Let's Talk Remodeling

[MareQ]

Splash I would just go with the darker one. I think it looks great with your granite.

 

[shovan]

Splash, I like the darker colored tiles, but I like that the colors in the lighter one are less random, with a more consistent color pattern. Are all of the sheets that consistent? Did you take a pic of the "stained" samples?

 

[SplshMtn99]

On the lighter ones, the tiles are "cleaner" & only vary slightly from tile to tile. The darker ones are a busier pattern. One thing that has made me so nervous about buying the tile anywhere else is that it needs to be ordered & I really don't know what I'm getting until it comes in. How the heck do you do that?

At this place, nothing is boxed, so I can go thru the stacks of sheets & pick what I want. That's plus to me.

Even at Home Depot & Lowes, none of the stuff on the shelf for their 2 primary colors looks like the sample board they have.

Here's a picture of the stain sample. Keep in mind I have very little natural light at this time of day & its a little bit cloudy out. So its florescent with no flash. Its IMPOSSIBLE to get an acurate picture yet from this camera in this kitchen. Great everywhere else though.

I only had 2 cans of stain here. Golden Oak & Ipswich Pine. My Golden Pecan was dried out. In the past, whenever I had to stain a piece of wood to match something in the house, I had to use a combination of the 3 stains to get a great match. And I've been quite successful at matching so I'm not worried that I could come up with a better end result that what is here now.

I put Golden Oak on one side & Ipswich Pine on the other. Didn't mix anything yet. Golden Oak looks too yellow alone.

The pictures look bad & you probably think i'm crazy. lol

 

[SplshMtn99]

there's a couple of kitchens online that i'm aiming for. let me try to find their pictures for you.

 

[mickeysgal]

Splash, I really like the dark subway tile with your countertop. The whiteish one is too light and I'm not sure if the stained one(s) will pull out the right colors out of your granite to really accent the granite. I think the darker toned tile does your granite proud. Just my .02. I tend to very tone and tone when picking coloring. Also, the brightness/sunniness of your kitchen comes into play here as well. If it tends to be dark, you may want to go lighter instead of darker.

 

[SplshMtn99]

OK, THIS kitchen is similar to mine. Her oak is darker than mine & I have light floors. We both have black appliances. Similar countertops but mine are busier. She has the brown tile sample. First, it think is too dark. Second I don't think the color is quite right in her kitchen or mine. But at least you can see the scale of the tile.
http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2005/06/valincals-kitchen.html

I love this backsplash. But I haven't found a Botticino tumbled marble that I can afford...nor am I confident that it will be the right color when delivered.
http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2005/11/dlosapios-kitchen.html
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/stop_go/?action=view&current=05-10-27_kitchen_12.jpg

Here's a kitchen with light floors like I have. The backsplash a little darker than floor, but not real dark. We like that. But we wouldn't want it that busy in colors or that pattern / design.
http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2006/07/gumtrees-kitchen.html

 

[SplshMtn99]

Would you all pick the dark tile because it goes with the counter top even if you didn't think it was in the same colorway as the cabinets? That's where I have the problem. Also, I don't see the dark tile color anywhere in the countertop. So to me, its like the dark tile is a whole new color being introduced. The cabinet color is in the countertop.

I agree the light sample is too light as it is.

And yes, small dark kitchen that I've already darkened appliances & countertop in too. BUT, I have a nice big bright florescent light.

I hate cameras. lol

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here's what we did. The tile is not the way you like, but it can give you an idea about different colors and contrast.

 

[RitaZ.]

Here's what we did. The tile is not the way you like, but it can give you an idea about different colors and contrast.

Very nice! I like the diamond pattern and the contrast.

 

[SplshMtn99]

ok, the people voting for dark, scroll back up to the pic with my DH holding both samples. Ignore the fact that my cabinet color came out weird, but in terms of light or dark with the cabinets what do you think.

If I can get some real life people other than DH to come vote, that would help me.

I hate decisions.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

ok, the people voting for dark, scroll back up to the pic with my DH holding both samples. Ignore the fact that my cabinet color came out weird, but in terms of light or dark with the cabinets what do you think.

If I can get some real life people other than DH to come vote, that would help me.

I hate decisions.

I like the darker.

 

[MareQ]

I still like the dark one. I think it has a lot of character and texture. I think the lighter one is nice - but the color seems very close to the color of your floor.

 

[SplshMtn99]

i hear you all. And all your reasons makes sense. Why am I having such a hard time with this?

Would you forget these 2 & keep looking for something more medium tone?

 

[shovan]

i hear you all. And all your reasons makes sense. Why am I having such a hard time with this?

Would you forget these 2 & keep looking for something more medium tone?

As you said unless you can pick out each piece, anything that is real stone is going to have variations in each one. If it were me, I'd go with one of those since you can pick out every section that you'll be using. I think they both look really nice! It's hard to give you a definite answer on which one, because we're looking at a computer screen & pics that could really change the tones.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I was going to say that I had the darker one, but I think I have the lighter. Here's a close-up of it sealed:

Baby Crap Disclaimer: No, my walls aren't this color. I am on my way in the next ten minutes to get a new camera. I'm certain at this point that it's not all me, that the camera has to assume some responsibility.

 

[SplshMtn99]

These aren't the noce & chiaro that Lowes & Home Depot sell along with other people. These are actually called white & brown. I've found them online too for more money.

I also found out Lowes & Home Depot sell a lower grade of the noce & chiaro, thus the extreme in color range of the box of tile available there. I also think people buy twice as much as they need, pick out the good ones & return the crappy ones. Some of those boxes are just nothing but yucky tiles.

I can't think about this anymore. my head hurts. I think when I find IT, I'll know it & won't have to think about it. That's how most of my decisions happen.

 

[MareQ]

Would you forget these 2 & keep looking for something more medium tone?

NO! - I actually love what you have found. If you are not sure though maybe keep looking. You could also get a few more sheets of each color and set them up or temporarily tack them on somehow on either side of your sink and leave them for a bit to get a feel for how it would look. Maybe you just need a bigger sample.

 

[SplshMtn99]

NO! - I actually love what you have found. If you are not sure though maybe keep looking. You could also get a few more sheets of each color and set them up or temporarily tack them on somehow on either side of your sink and leave them for a bit to get a feel for how it would look. Maybe you just need a bigger sample.

i think i'll try that. you are right. i do have a hard time visualizing. i'm leaving for a couple of days, but when i get back i'll do that.

 

[mickeysgal]

I was going to say that I had the darker one, but I think I have the lighter. Here's a close-up of it sealed:

This is a good point. Sealing does darken the tile.

Splash, I really understand what you're saying. The very things you're pointing out are the very reasons I also haven't settled on a backsplash for our basement kitchen. The color of the cabinets, the wood floor, and the African granite with a lot of movement make it all very difficult to pick yet another texture in the form of tile and expect it all to blend.

What I would do is put both samples in the kitchen and live with it/view it for days (or in my case, months ) in all types of lighting. You will eventually land on the one you feel most comfortable. You will feel right about it. As someone else said, we're just seeing pictures and there is a different feel to things when you see it in person.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Silestone now does matching tiles meshed for easy installation.
http://www.silestoneusa.com/collections/muro.cfm

THIS could solve my backsplash problem but I'm afraid of what it would cost.