Small update can make a big splash

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This article was published 01/03/2025 (400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When tasked with any renovation, the homeowners are usually given a little “homework” that will help expedite the process.

Although projects inherently involve steps to ready the space, the subjective elements are largely based on the homeowners’ tastes and preferences. As such, the sooner these selections are made, the simpler the entire process becomes.

For the most part, kitchen facelifts of late have been pretty safe — the colour and style choices for cupboards and countertops, and even flooring, have been neutral-toned, with whites and light greys. During a recent two-day project, the existing kitchen embodied this very trend: the upper and lower cupboards boasted white Shaker-style drawers and door fronts, while the Arborite countertops and flooring featured patterns of light-grey veins. The wall colour was also a muted-grey tone.

This all worked well with the stainless-steel appliances throughout, so the homeowners were quite satisfied with the look of their kitchen. However, there was something missing — there was no backsplash, and the homeowners requested I guide them on how best to introduce one.

Unlike preliminary tasks with a kitchen shell for subsequent installation of new cabinets and countertops, the elements that populate this space are highly subjective.

Moreover, this kitchen was nearly completed, except for the backsplash. And although the existing elements esthetics are considered “safe,” the backsplash can be the one aspect of a kitchen that allows the homeowners’ personality to truly shine through. As such, I instructed the clients to research colours and styles of kitchen backsplash options, knowing that receiving a few examples would help me better understand their desired esthetic.

Not surprisingly, a mosaic of slender, horizontal tiles reflecting the existing colour palette exhibited throughout the kitchen was chosen for the backsplash.

The tiled mosaic consists of six or seven variations of white to dark-grey coloured tile, arrayed in a random assortment of shorter and longer horizontal tiles, all three-quarters-of-an-inch in height.

The white and lighter tiles tie-in the cupboards, while the light greys blend with the stainless-steel appliances, Arborite countertops and vinyl flooring. Even the darker-toned tiles feel right at home, drawing consistency with the black features of the stove and microwave.

So, the homeowners’ backsplash tile choice was truly perfect, from a colour perspective, but would the mosaic pattern seem too “busy” for the space?

This is where subjective choice greatly influences results. Although some clients prefer the tiled backsplash to take on a more muted role, almost as a subtle background to the grandeur of the kitchen, a busy backsplash often becomes the focal point, with a big personality.

In this instance, the busy mosaic tile adds character to the safer choices for cabinets, countertops and flooring. And although the sheer volume of individual mosaic tiles can seem overwhelming upon installation, the re-introduction of the countertop appliances, additional wall shelving and other elements again allow the backsplash to take a bit of a backseat, despite introducing a decorative change that can’t help but catch the eye.

I really like this tile choice. It is bold, yet concise, and busy, while consistent with existing tones of other elements in the kitchen.

Once the tiling was completed, a bright white, resin-based grout truly brought everything together even more than expected. The backsplash adds a degree of depth, which was lacking prior to its introduction. Moreover, the kitchen as a whole has taken on an updated feel, without having to make any other changes.

It had been a while since I participated in a backsplash-only project. When immersed in a full kitchen remodel, there is no doubt the results at completion reflect a huge transformation. Nonetheless, it still feels as though the sole task of adding a backsplash to this two-day kitchen modification brought a big change.

The homeowners clearly took their “homework” seriously while researching colours and styles of backsplash tile, and chose the perfect type and tone. Although it’s a busy mosaic pattern of smaller tiles, the various tones of the backsplash now define the space — and this kitchen has never looked better.

RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com