it is becoming more popular in residential properties.

In the past when clients were picking out tile 'packages' for the kitchen floor and back splash and the bathroom floor and shower surround they were opting for matching floor and wall tiles.  That has really changed, clients today want a custom designer look with coordinating tiles. 

By mixing and matching tiles - using small tiles as accents, extra large tiles on the floor and various textures and colours you achieve a unique look in your space. Uniformity is in the past, and variety is a hit. 

We are definitely seeing a trend towards classic shapes like the subway tile but with a twist like a glass subway tile. The rectangular shape is still very popular and if you find the classic 3x6 subway tile too traditional there are other options like 4x16 for an exaggerated look (we did this in a bathroom shower surround recently and it had a more modern feel but we stuck with a classic colour palette) or you can choose a smaller tile like a 1x2 (they are easy to install as they come in sheets, you don't have to install one at a time)

* The image below is a great example of a classic subway tile in a traditional brick pattern but a mixed mosaic in glass in various sea glass tones

 

  

We are even seeing metallic finishes in tile, which is another great way to reflect light in a space.  The pillowed edging is also something we are seeing more of, it gives a tile a softer finish.

*This bathroom is styled in darker more masculine tones like charcoal grey but the pillowed edge on the tiles make the overall look a bit softer bringing in a subtle feminine touch.

 

Be sure to think about your grout colour, too.  The selection is incredible and can really help show off the tile and complete the look of your tiled space.  When it comes to selecting grout stick with a complementary tone, you want the tile to stand out not the grout. When we select grout for our clients we often stay in a range of mid neutrals like various shades of taupe, bone, grey and cream.

Texture over colour is the way most people are going today. It is better to have a variety of textures throughout the bathroom than a variety of colours. Too many colours makes your bathroom trendy and not a classic choice to carry through the years. It’s not practical for most people to assume they can afford to change their tiles/ bathroom fixtures every year. So classic is best. Incorporating a variation of textures is a great way to achieve a designer look.