Make a Splash: Backsplash Options for Your Kitchen and Bathroom

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The backsplash is a perfect area to add decorative touches such as iridescent tiles from Oceanside Glasstile, made with a percentage of recycled glass.
The backsplash is a perfect area to add decorative touches such as iridescent tiles from Oceanside Glasstile, made with a percentage of recycled glass.
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Fireclay Tile’s Vulcanite Lava has rich transparent glazes with a great depth of color. The royal blue (shown) is a dramatic complement to warm wood cabinetry.
Fireclay Tile’s Vulcanite Lava has rich transparent glazes with a great depth of color. The royal blue (shown) is a dramatic complement to warm wood cabinetry.
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Add dramatic texture to your backsplash with innovative EcoResin sheets from 3form. The Thatch pattern (shown) incorporates a natural-grass interlayer.
Add dramatic texture to your backsplash with innovative EcoResin sheets from 3form. The Thatch pattern (shown) incorporates a natural-grass interlayer.
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This Blazestone Tile backsplash adds an element of color and texture that brings the room’s design elements together.
This Blazestone Tile backsplash adds an element of color and texture that brings the room’s design elements together.
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Soapstone Slab or Tile
Soapstone Slab or Tile
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Recycled-Glass Tile
Recycled-Glass Tile
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Handmade Tile
Handmade Tile
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Vulcanite Tile
Vulcanite Tile
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Recycled-Plastic Sheets
Recycled-Plastic Sheets

A backsplash’s basic function is to protect your walls and cabinets from water, grease and spills. It’s sometimes treated as nothing more than an extension of the countertop, yet this decorative surface can set the tone for an entire room. When you enter a kitchen or bathroom or view it from afar, the backsplash is often the first thing you see.

A backsplash is a vertical surface set back from the main work area behind a sink or stove; it catches cooking and cleaning splatters, so unless you’re willing to clean after each use, you might want a surface that hides minor messes. In selecting backsplash materials, consider your cooking and cleaning habits, as well as the tasks you usually perform near the range or sink. Factor in durability and cost, and remember that the backsplash is the place to add personality, bold color accents, subtle glimmer or souvenirs from your travels.

Soapstone Slab or Tile
Smooth, soft, nonporous stone

Pros:
• Durable; won’t burn or stain
• Requires little maintenance

  • Published on Aug 8, 2008
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