black-and-white idea for kitchen backsplash tile

I’ve always liked black-and-white kitchens. It’s such a simple color combination, but it makes such an impact!


I like the way the different sizes and surfaces of these tiles contrast, even while the whole backsplash is unified by the color. I think I’d have painted the cabinets white, too -- or black, if I felt really daring!


Doesn’t this simple black-and-white pattern look really different on the backsplash and on the floor? I love the way the change in scale makes the whole room work together visually.


Okay, I know this one’s a bathroom -- I cheated. I just liked the way simple design created so much drama!

Photos from tile idea book.

photo: grout as a design element in kitchen backsplash tiles

When you think of grout, I’ll bet you don’t think first of beauty! I sure don’t. In fact, I’d never thought of grout as a design element, though. I was surprised to realize that grout can be an important part of a backsplash design.



photo from Tiling

Look at the way the wide white grout lines emphasize this simple jack-on-jack pattern! The contrast between the black tile and the white grout is repeated in the range. If this were my kitchen, I’d do black-and-white through the whole room. It would be great!



photo from tile idea book

This is just the opposite effect. Here the large Indian slate tiles are set very close together. A dark grout has been used to de-emphasize the joint even more.

Who would ever have thought that grout could make such an impact?

grout for kitchen backsplash tile

Grout is the material used to fill the narrow space between tiles. It can be cement-based or epoxy.

Cement-based grouts are the most traditional, and they are still widely used. They can be unsanded if used in joints narrower than 1/8 inch, or sanded for wider joints. The sand in the grout helps to protect the larger area from developing cracks. These grouts can have latex or polymer additives to give them increased flexibility and more resistance to stains. All cement-based grouts should be sealed to protect against staining and mildew. Sealers will have to be reapplied periodically.

Epoxy grout is a two-part mixture made of resins and a coloring agent. The two parts are mixed together just before the group it applied. Epoxy grout is extremely unlikely to stain and mildew, which makes it a good choice in the kitchen. It is available in many colors. It doesn’t fade, doesn’t need to be sealed, is easy to clean, and will probably last as long as the tile itself. However, it is much more expensive than cement-based grout and is much harder to work with. It can’t be used with porous tiles like stone and terra-cotta.

Caulk is typically used in the joint between a countertop and the backsplash. It is more flexible than grout, so the separate surfaces can expand and contract without cracking either the tile or the joint.

Both grout and caulk stain quite easily, so they should be sealed after installation. They’ll need to be resealed periodically.

Grout is available in many colors. The color of the grout and the width of the joint work together as a design element. Wide joints and grout in a contrasting color emphasize the lines of a design. Narrow joints and neutral or harmonizing colored grout can make tiles look like a single slab.

Several kinds of sealer are available. The toughest ones form a surface film over the tile and grout, but they can darken the surface and leave a glossy sheen. Sealers called impregnators soak into the surface and fill the pores of tile and grout. They are a little less durable but are also less likely to alter the appearance of the tile. Some surfaces require a special kind of sealer -- slate sealers, for example, contain adhesives. Check with your supplier to determine what sealer is required for your tile.

Monet's kitchen backsplash tiles

I saw these photos of Monet’s kitchen today, and they astonished me.

Monet lived at Giverney for 43 years, and the place has become almost as famous as the artist himself. The gardens he created there, as well as the surrounding countryside, provided unending subjects for his paintings.

His intense awareness of both color and light were brought inside the house as well. The blue-and-white kitchen, with its glass-paneled door and uncurtained windows made the most of the natural light.

Most of the kitchen was tiled with these two blue-and-white designs. The tiles were made nearby, in Rouen. Tile was (and is) easy to clean, and the glossy surface increased the working light in the room. It makes me think that I might tile large areas in my kitchen, because I prefer natural light when I can get it.





I like the way the basic tile is repeated in the patchwork collection behind the huge stove, tieing these other blue-and-white patterns into the larger room.

I wouldn’t ordinarily consider such a ‘busy’ tile as a backdrop for other colors and textures, but look how great it is behind these copper pans!






I love these images of Monet’s kitchen, and I think I can learn a lot by looking at the way the colors vary but harmonize. The photos are from Monet's House. Great book! The use of color in each room just amazed me.