Abstract Brass Backsplash
Another design by KOBE, this backsplash is more abstract than its copper counterpart, but it’s still an artistic addition to any kitchen. You can install it yourself, without any professional help, using the keyhole fasteners on the back, and it’s easy to clean with any brass cleaner sold in stores. The brass design comes in the 36″ by 20″ size, but KOBE also offers a slightly smaller model for this one, 30 ¼” by 20 ¼”.
Price: $586 for the 36″ by 20″, $498 for the 30 ¼” by 20 ¼”
For more information: Contact KOBE Range Hoods at 877-BUY-KOBE
Photo courtesy of KOBE Range Hoods
Artistic Flair
This 36″ by 20″ copper backsplash by KOBE Range Hoods isn’t just a backsplash — it’s also a work of art. It adds a unique flair to your kitchen, bringing to mind rustic France or Tuscany. But it’s also practical: it can easily withstand spills and spatters coming from your stovetop and it’s just as easily cleaned with any copper cleaner sold in stores.
The backsplash is sold separately from the Range Hood, and it doesn’t require professional installation—it has keyhole fasteners on the back for attaching it to the wall. If the design or the dimensions don’t work for your kitchen, then you can custom-order a specific size or design, which will be priced accordingly.
Price: $995
For more information: Contact KOBE Range Hoods at 877-BUY-KOBE
Photo courtesy of KOBE Range Hoods
Rugged yet Refined
Do you long to bring the rugged aesthetic of our pioneer ancestors to the comfort of your own home? Look no further than Cultured Stone Manufactured Stone Veneers by Owens Corning. This backsplash material is a replica of the sort of stone used for building, but it is made of aggregate materials and is one-fourth the weight of a natural stone.
The stone pictured in this kitchen is Cultured Stone Texas Cream Cobblefield, which emulates the kind of building stones used by 19th century rural Americans. Notice how the rugged stones complement, rather than contradict, the sophisticated décor in the kitchen, creating a modern space that still draws on the materials and aesthetics of the past.
The stones, which are hand-colored with iron oxide pigments, can be installed by the DIY homemaker, using mortar to apply the individual stones to the wall. Detailed instructional videos are available on the website to aid with the installation process. The backsplash is also fairly easy to clean, especially if you finish it with an anti-grease seal.
Price: $115.75 for 11 ¼ square feet at a dealer in Massachusetts; check with your local dealer, as prices may vary.
For more information: www.culturedstone.com/products or www.culturedstone.com/dealers to find a dealer.
Photo courtesy of Owens Corning
The Beauty of Nature
Corian is a brand-name, solid surfacing material by DuPont, made of acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate. Available in more than 100 colors, the Corian pictured in this backsplash is Juniper, a gray surface with blue and warm red undertones. This color can act as a twist on the traditional kitchen by bringing the beauty and relaxing qualities of nature to a traditional space.
Corian is non-porous, which means that a backsplash made of this material would be stain-resistant. You’ll still have to clean it, and for that you can use soapy water, ammonia-based cleaners, or cleaners for solids, which are available in many stores. Corian can only be installed by Dupont-trained professionals.
Price: $40-$80 per square foot
For more information: www.dupont.com or www.dupont.com/wheretobuy to find a dealer.
Photo courtesy of DuPont Building Innovations
Quartz Backsplash
Zodiaq, another material by DuPont, is made of pure quartz crystals, which means that it’s tough — three to seven times stronger than natural stone. Shown here in Bianca Carrara, a white stone with gray veining, Zodiaq is available in 54 colors that combine the majesty of marble with the durability of a strong quartz surface.
Zodiaq must be installed by a Dupont-trained professional, since special diamond-cutting tools must be used to cut it. It’s easy to clean, though—just use a damp cloth to wipe down regularly, or, when necessary, a small amount of non-bleach cleaning product.
Price: $50-$125 per square foot
For more information: www.dupont.com or www.dupont.com/wheretobuy to find a dealer.
Photo courtesy of DuPont Building Innovations
Wooden Backsplash
Porcelanosa’s Abete Bianco Woodtec Porcelain Hardwood™ is made of porcelain, but imitates a material not often used for backsplashes: wood. It has a slightly beveled edge and a wood grain feel, but minimal maintenance is required for upkeep: you can clean it as you would any tile. Since it’s unusual to use wood to make a backsplash, this design is perfect for a contemporary kitchen. Given the right finish, however, it could also work in a traditional kitchen.
DIY homeowners with experience installing tile could tackle this project themselves, but since this is a large format tile, it might be easier to leave it to the experts and call in an installer.
Price: Porcelanosa is moderately priced, but prices vary regionally. Prices available on request.
For more information: Visit www.porcelanosa-usa.com to locate a dealer or a showroom.
Photo courtesy of Porcelanosa
Contemporary and European
This Basalta Gray ceramic tile by Porcelanosa, shown here with a matching porcelain floor, is a large-format tile, making it easy to install for tile experts but more difficult for novices. As much a wall tile as it is backsplash, Porcelanosa is very easy to clean and maintain, and it will lend your kitchen a contemporary European look, a Porcelanosa specialty. However, it could also be used in a traditional kitchen, given the right cabinetry and countertops.
Price: Porcelanosa is moderately priced, but prices vary regionally. Prices available on request.
For more information: Visit www.porcelanosa-usa.com to locate a dealer or a showroom.
Photo courtesy of Porcelanosa
Glass-over-Paint Backsplash
This glowing orange glass-over-paint backsplash, by Certified Kitchen Designer Jennifer Gilmer, is perfect for a sleek, contemporary kitchen. The simplicity of the concept—installing painted glass to the wall—is overshadowed by the stunning effect of the finished product: when the lights are turned on, the backsplash illuminates the windowless space as if a window were in its place.
To achieve this effect the panels must be prepared by a glass specialist, who cuts them to the appropriate size and paints them. Make sure that your glass specialist understands the correct way to prep the back of the glass and knows the proper type of paint to use. It’s important to check what your desired paint color looks like behind the glass, since the glass can tint the color. Once you’re satisfied, the panels can be attached to the wall using a special adhesive and a thin stainless steel frame, resulting in a backsplash without grout lines or seams. Like any glass, it’s easy to clean—just spray on the Windex and wipe it.
Price: $110-$150 per square foot; price varies depending on the number of outlet cutouts and the number of seams necessary.
For more information: jennifergilmerkitchens.com.
Photo courtesy of Jim Tetro
A Bold Splash of Color
Glass mosaic tile backsplashes are a contemporary, stylish way to bring a splash of color to your kitchen, whether it’s soothing oceanic blues and greens or bright reds and oranges. Or, if you’re looking for a daring design to dominate your kitchen, you could consider a backsplash that depicts an image, like this bold, abstract rendition of spoons and forks in bright primary hues. It was custom ordered and designed by an artist in England. Pictured here in a residential home in New Jersey, this backsplash is easy to clean with Windex or a similar glass cleaner, but it can’t be installed by the DIY homeowner—it must be done professionally.
Price: around $10,000
For more information: www.Paramus.poggenpohl.com, or call Margaret Mosiej at Poggenpohl Paramus at 201-587-9090 and email her at mmosiej@poggenpohlnj.com.
Photo courtesy of Margaret Mosiej
Sleek Metal Backsplash
Wilsonart Decorative Metal’s 6277 AlumaSteelT is made of anodized aluminum. Installing metal in a kitchen lends a streamlined, contemporary look to the space, making it a perfect choice for any homeowner who wants to achieve a modern look.
AlumaSteelT is .25 inches thick, and it although it can be installed by a DIY homeowner, it’s not recommended for novices, as it can get tricky—it involves attaching the aluminum to a substrate and then attaching the substrate to the wall.
But cleaning the backsplash is easy: simply use warm water and mild soap. Do not use abrasive or acidic cleaners, since they will mar the anodized aluminum surface. And always make sure to wipe the backsplash dry after cleaning.
Price: Installed price is $25 to $35 per linear foot; uninstalled price is $3.50 to $4.50 per square foot.
For more information: www.wilsonart.com.
Photo courtesy of Wilsonart
The New Black
This Swanstone Decorative Wall Panel, pictured here in “Night Sky” color and a “Barcelona” pattern, makes for a sleek, sophisticated addition to any kitchen. The wall panels come in three-dimensional patterns, and the color and texture run all the way through, so they won’t fade over time.
Swanstone doesn’t recommend that the DIY homeowner try to install these tiles, so unless you’re an expert, you might want to call in the professionals. Also, after installation, don’t clean the backsplash with leave-on cleaning products, as they could discolor the surface over time. It’s better to use an abrasive powder or Scotch-Brite to clean this one.
Price: $742.11 for a 36″W by 96″ H panel at www.faucetdirect.com, but check with a local dealer for other prices.
For more information: www.faucetdirect.com or www.swanstone.com to locate a dealer.
Photo courtesy of Swanstone
Inspired by Spain
This backsplash is made of the artisan ceramic tiles in Walker Zanger’s Contessa collection. The lower part of the backsplash is the Sevilla Pattern in Silver Leaf, while the upper part is Silver Arabesco. Although this backsplash calls to mind the Arabic aesthetics of southern Spanish cities, the Contessa collection comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns that could work in any number of kitchen styles. Many of the designs would be perfect for an old-world, traditional kitchen, but, depending on the color and pattern, could also be used to add a quirky twist to a modern cooking space.
Walker Zanger recommends that a professional install these hand-painted tiles. But cleaning them is easy—all you’ll need is a pH-neutral soap and a soft towel.
Price: $30 per square foot
For more information: Visit www.walkerzanger.com/dealers to browse for an authorized dealer in your area, or visit www.walkerzanger.com/catalog to find out more about the Contessa Collection.
Photo courtesy of Walter Zanger
50’s Flashback
Pictured here is another Walker Zanger backsplash, this time from the Vibe Collection. This backsplash showcases the Ashbury Mosaic pattern in a 1950s-esque Powder Blue. This collection’s organic shapes are a startling contrast to backsplashes made of more traditionally shaped tiles.
Like Contessa, the Vibe Collection is available in a wide range of colors that can be matched with the ambiance of your kitchen. Vibe should be installed by a professional, and it can be cleaned using pH neutral soap and a soft towel.
Price: $20 per square foot
For more information: Visit www.walkerzanger.com/dealers to browse for an authorized dealer in your area, or visit www.walkerzanger.com to find out more about the Vibe Collection.
Photo courtesy of Walter Zanger
