Don’t hold back on putting a creative stamp on the most used room in the home. Whether you opt for playful patterns or statement-making stone, here are 21 dazzling kitchens with backsplashes that steal the show.
BE OUR GUEST
Photo: Peter Margonelli
The home features a guest suite with its own kitchen. As carefully outfitted as the rest of the dwelling, the space boasts Tabarka Studio tiles on the backsplash, Grigio Toscano countertops from ABC Stone, a Brizo faucet and a swing-arm sconce from 1stdibs.
PATTERN PLAY
Photo: Troy Campell
Inspired by photos of rooms in Portuguese palaces clad in colorful hand-painted tiles, every wall of the kitchen is covered with diamond-motif tiles from Solar Antique Tiles. Pendants from Ann-Morris in New York light the white counters and white-painted cabinets by Beacon Construction Group; the McGuire barstools are from Baker.
STARTING POINT
Photo: Cynthia Lynn
The homeowners fell in love with the encaustic tile from Cement Tile Shop, and designer Brynn Olson used it for the backsplash as the jumping-off point in the kitchen. Brass accents, such as in the globe pendants by Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co., and the black-and-natural rattan stools by Ballard Designs add warmth to the white cabinetry and Carrara marble countertops.
OUT TO SEA
Photo: Emilio Collavino
A green glass mosaic backsplash from Ceramic Matrix in the kitchen echoes the ocean’s greens and blues. “We kept it simple,” says designer Rafaela Simoes of the space with its white quartz countertops and white-lacquered cabinets from Nolte Kuchen.
PERFECTLY BRONZED
Photo: Pär Bengtsson
Douglas Cabinetry fabricated the kitchen cabinets painted Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black by Louis Gloria Painting, which blend with the island countertop by Sarché Concrete Design. Ann Sacks Savoy bronze backsplash tiles, an Apparatus pendant from Allan Knight and Nichols stools by Marmol Radziner for McGuire complete the space.
STEPPING STONE
Photo: Gabe Border
The graceful, wave-like pattern of the leathered Belvedere granite is on full display in the kitchen’s backsplash, just below the custom-designed blackened steel range hood by Earth & Structure. A curving Waterstone faucet rises from the island while the owners’ Conde House bar chairs were refreshed with Great Plains faux leather.
MOSAIC MUSINGS
Photo: Troy Campbell
Fredericia barstools sit beneath Lindsey Adelman Studio’s Clamp light in the kitchen. A white oak wall counters Wood-Mode cabinetry, featuring Waterworks’ R.W. Atlas hardware and a backsplash of Ann Sacks’ Savoy mosaic. Dornbracht’s Sync faucet from Decorator’s Plumbing pours into Blanco’s Precis sink.
INTO THE BLUE
Photo: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn
The kitchen’s celestial blue quartz backsplash from Colorstone pops against the custom metal range hood and cabinetry, which wears Liberty Hardware pulls and handles. A vintage pot rack from 1stdibs hangs over an island with a Neolith countertop and Kohler faucets. The appliances are Sub-Zero. Crowning the space is a W.F. Norman Corporation tin metal tile ceiling.
MASTERFUL MOTIF
Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
A Thermador range and a Copper Hoods vent anchor one side of the kitchen, which features millwork by Artisan Cabinetry and a backsplash with KJ Patterson tile from Decorative Materials.
PRETTY IN PINK
Photo: J. Savage Gibson
Pink accents on Harper pendants by The Urban Electric Co. inspired more of the same hue throughout the kitchen, where the palette extends to Waterworks backsplash tiles and a Manuel Canovas fabric covering the Lawson-Fenning counter stools. The custom hood with brass banding by Prizer Hoods was purchased through Ferguson.
GOING GREEN
Photo: Stephen Karlisch
The kitchen quartzite island by Caesarstone from Delta Granite and Tabarka Studio tile backsplash from Palmer Todd mimic hues in the surrounding hillsides, while custom-colored pendants by The Urban Electric Co. in Charleston, South Carolina, enhance the quartzite’s green tones. The barstools are Palecek.
BLUE NOTES
Photo: Amy Bartlam
Antique majolica tiles in cerulean blue—a score from Compas—cover the kitchen’s backsplash. The Blanco sink from Snyder Diamond is fitted with Waterworks fixtures and inset into a Caesarstone countertop. A verdant view is just beyond the mahogany windows by Millworks Etc.
A FUN FEEL
Photo: Leslie Unruh
The kitchen backsplash of Tabarka Studio tiles balances Opustone quartz countertops. Water Street Brass hardware decorates the cabinetry. The Zephyr range hood, sink by The Galley and Wolf stove are from Ferguson; the faucet is by California Faucets.
COLOR FORWARD
Photo: Ryann Ford
Ceiling fixtures by The Urban Electric Co. and a backsplash of glass-covered Missoni Home fabric from Urbanspace Interiors complement sleek kitchen cabinetry. Atop DuChateau flooring, barstools by Powell & Bonnell from Dennis Miller Associates–in Theo leather from Allan Knight and Associates–line Silestone countertops. A Glen Hansen piece from Miami Beach-based Fischbach Gallery hangs to the left. Builder David Wilkes constructed the highly lacquered ceiling panels.
DOUBLE TAKE
Photo: Nick Johnson
The design team selected graphite-and-white terra-cotta tile by Waterworks for the kitchen’s backsplash and applied it in a chevron pattern. The custom reclaimed hand-planed floors by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors also form a chevron pattern, tying the two elements together. The custom cabinetry is by RL Woodworks + Design.
INTO THE SUNSET
Photo: Brantley Photography
Designer Barclay Butera’s first selection for the kitchen was the Moliere 2 custom backsplash tile by Polanco from Mission Tile West. The Perla Venata countertops are from Marble of the World, and the cabinet hardware is Flute by Rocky Mountain Hardware.
COPPER IS KEY
Photo: Casey Dunn
Thomas Studio & Foundry fabricated the kitchen’s copper backsplash and range hood. Counter stools from Design Within Reach pull up to a Brown Silk granite countertop from Architectural Tile & Stone. The Dornbracht Tara Ultra faucets are from Ferguson.
KEEP IT MOVING
Photo: Haris Kenjar
The kitchen centers around a Caesarstone-topped island in a vivid shade of green. Joining it are BassamFellows barstools from Design Within Reach and Rejuvenation pendant lamps. The BlueStar range, Zephyr hood and KitchenAid wall and microwave ovens are from Albert Lee. The Arto tile backsplash is from Ambiente European Tile Design.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Photo: Joshua McHugh
Powell & Bonnell counter chairs in a Kyle Bunting hide face an island topped in concrete by Elements Concrete. Earth Elements built the rift-sawn walnut cabinetry. Natural stone from QuarryWorks frames a backsplash in leathered Fantastico Danby stone. The faucet is Dornbracht; the cooktop is Miele.
CLASSIC APPEAL
Photo: Laure Joliet
Caesarstone countertops bracket the kitchen’s Wolf range from Ferguson. The backsplash and island, lit by Visual Comfort & Co. pendants, are in Calacatta marble from Ollin Stone; the island faucet and pot filler are by Waterworks. Barta devised a two-tier solution for the cabinetry–the solid doors are for general storage, while X marks the spot for the more decorative items. The counter chairs are by CB2.
