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Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
A hundred million years or so ago, I bought some black and white hexagon tile for our kitchen countertops. At that time I perkily predicted we’d get started on the tiling in “a couple of weeks.” Oh, that silly, silly 2005 me. How hopeful and bright and full of speedy renovation the future seemed then!
Now I accept that all projects will take not just three times longer than initially predicted but 10 times longer, 15 times longer, 100 million years longer. Take, for example, last week when Darwin was on vacation and I was at home, and I thought surely we could get the master bathroom finished once and for all. Of course, that did not happen. All it lacks is a little caulk and some touch-up paint, but I’m sure that will be enough to hold up the project’s completion for another century at least.
In the mean time, now that I’m working from home, staring all our unfinished projects are starting to get on my last nerve, especially the kitchen countertops. It’s funny how you can overlook for more than three years the paint-splattered, outdated, gold-flecked laminate countertops, and then one day you just SEE them and suddenly they have to go or your head will explode.
One hold-up all this time – besides laziness and busyness and countertop blindness – has been the backsplash. I bought the hexagon tiles for the horizontal surface of the countertops, but I never bought the subway tiles for the backsplash or the black tiles for the edges. The main reason for that is I could never figure out what to do with the backsplash behind the sink. It’s a tall, useless, empty space, like what most people have behind a stove, the place where the homeowners on Kitchen Renovations on the DIY Network (which I’ve had on in the background nonstop lately) tend to put some snazzy “accent tiles.”
That seems like a good idea to me, but I’m nervous any accent tile I choose will begin to look hokey and crapola to me in a few short years. I don’t want something trendy or too specific that I’ll get sick of. I just want something plain and black and white … I guess.
This is the kind of decision that always holds up our progress – so tiny yet so monumental. We’ll have the same conversation about it 50 times over the course of two years, always getting all worked up about it and then letting it recede into the back of our minds again for three months, while the project stalls.
So I need help, folks. Tell me what to do. One thing we’ve considered is making a band of black around the room with these square black tiles I found, and bumping the band up into the backsplash a few extra inches. And when I was playing around with it in Photoshop, I found another configuration I liked. So what do you think? Would something like this work?
I like the first one more, but then the faucet gets lost in the black tile, whereas the second one highlights the faucet. Remember the field will be rectangular subway tiles, so that may complicate matters.
Update:
Combined option
Can’t you take the black tile frame all the way up? Just a thought. Looks like it will be an interesting project.
I like the second one. It does frame the facet more…. and by the way it’s such a nice faucet. I’m thinking once the subway tiles are above the black tiles, it will fill in the void above a bit, but not too much if you know what I mean. (You’ll see the outline of the subway tile but there won’t actually be color in that void). The second one really makes the faucet like a focal point for your eye, which is nice.
Could you combine both of them? I agree with Emily in that by themselves I like the second more. The faucet really pops in that one. But I was thinking that in the second one there is still a big expanse of white — would the diagonal square of tiles be able to fit in that space?
Or another option would be to maybe hang some art there? That way it fills the space but it isn’t quite as permanent as the decorative accent tile idea. Then when you get sick of it just find another!
I was totally going to suggest something like that! I would combine them in some way… definitely the geometric pattern on the top, but maybe running the black edge all the way up like Nicole suggested.
I like the second one. And is that a pink mixer? You are fancy!
I like the second, but was also thinking that combining them might work.
It is a monumental task to pick tile that doesn’t look dated. I’ve noticed that some nice kitchens built in the mid-90s, which were clearly “high quality kitchens” at the time, are starting to look a bit trendy – and the trend has moved on (a bit).
I liked the second one a great deal more, because i agree that it does “pop” a lot more. It outlines the faucet, and i like that. I would hang in the empty space above a nice vintage metal advertising sign that you like; you can change it easily and it can be washed off as needed.
Just pretend I am an eight-year-old commenting on your blog. What you should really have is a cubby hole where you can hide things and then cover it with a tiled cover that will blend in so that you have a secret compartment.
The cover needs to be a standard size, and you need to make a version with all white tiles while you still have the matching tiles for when you’re between ideas. But then you can also make a cool, trendy, risky cover that you love (at least for now).
I like the second one although I think it would be a good idea to go ahead and combine the two together…Get us a picture and we can vote again :)
I’m going throw a new idea into the mix. What about an European styled dish drying rack. Install a cabinet over the sink with wire shelves and an open bottom so that any drips fall into the sink and you have a perfect way to hide your drying dishes.
Now I will admit, this is much more complex than tile and may take 10 to 20 years to complete, but they are so practical and they hide your drying dishes reducing clutter. It would turn an akward space into a useful one. Here’s a link to a picture of one with the cabinet doors open.
http://img2.timeinc.net/toh/i/a/kitchens/hidden-kitchen-storage-08.jpg
I was thinking that maybe you could combine both of them.
Okay, I’m posting an update with the combined option. What do you think? Too much?
Oh, and yes, that’s a pink Sunbeam mixer c. 1960, courtesy of eBay. :) It makes great cupcakes!
Kristin, I really like the combination best, but what do you think of taking your black border up higher? Also, I’ve always loved the idea of a dish rack above the sink.
I love the combination! It looks perfect!
I like the combination!
My vote is for number 2 with the dishrack. It makes the space both practical and attractive, highlights your nice faucet, and keeps your counters from being cluttered with dishes. The tile graphic would waste useable space and be more limiting for future changes in kitchen decor.
I like the second option best. Great design!
I agree with Daneen & Kim – take the second one to highlight the faucet and add a dish rack.
I like the third option better. And I would change the black tiles into a silver/aluminum look. Actually that what I did for my kitchen and it looked quite classy. I bought the tiles from this store http://www.justhomedecor.com/estoreusa/home.php?cat=492 and got some fruit motifs.
Echoing what others have said – Option 2 (really love how it frames the faucet) and not tile everything above (it looks like the tile goes high enough – unless there’s water flingers around) – either hang art there that can be easily changed out or put in shelves, or the dish rack idea… or change out the bulb up top for grow lights and put in a shelf with a small herb garden. (I’ve got windows over the sink, and the POs did this (which ruined the windowsill – but I’m sure that could be prevented))
I would hate to do all that work and then end up bored with it in a few years. Short attention span.
Hmmm, it didn’t even occur to me to not tile all the way up. I suppose we could tile only part of the way and then paint the rest. Hmmm.
We don’t really need a dish rack because we rarely wash dishes in the sink. If we do it’s only a pot or two, and we dry them and put them away. I do like the idea of putting a shelf there, though. Hmmm.
We went ahead and bought enough square black tiles to do the combo option and enough subway tiles to go all the way up, and we’ll play with it and see what looks good. We still have to special order the black counter edge tiles.
My vote is for the combined option #3!