Tile Sandwich
A really dark backsplash between layers of white cabinets always makes me think of a marmite sandwich. The filling is so strong that it jumps out at you, making it hard to see (or taste) anything else:
The 10 Cent Designer - tumblr
Not British? Not sure about the whole marmite thing? What do you put in sandwiches that is black – maybe black olive tapenade, or caviar? I could definitely see caviar in this next sandwich – and the bread is wheat this time, so not quite such a strong contrast:
We Heart It - tumblr
Certainly the “caviar” is a very beautiful material, with lovely texture and pattern. Although this is still a bit of a sandwich, it is much more successful than the marmite above. I think it’s always better if the backsplash is somewhere between the dark counter and light cabinets – you can pick a single color that is in that middle range, or use pattern and accent tiles to repeat and play with the other colors. Marmite is good with lettuce or cress – just stay away from a thick layer of it on its own!
My designing friends Cheryl, of InDetail, and Kelly, at Kitchen Sync, have both had some great posts on the subject of backsplashes in the past few weeks. Click here for some of Cheryl’s least favorite tile layouts, and here for the antidote. Kelly’s post deals with some of the important non-tile considerations you should bear in mind when designing a backsplash.
And on the subject of Marmite – here’s a great re-use of all the old jars, via Beautiful Kitchens. That’s an awful lot of marmite sandwiches!
via Beautiful Kitchens
Hi Ed – thanks for stopping by – “Confessions of a Tile Setter” is one of my must read blogs! I think you are spot on about the back splash here, BTW
Hello Sara, “lovely site I must say”. Lot’s of superb photos to enhance that next remodel project. I can clearly see some European influence sprinkled with a bit of human interest.
Contrasting colors and textures are almost necessary to me when it comes to interior design. Often I am asked by customers for ideas to enhance their space to be tiled. A simple band of contrasting color and texture can do a lot to to add interest and flavor to a room. But, it can be overdone.
In photography class some time ago, I learned the rule of thirds and it is a good one in photography. I am not sure it applies to everything. In the photo you are addressing above I think I might have suggested a tile color that may have picked up some of the floor color with a color stripe in the backsplash that picked up the counter tops.
You can tell the owner of the home does have a bit of color adventure in her or his personality after seeing the accessories and orange pot in the second shot. This tells me they could have added more color to the entire backslash.
Good job.
Ed Sunderland
Confessions Of a Tile Setter
It is a bit of an acquired taste!
I agree with the heaviness with the black tiles. Marmite does not sound appetizing either.