Backsplash: Taking it to the Top
If there is one thing that many people struggle with in kitchen design, it’s where to stop the tile. One of my favorite looks is taking a tile back-splash all the way to the top if space allows and the cabinets don’t extend to the ceiling. I think a general rule of thumb has always been to stop at the base of cabinetry, but it looks so much more interesting if you extend the tile past the top of the cabinets. Think of an all-white kitchen, with a striking geometric tile taken all the way to the ceiling line. It creates visual impact, and breaks up the monotony of a monochromatic kitchen. Even inexpensive subway tile will benefit from being placed over an entire wall, it provides pattern and interest without breaking your kitchen budget. I like to think of it as an opportunity to create “tile art” for the wall.
I can remember walking into the kitchen of a fellow designer several years ago, and not really noticing much else except for her tiled-to-the-ceiling- backsplash. It was dramatic and eye-catching. Since then it’s become one of my pet peeves, and of course not extending tile to the ceiling (when possible) gives the illusion that the wall is only half-finished. There are so many companies producing patterned tiles and with all the options available it can be a great investment, and take your kitchen from plain to perfection.
(Photo via Centsational Girl)
(Photo via Fiorella Design)
